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☆ At a Holi festival in Brooklyn, tradition and contemporary celebration create a colorful union
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Sheetal Banchariya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The Hindu festival Holi has become more popular and inclusive, especially in the Indian diaspora. The Hindu festival of colors, observed as Holi in India and Fagu Purnima in Nepal, holds immense cultural significance for South Asians. "There were not many or any events celebrating Holi at that time, despite a considerable number of Indians living in Jackson Heights," she said. He said that over the years he'd seen Indians, Pakistanis, Nepalese, Bhutanese, Sri Lankans, African Americans, and Irish people attending his Holi event. Love was in the air at the Holi celebration.

Persons: —, Fagu, bhalle, gulab jamun, I'd, Sheetal, Zayira Ray, Uma Kapoor, Kapoor, Manny Singh, Jarrod Fox, Festivalgoers, Akash Sheth, Sheth, Singh, Elise Young, Elise's Bodyshop, Carmen Perez, Young, who's, Vijay Satnarine, It's, Satnarine, Love, Lord Vishnu, King Hiranyakashipu, Prahlad, Hiranyakashipu's, Holika, Radha Rani, Lord Krishna Organizations: Service, BI, Morgan, Morgan Stanley's IT, Google, Hindu American Foundation, gulal, Apple Locations: Brooklyn , New York, India, Fagu Purnima, Nepal, New York, Asian, Queens , New York, Jackson Heights, Jersey, New York City, Morgan Stanley's, City, Brooklyn, Sri Lankans, African, Connecticut, Massachusetts, London, Wales

☆ Will Memes About Politicians Now Get Sri Lankans Thrown in Jail?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Pamodi Waravita | Mujib Mashal | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Even in the darkest of times, Sri Lankans held on to their humor. In 2022, when the island nation’s economy collapsed and the government announced a QR code system to ration gasoline, a meme spread online: “Scanning Fuel QR Code Now Makes You Forget Last Three Months.”And when public anger forced the strongman president to flee his palace, with protesters venturing inside to fry snacks in his kitchen and jump into his pool, another meme captured the mood upon their departure: “We Are Leaving. The Key Is Under the Flower Pot.”It is this kind of online expression, which helped fuel the largest citizens’ movement in Sri Lanka in decades, that activists and rights groups fear is now endangered. They are concerned about a new law, the Online Safety Act, that gives the government wide-ranging powers to deem speech on social media to be “prohibited statements.” Under the law, a committee appointed by the president will rule on what is prohibited, and violations could bring penalties ranging from fines of hundreds of dollars to years in prison.

Persons: ” Locations: Sri Lankans, Sri Lanka

☆ Sri Lanka passes controversial bill to regulate online content
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Rhea Mogul | Morayo Ogunbayo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Sri Lanka’s lawmakers passed a bill on Wednesday regulating internet use among its citizens, in a move that has sparked fears among rights groups of a free speech crackdown. “Sri Lanka is still reeling from an economic crisis partly caused by misgovernment and failures of accountability,” said Human Rights Watch Deputy Asia Director Meenakshi Ganguly in a statement Tuesday. Then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was forced to flee the country after angry protesters, who blamed him for the financial situation, stormed his residence. But rights groups have accused him of cracking down on dissent and silencing protesters. “Sri Lanka’s repressive laws have facilitated widespread human rights violations for decades and contributed to economic and political crises,” said Ganguly.

Persons: ”, Lanka’s, Meenakshi Ganguly, “, Wickremesinghe, Jeff Paine, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Rajapaksa, Ganguly Organizations: CNN, Safety, Rights Watch, Asia Internet Coalition, United Nations Human Rights Locations: Lanka’s, Sri Lanka, Lankans

☆ Australia relieved as captain Cummins finds form
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The very idea of Cummins being on the chopping block was mystifying to legspinner Zampa, who was adamant there was no heat coming from within the team. The win lifted Australia off the bottom of the World Cup standings before they take on Pakistan, who lie fourth, in Bengaluru on Friday. Zampa said the mood had been "flat" in the changing room after the first two losses but things could change quickly. "It's a World Cup, so get on a roll. Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Pat Cummins, Spinner Adam Zampa, Cummins, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, David Warner, Perera, Wellalage, Michael Clarke, legspinner Zampa, Zampa, what's, Travis, Mitchell Marsh, Ian Ransom, Peter Rutherford Organizations: South, Cummins, Sri, Australia, Pakistan, Thomson Locations: Sri Lanka, India, South Africa, Australia, Pakistan, Bengaluru, Sri, Bangalore, Melbourne

HANGZHOU, China (AP) — The Asian Games offer a preview of what could soon be coming to the Olympics. India's women won the gold medal on Monday at the Asian Games, defeating Sri Lanka in the 20-overs format. WORLD RECORDIndia set the first world record of the Asian Games in the 10-meter team rifle event. NORTH KOREA MEDALNorth Korea, appearing in its first international multi-sport event since the 2018 Asian Games, took bronze on Sunday in judo. The Asian Games involves about 12,400 competitors from 45 nations and territories with 481 gold medals on the line.

Persons: That's, Sri Lankans, Minnu Mani, Hashan Tillakaratne, Cricket's, Rudrankksh Patil, Divyansh, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Chae Kwanglin, ___ Organizations: Games, Los Angeles Games, Brisbane, Asian Games, Sri, Bangladesh, ”, Asian, Cricket, Olympic, IOC, Olympics, Paris Games, WORLD, Indian, NORTH KOREA, China Locations: HANGZHOU, China, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, ” Bangladesh, North Korea, CHINA, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia

☆ Sri Lankan food and chefs finally get global recognition
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Zinara Rathnayake | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The tourism connectionThe increased visibility of Sri Lankan cuisine has “been a long time coming,” Meewalla says. “This continuous online exposure makes people try out Sri Lankan food in restaurants.”Diverse influencesToday, more and more Sri Lankan chefs across the world are championing Sri Lankan food while defying common misconceptions about the cuisine. “It has helped change the global perception that Sri Lankan food is different from Indian food, and it’s not only a lot of curries paired with rice,” Williams says. Meewella points out that Sri Lankan cuisine is also heavily plant-based with many vegan options, which helps the cuisine stand out and resonate with global audiences. I cannot wait for casual Sri Lankan food to become a nationwide craving across America.”

Persons: Kolamba, Aushi Meewella, ” Meewalla, ”, Meewella, Dhayanie Williams, “ We’ve, it’s, ” Williams, Sam Fore, Bruno Morandi, “, Williams, Brian Senaratne, Curry Bowl’s, We’ve Organizations: CNN, Sri, MasterChef, Masterchef, Bank, Curry Bowl Locations: London’s Soho, Sri Lankan, Sri Lanka, London, Sri, Lankans, Lankan, Kolamba, Tamil, Sri Lankans, American, Lexington , Kentucky, Lexington, Uppuveli, Nadodi, Kuala Lumpur, Zagreb, Croatia, America

☆ Sri Lanka readies ailing Thai elephant for flight home
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"But he is very gentle and obedient, which has made it easier to try and get him used to the process." Since he was gifted to Sri Lanka in 2001, the elephant, often used to carry Buddhist relics in processions, has spent most of his time at a Buddhist temple in Kalutara, about 75 km (47 miles) from Colombo, the commercial capital. Perera, who oversees his care, along with a mahout and other staff, said he would probably need hydrotherapy facilities that Sri Lanka lacks to restore full movement. Thailand will pay for the elephant's journey home, while Sri Lanka has footed the cost of his medical care and food, which runs into about 400 kg (882 lb) a day. The pachyderm is expected to return to Sri Lanka after treatment, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has said, and animal welfare activists hope he will be sent to a sanctuary.

Persons: Read, Sak Surin, Madusha Perera, Muthu Raja, Chiang Mai, Perera, Dinesh Gunawardena, Uditha Jayasinghe, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Sri, Thomson Locations: Sak Surin, Sri Lanka, Thai, Thailand, Colombo, Sri, COLOMBO, Sri Lankans, Chiang, Kalutara, Lanka

☆ Fortune teller sees bleak future as Sri Lankans celebrate new year
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Uditha Jayasinghe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

About 85% of Sri Lanka's 22 million population celebrate the New Year on April 14, observing auspicious times and visiting family. Sri Lanka's economic meltdown, triggered by a severe foreign exchange shortage, low tax revenues and high debt, has seen the cost of living soar. Sri Lanka secured an IMF bailout last month but is still ironing out how to restructure debt owed to bilateral creditors and bondholders. His power bill has jumped 29,000 rupees per month to 105,578 now after big increases in tariffs. Fortune teller Chandani hopes things will improve in the new year.

[1/5] A general view of a main market is seen, after The International Monetary Fund's executive board approved a $3 billion, in Colombo, Sri Lanka March 21, 2023. REUTERS/Dinuka LiyanawatteCOLOMBO, March 21 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka will receive the first tranche of about $330 million from the International Monetary Fund in the next two days, and, going forward, disbursements would be tied to reviews that take place every six months, an IMF official said on Tuesday. Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, Asia and Pacific Department at IMF, said debt sustainability was one of the key criteria for the IMF to approve a bailout for any economy. International dollar bonds issued by the country soared following the IMF package approval. The biggest bilateral creditors, including China, India and Japan, have guaranteed support to Sri Lanka in its efforts to put the economy back on track.

CNN —Sri Lanka on Monday secured a much-anticipated loan of about $3 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as the South Asian nation navigates its worst financial crisis in decades. The deal, nearly a year in the making, will aim to “restore macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability” and “unlock Sri Lanka’s growth potential,” the IMF said in a statement. In July last year, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said Sri Lanka is “bankrupt,” adding negotiations with the IMF were “difficult.”Monday’s loan approval will provide much-needed respite for the nation as it faces an uphill climb to revive its flailing economy. The IMF will immediately disburse an initial $333 million to Sri Lanka, with more funds to follow in the coming months. “For Sri Lanka to overcome the crisis, swift and timely implementation of the EFF-supported program with strong ownership for the reforms is critical,” IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva said in a statement.

☆ Sri Lanka investment board approves $442 mln Adani Green wind power plants
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

COLOMBO, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's Board of Investment on Wednesday approved two wind power plants by India's Adani Green Energy Ltd (ADNA.NS) with a total investment of $442 million, a statement issued by the board said. "The two wind power plants of 350 MW are scheduled to be commissioned in two years and accordingly, they will be added to the national grid by 2025," the statement added. The Adani Group has denied any wrongdoing. The Sri Lankan Board of Investment statement said the Adani wind power project will generate 1,500 to 2,000 new job opportunities. Sri Lanka also aims to export renewable energy from its northern areas to southern India.

☆ Sri Lanka hikes power prices by 66% hoping to gain IMF support
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Sri Lanka increased electricity prices by 66% on Thursday, in a move that the government hoped would persuade the International Monetary Fund to provide urgent support for its crisis stricken economy. The scale of the price rise will heap misery on Sri Lankans already struggling with inflation running at 54.2%. "We know that this will be hard on the public, especially the poor but Sri Lanka is caught in a financial crisis and we have no choice but to move towards cost reflective pricing," Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera told reporters. "We hope that with this step Sri Lanka has moved closer to getting the IMF programme." The size of the price rise was confirmed by a Ceylon Electricity Board official.

☆ Sri Lanka seen returning to growth by year-end, president says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

COLOMBO, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's economy is expected to grow again from the end of this year and the government wants the country to exit bankruptcy by 2026, President Ranil Wickremesinghe told parliament on Wednesday. Wickremesinghe said the government could turn around the economy if Sri Lankans tolerated high direct taxes for another six months. Wickremesinghe said the aim was to reduce inflation to single digits by the end of the year. Sri Lanka's key inflation rate, the Colombo Consumer Price Index (LKCCPI=ECI), eased to 54.2% in January from 57.2% in December. Reporting by Uditha Jayasinghe; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Raju GopalakrishnanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

[1/3] Drivers push auto rickshaws in a line to buy petrol from a fuel station amid Sri Lanka's economic crisis, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, July 29, 2022. India's foreign ministry did not respond to questions from Reuters on its plans and strategic aims in Sri Lanka. New Delhi has long been concerned about China's clout in its neighbourhood, including Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. "And as far as Sri Lanka is concerned, we don't want to contribute to any escalation of tension between any countries." "Sri Lanka has clearly benefited from being the closest neighbour to the most powerful country in the region.

☆ Sri Lanka's cancer patients struggle amid economic chaos
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The 32-year-old vegetable farmer was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2021 and started receiving treatment earlier this year just as Sri Lanka's economy went into free-fall. Amid crippling fuel scarcity and weeks of unrest, Kumarasinghe said he was unable to travel the 155 km (96 miles) between his home and Sri Lanka's main cancer hospital on the outskirts of the country's largest city, Colombo, for treatment. Kumarasinghe is among hundreds of cancer patients who have had their treatment upended by Sri Lanka's worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948. Hospitals countrywide have struggled to contend with severe drug shortages, which have worsened over the last eight months, a representative of Sri Lanka's largest doctors union told Reuters. Sri Lanka's health ministry and senior health officials did not respond to calls from Reuters.

☆ Exclusive: Sri Lanka expects up to $8 bln more in loans, asset restructuring
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Uditha Jayasinghe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Ali Sabry speaks during an interview with Reuters at his office, in Colombo, Sri Lanka December 14, 2022. Sabry said Sri Lanka was still waiting for "letters of assurance" for debt restructuring from its largest bilateral creditor China, as well as India. The two countries have backed the restructuring efforts and Sri Lanka has shared documents and data with them, he said. Overall, Sri Lanka's economy has improved with essential imports such as fuel and food becoming regular, Sabry said. "So that should start in the next quarter of next year with the IMF loan coming in, other multilateral agencies coming in.

☆ Asia's year in review: Who had it good — and who had it bad — in 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Curtis Chin | Jose Collazo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

As the new year approaches, we turn again to our annual look at Asia's winners and losers. Government and business leaders in every major economy — China now included — may well hope 2023 is the year when draconian pandemic-related lockdowns become a matter of history. Underscoring the Taiwanese tech industry's critical role, a Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA)/Boston Consulting Group 2021 study found that 92% of the world's most advanced semiconductor manufacturing capacity is located in Taiwan. With numbers like those, Taiwan's semiconductor industry ends the year on the move, still building ties and winning growing support from business and government in the United States and elsewhere. Mixed Year: Asia's 'love' for cryptoAs in much of the world, investors in Asia — once bedazzled if not bewitched by the crypto industry — end the year in a mixed mood.

☆ Sri Lankans yearn for answers on relatives who disappeared in civil war
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Jeevan Ravindran | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/7] A woman holds up a photo of her missing relative during a protest in Kilinochchi, Northern Province, Sri Lanka, August 12, 2022. Thousands of people, mostly Tamils, went missing duringthe civil war in what were known as "enforced disappearances". The instances of enforced disappearances in Sri Lanka rank among the world's highest, with human rights group Amnesty International estimating them to number between 60,000 and 100,000 since the late 1980s. Sri Lanka says it remains committed to pursuing tangible progress on human rights through domestic institutions. Mahesh Katundala, chairman of the Office on Missing Persons, defended the institution against criticism that it was not doing enough.

☆ Sri Lanka passes constitutional amendment aimed at trimming presidential powers
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Uditha Jayasinghe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

COLOMBO, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's parliament on Friday passed a constitutional amendment aimed at trimming presidential powers, beefing up anti-corruption safeguards and helping to find a way out of the country's worst financial crisis since independence. Sri Lanka has struggled for months to find enough dollars to pay for essential imports such as fuel, food, cooking gas and medicine. Opposition parties and civil society representatives, however, have slammed the amendment as not far-reaching enough in promoting accountability and reducing government powers. "This is just tinkering with presidential powers and the amendment does not implement significant change," said Bhavani Fonseka, a senior researcher at the Centre for Policy Alternatives, a Colombo-based think tank. "The president still retains the power to prorogue parliament, to hold ministries and the constitutional council will still have mostly government appointees."

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