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Lankan novelist Arudpragasam shortlisted for 2021 Booker Prize
Lankan novelist Anuk Arudpragasam’s “A Passage North” has been shortlisted for the 2021 Booker Prize.
The final shortlist of six novels has been revealed for this year’s Booker Prize.
The final six include debut novelist Patricia Lockwood with “No One Is Talking About This”. Damon Galgut makes the list for the third time with “The Promise”, and Richard Powers makes his second shortlist appearance with “Bewilderment”. Also making the list are Anuk Arudpragasam for “A Passage North”, Nadifa Mohamed with “The Fortune Men” and Maggie Shipstead with “Great Circle”.
The prestigious British-based £50,000 award is open to any authors writing in English.
The winning book will be revealed during the prize ceremony at the BBC Radio Theatre on November 3rd.
Anuk Arudpragasam is an award-winning Sri Lankan Tamil novelist, shortlisted for the 2021 Booker Prize for his second novel, A Passage North. In his second novel, the Sri Lankan author explores the lasting effects of the trauma and violence of his country’s civil war, and a past love affair.
His first, The Story of a Brief Marriage, won the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature and was shortlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize.
Arudpragasam studied philosophy in the United States, receiving a doctorate at Columbia University. He credits Descartes’ Meditations, which he discovered as a teenager in a bookshop near his home in Colombo, Sri Lanka, for setting him off on that path. He is currently working on a new novel about mothers and daughters in the Tamil diaspora.
News
Navy apprehends 03 suspects for engaging in illegal fishing practices using explosives in Mannar
The Navy apprehended 03 suspects for their involvement in fishing using explosives, during a search operation conducted in the sea area of Oluthuduwai, Mannar on 06th January 2025.
The operation also led to the seizure of a stock of illegally caught fish and a dinghy.
The suspects held in this operation were identified as residents of Panankattikottu West and Emil Nagar in Mannar, aged between 35 and 41.
The suspects, along with the stock of fish and the dinghy were handed over to the Assistant Directorate of Fisheries, Mannar for onward legal
action.
News
Director Legislative Services of parliament responds to newspaper article titled “The actual costs of the Tea Party post ceremonial opening of Parliament”
Director Legislative Services / Director Communication (Acting) Mr. M. Jayalath Perera emphasized the following regarding the Newspaper article titled “The actual costs of the Tea Party post ceremonial opening of Parliament,” published in the Irida Lankadeepa newspaper on 2024.12.29.
The media report indicates that under the Parliamentary budget head, a sum of Rs. 287,340 was incurred for the Tea Party held post the Ceremonial Opening of Parliament held during the inaugural session of the Ninth Parliament, while Rs. 339,628.55 was spent on the Tea Party following the inaugural session of the Tenth Parliament.
The Ceremonial Opening of the Ninth Parliament was held on 2020.08.20, and that of the Ceremonial Opening Tenth Parliament was held on 2024.11.21.
Accordingly, the difference in expenditure for the Tea Party conducted post the Ceremonial Opening of Parliament the Ninth and Tenth Parliaments can be attributed to the following reasons;
- A time gap of approximately four years exists between the Ceremonial Openings of the Ninth and Tenth Parliaments. During this period, fluctuations in market prices have significantly influenced the increased costs of the tea party and related expenses. It is worth noting that the prices of goods and services rose by approximately 100% in 2024 compared to 2020, primarily due to the economic downturn experienced during this period.
- Furthermore, the event was attended not only by Members of Parliament but also by state diplomats, secretaries to the ministries, senior state officials, invitees, and members of the Parliamentary staff.
News
12,140 Lankans killed in road accidents during past five years
By Hemanta Randunu
Police Headquarters have revealed that 12,140 individuals have lost their lives in traffic accidents across the country over the past five years. During this period, a total of 117,970 vehicle accidents occurred, including 11,581 fatal ones, according to the Police Headquarters’ Motor Traffic Division.
The shocking data was uncovered through a review conducted under the supervision of the Acting Inspector General of Police, Priyantha Weerasuriya, and with the help of Deputy Inspector General of Police Indika Hapugoda and Senior Police Officer Manoj Ranagala from the Motor Traffic Division.
The Police Motor Traffic Division attributes the rapid increase in vehicle accidents to a variety of factors, including non-compliance with traffic laws, drunk driving, speeding, reckless driving, and inexperienced drivers.
The number of accidents involving buses has been increasing rapidly on an annual basis, according to the police. As a result, the police are intensifying legal action against errant drivers.
In response, plainclothes police officers are deployed in buses to identify and take action against drivers who commit traffic violations.
Vehicle owners have been informed to comply with a directive to remove these unnecessary accessories from their vehicles.
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