Tea as a popular drink shared by multiple countries around the world stands for harmony, diversity and social inclusivity, said representatives both of China and Sri Lanka to the United Nations at a ceremony held in the United Nations headquarter in New York on Tuesday.
The event themed “Tea for Harmony” was held to celebrate the International Tea Day, which also fell on Tuesday with a nod to China’s centuries-old tea traditions. It is co-sponsored by the Permanent Mission of China to the UN and China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
“For thousands of years, tea has traveled along the Silk Road and the maritime routes to reach people around the world. Tea cultures from various countries, while sharing the same roots, have deeply integrated with their own customs and traditions. Just like this year’s theme ‘Tea for Harmony’ suggests, tea has indeed played an important role in promoting harmony within diversity,” said Dai Bing, China’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN.
In his opening speech, Mohan Peiris, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to UN, noted that tea functions as a means to bring people together for a casual chat, and thus helps to encourage social interaction and stands for inclusivity.
“Drinking tea promotes social interaction. Sharing tea provides an opportunity for individuals to come together. And that’s something we do here in the delegates lounge. It facilitates conversation. Let’s have a chat over a cup of tea. It encourages inclusivity. Community drinking can bring people together. Well, it also fosters equal footing. The very act of sharing a cup of tea is typically egalitarian. It’s big,” he said.
Products from Xinyang, a well-known tea-producing region in central China’s Henan Province, were highlighted at the event, with tea masters making drink with Xinyang Maojian, a widely welcomed local green tea at the scene.
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is considering a 25 to 35 percent electricity tariff increase, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) urging Sri Lanka to implement revised rates.
CEB sources confirmed that the proposed hikes align with a pricing formula agreed upon by the CEB and the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL).
The new rates will require PUCSL approval before implementation.
Amid ongoing discussions, CEB Chairman Tilak Siyambalapitiya has resigned, reportedly due to political and regulatory interference in setting cost-reflective tariffs. Earlier this year, the PUCSL approved a 20 percent tariff reduction against the CEB’s advice, leading to renewed financial losses.
A senior CEB official revealed that after January’s reduction, losses began rising again.
In 2023 and 2024, tariff hikes had helped the CEB post profits of Rs. 61 billion and Rs. 141 billion, respectively, reducing accumulated losses from Rs. 473 billion to Rs. 271 billion. However, losses have climbed since February.
The IMF had set two key conditions: cost-reflective pricing and an automatic 10 percent hike if monthly cash flow falls below Rs. 15 billion.
The official noted that without January’s reduction, a 5 percent increase would have been needed in Q2.
The IMF has warned Sri Lanka twice in recent weeks for breaching cost-recovery benchmarks, raising fiscal risks.
A scheduled April tariff revision was skipped, with authorities offering unclear explanations.
The proposed hike aims to stabilize CEB’s finances while meeting IMF demands for sustainable energy pricing.
Four names have been proposed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to fill two vacancies in the Court of Appeal (CA).
Chief Justice Murdu Fernando has proposed the names of High Court Judges Frank Gunawardena, Adithya Kumara Patabendi and Nawaratne Marasinghe on two occasions. Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe, meanwhile, has proposed the name of Deputy Solicitor General Riyaz Bary.
The President is due to send two of the four names to the Constitutional Council for approval.
Two further vacancies are due to occur in the CA next month with the retirement of CA President Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Acting CA President Mohammed Laffar upon reaching 63 years of age. Justice Karunaratne is currently on pre-retirement leave and is due to retire on June 16, while Justice Laffar is set to retire on June 18.
The Judicial Service Commission has also recruited 50 judicial officers to fill existing vacancies in the magistrate courts. Forty-six of the newly recruited judicial officers will be appointed as magistrates, while the remaining four will be appointed as presidents of labour tribunals.
Meanwhile, four vacancies exist for the Additional Solicitor General positions at the Attorney General’s Department. Senior Deputy Solicitor Generals Hiranjan Peiris, Azad Nawawi, Lakmali Karunanayake and Sudarshana De Silva are expected to be appointed to fill these vacancies.
(sundaytimes.lk) (This story, originally published by sundaytimes.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)
Police have launched an investigation to arrest the popular tutor Hyeshika Fernando, also known as ‘Teacher Amma’, for allegedly assaulting a young man.
It is reported that Hayeshika Fernando had kicked the young man’s testicles, after which he was admitted to the Negombo Hospital for treatment.
Following the incident, Hyeshika Fernando had fled the area, but her husband and her manager had been taken into custody by the Katana Police.
After being produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court, the two suspects were ordered to be remanded until May 14.
The Magistrate has also instructed the Katana Police to carry out further investigations and to arrest and produce in court the main suspect in the case — the tutor Hyeshika Fernando, popularly known as ‘Teacher Amma’.
(adaderana.lk)
(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)
