News

SL born Nishi wins Mrs. Universe New Zealand title

Published

7 months ago

October 31, 2022

editor

For the first time in the history of the New Zealand beauty pageants, a Sri Lankan has won the Mrs. Universe New Zealand title.
Accordingly, Nimakshi Sachindri Ranatunga (Nishi) will represent New Zealand in the Mrs. Universe pageant to be held in Bulgaria next year.
Since the pageant was not held last year due to COVID-19 pandemic, it has been held this year to cover both the 2021 and 2022 pageants.
Accordingly, two winners have been selected. One of the winners has been qualified for the 2022 Mrs. Universe to be held next month in South Korea, and Nishi has been qualified for the 2023 Mrs. Universe to be held in Bulgaria.
Nishi, who received her primary education from Bomiriya Central College and tertiary education from Visaka College, Colombo, moved to New Zealand in 2015.
She currently resides in Auckland and runs a dance academy called NZSL.
While in Sri Lanka, Nishi has worked as a teacher at Vidura College, Museus and Kotikawatta Asian Grammar School and is currently working as a teacher at a school in Auckland.
She excelled in badminton and basketball during her school days and acted in school plays as well.
“I also worked as a dancer in Sri Lanka. I learnt dancing from Channa Wijewardena. Later on, I acted in many music videos. I also participated in dance competitions in other countries representing Sri Lanka,’ she said.
Nishi, the younger daughter of Sri Lanka’s former ‘Miss Ceylon’ Chithra Kantha Ranatunga and businessman R.A. Premaratne, also wors as a fashion model.
She has acted in many short films in New Zealand, including international award-winning films.

News

CMC’s receivable income exceeds Rs.6,200mn in 2022!

Published

1 hour ago

June 9, 2023

editor

The receivable income of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) for the year 2022 was Rs.6,280.50 million, it was revealed during the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) meeting.

This was revealed when the COPA met in Parliament on June 06 under the chairmanship of State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna to examine the Auditor General’s reports and current performance of the Colombo Municipal Council for the years 2020/2021.

The CMC’s total receivable income of the year 2021 is Rs.5,835.6 million, Rs.5,386.4 million in 2022 and Rs.4,481.5 million in 2019. It was found that these arrears are in the form of assessment tax, rent and other taxes.

Accordingly, the officials who were present pointed out that they are making arrangements to acquire the properties where the taxes are in arrears.

They said that there are issues related to the identification of the owners of certain properties, and that there is also a shortage of CMC officials available to look into these matters.

The COPA member MPs pointed out that assessment numbers have been given for unauthorized constructions as well.

Accordingly, the committee recommended that a programme should be prepared with specific dates to recover the arrears and a full report should be submitted to the COPA by July 06, 2023.

It was also revealed that the private companies contracted to collect parking fees have continued to default on the monthly rent due to the CMC and the amount of arrears to be collected from 38 companies as at December 31, 2021, was Rs. 265 million.

BIZ

Parliament SOC recommends not to privatise SLT

Published

1 hour ago

June 9, 2023

editor

The Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on National Security has said that it does not recommend the privatisation of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT).

This was stated in a report issued by the SOC on National Security headed by MP Sarath Weerasekera.

The report said that matters sensitive to national security can be exposed through the privatisation of SLT.

News

Fonseka resigns from SOC on National Security

Published

1 hour ago

June 9, 2023

editor

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka has resigned from the Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on National Security, Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakshe announced in Parliament today (09).

He said MP Rauff Hakeem has been appointed to the vacant position instead.