Category: News

In a stunning display of athleticism and perseverance, 71-year-old Akila Thirunayaki, a resident of Mullaitivu’s Mulliyavalai village, has secured two gold medals and a bronze medal at the Masters Athletics Championships held in the Philippines.

Representing Sri Lanka on the international stage, Thirunayaki dominated the competition, claiming the top spot in both the 1,500 and 5,000 meter races, showcasing her exceptional endurance and speed. Additionally, she secured a well-deserved bronze medal in the 800 meter race, highlighting her versatility in various track events.

Thirunayaki’s journey to success is even more remarkable considering her fourth-place finish in the fiercely competitive 400 meter race. Her outstanding performance across multiple events has earned her accolades not just from her local community but also from the broader athletic community in Sri Lanka.

A retired prison officer, Thirunayaki’s dedication to athletics has not waned with age. Her achievement serves as an inspiration to individuals of all ages, proving that passion and determination can overcome any barriers, including age.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe says that the Presidential Election and the Parliamentary Election will both be held next year and that neither of the elections will be postponed.

He stated this while delivering a special statement in the Parliament today (22) regarding several matters including the existing cricket crisis.

“We have established democracy in this country. So, now how can you say that we are afraid of an election? We will hold the elections. The Presidential Election and the Parliamentary Election will both be held next year. None of them will be postponed.”

“The year after that, we can hold the Provincial Council and Local Government elections all that. There is no problem,” he said.

Meanwhile the State Minister for Plantations, Enterprise Reforms and Finance, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, had announced that a dedicated allocation of Rs. 10 billion has been reserved for potential future elections.

This provision, while not explicitly outlined in the budget proposals, has been included in the estimates, he said during a press briefing held at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) on Tuesday (21).

A agreement for a 5 billion US dollar refinery to be built by China in Sri Lanka’s Hambantota district will be submitted to cabinet for consideration next week, Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said.

“We have included in the agenda of the cabinet the awarding of the contract for the Hambantota new oil refinery,” Minister Wijesekera told parliament.

“If the cabinet approves, after the agreement is signed, it will be the single largest investment project ever. A 5 billion US dollar investment.”

The project will take about four to five years to complete.

“After it is completed, it will create jobs, provide energy security and give an opportunity to increase exports,” Wijesekera said.

Sri Lanka is giving state land in the Southern Hambantota district for the project. China’s Sinopec was awarded the project after the second short-listed contender pulled out, Minister Wijesekera said last month.

Magzter, the World’s largest digital newsstand (www.magzter.com), is set to revolutionize the airport passenger experience in Sri Lanka, by transforming the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake and the Jaffna International Airport into Smart Reading Airports.

Issuing a statement, the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL) said the Bandaranaike International Airport and Jaffna International Airport are to become the first Smart Reading Airports in South Asia, offering passengers a cutting-edge, fully contactless and paperless digital reading experience of their favourite magazines and newspapers while they are at the airport.

Magzter’s partnership with the AASL enables passengers to access a diverse collection of over 8,000 leading magazines, newspapers, journals and comics for free while they are in the airport. Passengers can download the Magzter app from the Apple Store or Google Play to get free unlimited reading access within these geo-fenced zones, eliminating the need for a subscription. When they are at the airport, they can open the Magzter app, go to “SRZ” tab, grant location permission for the app and get free unlimited reading access.

Since air passengers usually wait for a considerable amount of time at the gate before boarding their flights, they are always on the lookout for interesting ways to spend their wait time productively. This innovative initiative is sure to enhance the passenger experience by providing access to thousands of popular magazines and newspapers spanning over 40 categories, including automotive, business, comics, entertainment, fashion, health, lifestyle, news, politics, science, sports, technology and travel. Passengers can also download their favourite titles while at the airport and access them offline during the flight.

While Magzter’s extensive catalogue features several regional Sri Lankan favourites like Business Today, Lanka Woman, Explore Sri Lanka, Sirikatha, Lankadeepa, Divaina, Daily Mirror and The Island, it also provides an exciting array of content for travellers from key tourist-inflow countries to Sri Lanka, including India, UK, USA, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Some of the best-selling global titles available on Magzter include Time magazine, Newsweek, Car & Driver, India Today, Filmfare, Business Standard, Hello!, T3, The Guardian, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Vogue, GQ, Her World, Forbes and Bangkok Post among 1000s of others.

By encouraging millions of people to read digitally across the globe, Magzter has so far saved tens of thousands of trees and other natural resources, thereby playing an active role in fostering the “Go Green” initiative. This partnership marks a significant step forward in the digital reading revolution, aligning with Magzter’s commitment to providing a touch-free and eco-friendly reading experience. As Magzter continues to expand its global footprint, the Smart Reading Airport concept is set to redefine the travel experience for millions of passengers around the world.

“When the aviation industry is concerned, there are a lot of new advancements taking place in the world. Digitalization of airports to provide an enhanced passenger experience is a key factor that we are concerned about. While we focus our attention aggressively on digitalization processes, enhancing the passenger experience through other possible avenues is always considered by us. I am very much delighted to see that our airports are partnered with global service providers and enable our passengers to experience such smart reading opportunities while they are on the move,” Nimal Siripala De Silva, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation said.

“We as the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited are very much pleased to introduce smart reading zones at our main gateway, Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in collaboration with Magzter Inc. This will enhance the passenger experience at our airport enabling the travellers to access over 8000 magazines and newspapers worldwide of their choice. Further, we are launching this service at Jaffna International Airport as well,” said Major General (Rtd.) G.A. Chandrasiri, Chairman of the AASL.

“We are excited to establish South Asia’s first Smart Reading Airports, setting a new standard for the region. Bandaranaike International Airport and Jaffna International Airport are at the forefront of embracing digital innovation, and we are proud to be their partner in providing an engaging and touch-free reading experience for travellers,” said Girish Ramdas, CEO of Magzter Inc.

“As we continue to expand our Smart Reading Zones® globally, we are thrilled to partner with Bandaranaike International Airport and Jaffna International Airport in Sri Lanka. Our goal is to enhance the travel experience by providing passengers with access to a vast array of digital publications, catering to their diverse interests,” said Vijay Radhakrishnan, President of Magzter Inc.

Sri Lanka is among countries ready to join the second phase of China’s Belt & Road Initiative (BRI), with a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries to be also expedited, according to a discussion between President Ranil Wickremesinghe and a top Chinese official.

Wickremesinghe told visiting special envoy of the Chinese President, state councillor Shen Yiqin, that the BRI is expected to make a more substantial economic contribution, according to a statement from the president’s office said Monday November 20 afternoon.

China is also prioritising the extension of a China-Myanmar Economic Corridor to the island nation, according to Yiqin.

This was during a courtesy call paid by President Xi Jinping’s envoy to President Wickremesinghe Monday morning in Colombo. Both parties also agreed to expedite the implementation of the China-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement, the statement said.

The primary focus of the meeting was to enhance tourism and trade relations between the two countries, according to the statement.

“The President expressed gratitude for China’s support to Sri Lanka, notably acknowledging their assistance in the country’s debt restructuring programme. He extended sincere thanks to the Chinese President and the government for their invaluable support in this regard,” the statement said.

Wickremesinghe also expressed Sri Lanka’s desire to augment cooperation between the two countries in the fields of tourism, sports and agriculture . Both the Hambantota Port and Colombo Port City are currently prepared for investment opportunities, he said.

“The President also noted that countries such as Sri Lanka, participants in the Belt & Road initiative, are prepared to embark on the second phase of the initiative, which is expected to make a more substantial economic contribution.

“The President outlined the measures taken by Sri Lanka to access the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and further affirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to preserving the Indian Ocean as a free zone for navigation and ensuring it remains a peaceful region, free from global geopolitical rivalries.”

The visiting Chinese official has said her government is prioritising the extension of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor to Sri Lanka.

Yikn reaffirmed China’s enduring support to Sri Lanka and emphasised her commitment to strengthening the relations between the two countries, the president’s office said.