Sri Lanka orders import of A/H1N1 Vaccine

COLOMBO, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's health authorities said on Friday that immediate orders have been placed for Novel A/H1N1 injection to prevent the spread of the disease.

  This follows action to close down schools in the entire Central Province for fear of rapid spread of A/H1N1.

    "There have been 258 cases reported in the country so far and there could be a lot more unconfirmed cases," W. M. B. Wanninnayake, the Health Ministry spokesman said.

    That's why the ministry ordered the immediate placement of orders for the vaccine, Wanninayaka added.

    Chief Minister of Central Province Sarath Ekanayaka said schools in the province have been closed from Friday due to fears of A/H1N1 spread.

    The provincial authorities feared that the fever would spread since a positive case of A/H1N1 was established following medical examination into the death of a boy in Kandy, the capital of the province.

    The boy was among five people who died of fever in the Kandy district recently.

    The first confirmed case of pandemic influenza A/H1N1 in the country was reported in June 2009.

Anusha Rajapaksha-Sri Lankan Tele Drama and Film Actress

Popular upcoming actress Anusha Rajapakse who has shown loads of promise in the film and tele scene in Sri Lanka. She began her career as a Model. Anusha playing the female CID officer in the movie 'Sir Last Chance' by Roy De Silva. Her role in ‘Night Learners’ was remarkable.

Anusha had roles in Bertram Nihal’s ‘Amarapuraya’, Sanjaya Withanage’s ‘Nil Ahasa Wage,’ Chandrarathna Mapitigama’s ‘Kiripabaluvila’ and Tikiri Ratnayake’s ‘Swaraanjali,’ ‘Dehadak Aaderen,’ Piya Ranasinghe’s ‘Samanala Wasanthe’,‘Ranmasu Wessa’,‘Pemberayaneni’ , ‘Marumakarande’ and ‘Pichchamal Bisaw’.

Sri Lanka cuts interest rates to five-year low

Sri Lanka's central bank on Wednesday cut its key interest rates to a five-year low in a bid to boost economic growth as the island recovers from decades of ethnic violence.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka lowered its benchmark repurchase rate by 50 basis points to 7.50 percent, while the reverse repurchase rate was cut by 75 basis points to 9.75 percent.

"Benign inflation has enabled the Central Bank to gradually relax its monetary policy stance on several occasions (in 2009) in order to support economic activity," the bank said.

Annual inflation as measured by the Colombo Consumer Price Index fell to 1.4 percent in October compared to 20.2 percent a year earlier as the government reduced prices of essential food.

The bank forecasts year-end inflation to be around five percent and between five to six percent in 2010.

Last month, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse ordered state-run banks to slash their lending rates to between eight to 12 percent from an earlier spread of between 15 and 22 percent.

Since January, the central bank has lowered the repurchase rate by 300 basis points, while the reverse repurchase rate has been cut by 225 basis points.

The central bank said market interest rates had dropped amid easing monetary policy "albeit with a time lag," while commercial banks? lending rates had also started to decline sharply.

Sri Lanka's economy grew 1.8 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2009, dragged down by weak demand for clothing and tea.

"Policy easing, in addition to IMF tranche disbursals and the recent 500-million-dollar sovereign bond issuance, would encourage a much-needed ramp up in investment activity," noted India-based Citibank economist, Anushka Shah.

The IMF has released nearly 600 million dollars to Sri Lanka after approving a 2.6-billion-dollar bailout package in July to help the island stave off its worst balance of payment crisis.

Government forces claimed victory over separatist Tamil Tiger guerrillas in may, ending a guerrilla struggle that had also seriously impacted on the island's economy since 1972.

Source : APF

Dilshan leads robust Sri Lanka reply

India 426 Sri Lanka 275-3

Opener Tillakaratne Dilshan struck a brisk century yesterday to lead a strong Sri Lanka reply to India's first-innings total on the second day of the first Test. Dilshan made 112 off 133 balls as Sri Lanka progressed to 275 for 3 at close.

It could have been worse for India however, after Dilshan had dominated the 115-run second-wicket stand with the captain Kumar Sangakkara, who made 31. Zaheer Khan, with 2 for 45, removed both batsmen in successive overs with short deliveries to peg back the tourists.

Dilshan reached his 10th Test century with a ferocious square cut for four off Ishant Sharma before he mistimed a pull shot and offered an easy catch. His century included 12 boundaries on an easy-paced wicket at Motera.

Sangakkara also misjudged a pull and holed out to Sachin Tendulkar as Sri Lanka lost two wickets for five runs. Thilan Samaraweera and Mahela Jayawardene then played watchfully, adding 81 before the close.

By Abdul Khan in Ahmedabad
Source - www.independent.co.uk