Madura Wasanthe (මධුර වසන්තේ) Janani Imathma | Derana Dream Star Season 12 | GRAND FINALE ...
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Diplomatic thaw in Middle East sparks hope for Sri Lankan tea exports-By Sanath Nanayakkare Iran and the Middle East are important markets for Sri Lankan tea Source:Island Amid softening diplomatic rhetoric between the United States and Iran, a senior economist told The Island Financial Review yesterday that the stability of Sri Lanka’s tea exports to the Middle East, particularly Iran, would be maintained. The economist, who closely follows regional developments, pointed to recent statements by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. President Donald Trump as signs of de-escalation. Araghchi denied plans to execute anti-government protesters, while Trump indicated he had received assurances that killings had stopped and that the U.S. was “watching the process.” “When geopolitical tensions ease, trade channels stabilise,” the economist said. “Iran and the Middle East are important markets for Sri Lankan tea. Any reduction in political risk is likely to support demand and reduce vulnerability in our ...
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Colombia sees ‘real threat’ of US military action, president tells BBC Gustavo Petro said Colombia preferred dialogue with the US, but added the country’s history showed “how it has responded to large armies” (BBC) Source:Island Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro has told the BBC that he believes there is now a “real threat” of US military action against Colombia. Petro said the United States is treating other nations as part of a US “empire”. It comes after Trump threatened Colombia with military action. He said that the US risks transforming from “dominating the world” to becoming “isolated from the world.” He also accused US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents of acting like “Nazi brigades”. Trump has significantly expanded ICE operations as part of what the administration says is a crackdown on crime and immigrants who illegally entered the US. The BBC has approached the White House for comment.t Following US ...
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Saveen Gunarathne bestowed to the most venerable order of St John By Clifford Lazarus There are many examples of people from all over the world who dedicate themselves to kindness and compassion and Hamilton, New Zealand, can be proud of young Saveen Gunarathne, who has been bestowed upon a promotion to the most venerable order of St John. On the recommendation of the New Zealand Priory Chapter, Chancellor of the Order of St John, John Whitehead CNZM KStJ, has advised Saveen that His Majesty King Charles III, Sovereign Head of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem has, in recognition of Saveen’s services for Hato Hone St John in Aoteraroa New Zealand, sanctioned Saveen’s admission in the Order of St John at the grade of Member. Membership of the Order to individuals is granted to those who have carried out their work with dedication and ...
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Feb 27, 2025
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Donald Trump declares victory in 2024 presidential election Source : dailynews Donald Trump declares victory in the US election as he addresses jubilant supporters in Florida. “America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate,” he says cheering crowd. The Republican has picked up the battleground states of Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia, leaving Kamala Harris with only a narrow path to victory. A return to the White House would be an extraordinary comeback for Trump after he lost to Joe Biden in 2020. Source: BBC ...
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Tourist arrivals top 1.6 m mark by end Oct. Source : ft Sri Lanka has reached a significant milestone, surpassing 1.6 million tourist arrivals for the year, with over 117,000 visitors registered in the first 27 days of October. Despite this positive momentum, industry stakeholders believe the numbers could have been higher if not for recent challenges, including visa processing delays and travel advisories from foreign missions warning of potential security threats in Arugam Bay. The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) had initially targeted 2.3 million arrivals for 2024, based on the benchmark set in 2018, along with a projected revenue of $ 4.5 billion. However, SLTDA Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam recently suggested that these expectations were overly optimistic given current circumstances. Instead, Hewawasam now anticipates 2 million arrivals and just over $ 3 billion in revenue by year’s end.(https://www.ft.lk/top-story/Tourism-industry-unfazed-by-security-warnings-SLTDA-Chief/26-768463) Tourist arrivals in October were on an upward trajectory during the ...
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Triumph of good over evil Deepavali – Festival of lights – By Thulasi Muttulingam Source : sundayobserver The Hindu festival of lights, Deepavali is round the corner. It falls this year on Thursday, October 31. Deepavali in Sanskrit translates to rows of lit lamps – and that’s how it is celebrated across most of the Indian subcontinent. Sri Lankan Tamil Hindus are slightly different however. We reserve the rows of lamps for the festival of Karthigai Deepam, which follows soon after. Some Sri Lankan Hindu households however, have begun to celebrate it in the Indian style now. Light over darkness It is a festival celebrating the advent of light over darkness. According to local Hindu Lore, the demon king Narakasura was wrecking hell on earth and heaven. As his name indicates, he was known as the Asura (Demon) from Naraka (Hell). He had won a boon from God that none but ...
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Oct 27, 2024
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Tagged Deepavali, festival of light over darkness, Festival of Lights, Krishna, light over darkness, Vishnu
Understanding the Concept of Grace in the Christian Life – By eLanka Grace is one of the most profound and central themes in Christian theology. It reflects God’s unmerited favor and love toward humanity, offering redemption and spiritual renewal, not because we deserve it, but because of God’s boundless compassion. Understanding grace is essential for grasping the full scope of the Christian message of salvation, sanctification, and eternal life. 1. The Definition of Grace In its simplest form, grace can be defined as “unearned favor.” It is the benevolence of God bestowed upon individuals, regardless of their worthiness. According to Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” This scripture highlights the essential Christian belief that salvation is a gift from God, not something achieved through ...
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Tourist arrivals surpass 63,000 in first half of October Source : dailymirror Sri Lanka welcomed 63,491 tourists in the first half of October, in continuing with the slowdown in tourist arrivals, ahead of the winter season, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) data showed. From October 07 to 15, the tourist arrival average was 4169.4 tourists per day, down from the daily average of 4327.6 tourists during the first six days of the month but marginally up from 4071.3 tourists recorded for September this year. The tourist arrivals grew at the slowest pace in September, with a 9.11 percent year-on-year growth rate. The daily average of tourist arrivals for the first half of the month stood at 4232.73 tourists. India continued to account for the largest source of arrivals in the period, with 18,078 arrivals, followed by 4,504 and 4,495 arrivals from China and the UK. Germany, Russia and Australia ...
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A timeless gesture of humanity – By S. U. Silva Source : sundayobserver It’s easy to forget the age-old value of helping those in need. But the act of offering assistance—whether through money, advice, kind words, or teaching—remains one of the most key ways we can make a difference in another person’s life. This isn’t just about charitable donations or grand gestures; even the simplest acts of kindness have the power to transform not just the recipient, but also the giver. Communities have always survived and thrived on mutual support. Even in the modern era, where we are more interconnected than ever, the age-old lesson remains: no one truly succeeds alone. In fact, helping others often becomes the foundation for personal fulfillment and happiness. But more importantly, it is the glue that holds our society together, fostering empathy, understanding, and a sense of belonging. Why helping matters Today, as technology advances ...
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