Latest News
German president dissolves parliament, confirms February vote
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has dissolved the country’s parliament, confirming that snap elections prompted by the recent collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government will be held on February 23.
Delivering a speech at Berlin’s Bellevue Palace on Friday, Steinmeier said that the country required “a government capable of acting” and “reliable majorities in parliament” to maintain stability in “difficult times”.
Scholz, a Social Democrat, lost a confidence vote in parliament earlier this month after the departure of Finance Minister Christian Lindner’s Free Democrats left his unwieldy governing coalition without a legislative majority.
He will remain in office as a caretaker chancellor until a new government is formed at a time when the country is reeling from a deadly car ramming attack at a Christmas market last week, which has revived heated debate over security and immigration.
Suspect Taleb al-Abdulmohse, a 50-year-old psychiatrist from Saudi Arabia who had lived in Germany for nearly 20 years, was a supporter of the increasingly popular far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD), and who had promoted Islamophobic views.
[Aljazeera]
Harshitha Smarawickrama scored an unbeaten 66 and appeared to steady Sri Lanka’s effort in Napier before incessant rain forced a washout in the first ODI after 36.4 overs of action with the visitors at 147 for 5.
Asked to bat by Suzie Bates, Sri Lanka slid from 70 for 1 to 94 for 4, but the game had nearly evened up courtesy Samarawickrama’s second fifty-plus score in ODIs. The rain, though, meant no further play, and after a three-hour break, the umpires called off the contest.
Chamari Athapaththu was the first batter dismissed, for a 21-ball 9, with seamer Bree Illing striking with the new ball. Samarawickrama and Vishmi Gunaratne, the other opener, then added 45 for the second wicket.
Jess Kerr ended the stand when Gunaratne edged one behind to Polly Inglis in the 19th over, following which No. 4 Kavisha Dilhari and No. 5 Manudi Nanayakkara fell to Bates and Illing respectively.
A promising partnership of 44 for the fifth wicket ended when Eden Carson ran Nilakshika Silva out for 17. Samarawickrama, with her seven fours, held one end up amid the dismissals and reached her fifty in 83 balls. She had wicketkeeper Anushka Sanjeewani (2*) for company when rain arrived.
The teams now move to Nelson for the next two games in the series.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka Women 147 for 5 (Harshitha Samarawickrama 66*, Vishmi Guneratne 30, Bree Illing 2-42) vs New Zealand Women – No result
[Cricinfo]
Latest News
Retired Major General Sampath Kotuwegoda to be appointed Director General of the Disaster Management Centre
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the
President in his office as the Minister of Defense to appoint retired Major General Sampath Kotuwegoda to the post of Director General of the Disaster Management Centre for a period of one year from 7th March 2025.
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the proposal furnished by the Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing to include the following laws and amendments expected to be newly introduced and currently empowered by the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing within the year 2025 to the government law formulation programme – 2025:
New laws expected to be introduced:
• National drinking community water development act.
• Sri Lanka actual property professional institutions act.
• Act to legalize the China – Sri Lanka Consolidated Research and Model Centre.
• The new act to facilitate for condominium properties including provisions of Apartment Ownership (Special Provisions) Act No. 23 of 2018 as well.
Already existing and amendments to be introduced acts.
• Construction Industries Development Act No. 33 of 2014
• National Water Supply and Drainage Board Act No. 2 of 1974
• Town and Country Planning Ordinance No. 13 of 1946
• National Housing Development Authority Act No. 17 of 1979
• Urban Settlement Development Authority Act No. 36 of 2008
• Urban Development Authority Act No. 41 of 1978
• Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation (Amendment) Act No. 13 of 2021
• Apartment Ownership Act No. 11 of 1973
• Common Amenities Board Law No. 10 0f 197
Kerala cannabis valued at over Rs. 69 million recovered from vicinity of Vaththirayan beach
Uninterrupted supply of essential food guaranteed for the New Year season
Samarawickrama hits 66* before first ODI is washed out
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