News
Australian video competition for Sri Lankan students launched
Develop a short three minute video in English on a theme nominated by the partner university in Australia
Sri Lankan School students in Grades 9 – 12 with outstanding English language, analytical and video production skills are invited to participate in the Study Australia Video Competition.
Organised by The Australian Trade and Investment Commission, Australian Government, the competition is open to students in grades 9 to 12 from schools across India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The Study Australia Video Competition will be held sfrom 21 September 2020 to 23 November 2020.
The Study Australia Video Competition involves production of short videos by students around the themes of:
· Future of Work – What is your dream future job?
· Where the Wild Things are: How COVID-19 has impacted the ecology of wildlife
· Building circular cities
· Lockdown Blues – Design an innovative solution that improves mental health for people facing increased stress as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic
· Responsible young innovators and entrepreneurs – how can the community benefit from your great ideas?
Background information about the themes developed by the participating Australian universities is available on the competition website.
Students can access the competition website – www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/India for more details about the competition.
Schools can nominate maximum of 20 teams. Each team can select only one theme with a team composition of two students and one member of the teaching staff.
Each winning team will receive a prize of three Mini Apple iPads (Wi-Fi + Cellular, 64GB) awarded by the partner Australian university.
The competition is sponsored by Macquarie University, The University of Queensland Australia, The University of Sydney, The University of Western Australia and University of Wollongong Australia, Allianz, NIB Health Funds and Synapse Medical Services.
Registration for the competition commenced on Monday, 21 September 2020 and the last date for the submission of competition video entries will be Monday, 23 November 2020.
Trade Commissioner – South Asia, Australian Trade and Investment Commission Stuart Rees said, “Australia offers a safe, inclusive, supportive environment for international students and is one of the most inspiring places in the world to study. Our education system is ranked among the best, recognised globally for its high quality and for giving international students the opportunity to achieve their ambitions. I invite more students from India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to study in Australia and be a part of our world class education system”.
For more information about the participation at the competition, please visit www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/India or e-mail Mr Kanishka Padidilian at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission at Kanishka.Padidilian@austrade.gov.au
The High Court has convicted 14 of the 24 men accused of being directly involved in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people.
The three-judge bench read out its decision on Tuesday after a five-year trial and said sentencing would take place later, the AFP news agency reported.
The charges included murder and conspiracy to commit terrorism.
Nine others were acquitted, while another defendant was found guilty of only some of the charges, the court said.
[Aljazeera]
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The ruling NPP yesterday (21) dismissed claims of a widening rift, within the government, over the proposed 22nd Amendment. Asked whether the NPP was concerned over a section of the Opposition alleging Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and two dozen MPs taking a view contrary to that of the party in this regard, authoritative party sources said some persons were propagating speculation for their own interest.
Declaring that there was absolutely no issue regarding the controversial Amendment, sources emphasised once it was tabled in Parliament, it would be passed with 2/3 majority.
Sources dismissed claims that out of its 159-member parliamentary group a section of NPPers was opposed to the government move. According to an influential Opposition activist, there are 57 JVPers and 66 NPPers in the government group and the rest contested the last parliamentary polls, having aligned with the JVP.
Ministerial sources told The Island that the government was confident of going ahead with the 22nd Amendment and Judicature (Amendment) Bills. Sources said that the NPP was not bothered about the Opposition protests in and outside Parliament.
Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne is expected to disclose the confidential ruling that he received from the Supreme Court in respect of more than 65 petitions for and against the 22nd Amendment and Judicial Amendment Bills. The enactment of the 22nd Amendment would pave the way for extending the retirement age of Supreme Court judges, from 65 to 67 years, and Court of Appeal judges, from 63 to 65 years.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Court of Appeal Judge Mayadunna Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal.
The appointment has been made as President’s Counsel Nalin Rohantha Abeysuriya, who currently serves as President of the Court of Appeal, will be overseas until the 24th.
Accordingly Justice Mayadunna Corea was sworn in as Acting President of the Court of Appeal before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential secretariat last morning (21).
Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was also present at the occasion.
High Court convicts 14 over deadly Easter bombings
Mandhana, Shafali and Ghosh lead dominant India to Asian Games gold
Fatima Sana and Umm-e-Hani secure bronze for Pakistan in Asian Games
India bat first in Asian games womens cricket final
Showers about 100mm will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara Districts
Govt. confident of 2/3 majority despite NPP split speculation
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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