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Deviating from present path of recovery could lead to another economic collapse – President
In a special statement to Parliament today (13), President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized the critical role of the government’s program, backed by assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and debt restructuring, in rebuilding the collapsed Sri Lankan economy. The President warned that deviating from this path could lead to another economic collapse, urging caution against the allure of political fairy tales.
President Wickremesinghe highlighted the success achieved through the proper handling of two fundamental factors: securing the support of the IMF and implementing debt restructuring. He asserted that by continuing this program, Sri Lanka has the potential to evolve into a developed nation.
The President announced that the approval of the second tranche of the IMF would result in the World Bank (WB) providing Sri Lanka with US $150 million for deposit insurance. This injection of funds is expected to significantly fortify the Sri Lankan financial sector.
Acknowledging the challenges posed by various taxes, including the Value Added Tax (VAT), President Wickremesinghe clarified that these decisions were made not out of choice but as necessary steps for the country’s future. He assured that as the economy strengthens, the government will implement measures to bring relief to the people.
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Supreme Court Justice Murdu Fernando takes oath as Sri Lanka’s 48th Chief Justice
Supreme Court Justice Murdu Nirupa Bidushinie Fernando was officially sworn in as the Chief Justice of Sri Lanka before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today (02) at the Presidential Secretariat.
She assumes office as the 48th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka, succeeding Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, who recently retired. Her appointment received approval from the Constitutional Council.
She began her career at the Attorney General’s Department in 1985, rising through its ranks to become Deputy Solicitor General in 1997 and Additional Solicitor General in 2014. With over three decades of service as a State Counsel, she was appointed to the Supreme Court in March 2018.
As the most Senior Supreme Court Justice prior to her appointment, she has played a significant role in shaping Sri Lanka’s legal landscape. She also served as Senior Additional Solicitor General at the Attorney General’s Department, demonstrating a distinguished career in public service.
Murdu Fernando earned her Bachelor of Laws degree from the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo.
The event was attended by Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
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Seales’ 4 for 5 gives West Indies control as Bangladesh fold for 164
Jayden Seales registered astonishing figures of 15.5-10-5-4 as West Indies bowled out Bangladesh for 164 on the second day of the second Test at Sabina Park. Seales’ bowling figures were the most economical in Test cricket since 1977 (minimum 60 balls). In response, West Indies lost Mikyle Louis early but Kraigg Braithwaite and Keacy Carty took them to 70 for 1 before bad light forced early stumps for the second successive day.
It was Shamar Joseph, though, who first rocked the Bangladesh innings. At one stage, the visitors were 83 for 2. In the next 34 balls, they collapsed to 98 for 6 as Shamar picked up three of the four wickets to fall.
He first ended a patient stand of 73 between Shadman Islam and Shahadat Hossain by castling the latter for 22. Soon after, he had Jaker Ali caught behind with a short ball. The batter was late on the pull; he top-edged it onto his shoulder and the ball lobbed behind the stumps for an easy catch to Joshua Da Silva.
In his next over, Shamar found the outside edge of Shadman to provide Da Silva his fourth catch of the innings. In between, Seales had Litton Das caught at first slip for 1.
After lunch, however, Shamar and Alzarri Joseph overused the short-ball ploy against Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam. The two batters hung around for 116 balls and added 41. Eventually, Taijul fended a short ball from Alzarri to third slip.
Seales then snared the last three wickets for five runs. Taskin was the first to depart. He tried to pull a short ball but the edge flew behind the stumps. Da Silva leapt and parried it towards second slip where Alick Athanaze dived backwards to pouch it with both hands.
Seales had Mehidy top-edging a hook into the hands of fine leg in the same over before uprooting Nahid Rana’s leg stump to wrap up the innings.
The Bangladesh seamers also started miserly, giving away only 16 runs in the ten overs before tea. After tea, Rana breached the 150kph mark multiple times and had Louis caught behind for 12.
Taijul also found help from the surface. Neither Brathwaite nor Carty could get him away. Seven of Taijul’s ten overs were maidens but he could not pick up a wicket.
Brief scores:
West Indies 70 for 1 in 37 overs (Craigg Brathwaite 33*, Nahid Rana 1-28) trail Bangladesh164 in 71.5 overs (Shadman Islam 64, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 36; Jayden Seales 4-05, Shamar Joseph 3-49) by 94 runs
[Cricinfo]
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Global plastic talks collapse as oil states rebel
Countries have failed to reach a landmark agreement on tackling plastic pollution after more than two years of negotiations.
More than 200 nations met in South Korea for what was meant to be a final round of talks.
But deep divisions remained between a group of nearly 100 “high ambition” countries calling for plastic to be phased out and oil-producing nations who warned this would affect the world’s development.
“The objective of this treaty is to end plastic pollution not plastic itself, plastic has brought immense benefit to societies worldwide,” said the Kuwait negotiators in the final hours.
In 2022, the world’s nations agreed that a global treaty was needed to tackle the issue of plastic pollution particularly the impacts on the marine environment – and this should be completed within two years given the urgency of the issue.
Since 1950, more than eight billion tonnes of plastic have been produced globally but less than 10% has been recycled, estimates the United Nations. .
This has led to millions of tonnes entering the world’s oceans and seas, posing serious risks to posing serious risks to wildlife and their environment. Birds, fish and whales can become injured or killed if they become entangled in plastic debris or mistakenly ingest it, leading to starvation.
Plastic is also produced from fossil fuels, and is currently estimated to be responsible for 5% of global emissions – so efforts to restrict it could also help with efforts to tackle climate change.
The meeting in Busan, South Korea, was meant to be the final fifth round of negotiations but after late night talks countries were unable to resolve their differences missing their key two-year deadline.
“A few critical issues prevent us from reaching a comprehensive agreement,” said the talks’ chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso on Sunday – the final day of talks.
Although many issues are being discussed the key split is around Article 6 – whether there should be a commitment to cutting how much plastic is produced, or just try and reduce plastic waste by increasing efforts to recycle.
A group of 95 countries have emerged, including the UK, European Union, African Group and many South American nations, who are calling for Article 6 to be a legally binding pledge to reduce production levels.
“We carry the weight of expectations of our citizens who are counting on us to protect them and the environment to protect it from the plastic pollution crisis,” said Camila Zepeda, Mexico’s chief negotiator, who spoke on behalf of this group at the final meeting.
“We must do everything in our power to meet this expectation.”
Her speech was meet with strong applause across the room, but a group of oil-producing nations including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait and Russia pushed back strongly.
The demand for oil across most sectors is expected to fall from 2026 as countries move to cleaner technologies like electric vehicles – but plastic is seen as one of the remaining growth markets. This may explain why these countries are particularly concerned about any global target to cut production levels.
“Attempting to phase out plastic rather than addressing the issue of plastic production risks undermining global progress and exacerbating economic inequality,” said Salman Alajmi, a Kuwait delegate.
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