Sri Lanka surpassed WHO vaccination goals.

Sri Lanka surpassed WHO vaccination goals, with 50% of population fully vaccinated. Sri Lanka reached an important milestone yesterday (September 18) with 50% of the population fully vaccinated, surpassing vaccination goals set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Vaccinat…

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Tropical Storm Peter and TD 17 form in tropical Atlantic Ocean.

Forecasters said Tropical Storm Peter formed over the Atlantic Ocean early Sunday (19th), and a new tropical depression was spinning over the far eastern Atlantic. Peter was centered about 630 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in …

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UNICEF stresses Afghan girls must not be excluded from school.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Friday (17th) welcomed the news that secondary schools are due to reopen in Afghanistan on Saturday, after months of closure due to COVID-19, but stressed that girls must not be kept from the classroom. According to news reports, the announ…

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India, El Salvador hold third Foreign Office Consultations.

India and El Salvador held the third Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) on September 17 and reviewed the whole gamut of bilateral relations in all fields including health, trade and investment, the Ministry of External Affairs (EAM) informed on Saturday. An MEA release state…

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Sri Lanka-born researcher appointed to U.S. National Cancer Advisory Board.

A leading Johns Hopkins cancer researcher Dr. Ashani Weeraratna, who is of Sri Lankan origin, has been appointed by U.S. President Joe Biden to serve as a member of the National Cancer Advisory Board. The White House announced the appointment on Wednesday (15th). Dr. Weeraeat…

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Jhumpa Lahiri to launch her new book ‘Translating Myself and Others’.

The next book from Jhumpa Lahiri , the Pulitzer Prize-winning fiction writer, will highlight her work as a translator. Princeton University Press announced that Lahiri's 'Translating Myself and Others' will come out next spring. Lahiri has lived off and on in Rom…

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2 times Olympic Gold Medalist Yuriy Sedykh passes away.

One of track and field’s longest-standing world record holders, Yuri Sedykh, died of a heart attack Tuesday (14th), according to the Russian federation. Sedykh, who won Olympic hammer throw gold at both the Montreal 1976 and Moscow 1980 Games and silver at Seoul in 1988, was…

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International Equal Pay Day - 18 September.

International Equal Pay Day is celebrated on 18 September. The inaugural edition of the day was observed in the year 2020. The day aims to achieve equal pay for work of equal value and break the walls against all forms of discrimination, including discrimination against wom…

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World Bank Group has discontinued "Doing Business Report"

The World Bank Group has issued the following statement on 16 September 2021 regarding the Doing Business report. After data irregularities on Doing Business 2018 and 2020 were reported internally in June 2020, World Bank management paused the next Doing Business report and …

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World Water Monitoring Day - 18 September.

The World Water Monitoring Day is observed every year on September 18 since 2003 to increase public awareness and involvement in water monitoring and protecting water resources around the world. This day is celebrated to increase public awareness and involvement in water mo…

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International Red Panda Day - 18 September.

During the third Saturday in September, International Red Panda Day dedicates a day to learning about about red pandas. Join the campaign to raise awareness about saving their habitats. Red pandas are much smaller than the more familiar black and white pandas. In fact, red p…

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World Bamboo Day - 18 September.

Every year on September 18th, World Bamboo Day raises awareness about this fast-growing plant. The day also recognizes the importance of bamboo on a global scale. Bamboos are used for various purposes mainly in East and Southeast Asia. Bamboo is a tall, tree-like grass of th…

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International Coastal Clean-Up Day 2021 - 18 September.

The International Coastal Cleanup Day is traditionally held on the third Saturday in September. In 2021, the day is being held on 18 September. Coastal Cleanup Day was established by the Ocean Conservancy, an organization that works to help protect the ocean from the challe…

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Ford will cease manufacturing in India.

Ford Motor Co. will shut its car factories in India and record roughly US$2 billion in restructuring charges, scaling back significantly in a country that past management saw becoming one of its three biggest markets. Manufacturing of vehicles for sale in India will stop imm…

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New species of Jurassic-age Hybodont Shark discovered from Rajasthan's Jaisalmer.

Teeth of new species of Hybodont Shark of Jurassic age have been reported for the first time from Jaisalmer by a team of officers from the Geological Survey of India (GSI). This discovery marks an important milestone in the study of Jurassic vertebrate fossils in the Jaisalm…

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Virat Kohli will be stepping down as India's T20I Captain.

Virat Kohli will be stepping down as captain of the Indian cricket team in T20Is after the completion of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in UAE and Oman from October 17 to November 14. He will continue to lead the team in Test cricket and OD…

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First-ever Global Buddhist Conference going to be organised in India.

India is set to host the first-ever Global Buddhist Conference on November 19 and 20, 2021, in Nava Nalanda Mahavihara campus, in Nalanda, Bihar. The academic conference, being organised by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), will become an annual feature. Four re…

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UK, US and Australia launch pact to counter China.

The UK, US and Australia have announced a historic security pact in the Asia-Pacific, in what's seen as an effort to counter China. It will let Australia build nuclear-powered submarines for the first time, using technology provided by the US. The Aukus pact, which will a…

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World Patient Safety Day - 17 September.

Every year on September 17th, World Patient Safety Day raises global awareness and spurs global solidarity about the safety of patients. The day also encourages countries around the world to recognize patient safety as a global health priority. According to the World Health …

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SpaceX launches four people to orbit in company's first-ever tourism mission.

A SpaceX rocket soared into orbit Wednesday (15th) evening, carrying four people — none of whom are professional astronauts — and kicking off the first-ever mission to Earth's orbit crewed entirely by tourists. The launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida…

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International Day of Listening - 16 September.

Every year on the third Thursday in September, the International Day of Listening promotes the importance of listening to one another. It’s also a day to practice the art of listening. Whether in the workplace, at home, or in a social setting, listening well is an important …

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International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer - 16 September.

September 16 marks the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. The UN established this day to spread awareness about the importance of the ozone layer. This layer of the Earth’s stratosphere is located 9 to 18 miles above the Earth’s surface. The ozone la…

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Sri Lankan novelist Anuk Arudpragasam shortlisted for Booker Prize 2021.

Sri Lankan novelist Anuk Arudpragasam’s “A Passage North” has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2021. The shortlist for the prestigious literary prize awarded each year for the best novel written in English and published in the UK or Ireland was announced on Tuesday (Sep…

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DGCA, EASA partner for safety, environment protection standards.

Aviation regulators European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have entered into a working arrangement to achieve common safety and environmental protection standards. Through the agreement, which recognises mutual interests…

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Zimbabwe's Brendan Taylor announces retirement from International Cricket.

Former Zimbabwe skipper and wicket-keeper batsman, Brendan Taylor has announced his retirement from international cricket.  He made the announcement while playing the third final ODI match on September 13, 2021, against Ireland.  The 34-year batsman made his ODI debut for Zim…

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SpaceX set to launch first all-civilian crew into orbit.

Four private citizens are set to launch into orbit Wednesday in what will be the first mission to space without any professional astronauts on board. The all-civilian crew will ride to space aboard a rocket and capsule developed by SpaceX. The mission, dubbed Inspiration4, i…

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Lasith Malinga announces retirement from all forms of cricket.

Sri Lanka pacer Lasith Malinga has decided to hang up his boots in T20I cricket, bringing an end to one of the great careers in the sport. The pacer made this announcement on his social media channels. Malinga played 30 Test matches, 226 ODIs and 84 T20Is for Sri Lanka, pick…

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CSE implements a new OTC Platform to conduct REPO Transactions on Debt Securities.

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) announces the introduction of a new Over the Counter (OTC) Platform to facilitate the Repurchase (REPO) Transactions on Corporate Debt Securities with effect from tomorrow (16th September 2021). The new OTC Platform is a significant step in …

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China opposes external interference in Sri Lanka’s internal affairs.

China told the United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday (Sep. 14) that it opposes the interference of powerful nations in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka. Delivering a statement at the 3rd meeting of the UNHRC General Debate of the 48th regular session, the Permanent…

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Ajith Nivard Cabraal has officially assumed duties as Governor of Central Bank.

Ajith Nivard Cabraal has officially assumed duties as the 16th Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, a short while ago today (15th).  Cabraal had received his letter of appointment from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa this morning (15). With the resignation of the previous …

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