Srilanka

Easter Sunday attacks had a major negative impact on the shipping sector and the Colombo Dockyard too saw the cancelation of a US$ 50 million order due to it.Minister of Roads - Highways Ports - Shipping Johnston Fernando made these remarks while launching two Pilot boats built by Colombo Dockyard at a cost of US$ 3.2 million to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. The addition of these two pilot boats will increase the SLPA fleet of Pilot boats to 8.Minister launching the two pilot boats with SLPA and CDL officials in Colombo

Showery condition over the island is likely to temporarily reduce to some extent from 25 December. Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Northern province. Several spells of showers will occur in the Uva, North-Central and Eastern provinces and in Nuwara-Eliya and Matale districts. Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places elsewhere particularly after 2.00 p.m. Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces during the morning. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Nationwide inflation in November 2019 determined under the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) declined to 4.1 percent from 5.6 percent recorded in October on a year-on-year basis, the Department of Census and Statistics reported Monday.The NCPI for all items for the month of November 2019 increased to 132.9 from 131.9 in October.The increase in the index point by 0.42 percent was due to the expenditure value increase of food items by 0.37 percent and expenditure value increase of non-food items by 0.05 percent.The Year-on-Year inflation of food group has decreased from 7.3 percent in October 2019 to 4.0 percent in November 2019 and that of non-food group has also decreased from 4.3 percent to 4.2 percent during the month.Contributions to the inflation in November 2019 from food group and non-food group are 1.76 percent and 2.34 percent respectively.The moving average inflation for the month of November 2019 is 3.0%. The corresponding rate for the month of October 2019 was 2.8%.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday visited the Thambuttegama Economic Centre and inquired about the prices of commodities.The President met the traders and consumers and inquired about the shortcomings at the Economic Centre. The President had stressed the importance of maintaining the economic centre at a high standard to ensure that people are benefitted.Picture shows the President talking to traders at the Economic Centre.