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January 31, 2024

As part of its ongoing transformation to improve the company’s overall financial performance and fortify its position in an increasingly competitive market, Oman Air has announced several strategic changes to its network, including route expansions and new service offerings.

These include the addition of a new route, Sialkot, as well as the cancellation of operations to Islamabad, Lahore, Colombo and Chittagong. Additionally, the airline will also be reducing frequencies to certain markets while increasing capacity to two current destinations.

In addition to the year-round destinations, three more will be operated on a seasonal basis: Trabzon during the summer season, and Zurich and Malé during winter.
Oman Air has also introduced measures to optimize its schedule, starting this summer. To better cater to the Omani market and serve key flows in and out of Oman, flight times have been revised for several of its destinations. There is an emphasis on more favorable slots to offer greater convenience for direct passengers and maximize connection windows, providing enhanced travel flexibility.

Meanwhile, the airline is continuously evaluating its strategy to adapt to changing market dynamics and identify additional opportunities. This includes maintaining alignment with government stakeholders including the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism. Oman Air remains committed to supporting the economic and social objectives outlined in Oman’s 2040 Vision while striving for growth and development.

More News about Oman Air

Source: Times of Oman

December 11, 2023

When it comes to neonatal, Paediatric, and family healthcare excellence, Ninewells Hospital stands as the undisputed leader in the space, having consistently demonstrated exceptionally successful care of preterm infants. Accordingly, the hospital is commemorating World Prematurity Day, as it reflects on its journey of transforming neonatal care in Sri Lanka, caring for over 200 preterm babies annually.

Central to its success is Ninewells Hospital’s steadfast commitment to family-centered neonatal care, a scientific, evidence-based approach, that calls for maintaining dignity for all, creating an atmosphere of respect, and providing open information sharing with the family. This unique and modern approach fosters a sense of true partnership between the family of the newborn and the healthcare team at Ninewells Hospital, ensuring that the delivery of care to preterm infants is a collaborative effort, and a supported journey undertaken together. This approach has proven its mettle with a high survival rate, and increased comfort, confidence, and understanding for families of preterm infants.

To further support parents and caregivers, Ninewells Hospital also uniquely arranges knowledge-sharing sessions before discharge from its neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). These sessions, conducted by seasoned healthcare professionals and specialists, cover a spectrum of crucial topics. From a comprehensive update on baby’s health to hands-on training in basic life support and CPR, the aim is to empower parents with essential skills for neonatal care at home. This initiative not only aligns with the hospital’s dedication to family-centered care but also contributes to improving parental confidence during what can be a stressful time.

Commenting on this modern approach and its benefits, Dr. Nalin Gammathige – Neonatal Paediatrician at Ninewells Hospital said, “Having understood the importance of working together with new families for better success rates and improved outcomes across the board, we are now even more determined to continue with our family-centered approach. On this Prematurity Day, where we celebrate the successful management of preterm deliveries around the world, we take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to our families and the communities we serve. We believe that by equipping parents with the skills needed to care for their babies, who may have arrived earlier than expected, we can ensure the best outcomes for all, and minimize preventable tragedies.”

The hospital’s neonatal care sessions for the families of preterm deliveries cover vital aspects of infant care, including guidance on home care, essential newborn care practices, infection prevention, thermoregulation, feeding techniques, correct medicine administration, sleeping positions, the identification of danger signs, hands-on training in basic life support/CPR/ and how to intervene in the event of an episode of choking. The hospital also imparts crucial information about emergency procedures, such as contact details for the nearest hospital and the 1990 ambulance service. Committed to ongoing support, Ninewells Hospital implements a follow-up plan for continued assistance, support, and monitoring. These measures come together to demonstrate the hospital’s dedication to empowering parents and working towards the best healthcare outcomes for preterm deliveries.

September 16, 2023

Hotmelt adhesives have become increasingly popular in various industries due to their ease of use, versatility, and cost-effectiveness.

However, like any adhesive solution, hot melt adhesives come with their own set of challenges. One of the main challenges in using hot melt adhesives is achieving optimal adhesion with different types of materials.

This challenge can be addressed by considering factors such as surface tension, bonding temperature, spreading, and the visco-elastic loss tangent of the adhesive. Understanding the influence of these factors on hot melt adhesive performance can help in selecting the appropriate adhesive for different materials and ensuring a strong bond^{(Schaible et al., 2016)}. Another challenge in using hotmelt adhesives is the limited open time during which the adhesive remains in a liquid state for bonding. To overcome this challenge, it is important to optimize production processes to ensure efficient application of the adhesive within the available open time.

Additionally, ensuring proper equipment maintenance and temperature control can help maximize the open time and prevent premature solidification of the adhesive. Furthermore, another challenge in using hot melt adhesives is the potential for health issues due to their high operating temperatures.

Health and Safety Considerations in Using Hotmelt Adhesives

When working with hot melt adhesives, it is essential to prioritize health and safety considerations. This includes taking precautions to prevent burns or injuries from contact with heated adhesive, as well as ensuring proper ventilation in the workspace to minimize exposure to fumes that may be emitted during the melting and application process. To address these challenges and ensure the safe use of hot melt adhesives, Tec Bond offers a range of high-quality hot melt adhesive solutions that are designed with a focus on safety and performance. Their hotmelt adhesives are formulated to have a low health risk and emit minimal fumes during application, making them suitable for use in various industries and applications where worker safety is a priority. Additionally, Tec Bond hot melt adhesives provide several advantages that make them a preferred choice in various industries.

One advantage of Tec Bond hotmelt adhesives is their ease of processing. These adhesives are designed to melt quickly and evenly, allowing for easy application and efficient bonding. Another advantage is their good chemical resistance. Tec Bond hotmelt adhesives are formulated to withstand exposure to a wide range of chemicals, making them suitable for use in industries such as packaging and electronics where contact with potentially corrosive substances is common. In the packaging industry, Tec Bond hotmelt adhesives are widely used for sealing boxes, cartons, and other packaging materials. Their excellent bonding strength and resistance to chemicals ensure secure and durable seals, providing reliability in transportation and storage. Tec Bond hotmelt adhesives also find applications in the textile industry. They are used for bonding fabrics, trimmings, and other textile components. Their ability to bond various textile materials with ease and provide strong, long-lasting bonds makes them a preferred choice in the industry.

Moreover, Tec Bond hotmelt adhesives are also widely utilized in the building and construction industry. They are used for a variety of applications, such as bonding insulation materials, installing flooring and tiles, and assembly of building components. The ease of processing and quick bonding provided by Tec Bond hotmelt adhesives make them a convenient and efficient choice for the fast-paced manufacturing processes in the construction industry.

Furthermore, Tec Bond hotmelt adhesives are also commonly used in the electronic industry. They are applied in electronic device assembly, circuit board bonding, and component encapsulation. The ability of Tec Bond hotmelt adhesives to provide quick-drying and optimal adhesion allows for efficient manufacturing processes and reliable electrical connections. In addition to their ease of processing and wide range of applications, Tec Bond hotmelt adhesives offer low health issues and are typically available at a competitive price point. Therefore, they are a cost-effective solution for industrial applications.

In Sri Lanka and Malaysia Tec Bond Hotmelt Adhesives have gained significant popularity and have become the go-to choice for many manufacturers and industries. AngloStraits a leading adhesive supplier in Sri Lanka and Malaysia, offers a diverse range of Tec Bond hotmelt adhesives to cater to the needs of various industries. With their ease of processing, low health issues, good chemical resistance, and typically low price, Tec Bond hotmelt adhesives have become a preferred adhesive solution for manufacturers in these regions.

You can visit the Anglostraits website at https://anglostraits.com/ For inquiries you can contact their sales team directly at info@anglostraits.com. or by calling +60351670938 (Malaysia) or +94 11 288 8333 (Sri Lanka).

References

Schaible, S., Bernet, C., Ledergeber, P., Balmer, T., & Brändli, C. (2016, January 1). Basic Study on the Evaluation of Thermoplastic Polymers as Hot-Melt Adhesives for Mixed-Substrate Joining. https://scite.ai/reports/10.4236/ojapps.2016.68057

December 25, 2021

The Government of Sri Lanka and the Islamic Republic of Iran signed the MoU between the Ministry of Plantation of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Industries, Mine, and Trade of the Islamic Republic of Iran to formulate a scheme for the settlement of the outstanding payments from Ceylon Petroleum Corporation to the National Iranian Oil Company at the Foreign Ministry on 21 December 2021.

Minister Plantation Sri Lanka Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, and Deputy Minister of Industry, Mine, Trade of the Islamic Republic of Iran Alireza Paymanpak signed the MoU on behalf of their respective Governments. This was with the main focus to promote the mutually beneficial cooperation between Sri Lanka and Iran in the field of economic relations. The MoU aims at increasing the sale of Ceylon Tea to the Islamic Republic of Iran through the settlement of an outstanding payment for the oil purchases by the Government of Sri Lanka.

Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hashem Ashjazadeh , State Minister of Regional Co-operation Tharaka Balasuriya, State Minister of Company Estate Reforms, Tea and Rubber Related Crop Cultivation and Factories Modernization and Tea/Rubber Export Promotion Kanaka Herath, Secretary Ministry of Finance S.R. Attygalle, Secretary Ministry of Plantation Ravindra Hewavitharana, Chairman SLTB Jayampathy Molligoda, Chairman of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation W.W.D. Sumith Wijesinghe, Director General of Sri Lanka Tea Board Anura Siriwardena, the Senior officials of the Foreign Ministry and the Tea Board in Sri Lanka were also present at the event of signing the MoU.

The Deputy Minister of Industry, Mine, Trade of the Islamic Republic of Iran Alireza Paymanpak also paid a courtesy call State Minister of Regional Cooperation Tharaka Balasuriya and Secretary of the Foreign Ministry Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage, and discussed the matters of mutual interest and ways of further enhancing the bilateral relations between the two countries.

At this moment of celebration we recall the dedication and efforts of the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Iran Wishwanath Aponsu and Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Sri Lanka Hashem Ashjazadeh which have immensely contributed to finalize the MOU and the commitment, foresight, goodwill and friendship between the two countries which paved the way to signing of this MOU.

December 22, 2021

Celebrating the joy of the season, SLT-MOBITEL is illuminating the city with festive lights, music and seasonal cheer. All SLT-MOBTEL branches including the Head Office are beautifully decorated to promote the spirit of the season. Attractively crafted reindeers mounted in strategic locations will help customers and staff kindle the festivities and put smiles on the faces of everyone. The iconic landmark in Colombo was illuminated on the 20th of December 2021, with SLT Chief Executive Officer Mr. Kiththi Perera, accompanied by senior SLT-MOBITEL officials, switching on the decorations at the SLT head office. Hitting a high note and igniting cheer, SLT-MOBITEL’s broadcasted Christmas Carols in the city is sure to lift spirts and celebrate the grandeur of the season.

Throughout the year, SLT-MOBITEL has been continuously supporting communities organizing a host of key initiatives including keeping Sri Lankans connected with their loved ones. SLT-MOBITEL has played a vital role in uplifting the nation through numerous contributions to sectors such as health, education and public service with donations and equipment, empowering them through innovative ICT developments and also donating dry rations and essential necessities to vulnerable communities due to the lockdowns.

Kiththi Perera (CEO/SLT) switching on the illuminations with Chandika Vitharena ( CEO/Mobitel) –partly covered and Priyantha Fernandez (COO/SLT)

March 29, 2021

Exhibition of Construction Building Materials, Machinery & Interior Products

Our ancient forefathers were expert builders. Centuries later we still witness the formidable structures they built, motivated by an indomitable will to succeed as a nation. We have been dazzled by their colossal reservoirs, majestic citadels, magnificent temples and villages that resonate with the original blueprints of eco friendly systems. These monumental buildings also had incorporated security systems and an atmosphere conducive for a healthy lifestyle. Many of these historic sites are venerated for their holistic aura and engineering excellence within Asia. Thus the art of transforming raw material into carefully planned and beautiful buildings is deeply rooted in the national fabric of our resplendent motherland Sri Lanka. In making buildings we also sustain all citizens and build a secure future.

Construction Expo 2021 is the perfect platform where builders, architects, suppliers and customers can meet in an environment where everyone is guaranteed success. The mega exhibition is set to take place on the 9th, 10th, 11th July 2021 at the BMICH Colombo. It is more than a conventional business exhibition: it is a venue where aspirations become a tangible reality. It is the venue where construction design and customers desire to meet in a blissful symphony that will produce positive results. For the past 8 years the event has been organized by Lanka Exhibitions and Convention Services (LECS) an award winning company that has raised the bar every year in providing a more vibrant platform for all the stakeholders at the Construction Expo. Those involved in this stellar exhibition include architects, engineers, landscaping designers, contractors and interior decorators.

The expo is open to service providers of the following roofing systems. Floor tiles, wall tiles, lights & fittings, sanitary ware, air conditioning, IT systems, safety & security systems, doors & windows, paints, solar & thermal products, heavy machinery and transportation and many more. These suppliers will be augmented with the presence of finance & banking professionals.

In these pandemic times, the organizers will take all necessary health precautions listed by the Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka. LECS will do its utmost to ensure the safety of exhibitors and visitors which is its number one priority.

LECS invites all key stakeholders from the building, architecture, construction & engineering industry and affiliated professionals to be part of this exhibition and understand the need and trending perceptions of the customers. For more information visit www.constructionexpo.lk or email: constructionexpo@saexhibitions.com

July 6, 2020

The International Rotary Club has donated a fully automated PCR machine to the Medical Research Institute of Sri Lanka to expedite the diagnosis process of COVID-19.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was briefed about the operational aspect of the new PCR machine at the Presidential Secretariat, (July 01).

The value of the new instrument is over Rs. 22.2 million. It is significant that this new machine will help to mitigate human resource shortage in conducting medical testing. Doctors say that the new machine ensures high speed, high accuracy and efficiency. It has the ability to identify different kinds of viruses that may emerge in the future, as well.

The Rotary Club has donated over Rs. 120 million to provide medical research equipment and facilities to combat COVID-19 pandemic. President Rajapaksa expressed his gratitude to the representatives of the Rotary Club, for their donation.

Venerable Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero, Secretary to the Ministry of Health, Major General (Retired) Sanjeewa Munasinghe, Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Director General of Health Services, Dr. Jayaruwan Bandara, Dr. Jude Jayamaha ,the Director of Medical Research Institute Sri Lanka, Rotary District Governor for Sri Lanka and Maldives, Sebastian Karunakaran, former Chairman, Mr. K. R. Ravindran, Proposed Chairman Pubudu De Zoysa and representatives of the Rotary Club were present on this occasion.

May 2, 2020

Rainco (Pvt) Ltd. joined the battle against the continuously rising pandemic by donating Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19. The equipment that is valued to be worth 2.4 million rupees was handed over to the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army and Acting Chief of Defense Staff Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, recently. Rainco (Pvt.) Ltd.’s Chief Operating Officer – Ahamed Aroos, Managing Director – Fazal Fausz and Group Head of Tenders and Regulatory Affairs – Prasanna Chandrasiri represented the company to hand over the PPE.

“Rainco is a local company that has been operating in Sri Lanka for over 40 years, providing protection, safety and care to millions of people. Throughout our history we have supported the nation at all times. It was our responsibility to provide protection through PP Equipment to all the frontline heroes working endlessly to keep Sri Lanka safe,” stated Ahamed Aroos – Chief Operating Officer of Rainco (Pvt) Ltd.

May 1, 2020

Commits to business support worth 30 million rupees for small and medium sellers

With the uncertainty of the social and economic situations in the country due to COVID–19, businesses are severely affected with a larger impact on the small and medium enterprises. Although essential services continue, the 500,000+ strong SME sector of Sri Lanka includes industries other than those categorized under ‘essential services’. The lack of a platform to continue such businesses predicts a serious impact on the long term sustainability of a category that contributes to around 52% of the GDP.

Recognizing the need of the hour to support the SME sector, Daraz Sri Lanka initiated their seller stimulus programme under the theme of Eksathwa Shakthimathwa, drawing from the need to stand together and support each other at the face of this adversity that has affected industries across all categories. The seller stimulus programme will offer SMEs financial and business incentives along with marketing and promotional support to continue their selling and boost cash flow. This unique program by Daraz will help locals to understand the logic of “How to sell online in Sri Lanka?” and startup their small businesses locally. The platform invites local sellers to bring their businesses online where Daraz will provide a subsidy worth of 30 million rupees under several methods. As such, Daraz sellers will not be charged the sale commission for a period of two months. Sellers will also have access to their sale revenues directly to their banks within the least number of days, through an expedited process. In addition, businesses will have free access to education and training in Daraz University, thereby speeding up the process of setting up shop and starting to sell on the platform. Daraz will also waive off all charges on packaging material during this period, further lowering the costs for sellers.

“We see the dire need for the SME sector to restart business operations as soon as possible, while adhering to the due safety measures. Transferring to an online platform is the most suitable method at this point, and we at Daraz, as the largest online marketplace in the country, feel it is our responsibility to lead this initiative and support the sector,” commented Rakhil Fernando – Managing Director of Daraz Sri Lanka.

This seller stimulus programme under the theme of Eksathwa Shakthimathwa, gives a great opportunity to the local Sri Lankans to initiate their small businesses by selling high demand items like Grocery Items, Mobile Phones, Laptops, Home Appliances, Kitchen Appliances, Fridge, ACs, Water Dispensers, Mother & Baby Products, & even more products on Daraz LK. In order to know more about Daraz initiates, follow Daraz Sri Lanka Official Blog and keep yourself up to date.

Daraz has also setup a special information center for any seller looking to get further details or join Daraz to operate their business on the platform.

May 1, 2020

Headline inflation as measured by the year-on-year (Y-o-Y) change in the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI, 2013=100)1 declined to 5.2 per cent in April 2020 from 5.4 per cent in March 2020. This was solely driven by the statistical effect of the high base prevailed in April 2019. Meanwhile, Food inflation (Y-o-Y) recorded at 13.2 per cent in April 2020 and Non-food inflation (Y-o-Y) declined to 2.1 per cent in April 2020 from 2.5 per cent in March 2020.

The change in the CCPI measured on an annual average basis increased marginally to 4.8 per cent in April 2020 from 4.7 per cent in March 2020.

Monthly change of CCPI recorded at 0.1 per cent was due to price increases observed in the items of the Food category. Within the Food category, prices of coconut, condiments, coconut oil and dried fish recorded increases in April 2020. However, timely intervention of the government to reduce prices of certain food items, such as rice, dhal, big onion and canned fish, amidst COVID-19 outbreak moderated the price increases observed in the food category. Meanwhile, prices of items in the Non-Food category, which usually exhibit increases in the month of April with seasonal demand, remained unchanged due to lockdown imposed with the COVID-19 outbreak.

The core inflation (Y-o-Y), which reflects the underlying inflation in the economy, increased to 3.1 per cent in in April 2020 from 2.9 per cent in March 2020. However, annual average core inflation declined to its five month low of 4.7 per cent in April 2020 from 4.9 per cent in March 2020.

Issued by: Statistics Department, Central Bank of Sri Lanka

Older Posts

Oman Air stops flights to Colombo; increases frequency to Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram

Ninewells Hospital Shines as Sri Lanka’s Leader in Neonatal Care on World Prematurity Day

Challenges and Solutions in Using Hotmelt Adhesives

Health and Safety Considerations in Using Hotmelt Adhesives

References

MoU between Sri Lanka and Iran ‘Tea for Oil’ Barter Arrangement

SLT-MOBITEL celebrates joy of season illuminating city with festive lights

Construction Expo 2021 to be held in July

MRI gets fully automated PCR machine to detect COVID-19

Rainco donates 2.4 million worth PPE towards the fight against COVID-19

Daraz initiates Seller Stimulus programme to revive Sri Lanka’s SMEs

CCPI based Inflation decreased in April 2020