The annual “Asidisi Media Scholarship Programme” aimed at improving the professionalism of the Sri Lankan journalists has been organized this year too by the Ministry of Mass Media.

Accordingly, applications have been called for “Asidisi Media Scholarship programme 2021” and the deadline is 30^th November 2021.

The journalists between the age of 18-55 who are employed in recognized Media institutions having completed three years of service on a permanent or part-time basis, freelance journalists, provincial journalists, web journalists, and media technicians are eligible for applying to this Scholarship programme. Moreover, the intended course should directly be related to the field of mass media and the applicants should possess the media identity issued for the journalists by the Department of Information.

The journalists can be benefited from this scheme of scholarships twice. After the first Scholarship is awarded, they can once again apply for the second opportunity in five years after successful completion of the course.

Under this Scholarship Programme, two hundred thousand rupees (Rs.200,000.00) would be offered for a graduate or undergraduate programme and one hundred thousand rupees (Rs.100,000.00) would be offered for long term or short term certificate courses conducted by recognized institutions. The journalists who are eligible for this Scholarship Programme will receive 50% of the total course fee at the beginning of the course as the 1^st installments, the next 25% as the 2^nd installment, and the balance when submitting the certificate after the successful completion of the course.

The beneficiaries will be selected after an interview conducted by a committee nominated by the secretary, Ministry of Mass Media.

All the applications should be sent via registered post to Director (Media), Ministry of Mass Media, No. 163, Kirulapone Mawatha, Polhengoda, Colombo 05 on or before 30 November 2021.

Further details of “Asidisi Media Scholarship Programme 2021” can be obtained by contacting 0112513645/ 0112513459/ 0112513460 and the application can be downloaded by visiting the website (https://www.media.gov.lk )

The police headquarters says that there is a considerable reduction in organized crimes. During the last two years organized crimes have been reduced by 80 percent. The police headquarters said covid pandemic and operations against organized crimes have contributed to the reduction. Police media spokesman SP Nihal Thalduwa said that special programs have been implemented to prevent drugs being smuggled in to the country

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa says Sri Lanka, as a nation with rich, philosophical heritage shaped by the teachings of Lord Buddha, fully understands the importance of balancing ecological concerns with human needs. He made these observations during the High-level Thematic Debate on “Delivering Climate Action: for People, Planet & Prosperity” convened by President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly Abdulla Shahid today. The High-Level Thematic Debate commenced under the patronage of UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the UN Headquarters in New York and the Heads of States of UN member countries and representatives joined the conference via video technology.

President Rajapaksa stressed the need to address climate change urgently and decisively. The President pointed out that as a developing, tropical island nation, Sri Lanka is one of the most climate vulnerable countries in the world. He said, internationally, Sri Lanka is proud to be a co-lead of the Energy Compact for ‘No New Coal Power.’ He said Sri Lanka also leads the action group on mangrove ecosystems and livelihoods under the Commonwealth Blue Charter initiative. Additionally, the Colombo Declaration on Sustainable Nitrogen Management seeks to have nitrogen waste by 2030. The President said the country is taking to limit overuse of artificial fertilizers, thereby addressing health concerns as well as helping reduced nitrogen waste. President Rajapaksa said the country’s nationally determined contributions targets achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. President Rajapaksa went on to call on developed nations to fulfill their commitment to help the planet heal.

The Director-General of Health Services has announced revised guidelines for activities in public and work settings with effect from midnight today.

Accordingly, the travel restrictions which were effective between 11.00 p.m. and 4.00 a.m. were removed by the Health Ministry.

In addition, weddings will be permitted with a maximum 1/3 of the usual capacity of the hall, not exceeding 100 persons. Meanwhile, 150 persons will be allowed for outdoor functions. The guidelines however noted that liquor cannot be served in weddings.

With regard to dining in at restaurants, Dr. Asela Gunawardena stated that permission will be given to accommodate 1/3 of the usual capacity not exceeding 75 persons. For outdoor arrangements, 100 persons will be allowed.

In the meantime, physical official meetings and events have been given the nod with a maximum 1/3 of the usual capacity not exceeding 150 persons.

Education Ministry Secretary Professor Kapila Perera says that More than 50 per cent of the schools across the country were opened yesterday and the ‘teachers and students’ attendance was more satisfactory than expected.

Professor Perera said that the schools with students below 200 students are those attended by the children of poor families. He added that as the Government and the Education Ministry have fulfilled their responsibility properly and it was the parents’ responsibility to send the children to the re-opened schools. The Education Ministry Secretary further said that on average, 16 per cent of the students and 30 per cent of the teachers attended the schools that re-opened yesterday after a hiatus of almost two years. He added that it is expected that the percentage of the teacher- student attendance would increase considerably on Monday (Oct 25). The teacher unions have also urged their membership to report to work from Monday.

Ministry Secretary Professor Perera said that the student attendance was around 7 per cent in the Colombo District while the teachers’ attendance was around 17 per cent. However, the Northern Province recorded a student attendance of 21 per cent while the teachers’ attendance was between 48 per cent to 52 per cent. The students’ attendance in the Eastern Province was 39 per cent while the teachers’ attendance was 45 per cent. He also pointed out that the student and teacher attendance in Colombo was minimal whereas the percentages outside Colombo were commendable and encouraging. He also said that the opening of the schools with students below 200 is the first phase in the bid to open all the grades in schools countrywide in near future.

The World Health Organization says the Covid pandemic will “go on for a year longer than it needs to” because poorer countries are not getting the vaccines they need. Dr Bruce Aylward, senior leader at the WHO, said it meant the Covid crisis could “easily drag on deep into 2022”. Less than 5% of Africa’s population have been vaccinated, compared to 40% on most other continents. The UK has delivered more than 10 million vaccines to countries in need. It has pledged a total of 100 million.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa emphasized that doing what’s right is a grave challenge and added that despite the magnitude of a challenge, the desired goals can be achieved by moving forward together. The President made these remarks at a discussion held with Agrarian Service Officers via video technology, yesterday.

The President pointed out that the desired objectives could be achieved by resolving the difficulties faced by the farmers and it is very important to meet the farmers and explain the accurate facts. The main objective of the government is to create an environment where the farmers can earn a better income while protecting the environment and public health. The President stated that the goal of green agriculture is to benefit not just one or two seasons, but provide benefits for generations. The President pointed out that it is the responsibility of the officials to identify the major problems faced by the farmers and to make the government aware of them and it would then be possible to seek expert assistance in resolving these issues. The President also stressed to the officials that he would never ask anyone to do anything wrong.

The introduction of green agriculture could not lead to a reduction in cultivated lands. The President also said that it is the responsibility of all on behalf of the country to encourage farmers to move forward with the use of organic fertilizer.

The government took steps to import liquid nitrogen enriched with nitrogen nutrients in order to provide the world’s most recognized eco-friendly fertilizer to the farmers.

The Peradeniya University has created a website that uses ArtiFicial Intelligence (AI) technology to provide accurate statistical predictions on the number of patients and deaths due to COVID-19, that may be reported in the next 10 days. This site is known as A 14 COVID and can be accessed via the https://covid.eng.pdn.ac.lk extension.

It has been developed by Research Engineers, Harshana Weligampola and Umar Marikkar of the Electrical and Electrical Engineering Department under the guidance of Prof. Janaka Ekanayake, of the Engineering Faculty. Prof. Vijitha Herath, senior lecturer Dr. Roshan Godaliyadda and Dr. Parakrama Ekanayake have supervised the effort.

Relevant predictions are made by matching the cases of COVID patients and deaths with past information and the specialty of the AI process is that the relevant system works like a trained and knowledgeable person, Dr. Roshan Godaliyadda said.

He added that this artificial intelligence technology system has been built taking into account situations in different countries as COVID is a global issue. Due to the development of this intelligence technology system focusing on the data from the countries where the Delta variant was spreading when it was not prevalent in Sri Lanka when the variant started spreading in the island the system was able to provide data which were very close to the actual number of reported cases and deaths, he added.

In addition to Sri Lanka, the site uses past corona data from countries such as Italy, Japan, Texas, USA and Nigeria for predictions. He also said that the future social, economic and educational process of the country can be shaped by using the high accuracy data provided by this website.

The outgoing Egyptian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Hussein El Saharty called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (18).

Mr. Saharty, who has been newly appointed as a Coordinator for Egyptian Civil Society Organisations, said that he will continue to work to strengthen the relations with Sri Lanka.

Mr. Saharty further stressed the need to enhance security ties and develop the tourism industry between the two countries.

President Rajapaksa commended Mr. Saharty for his service rendered to Sri Lanka as the Ambassador of Egypt.

Secretary to the President P. B. Jayasundera, Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage and the Counsellor of the Egyptian Embassy Karim Abulenein were also present.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has established a Presidential Task Force for Green Agriculture.

President Rajapaksa appointed this Task Force Friday last (15) through an Extraordinary Gazette notification, the President’s Media Division said.

The Task Force chaired by Vijith Welikala has 14 members. Vernon Perera, Additional Secretary to the President, has been appointed as Secretary of the said Task Force.

Through the gazette, the President directed the Presidential Task Force for Green Agriculture to liaise with the Economic Revival and Poverty Alleviation Task Force and the Presidential Task Force for the creation of a Green Sri Lanka with sustainable Solutions for climate Change.

It has been emphatically stated in the Policy Statement: “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour” that action would be initiated to build a developed agricultural economy and to create an opportunity for the local and international consumer to obtain toxin-free agricultural products within the next decade as well as to introduce eco-friendly crops.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse has instructed officials to prepare a methodology to pay compensation from the Agrahara Insurance fund for public servants under treatment at homes for covid 19. The Prime Minister gave the instructions during a discussion with Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna trade unions and joint trade union federation representatives at the Temple Trees. The Prime Minister as then finance minister has taken steps to implement the Agrahara compensation payment system in budget proposals 2021 for public servants under treatment at hospitals and who die due to the infection. The trade union representatives said that public service should be made efficient. The Prime Minister pointed out that the efficiency and productivity of the public service should be improved and the officials should take necessary steps. Prime Minister Rajapakse said that local and foreign training opportunities for public service should be increased to achieve the aim. The trade union representatives expressed their views on getting back the pension denied by the good governance government. The Prime Minister immediately instructed the secretary to the ministry of public administration about the issue. Discussions were also held on increasing pensions in comparison with the increased cost of living.