Srilanka

The Presidential Secretariat has issued a Special Circular limiting the allowances and other facilities of Chairmen and the Directors of Government bodies. This Circular issued by Secretary to the President Dr. P.B. Jayasundera has also set guidelines for streamlining public sector administration while ensuring zero tolerance of waste, irregularities and corruption. The Circular outlines that a Chairman of any Government entity could only draw a monthly allowance of Rs. 100,000 with only one official vehicle and fuel allowance equivalent to 150 litres or a monthly allowance and other facilities specified by the Treasury, whichever is less.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said a Sports University will be established in the future and Diyagama will be upgraded into a sports complex. He made these remarks at the South Asian Games medal winners& felicitation ceremony held at Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre yesterday.The Prime Minister further said the government plans to concentrate more into sports economics because it plays a major role to sustain athletes and their developments.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has decided to implement a national programme to provide essential food items at concessionary prices and a number of other benefits to individuals in low income groups.A special Electronic Card (e-Card) is to be given to all chosen recipients to purchase food items under the programme, a communiqué issued by the Presidentmedia division said.

Sri LankaDurban hero Kusal Janith Perera was left out of the Sri Lanka Test Squad that will leave for Zimbabwe on Thursday while former Captain Suranga Lakmal returned having missed the tour of Pakistan last month.Perera, who fashioned an unlikely win against South Africa in Durban with an innings that has been debated as possibly the best in Test history, has since seen a dip in form, culminating in him being dropped for the two Tests against Pakistan.

However, Chief Selector Ashantha de Mel said Pereraomission from this squad was not a case of him being ‘dropped& but rather for him, among other reasons, to focus on the ODI series against the West Indies.&He wasn&t exactly dropped. For one, we reduced the squad from 16 (that travelled to Pakistan) to 15 and the coach also felt it is better to have one extra batsman in the squad instead of two,& de Mel said, also indicating that Sri Lanka could persist with the same XI that lost the second Test to Pakistan in Karachi last month.

&We are looking at playing the same team that featured in the second Test at Karachi, so he would probably not have played in the first Test (in Zimbabwe), and then ita question of if we really want to make a change for the second Test.&&Also with (Niroshan) Dickwella being the keeper, we felt that it was a waste of time just taking Kusal to Zimbabwe for him not to play. So, we decided it would better for him to train with the white-ball players in preparation for the home series against the West Indies,& de Mel added.

&He was happy with the decision and agreed that that was the best decision for him.&Lakmal missed the tour of Pakistan after suffering from a bout of dengue fever and his return means that Asitha Fernando, who replaced him for that tour, has been left out. (SMD) Squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dhananjaya De Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Dilruwan Perera, Lasith Embuldeniya, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakma