A ‘peacock’ sneer to Sri Lanka from the American ambassador
Mrs. Julie Chang, the US Ambassador to Colombo, posted a note on her Twitter account regarding a sign that was installed near the road during a visit to the Southern Province. The sign in Sinhala, which says ‘Peacock abounding area’, says ‘Danger Peacocks Ahead’ in English. She has mentioned on her Twitter account that she has never seen dangerous peacocks. “Good Monday morning! I’m on the road this week, my first official visit to Southern Province. First observation: I’d never imagined a dangerous peacock, but now I can’t stop looking for them!” Mrs. Julie Chang, the US Ambassador to Colombo Twitter But the netizens claim that it’s not her official account. Lanka C news
Royal tombs to be opened after 20 years,and Prince Philip’s body, which has been safely kept until the Queen’s death, will be buried with the body of Queen today
The funeral ceremony for the late Queen Elizabeth II is held today (19). Accordingly, the opportunity to pay the last respects to the Queen’s body, which is currently kept in Westminster Hall, was ended at 6.30 this morning local time. The funeral procession carrying the Queen’s body will then leave for Westminster Abbey at 10.44 am local time. Foreign media had reported that the royals are also going to march with the body. Accordingly, the service held at Westminster Church begins at 11:00 a.m. local time. The Queen’s body is taken to Wellington Arch and left for St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle where the funeral service is held at 3.00 pm local time. Accordingly, the last service began at 4:00 PM local time or 9:00 PM Sri Lankan time. Foreign reports stated that after the last service, the remains of Queen Elizabeth II will be buried in the Royal Tombs in St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, London. It is special that the royal tombs are opened like this after 20 years. The remains of Queen Elizabeth II’s father, King George VI, and the Queen Mother are also buried in the same royal mausoleum. Accordingly, the body of Queen Elizabeth will also be buried nearby. Foreign media reports stated that Prince Philip’s body, which has been safely kept until the Queen’s death, will be buried with the body of Queen Elizabeth II. However, According to the reports that only the four children of Queen Elizabeth II are allowed to participate in the event. Meanwhile, foreign reports stated that many foreign leaders have already arrived in London to participate in the royal funeral ceremony.
The new reports about food inflation in Sri Lanka
From September 2021 to August 2022, the World Bank released a new report on food security in 53 countries. Accordingly, Sri Lanka ranks fourth among the 10 countries with the highest food inflation in the world. It shows the food inflation in this country as 91 %. The country with the highest food inflation in the world is Zimbabwe, which is 353 %. Lebanon and Venezuela are in second and third place respectively. Turkey, Iran, Argentina, Moldova, Ethiopia and Rwanda are the other countries in the top 10 of the list. Food inflation in Sri Lanka was at 9.9% in September 2021 and has increased tenfold to 90.9% in almost a year. Food inflation has increased rapidly since last April. Summarizing the report, the World Bank indicates that 205.1 million people worldwide will face a food crisis acute situation.
India surpasses China
In the first 04 months of this year,India has provided credit assistance of 968 million US dollars to Sri Lanka. Accordingly, it is reported that India has become the largest bilateral creditor of Sri Lanka surpassing China. From 2017 to 2021, China, the country’s largest bilateral creditor, has given Sri Lanka $947 million in loans during that period.
Photos of Sri Lankans who were forcibly detained in Ukraine to the media
The photos of the 7 Sri Lankan students who were allegedly forcibly detained by the Russian forces in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine have been released to the media. Ukrainian journalist Maria Romanenko posted the photos on her Twitter account. She also says that those Sri Lankans were tortured.
More information on Sri Lankan students rescued from Russian forces in Ukraine
The President of Ukraine had said that 07 Sri Lankan students who were detained by Russian forces were rescued in Khakiv area of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says that the students have been detained by the Russian army since last March. It is reported that the students have been referred for medical treatment. In the meantime, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that the necessary measures are being taken through the Sri Lankan Embassy in Turkey regarding those students. Accordingly, Turkish embassy officials are holding talks with Ukrainian authorities in this regard, the ministry said. The Ukrainian media has also reported that these students were studying at Kupiansk Medical College in Ukraine. Recently, the Ukrainian security forces succeeded in recapturing the Khakiv region of Ukraine, which was occupied by the Russian forces. The Ukrainian army has found about 10 torture chambers run by Russian forces in that area. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said that many foreign nationals were held in those torture centers.
Rice imported from abroad contains many toxic chemicals that cause low birth rates as well as carcinogens
Research conducted by the Pesticides Registrar’s Office has revealed that rice imported from abroad contains many toxic chemicals that cause low birth rates as well as carcinogens. According to that office, the amount of arsenic that should be contained in rice used in this country is 0.2 %, lead 0.2 %, mercury 0.1 %, and selenium 0.3 %. All of these are carcinogenic like heavy metals. However, in the research conducted by taking samples of imported rice in the local market, it has been revealed that it contains 43 % of lead, 26 % of cadmium, 20 % of mercury, and 47 % of selenium. In this research, rice samples were first taken, washed with water, then powdered and then digested with hydrogen peroxide. These samples were analyzed using a device called PMS.
Inflation in Sri Lanka-The plantation people eat only one meal a day
Due to the increase in the cost of living in the country, the people of the plantation say that due to their economic situation, they have to eat only one out of three meals a day. The people of the plantations say that due to the increase in the prices of essential food items including wheat flour, their income status has gone down, and they have to feed their children even one meal a day, but they have to stay hungry. Plantation workers who say that they have to eat chow and various types of potatoes to quench their hunger, further claim to increase their income level and reduce the cost of living.
Think and work like Dasun Shanaka and Sri Lankan cricket team- President Ranil Wickramasinghe
President Ranil Wickramasinghe says that Shanaka and the team took advantage of the defeat and gained strength to advance to the Asian Cup. The President says that if you think like that, it is not a difficult task to make the country win in front of the world. The President also pointed out that working together as a team helped them win. The President said this while addressing the ceremony held for the appreciation of the two Sri Lankan teams who won the Asia Cup 2020 Cricket Championship and the twelfth Asian Netball Championship and the medal winners of the Commonwealth Games.
Vanindu Hasaranga will be a headache to the batsman in the World Cup- Muralidaran
Vanindu Hasaranga will be a headache for the batsmen in the T20 World Cup to be held in Australia, says Muttiah Muralitharan, the former super spinner of Sri Lanka. Speaking to the media in India, Muttiah Muralitharan has mentioned this. These days, Muttiah Muralitharan has joined the Legends League cricket tournament in India and he had expressed these views in a press conference held for the tournament. Muralidharan also mentioned that in the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup, spinners can gain more advantages.