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Thema Collection has fulfilled a dire need of the hour with ‘Amba Yaalu’

Published

1 year ago

2025/01/15

Sahan Weerasooriya

Marie-Noelle Duris

By Harischandra Gunaratna

The Charged’affairs of the French Embassy in Sri Lanka, Marie-Noelle Duris said that the Thema Collection has fulfilled a dire need of a four-star hotel in the cultural triangle to meet the demand of individual travellers (FITs) with the introduction of the company’s latest addition to its portfolio ‘Amba Yaalu’.

Ms Duris was the Chief Guest at the ceremonial opening of ‘Amba Yaalu’ Sri Lanka’s first hotel to be fully operated and managed by women, a 33-room four-star thematic resort in Kandalama.

She said “France is deeply committed to promoting gender equality and empowerment of women and added that she was proud to be in the cultural triangle to inaugurate the hotel which reflects the great ambition of Thema Collection.”

The imperative was to enable Sri Lankan women, particularly in rural areas, to work and to pursue value-added occupations, she said. Women account for 70 percent of the global workforce, but only 10 percent contribute to the formal tourism industry Ms Duris said adding that this initiative breaks down existing barriers to women’s access to jobs in the hospitality industry .

There was a lack of responsibility-level training in this field for women, as well as the discrimination against women which limits their career progression, particularly towards management positions, she pointed ou.

She said that the tourism sector in Sri Lanka was hit hard between 2019 and 2022, and since the recovery in 2023, the number of visitors to the country had gradually increased and eventually has exceeded two million in 2024.

French Embassy’s Charged’affairs stated that with almost 83,000 tourists every year, France stands as the second European country and the sixth in the world to to visit Sri Lanka and many foreign tourists visit the cultural triangle. She said

The diplomat hailed Thema Collection for changing the face of country’s tourism industry and empowering women, developing their skills to ensure greater equality between men and women in hostelry, particularly in management and leadership positions such as traditional division of jobs between men and women,

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Advisory for Severe Lightning issued to the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and Galle and Matara districts

Published

5 hours ago

2026/03/12

Priyan

Advisory for Severe Lightning Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 12.30 noon 12 March 2026 valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 12 March 2026

Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts after 2.00 p.m.

There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.

ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
 Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
 Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
 Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
 For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.

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Nasa spacecraft weighing 1,300lb due to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere

Published

6 hours ago

2026/03/12

Priyan

The two Van Allen Probes were launched in 2012 [BBC]

A Van Allen Probe spacecraft weighing more than 1,300lb (600kg) is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere almost 14 years after its launch, Nasa says.

The spacecraft is projected to re-enter around 19:45 EDT (23:45 GMT) on Tuesday the US Space Force predicted, according to Nasa, though there is a 24-hour margin of “uncertainty” in the timing.

The Van Allen Probe A, which launched in 2012, is expected mostly to burn up as it travels through the atmosphere, though some components may survive.

The space agency said there is a one in 4,200 chance of being harmed by a piece of the probe, which it characterised as “low” risk.

The spacecraft and its twin, Van Allen Probe B, were on a mission to gather unprecedented data on Earth’s two permanent radiation belts.

It was not immediately clear where in Earth’s atmosphere the satellite is projected to re-enter. The BBC has contacted Nasa for further detail.

Nasa and the US Space Force have said they will monitor the re-entry and update any predictions.

The mission, which was originally designed to last two years, went on for almost seven. It ended after the spacecrafts ran out of fuel and were no longer able to orient themselves toward the Sun.

The probes flew through rings of charged particles trapped by Earth’s magnetic field from 2012 to 2019, in order to study how particles were gained and lost, per Nasa.

Those rings, called the Van Allen belts, shield Earth from cosmic radiation, solar storms and streaming solar wind, which are harmful to humans and can damage technology.

The mission made significant discoveries, including the first data that show the existence of a transient third radiation belt, which can form during times of intense solar activity, Nasa said.

Van Allen Probe B is not expected to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere before 2030.

[BBC]

News

PM Visits the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

Published

8 hours ago

2026/03/12

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya visited the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines, on 11 March 2026, and held bilateral discussions with Yvonne Pinto, Director General of IRRI, focusing on strengthening cooperation in the field of rice research and sustainable agricultural development.

During the meeting, discussions centered on rice cultivation in Sri Lanka, including the key challenges faced by Sri Lankan paddy farmers. The Prime Minister highlighted issues affecting the sector such as productivity constraints, climate-related impacts, and the need to support farmers through improved agricultural practices and technological innovations.

Both sides also discussed the importance of introducing modern techniques and research-driven approaches to rice cultivation in order to enhance productivity and ensure long-term food security. In this regard, IRRI shared insights on ongoing global research initiatives aimed at improving rice varieties, strengthening climate resilience, and promoting sustainable farming practices.

The discussion further focused on the potential for expanded collaboration between Sri Lanka and IRRI, particularly in areas such as research partnerships, knowledge sharing, and capacity building for Sri Lankan agricultural institutions and farmers. The Prime Minister emphasized Sri Lanka’s interest in strengthening cooperation with IRRI to support the development of the country’s rice sector and to improve the livelihoods of paddy farmers.

The visit reaffirmed the importance of science-based agricultural innovation and international collaboration in addressing food security challenges and enhancing sustainable rice production in Sri Lanka.