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UNDP: Technology critical to transform Lanka’s education sector

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Members of the UNDP virtual policy discussion on inequalities and human development

With the onset of COVID-19, the world has seen disruptions to traditional forms of education. In Sri Lanka, since the first wave and the resulting lockdown in March 2020, schools have been largely dysfunctional with the levels of online learning varying between public and private institutions.

To this end, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka convened a virtual discussion recently, for the second in a series of three policy discussions on inequalities and human development.

The session focused on ‘Accessing Education: Technology’s Potential for Divergence and Convergence’, a paper commissioned by UNDP and authored by Prof. Ajith de Alwis, Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies and Professor of Chemical and Process Engineering at the University of Moratuwa. The paper examines the use of technology in the education sphere and the future of education in a post-COVID context.

Turning the lens on Sri Lanka, Prof. de Alwis stated, “The world is shaped by technology. Education must provide for this changing world. There is a race between education and technology – if technology is lagging within the education system, we will be positioning students for a world of work that they will not be suitable for”. The paper calls for a focus on blended learning, remote labs and flipped classrooms to enable students to prepare for a future in which technology will be predominant.

Addressing participants at the discussion, Robert Juhkam, Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka, stated, “Embracing technology helps ensure continuity and resilience; it allows the education system to carry on in the face of external shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic and other unforeseen exigencies. More importantly, bridging the digital divide will help tackle a range of other social inequities such as the gender divide, urban-rural disparities and challenges faced by the urban poor. However, let us not forget technology’s potential to create divergence. It is an integral aspect to be carefully understood in the process of equitable education for all. Bridging the digital divide will open access to quality education to all and reinforce other national efforts towards SDG attainment, leaving no one behind.”

Joining the dialogue, Prof. Kapila Perera, Secretary, Ministry of Education stated “Education is a primary driver for sustainable development. By ensuring inclusive and quality education for all, we also have the potential to catalyze the achievement of the SDGs.”

The panel discussion included insights from Himali Athaudage, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research and Innovation; Indika De Zoysa, Vice President, Enterprise Business Group, Huawei Technologies Lanka Co (Pvt) Ltd; Dr. Sujata Gamage, Senior Research Fellow, LIRNEasia; Dr. Frank Van Capelle, Education Specialist, UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia and was moderated by Ayushka Nugaliyadda, Economist and Systems Design Lead of the Citra Social Innovation Lab.

The discussion paves the way to strengthen the final recommendations of the policy paper, which will discuss key nuances pertaining to intersections between education and technology in Sri Lanka, to support policy makers and other stakeholders in this space. The third policy discussion of the inequalities and human development series will take place in the coming months under the theme of ‘Gender Inequalities: Between social norms and power imbalance’.



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Heat Index at Caution level in Northern, North-Central, North-western and Eastern provinces and Monaragala and Hambanthota districts

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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)

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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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Personal income tax shock dims economic activities

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ECONOMYNEXTSri Lanka’s personal income tax hikes have hit economic activity in the first quarter though despite currency stability helped businesses cut prices, Hemas Holdings, a top consumer goods group has said.As the currency stabilized, as central bank ended contradictory money and exchange policy conflicts, businesses had cut prices. Mainstream economists generally claim that price falls lead to delayed transactions and try to generate positive inflation through money printing, though businesses believe otherwise.

“The market witnessed price reductions and promotional trade schemes to stimulate consumption,” Hemas Holding told shareholders in the March quarterly statement.

“However, changes made to the personal income tax structure severely impacted modern trade sales volumes as consumers rationalised their purchases under reduced disposable income levels.”

Sri Lanka hiked personal income tax rates in 2023. Value added taxes were raised to 15 percent from 8 percent last year. Another 2.5 percent cascading tax was imposed on top of VAT, the effect of which was estimated to be around 4.5 or more through the cascading effect.

While value added tax allows the government to get tax revenues after citizens make transactions and getting the economy to work, based on best decisions needed to drive the economy to satisfy real needs, income tax kills economic decisions and transfers money to state actors, analysts say.

Net gains on income tax therefore comes at a cost of lost value added tax as well as killed real economic activities which would otherwise have been based on decisions of those who earned the money.

UK also almost doubled VAT in 1979, also to 15 percent, cut the base income tax rate and widened thresholds above inflation to give choice to individuals, amid criticism from Keynesian style or mainstream economists to recover the economy, after two back-to-back IMF programs failed to deliver concrete results, analysts point out.At Hemas Holdings, group revenues went up 52.6 percent to 32 billion rupees in the March 2023 quarter from year earlier amid price inflation as the rupee fell, and cost of sales went up 45.1 percent to 22.2 billion rupees, allowing the group to boost gross profits 72 percent to 9.8 billion rupees, interim accounts showed.

However, administration costs went up 54 percent, selling and distribution costs went up 36 percent, and finance costs went up to 1.3 billion rupees. Profit after tax was flat at 1.06 billion rupees.Sri Lanka’s central bank stabilized the rupee in the second half of 2022 after the rupee collapsed from 200 to 360 to from two years of money printing and also removed a surrender rule in March allowing the exchange rate appreciate.

The US Fed also tightened policy from March 2022 helping bring down global commodity prices after triggering inflation not seen for 40 years through Coronavirus linked money printing or accommodating a real shock through monetary expansion.

“While the modern trade channels witnessed a slow down due to the adverse impact of the tax reforms and high cost of credit on the middle-class urban population, the general trade channels experienced significant growth and increased foot fall,” Hemas told shareholders.

“The decline in global commodity prices in the second half of the year, enabled the business to make price reductions across the portfolio.

“However, the benefit of appreciation of the Sri Lankan Rupee in March 2023 was not seen during the quarter due to the lag effect but is expected to realise in the quarters to come, provided the current economic conditions prevail.”

Hemas is also has operations in Bangladesh where the central bank is also buying up government securities with tenors as long at 20 years to mis-target the interest rate, triggering forex shortages and depreciating the Taka, according to analysts who study the country.

Inflation had hit 9.3 percent in Bangladesh by March.

“In the face of numerous challenges including slowdown in the global economy, depreciation in Taka, heightened inflation and depleting foreign currency reserves, the country entered an IMF programme in January 2023,” the firm said.

“The value-added hair oil market witnessed a degrowth, as consumers curbed consumption in many non-essential items and switched to value-for-money alternatives.”

Mainstream economists mis-target rates to boost growth known as either monetary stimulus or bridging an output gap, though the effort result in instability and economic contractions.

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