SL ranked 11 among most miserable countries

Published

2 years ago

May 26, 2023

editor

Sri Lanka has been ranked as the 11th most miserable country in the Annual Misery Index (HAMI) 2022 compiled by Economist Steve Hanke.

The index provided rankings for a total of 157 countries. Zimbabwe has been ranked as the ‘most miserable country’ in the Index.

Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Syria, Lebanon, Sudan, Argentina, Yemen, Ukraine, Cuba and Turkey are the 10 most miserable countries.

Sri Lanka is ranked 11th due to high inflation.

The index is the sum of the year-end unemployment, inflation, and bank-lending rates, minus the annual percentage change in real GDP per capita.

According to the index, unemployment in Sri Lanka in 2022 was at 6.5 percent and inflation had exceeded 57 percent.

The report said that the GDP per capita showed a negative growth of -9.3.

The bank lending rate in Sri Lanka was over 20 per cent.

Sri Lanka has a score of 99.63 in the classification of the world’s most miserable countries.

India is also on the list

India is at the 103rd place among the 157 most miserable countries due to high unemployment.

Switzerland has been named as the least miserable country followed by Kuwait, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, Niger, Thailand, Togo and Malta.

Finland, which has been named as the world’s happiest country 6 times in a row, is ranked 109th in this index.

The USA was ranked at 134th.

COVID subvariants spreading in Asia detected in Sri Lanka

Published

9 hours ago

May 31, 2025

editor

The Medical Research Institute of Sri Lanka has confirmed that the COVID-19 variant currently spreading in the Asian region has also been identified in the country.

Dr. Jude Jayamaha, a specialist in viral diseases at the Medical Research Institute, stated that patients infected with the Omicron subvariants LF.7 and XFG are being reported locally.

Dr. Jayamaha explained that this finding was confirmed through research conducted on biological samples collected from several hospitals across the island.

However, he emphasized that there is no need for undue fear regarding these COVID-19 variants.

Health authorities have also stressed the importance of vulnerable groups—such as pregnant mothers, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses—following health guidelines, including wearing face masks and avoiding crowded places.

Dr. Jayamaha reiterated that new COVID-19 variants emerge periodically, and health authorities are continuously monitoring the situation, so the public should remain calm.

(newswire.lk)

(This story, originally published by newswire.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

Anudi misses out from Miss World Quarter-Finals

Published

9 hours ago

May 31, 2025

editor

The Miss World organization has announced its quarter-finalists, selecting 40 contestants from across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Sri Lanka’s Anudi Gunasekara, was not selected in the top 40, despite being recognized for her impressive performances in the Multimedia and Head-to-Head challenges.

The top 40 consisted of 10 contestants each from Asia & Oceania, Europe, Africa and the Americas.