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Paris 2024 Olympic, Paralympic mascots unveiled

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The 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic mascots are Phrygian caps, which represent freedom in France.

Phrygian caps are historic international badges of liberty, worn by freed slaves in Rome, and later became a symbol of the French Revolution in the late 18th century.

“Rather than an animal, our mascots represent an ideal,” Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet said. “Since it is familiar to us and appears on our stamps and the pediments of our town halls, it also represents French identity and spirit.”

In a symbol of inclusion, one of the two mascots, called Phryges (free-jes, like freeze with a “j”), wears a prosthetic running blade to highlight Paralympic athletes.

Most Olympic and Paralympic mascots have been animals. The Phryges were compared to Minions or The Smurfs by Paris 2024 organizers.

Each Phryge was given a personality. The Olympic Phryge is “the smart one” with a “methodical mind and alluring charm.”

The Paralympic Phryge is “a party animal, spontaneous and a bit hotheaded.”

The Phryges will be present at major sports and cultural events in France in the run up to the Games, which open July 26, 2024.

France had the first unofficial Olympic mascot for the 1968 Grenoble Winter Games — a man on skis called Schuss.

(NBC Sports)

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Forests on state lands to be designated as reserves

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The Ministry of Environment has decided to designate several forests located on state owned lands as official forest reserves.

Deputy Minister – Anton Jayakody has stated that such forests, each spanning 05 hectares or more, have been identified in every district.

Special priority will be given to designating forest reserves on mountain peaks.

In the first phase, 20 forests in districts including Monaragala and Ampara have been selected under the new program named ‘Vanaspathi’,  he said.

He further said the initiative aims to protect these forest areas and expand the country’s forest cover.

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No cases filed against 22 banned pyramid schemes – CBSL

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Although the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has banned 22 institutions operating illegal pyramid schemes, no legal action has been taken against any of them so far, according to reports.

This was disclosed during a workshop held at the CBSL yesterday (July 08) on the dangers of pyramid schemes.

According to CBSL officials, after initial investigations, the files were handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further inquiry.

The CID’s Financial Crimes Unit has reportedly completed its investigations and submitted findings to the Attorney General’s Department, which is responsible for filing cases.

However, it was noted that not a single case has been filed to date.

The CBSL states that investigations will be continued against companies engaged in these illegal practices and hopes at least one or two such cases would be filed by the end of this year or early next year (2026).

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NPP’s Nishantha Jayaweera sworn in as MP

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U. D. Nishantha Jayaweera was sworn in as a National People’s Power (NPP) National List Member of Parliament before the Speaker of the House – Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, today (July 09).

He fills the Parliamentary seat left vacant following the resignation of Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma last month.

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