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Webinar on “Advances in Natural products chemistry”

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Interest in the biological activities of natural products from different organisms, especially for the discovery of useful medicines, has been a major driving force for the development of organic chemistry concepts and laboratory techniques.

Natural products encompass the exploration of biodiversity for novel drug lead discovery, isolation, and structure determination of organic natural products of medicinal significance from plants and microbes, studies on the structure and biochemistry of biological products, examination of the biosynthesis of natural products, and evaluation of the biochemical effects of these active constituents.

Study of these natural products offers an excellent strategy toward identifying novel biological probes for several diseases including cancer and infection. It is perhaps of no surprise that mankind sought chemicals from nature. Compounds isolated from nature have long been known to possess biological profiles and pharmaceutical potential far greater than anything made by man; however, natural products are notoriously inconvenient to isolate and very challenging to synthesize.

To impart knowledge on Novel natural product chemistry a webinar on “Advances in Natural Products Chemistry” will be conducted by the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon via Zoom. The event will be held on 17th November 2021 from 8.30 am to 12.00 noon. The programme hopes to cover topics such as “Natural Products Based Drugs: Can Ancient Knowledge Lead Us New Drug Combinations” by Prof. Veranja Karunaratna. “Computer Aided Drug Design using Natural Scaffolds” by Dr. Ranga Jayakody, “Isolated an active natural product: What is next” by Prof. L.M.V Tillekeratne, “Fine tuning bioactive potential through nano-sizing” by Prof. Nedra Karunaratne and finally “Concluding Remarks and a Q&A session” by Prof. Nimal Punyasiri. The seminar will be moderated by Prof. Chayanika Padumadasa.

You can register with this webinar by vising the IchemC website (ichemc.edu.lk) while more information can be obtained by contacting the Institute on 011-2861231. Also you may obtain information by sending an email to naturalproducts211@gmail.com

For more details, contact Nishadi (077 730 6270) / Shanali (076 553 2142)



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Police officers donate LKR 9,687,462 from day’s salary to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund

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A sum of LKR. 9,687,462, raised from day’s salary officers of the Police Department, has been donated to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, established to support the recovery of communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah and to assist in rebuilding the country following the disaster.

To date, officers of the Police Department have contributed over LKR. 74 million to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund through three such contributions of one day’s salary.

The donation was presented on Wednesday  (22) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat by the Personal Assistant to the Inspector General of Police, Senior Superintendent of Police  C. C. Bamunuarachchi, to the Secretary to the President, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

Chief Inspector  Udaya Kumara, Officer-in-Charge of the Police Secretariat, was also present on the occasion.

[Presidents Media Division]

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Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time

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Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 26 April 2026, valid for 27 April 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry
of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

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Opposition asks for PSC to probe Treasury theft

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Sajith

Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa has called for the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to investigate the illegal diversion of Treasury funds, amounting to US$2.5 million to a third-party account.

Premadasa has said both the chairmanship and a majority of the Committee’s membership should be held by the Opposition to ensure impartiality.

The government has not only failed to account for the loss of US$2.5 million but also deliberately withheld information from Parliament, the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) and the public, Premadasa has told the media, accusing the ruling party of seeking to deflect responsibility by initiating an internal departmental inquiry, which he describes as a biased process designed to justify predetermined conclusions.

The Opposition Leader has said only a transparent and independent probe could establish the facts, adding that such an investigation could be effectively carried out through a Parliamentary Select Committee led by the Opposition.

He has also warned that the alleged failure to inform Parliament about the missing funds amounted to a serious breach of accountability.

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