News
SJB MP Pathirana suggests jacking up price of fags by Rs. 20 to resolve teachers’ salary demand

The SJB yesterday asked the government to increase the price of a cigarette by Rs. 20 and utilize the proceeds to rectify teachers’ salary anomalies.
SJB Matara District MP Buddhika Pathirana said that the prices of cigarettes had not been increased since 2019 and if the prices of cigarettes were increased by Rs. 20 per stick, the Treasury would be able to collect an extra Rs. 50 billion annually.
If the relevant measure was introduced, a total of Rs. 100 billion can be collected between 2021 and 2022.
MP Pathirana said that only Rs. 55 billion was required to solve the teacher’s salary anomaly.
The MP said that over 50 people died daily due to tobacco while 22,000 people died annually.
State Minister Susil Premjayantha said that the issue could not be solved as quickly due to the need to ensure that other sectors were not harmed by taking that decision.
The Minister said that the Ministry had informed the teacher’s unions that the matter would be addressed in the upcoming budget and commended the suggestion to increase the price of cigarettes.
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South Korean airline bans emergency seats after plane door opens

South Korea’s Asiana Airlines has stopped selling some emergency exit row seats following an accident in which a passenger opened an emergency exit door midair causing panic on board.
The incident took place on an A321-200 plane, which was carrying nearly 200 passengers, as it approached the runway at Daegu International Airport, about 240km (150 miles) southeast of Seoul. The plane landed safely but several passengers were hospitalised. There were no serious injuries or damage.
The airline told the AFP news agency on Sunday the emergency exit seats – 31A and 26A – on its 14 A321-200 jets would no longer be offered for sale. “As a safety precaution, this measure will apply even if the flights are full,” it added. It is however unclear how the move might stop passengers seated elsewhere on the plane from attempting to open the emergency door.
The man, in his 30s, was arrested by authorities in Daegu for allegedly breaking aviation security laws. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. He told Daegu police that he had been under a lot of stress after losing his job recently and that he opened the door because he wanted to get off quickly after feeling suffocated, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported on Saturday.
Video footage apparently taken by a person on board and posted on social media showed passengers’ hair being whipped about by air rushing into the cabin when the emergency door opened.
It is still unclear how Lee was able to open the emergency exit door mid-flight.
Jin Seong-hyun, a former Korean Air cabin safety official, said as far as he knew, this case was unprecedented, although passengers have opened emergency exits without authorisation while planes were on the ground.
A South Korean transport ministry official said it was possible to open emergency exits at or near ground level because the pressures inside and outside the cabin were similar.
(Aljazeera)
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Heat Index at Caution level in Northern, North-Central, North-western and Eastern provinces and Monaragala and Hambanthota districts

Heat index Advisory Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre At 07.30 a.m. 28 May 2023, valid for 28 May 2023
Heat index, the temperature felt on the human body is expected to increase up to ‘Caution’ level at some places in Northern, North-Central, North-western and Eastern provinces and Monaragala and Hambanthota districts.
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GCE Ordinary Level examination commences on Monday (29)

The General Certificate of Education (Ordinary Level) examination 2022 (2023) will commence on Monday (29).
472,553 candidates have applied to to sit this years examination which will be held at 3568 examination centers
The examination will conclude on 8th June 2023
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