Removal of legal barriers for women in employment

Cabinet approval has been given to amend the Shop and Office Workers (Regulation of Service and Wages) Act No. 19 of 1954 to enable women in information technology-based jobs to work on international hours and work at night.

Accordingly, the existing legal restrictions on working at night will be amended for employees working in IT-based businesses, knowledge and business process outsourcing organizations, offices that conduct accounts, administrative and technical work of business organizations located abroad.

Thus, female workers who have completed the age of 18 years in the relevant fields can be employed before 6.00 am or after 6.00 pm.

In the existing legal situation, a woman over the age of 18 was allowed to work until 8:00 pm, and there was a limited space to work at night only in a limited range such as airports, hotels, restaurants, and clubs.

Labor and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara says that this will remove the legal obstacles in the labor law to the employment of women workers at night, and it is expected that this will further increase the participation of women in the workforce in this country.

Opportunity for 16-20 year olds to work part-time while studying

According to the Ministry of Labor and Foreign Employment, steps are being taken to amend the labor laws to include provisions for young people between the ages of 16-20 to engage in part-time jobs subject to a maximum of twenty hours a week.

It was revealed in a discussion chaired by the minister that creating a sense of dignity in labor that respects all jobs equally, accustoming them not to discriminate any job on any basis and acclimating young people to the work environment at school age and not doing so is the cause of many problems that have arisen in the labor sector. has been

Accordingly, the ministries have focused on making these amendments with the aim of creating an investment-friendly workforce, acquainting them with the international labor market conditions at school age, and instilling the pride of independence in the youth in education.

According to that amendment, young people in the relevant age range will be allowed to work frequently, subject to a maximum of four hours a day, five days a week or twenty hours a week, subject to a maximum of twenty hours a week.

Apart from the seventy-two dangerous job categories currently identified, opportunities are provided to engage in part-time jobs related to restaurants, supermarkets, and cleaning, and it is mandatory for the relevant employers to provide formal training to these young people.

It is the responsibility of the employer not to offer permanent employment opportunities under any circumstances and to provide adequate wages, security and dignity.

Likewise, corresponding to this, E.P.F. and ETFs The Ministry of Labor and Foreign Employment further said that the legal conditions related to payments are also being revised.

What you need to know about monkeypox, which scared the world

The Health Promotion Bureau has made a special awareness regarding monkeypox.

The full note is given below.

"At the same time that Monkeypox, an infectious disease that was found only in the Central and West African region until recently, began to spread by invading different countries of the world, we worked to bring you the basic facts about it.

With the spread of this disease to about 75 countries very quickly, and with more than 16,000 cases reported along with five confirmed deaths, the World Health Organization declared this as a "Public Health Emergency of International Concern".

Although no cases have been reported from our country, we believe that it will be important to update your knowledge once again when monkeypox has entered several countries around Sri Lanka.

The virus can enter the body of a healthy person through close contact with an infected person. It is said that blisters and wounds caused by the disease, other body fluids, infected respiratory droplets and things such as bed sheets recently used by the infected person may also contain the virus.

But this is not a sexually transmitted disease.

Symptoms include fever, swelling of the lymph nodes, pain in the flesh, and blisters that occur with severe body fatigue.

Symptoms may take 5-21 days after exposure to an infected person.

Blisters usually appear 1-3 days after the onset of fever and are mainly seen on the face, hands and soles.

There are also cases where painful blisters/sores occur in the mucous membranes around the mouth, genitals and eyes. At first, these rashes appear as spots, then turn into blisters, lumps and blisters or pus blisters. When these rashes heal, a crust is formed on the surface of the skin and after they completely fall off, it can be concluded that the infection has been cured.

These symptoms can also be seen in common viral infections such as chicken pox / hand-foot-mouth disease, so it is very important to seek medical advice immediately and to stay away from others when symptoms occur.

Although monkeypox is usually self-limiting in 2-4 weeks, immunocompromised people and young children are at risk of developing complications.

Currently, the death rate of this epidemic is calculated as 3-6%. It also shows that the rate of transmission of this disease is very low compared to the rate of transmission of viral diseases such as smallpox/measles.

In the face of the current crisis situation, we have to overcome this epidemic challenge somehow. We hope that you, the citizens, will work to provide maximum support by following the public health guidelines that we provide."

Change in fuel release for buses

Steps have been taken to provide sufficient fuel for private passenger buses according to the distance they travel.

Ceylon Transport Board Deputy General Manager Pandula Swarnahansa has stated this.

Earlier, only 40 liters of fuel was given to private passenger buses.

Education Minister tells about the date of release of A-level examination results

Education Minister Susil Premajayantha says that the examination department is working to release the 2021 A-level examination results before the end of August.

The minister mentioned this while addressing the assembly today (August 9).

He said that due to last month's unrest in the country, it was not possible to complete the practical examinations for A-Levels.

Mr. Premajayantha further said that the practical tests will be completed by next week and after that the A-Level results will be released.

A condition to suspend the bonuses of the electricity workers

The Public Utilities Commission has taken steps to impose a condition not to give bonuses to the employees of the Ceylon Electricity Board until the financial situation improves.

Its chairman Janaka Ratnayake said this at a special press conference held today (August 9).

He announced that employees will be given bonuses in December despite billions in losses.

Hence this condition was imposed, he said.

A special notice from Sri Lanka Customs to air passengers

The Sri Lankan Customs issued a notification to inform all air passengers to refrain from carrying prohibited goods, import restricted goods, temporarily suspended import goods or goods brought in commercial quantities in their luggage at the airport or through cargo transport agencies.

Due to the foreign exchange problem in the country, the import of various non-essential and luxury goods into Sri Lanka has been temporarily restricted in the past.

Although it has been restricted in this way, it has been observed that in the past, there has been an increase in the luggage brought by air passengers and the luggage sent through various agencies that import goods.

Sri Lanka Customs also said that it has been observed that some air passengers are bringing goods in commercial quantities in violation of the regulations contained in the Customs Ordinance and the Import and Export (Control) Act.

According to the provisions of the Customs Ordinance and the Import and Export (Control) Act, the goods brought illegally will be confiscated and the passengers will be fined, it has been further stated in the announcement issued by the Director General of Customs.

This is how money will be allocated to the President and ministries in the next four months

According to the Appropriation Amendment Bill allocated for the next 4 months, the total expenditure of this year has increased by forty seven thousand nine hundred and forty three crore rupees.

Accordingly, the total expenditure of this year is 3265 billion rupees.

This Appropriation Amendment Bill was presented to Parliament by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena today (August 9).

According to the Appropriation Act, the largest amount has been allocated to the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government. The amount allocated to that ministry is nearly seventy three thousand four hundred sixty eight crore rupees.

According to the Appropriation Bill presented last November in relation to this year, the total expenditure was two hundred seventy nine thousand six hundred forty four crore sixty five lakh fifty eight thousand rupees. According to the amendment bill, the total expenditure has increased to three lakh twenty seven thousand five hundred eighty seven crore sixty five lakh fifty eight thousand rupees.

Accordingly, the amount allocated for the President is one thousand three hundred forty four crore fifty one lakh rupees and the amount allocated for the Ministry of Finance is over forty six thousand seven hundred twenty crore rupees.

Nearly twenty four thousand eight hundred and seven crore rupees have been allocated to the Ministry of Health and more than nine hundred and thirty seven crore rupees have been allocated to the Ministry of Trade. More than thirty thousand seven hundred and ten crore rupees have been allocated for the Ministry of Transport and more than thirteen thousand eight hundred and fifty six crore rupees for the Ministry of Agriculture and the amount allocated for the Ministry of Power and Energy is nearly two thousand seven hundred and sixty seven crore rupees.

The relevant money has been allocated as follows.

Buddhasasana, Ministry of Religious and Cultural Affairs – 7.2 billion rupees (7,010,500,000)

Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policy – ​​189.2 billion rupees (189,210,189,000)

Ministry of Defense – 654.3 billion rupees (654,314,275,000)

Ministry of Mass Media – 21.1 billion rupees (21,129,000,000)

Ministry of Justice, Prisons and Constitutional Reform – 31.8 billion rupees (31,825,370,000)

Ministry of Health – 248 billion rupees (248,069,998,000)

Ministry of External Affairs – 17.9 billion rupees (17,926,000,000)

Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Food Security – 9.3 billion rupees (9,354,100,000)

Ministry of Transport and Highways – 307.1 billion rupees (307,108,400,000)

Ministry of Agriculture – 138.5 billion rupees (138,560,485,000)

Ministry of Power and Energy – 27.6 billion rupees (27,663,260,000)

Ministry of Tourism and Lands – 7.4 billion rupees (7,417,800,000)

Ministry of Urban Development and Housing – 25.2 billion rupees (25,205,071,000)

Ministry of Education – 200 billion rupees (200,000,000,000)

Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government – ​​734.6 billion rupees (734,674,000,000)

Ministry of Plantation Industries – 15.9 billion rupees (15,922,000,000)

Ministry of Industry – 5.2 billion rupees (5,291,450,000)

Ministry of Fisheries – 2.8 billion rupees (2,856,519,000)

Ministry of Environment – ​​1.6 billion rupees (1,681,900,000)

Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation – 7.5 billion rupees (7,594,500,000)

Ministry of Water Supply – 30.8 billion rupees (30,862,884,000)

Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment – ​​116.3 billion rupiah (116,349,300,000)

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Services – 5.8 billion rupees (5,808,775,000)

Ministry of Technology – 6.6 billion rupees (6,634,840,000)

Ministry of Investment Promotion – 4.2 billion rupees (4,267,410,000)

Ministry of Public Security – 112.8 billion rupees (112,808,260,000)

Ministry of Labor and Foreign Employment – ​​4.7 billion rupees (4,712,000,000)

Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs – 6.4 billion rupees (6,476,000,000)

Ministry of Waterways – 73.3 billion rupees (73,332,000,000)

Flood and landslide warnings for several areas

The Irrigation Department has warned that in the next 24 hours, a significant level of flooding may occur in the low lying areas of Pasgoda, Kotapola, Pitabeddara, Akurassa, Athuraliya, Malimbada, Matara, Thihagoda, Kamburupitiya, Mulatiyana and Devinuwara.

In addition, the department has also warned that a significant level of flooding may occur in the low-lying areas belonging to Kalu Ganga's Pelmadulla, Nivithigala, Ratnapura, Kuruvita, Ayagama and Alapata Divisional Secretariat Divisions in the next 3 hours to 24 hours.

Accordingly, the Irrigation Department requests the vehicles traveling through the area and the public residing in the area to be very careful about this.

Meanwhile, due to heavy rainfall, several Divisional Secretariat Divisions located in Galle, Hambantota, Matara, Kandy, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura districts have been designated as landslide risk areas and the National Building Research Organization has warned the people of those Divisional Secretariat Divisions to be cautious. 

An explanation from Ranil about restoring economic stability in the country

 President Ranil Wickramasinghe says that he expects to reach a staff level agreement with the International Monetary Fund by the end of August.

The President stated this in an interview with The Wall Street Journal yesterday (July 31).

He has mentioned that after reaching an agreement, Sri Lanka will be able to negotiate further with the sovereign bond holders and bilateral creditors.

However, he has pointed out that even if any kind of basic agreement is reached to obtain funds, it will require the approval of the IMF Board of Directors and it is a process that may take months.

The President has stated there that if it were not for the unstable political situation, a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund would have been reached in July.

“I think we've already hit rock bottom. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The only thing now is how quickly it can be reached."

The President has stated that it will take several months for many Sri Lankans suffering from high inflation, long queues for fuel and domestic gas to see a significant improvement in their economic condition.

The President has stated that after the International Monetary Fund agreement, the country will have to restructure the debt with creditors through various approaches.

Mr. Wickramasinghe has stated there that the Central Bank is confident of finding enough money to import enough fuel to alleviate the acute fuel shortage.

He has pointed out that despite the IMF agreement, Sri Lanka will have to get more than $3 billion from other sources next year to carry out major imports such as fuel, food and fertilizers.

Mr. Wickramasinghe has further stated with The Wall Street Journal that he is paying attention to the process that took place in Zambia.

Over the past two years, Zambia has undergone a $17 billion foreign currency debt restructuring under a plan involving China developed by a group of 20 countries during the pandemic.

The grandmother and granddaughter who went to cross a stream fall victim to the water monster

A grandmother and her granddaughter who went to cross a canal that flows into the Kelani river through Polpitiya, Hitigegama, Bokarawewila area have been swept away by the current.

The Polpitiya police stated that while returning home from pre-school and picking up her granddaughter due to heavy rains in the area, both of them were caught in the current of the canal while going to cross a canal near the Hitigegama temple.

The grandmother is 60 years old and the granddaughter is 5 years old.

The body of the grandmother, who was swept away by the current and lost her life, has been found below the canal.

Pellisia said that her body has been deposited at Ginigathena Regional Hospital.

Local residents and Polpitiya police officers have launched an operation to find the body of the missing granddaughter.

A decision to stop importing rice

Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has decided to make a request to the Council of Ministers meeting today (August 1) to temporarily suspend the importation of rice as there is currently enough rice in the country.

The Minister stated this in a discussion held with the Agricultural Seed Importers Association this morning (Aug: 1).

The Minister mentioned that he would request the Cabinet to suspend the importation of rice into the country until December.

The Ministry of Agriculture said that rice harvesting has started in the Yala season and as much rice as the country needs has been imported based on the permission given by the government to import rice.

Also, the ministry mentioned that it has received information that rice importers have stockpiled enough on that permission.

In order to prevent the farmers from getting frustrated due to the fact that some rice mill owners are buying the rice grown by the farmers for looting the rice by the time of the harvest of the new season rice and not getting a suitable price for the rice they have grown in the midst of great difficulties. The minister mentioned that the decision will be taken.

Accordingly, the minister said that steps will be taken to submit a proposal to suspend the import of rice until next December.

Mr. Amaraweera further stated that by stopping the import of rice, it is proposed to the government to use the amount of foreign exchange left in the country to purchase inputs for the development of agriculture, such as weed harvesters, seed sprayers and tractors, water motors, etc. is