1 in 4 people over 25, at risk of a stroke!
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Dr. Harsha Gunasekara, Consultant Neurologist at the Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital, says that 01 out of every 04 persons over the age of 25, is at risk of having a stroke.
Speaking at a press conference held yesterday (25) he said that there is a 25% possibility of a relapse after having a stroke once.
Currently, it is reported that there are about 200,000 stroke patients in Sri Lanka.
Weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, slurred speech are among symptoms of a stroke. Medical experts urge all above 35 to visit Suwa Divi Medical centres around the country and get themselves tested for this condition.
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A report is also called for regarding the settlement of the loss incurred by the bank by submitting false documents and taking a loan of 68 million rupees and legal action taken.
Instructions to expedite the establishment of a new core banking system.
Instructions to submit the delayed 2021/2022 annual reports before the end of next January.
The State Mortgage and Investment Bank (SMIB) was summoned before the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) which met on Oct. 10 under the Chairmanship of MP – Prof. Ranjith Bandara.
The audit reports of the State Mortgage and Investment Bank for the years 2020, 2021 were examined and the current performance was investigated at the Committee meeting held. Officials representing the Ministry of Finance and the Chairman and General Manager of the State Mortgage and Investment Bank were also present at this Committee meeting held. Special attention was paid to the following points.
Delay in establishing a new core banking system
Attention was drawn towards the delay in establishing a new core banking system as per the recommendations given in the previous Committee meeting. Officials assured that these works have already started and will be completed by July 2024.
The need to start operations as a competitive bank
The Committee emphasized the need to improve the operations of the commercial level in order to increase the assets of the bank and reach an advanced level.
The COPE chair pointed out the importance of being close to the public as a competitive bank without completely deviating from the bank’s core objectives.
Accordingly, the need to establish the bank’s brand among the public in an innovative and attractive manner (rebranding) was emphasized.
The 68-million-rupee loss due to submission of false documents
In 2017, due to the fact that some people obtained loans by submitting false documents, attention was paid to the related activities to cover the loss of 68 million rupees to the bank.
It was also revealed that this fraud has taken place by giving the relevant loan amount to 49 loan applicants with the help of some officials of the bank.
Officials stated that 8 million rupees have already been received aligned with legal proceedings and legal measures have been taken to obtain the remaining amount.
Although 6 years have passed since this incident, officials were punished and the delay in recovering this money was given special attention.
Accordingly, the COPE Chair ordered the officials to give a report on this within two weeks.
High non-performing loan ratio of the bank
Attention was drawn to the fact that 10 branches have recorded a high non-performing loan rate, exceeding the average value of the non-performing loan rate of the bank.
The officers pointed out that since the majority of the customers of this bank are middle- and low-income earners, they had to be given grace periods to pay their debts due to the prevailing economic situation.
Special attention was paid to this and instructions were given to take necessary steps.
State Minister – Janaka Wakkumbura, Members of Parliament – Eran Wickramaratne, Sanjeeva Edirimanna, Major Sudarshana Denipitiya, Madhura Withanage, Prof. Charitha Herath, were present at the Committee meeting held.
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ROKS ‘Kwanggaeto the Great’, belonging to the Republic of Korea Navy, arrived at the port of Colombo this morning (26th October 2023) on a formal visit.
The visiting ship was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in accordance with naval traditions.
ROKS ‘Kwanggaeto the Great’ is a 135-metere-long destroyer manned by 249 crew members. The ship is commanded by Captain Kim, Hyoung Churl.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation, Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva and a group of dignitaries, held a discussion onboard ROKS ‘Kwanggaeto the Great’. Chief of Defence Staff, General Shavendra Silva and Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera were also present on this occasion.
During the ship’s stay in Colombo, the crew of ROKS ‘Kwanggaeto the Great’ will visit some of the tourist attractions of the country. The ship is scheduled to depart the island on 28th October.
(navy.lk)
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State Minister for Urban Development and Housing, Mr. Arundika Fernando, announced the commencement of five housing projects in the Colombo city aimed at benefiting the low and middle-class population.
He further highlighted that President Ranil Wickremesinghe has recently secured an agreement with the Chinese Government. Fernando also emphasized that housing projects initiated by the Housing Development Authority, currently on hold, will be reinitiated as part of the new budget for the year 2024.
These developments were disclosed by State Minister of Urban Development and Housing, Mr. Arundika Fernando, during a news conference held at the Presidential Media Centre today (26), under the theme ‘Collective Path to a Stable Country.’
Expressing his views further he said;
“Our nation is a stunning island that boasts diverse topography, various climate zones and an abundance of natural resources. Notably, our country is rich in valuable mineral resources and is among the regions with the lowest occurrence of natural disasters globally.
Land stands as our most precious resource and its value escalates with the growing population. Even in suburban areas, land values continue to rise. The Urban Development Authority manages a substantial amount of land, but the available information about these lands is currently insufficient. Consequently, the ministry is actively working to enhance data on land ownership.
Moreover, the Urban Development Authority has acquired lands for various government projects, encompassing activities like urban planning and city expansion. We also possess land suitable for both domestic and foreign investments, providing opportunities for interested parties to utilize government-owned land. Once the Urban Development Authority’s data is fully digitized, anyone can access information about the lands owned by the authority.
A strong emphasis has been placed on utilizing our land resources for economic gain, exemplified by valuable plots like those on McCallum Road. These principles apply not only to Colombo but to all cities, including Kandy, Bogambara Prison and Nuwara Eliya.
Additionally, there are plans to create new investment opportunities cantered around the Bogambara prison land.
Thanks to the effective financial management under President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s leadership, there’s potential to revive halted projects initiated by the Housing Development Authority. We anticipate resuming these activities with the new budget for 2024.
Furthermore, instances of fraud and corruption have marred certain projects. The ministry is actively taking measures to rectify these errors.
In addition, there are plans to initiate five housing projects in Colombo, targeting individuals with low and moderate incomes. This substantial undertaking is estimated to cost 350 million dollars, with a significant commitment from the Chinese Government, secured through President Ranil Wickremesinghe. To date, 200 million US dollars have already been received for this ambitious project, which aims to construct 2,500 houses.
Simultaneously, the Lowland Development Authority is playing a significant role in flood control efforts within Colombo. Initiatives are also underway to safeguard mangroves and wetlands.
Unfortunately, some individuals who had their lands requisitioned for flood control purposes have faced challenges, including inadequate compensation. Our aim is to rectify this situation and acquire these lands in a more systematic manner within Colombo city.
As a ministry, we stand prepared to make the utmost contribution to President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s mission for the country’s development.”
(President’s Media Division)
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