Connect with us

News

Lanka’s poverty rate doubled, says World Bank

Published

on

Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic crisis is estimated to have doubled the poverty rate from 13.1 percent to 25 percent and it is projected to remain above 25 percent for the next few years due to the multiple risks to households’ livelihoods, the World Bank said in its twice-a-year update on Sri Lanka this week.

“The crisis reversed years of gains in poverty reduction and human capital development,” the update said, noting that the crisis had added an additional 2.5 million poor people.

Vulnerability to income shocks has also increased with many non-poor households living close to the poverty line – 5.7 percent of the population lives less than 10 percent above the poverty line and a further 5.6 percent lives between 10 and 20 percent above it. All these households are highly vulnerable to falling into poverty in the event of a negative income shock, according to the report.

The international financial outfit also projected that the country’s economy would continue to face significant challenges this year and beyond with the country’s economy contracting by 4.3 percent this year, while demand continued to be subdued, job and income losses intensified, and supply-side constraints adversely affected production.

“Growth prospects are subject to high uncertainty and will depend on the progress of debt restructuring with timely and effective implementation of fiscal consolidation, and growth-enhancing structural reforms,” the World Bank said, while pointing out that the country could use this crisis as an opportunity to build a strong and resilient economy.

(Sunday Times)

News

Applications called for member vacancies at OMP

Published

on

By

The applications should be prepared in accordance with the information sheet which is available in www.parliament.lk with a quick link named Appointment of the members to OMP, and the duly completed applications should be sent on or before May 27, 2024.

Applications should be sent to; ‘Secretary-General to the Constitutional Council, Constitutional Council – Office, Parliament of Sri Lanka, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte by registered post or by email to [email protected].

Indicate ‘Appointment of Members to the OMP’ on the top left-hand corner of the envelope, or as the subject of the email.

Link :  https://www.parliament.lk/en/secretariat/advertisements/view/305

Continue Reading

News

22 arrested after protest in Anuradhapura

Published

on

By

Around 22 persons, including 11 females, have been arrested following a tense situation at a protest in Anuradhapura.

The tense situation was reported after a group of unemployed graduates surrounded the North Central Provincial Council building in protest, seeking solutions to their demands.

Several individuals were reported to be seriously injured in the incident when the Police attempted to diffuse the situation.

The protesters are reported to have surrounded the NCPC building, blocking all exits, with the staff and the NCPC governor – Mahipala Herath inside.

Continue Reading

News

Al Jazeera condemns Israeli govt. decision to shut down local offices

Published

on

By

Al Jazeera Media Network has condemned the Israeli government’s decision to close its operations in Israel as a “criminal act” and warned that the country’s suppression of the free press “stands in contravention of international and humanitarian law”.

“Al Jazeera Media Network strongly condemns and denounces this criminal act that violates human rights and the basic right to access of information. Al Jazeera affirms its right to continue to provide news and information to its global audiences,” the network said in a statement on Sunday

“Israel’s ongoing suppression of the free press, seen as an effort to conceal its actions in the Gaza Strip, stands in contravention of international and humanitarian law. Israel’s direct targeting and killing of journalists, arrests, intimidation and threats will not deter Al Jazeera from its commitment to cover, whilst more than 140 Palestinian journalists have been killed since the beginning of the war on Gaza.

“The Network vehemently rejects the allegations presented by Israeli authorities suggesting professional media standards have been violated. It reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the values embodied by its Code of Ethics,” it said.

The statement comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet voted unanimously to close Al Jazeera’s operations in Israel, weeks after Israel’s parliament passed a law allowing the temporary closure of foreign broadcasters considered to be a threat to national security during the months-long war in Gaza.

Netanyahu announced the decision on X, formerly Twitter. “The government headed by me unanimously decided: the incitement channel Al Jazeera will be closed in Israel,” he posted in Hebrew.

Israel’s Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi wrote on X that he had signed the orders against Al Jazeera, which would be effective immediately.

Karhi said he ordered the seizure of Al Jazeera’s broadcasting equipment “used to deliver the channel’s content”, including editing and routing equipment, cameras, microphones, servers and laptops, as well as wireless transmission equipment and some mobile phones.

Later on Sunday, police raided Al Jazeera’s premises in occupied East Jerusalem and satellite and cable providers took Al Jazeera off air.

Messages have appeared instead of Al Jazeera’s broadcast on a number of satellite providers, including messages with the words “Yes” and “Hot”.

(aljazeera.com)

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 Sri Lanka Mirror. All Rights Reserved