Sinhala and Tamil New Year customs and traditions (Auspicious Times)

Stay safe in hot weather

The Earth orbits around the Sun at a 23.5-degree inclination. Countries located between the 23.5 degrees north and 23.5 degree south latitudes are close to the Sun all year round. These countries come closest to the Sun twice a year during the Earth’s orbit. Sri Lanka, located near the equator, experiences the hottest months of the year in March/April and August/ September due to the peak of the sun.

SL Forex reserves on rise

Foreign exchange reserves are assets held on reserve by a Central Bank in foreign currencies. These reserves are used to back liabilities and influence monetary policy. It includes any foreign money held by a Central Bank.

TB

The health authorities warn that the number of diagnosed patients in society may exceed the annual number of TB cases reported to hospitals. According to reports, there could be a substantial number of children under the age of 15.

Protect Your Kidneys

Do not let glaucoma impair your vision

Protect your kidneys

An approximately 10% of Sri Lankans have kidney disease. The Western Province reported the majority of cases, which were caused by diabetes and high blood pressure.

Family disputes and cost of living claim lives

Increasing number of overweight and obese individuals

According to the surveys conducted by Ministry of Health, significant increase in the number of overweight and obese individuals in Sri Lanka.

75 years of Independence in Sri Lanka

Record number of passports issued in 2022

The Immigration and Emigration Department issued highest number of passports of 772,777 in 2022 (Jan to Oct). It is about 128% increase compared to 2021. Previously issued highest number of passports were 604,824 in 2018.

Violence against women in Sri Lanka

One in five women (20.4%) in Sri Lanka have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner.

Year Review 2022

Smoking is a silent killer!

Tobacco smoking accounts for around 20,000 deaths in Sri Lanka annually. This amount is proportional to 10% of all deaths caused each year. More than 50% of the deaths were caused by cardiovascular diseases thereby making it the most common cause of death.

Essential drug shortage

There are some 384 types drugs that have been mentioned as essential. However, 130 essential drugs are in short supply. Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said steps would be taken to get around 130 types of medicines that are currently in short supply.

Dengue cases increasing in Western Province

During the week 49, 818 suspected dengue cases were reported in Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara districts in comparison to 719 cases in same districts during the week 48. There is an 13% increase in week 49, compared to the previous week. The Higher number of cases was reported from Gampaha district.

ICE usage increasing among youth

According to study conducted by the National Dangerous Drug Control Board, it has been revealed that the drug use of Methamphetamine (ICE) is spreading rapidly among the Sri Lankan youth community.

Air quality deteriorates

The fog or mist seen these days is not a natural occurrence as the air quality has reached very unhealthy levels and some parts of Sri Lanka is registering over 200 in the air quality index (AQI) due to winds from India carrying polluted air.

Inflation declined in SL in November

According to the Census and Statistics Department, there was 5% decrease of inflation based on Colombo Consumers’ Price Index (CCPI) in November compared with the previous month of 2022. However it was 516% incensement compared with the month of November in the previous year’s (2021) inflation rate. 

Increasing child wasting

According to the latest health ministry survey, Percentage of wasting under 5 years was reported as 10.1%. Compared to the previous year, it is an increase of 1.9%. In 2021, the wasting under 5 years was 8.2 percent. Compared to 2021, wasting has increased in all districts except in Kilinochchi.

HIV risk in Sri Lanka

The number of HIV patients reported in 2021 was 411, which is a 13 percent increase compared to the previous year. Within the last nine months of this year, there have been more than 400 diagnoses of HIV.

Leprosy spreading among children

The Health Ministry’s Anti Leprosy Campaign issued a dire warning about the rising rate of leprosy spread among school children in Sri Lanka. 14 percent and 25 percent of child leprosy cases have been recorded this year in Colombo and Batticaloa districts respectively.

Alcohol consumption increasing among young

According to the Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC) annual survey, comparison of the consumption of alcohol significant increase in alcohol use in the age group 25-39 years in the 2021 when compared to the previous years.

Sri Lanka among the lowest salary expected in 2023

According to a survey conducted by ECA (Employment Conditions Abroad Limited) Sri Lanka ranks among the lowest among countries in which salaries are expected to decrease in 2023.

Air rifle

An air rifle gets its power from a dedicated air supply and shoots lead projectiles of various calibres and shapes. The compressed air pushes the projectile out of the muzzle at speed, without the need for power or spark.

Five-year-old boy killed in air rifle tragedy

A five-year-old boy from Detagamuwa in Kataragama who received serious injuries on Wednesday (16) when an air rifle misfired, succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of last morning at the Karapitiya teaching hospital in Galle.

Human- Elephant conflict no end

According to the data of the Department of Wildlife Conservation, about 350 elephants die every year due to human-elephant conflict and more than 10 human lives are lost.

Diabetes can no longer be ignored

Over 500 million suffer from diabetes worldwide while 2.1 million are in Sri Lanka. This ailment has no particular age category and Type 2 diabetes has become very common in Sri Lanka.

Wild animals destroy over 100 million coconuts annually

According to a study by the research team of the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agricultural and Training Institute, monkeys and squirrels cause the country to lose 107 million coconuts annually from the coconut plantations.

Recent gun-related violence incidents reported in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has seen a spike in gun-related violence recently allegedly involving rival underworld gangs connected to drug trafficking and other criminal activities.