Red Sea crisis: 27.7% increase in TEU volume at Colombo Port

The Colombo Port achieved a 27.7% increase in transshipment volume in January compared to January 2023.The Port is receiving a bigger container volume as major shipping lines are rerouting their ships in view of the Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea.

Transshipment traffic has increased by 89,778 Twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to 236,571 TEUs at the Jaya Container Terminal.

There has also been an increase of 13,437 TEUs at the South Asia Gateway Terminal, whose total volume now is 141,971 TEUs. The Colombo International Container Terminal is currently handling 306,664 TEUs; there has been an increase of 45,545 TEUs in its volume.

The total increase in volumes at the Colombo Port has reached 685,206 TEUs, with about 203 vessels calling at the port.

The TEU volume at the Hambantota International Port (HIP) too has increased by 26 percent compared to 2022 figures.

Earlier, Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA) Chairman Keith Bernard said the Port of Colombo was targeting around 7 million Twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers in 2024.

from The Island https://ift.tt/K3UAJd0

EDEX Expo 2024: Sri Lanka’s largest education fair returns for its 20th edition

The EDEX Expo 2024, Sri Lanka’s largest education fair, is scheduled to take place from Feb 9 to 11 at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Center in Colombo and on Feb 17 and 18 at the Kandy City Center in Kandy. The event aims to provide insights into opportunities in higher education, training, gainful employment, and entrepreneurship for the youth of Sri Lanka.

Addressing a press conference held at the Royal College Union Skills Centre in Colombo last Wednesday, Nadun Hettiarachchi, Project Chairman of EDEX Expo 2024, described the event as a catalyst for change. He emphasized, “The EDEX Expo is more than just an education fair; it is a catalyst for change. With the climate clock, we aim to spark conversations, ignite curiosity, and inspire young people to become agents of positive change in the face of the climate crisis.”

The Expo brings together top-tier local and international universities and higher education institutions, offering a centralized location for students to explore a wide range of higher education choices. This facilitates a swift and convenient method for students to identify the most suitable qualifications for their desired career path. Additionally, many institutions featured at the expo will provide opportunities for partial or full scholarships, including exclusive offers available only through the EDEX Expo.

A significant focus at the EDEX Expo 2024 will be on Sri Lanka’s first-ever climate clock, a monumental installation by EDEX Think Green, the sustainability arm of the EDEX initiative. More than just a timepiece, it serves as a clarion call to action for Sri Lanka and the world.

Kasun Kosgahakumbura, Director of the EDEX Job Fair, stated, “The Job fair will open a window of opportunity for participants to interact with prospective employers and look for employment most suited to their ambitions and qualifications.”

At this year’s EDEX Expo, taking place for the 20th time, Edex Entrepreneur will present “The Entrepreneurs Arena,” hosting on-site one-to-one discussion sessions on entrepreneurship, including motivation, guidance on the startup process, technical competencies, and awareness of programs supporting entrepreneurial ventures. The aim is to help potential entrepreneurs transform their business ideas into realistic proposals.

There will be 132 local and foreign education provider stalls in Colombo, with 60 local and international education provider stalls in Kandy, including direct universities from Australia, Canada, Japan, France, the UAE, Pakistan, India, and China at the EDEX Expo 2024.

Japanese Ambassador in Sri Lanka Mizukoshi Hideaki is scheduled to open the event as the Chief Guest during the inauguration of the 20th EDEX Expo.

In commemoration of its 20th anniversary, the EDEX Expo will introduce several new features and enhanced benefits, including the incorporation of cutting-edge technology to ensure a seamless and stress-free experience for all participants exploring the myriad opportunities it has to offer.EDEX Expo will kick off at 9:30 am and conclude at 6:00 pm on all days in Colombo, while in Kandy, it will run from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

from The Island https://ift.tt/8SX6O75

'Biden's border failure leaves US at risk of terror attack as he squirms over Middle East'

The US is allowing people from the Middle East to come across the southern border illegally - by the tens of thousands, writes Peggy Grande.

from Daily Express :: US Feed https://ift.tt/xSd6Uy5

Thieves who stole 3000 tonnes of iron from KKS cement factory not arrested

By Dinasena Ratugamage,
our Vavuniya corr.

Authorities haven’t been able to apprehend anyone involved in the removal of about 3,000 tonnes of iron from the Kankesanthurai cement factory last year. However, on 17 occasions, security authorities have arrested persons for the same offense. In the latest detection, three persons have been arrested for removing 2,250 kg of iron from there.

from The Island https://ift.tt/hueFiYq

Prez should have invited party leaders to consultation with IMF MD before finalization of agreement

By Rathindra Kuruwita

President Ranil Wickremesinghe should have invited political party leaders in Parliament to discuss the implementation of the IMF agreement with the fund’s Managing Director before signing the agreement, Chairman of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka (CPSL), D. E.W. Gunasekara said in a recent televised interview.

Recently, Wickremesinghe invited the leaders of the political parties represented in Parliament to discuss the implementation of the IMF agreement and come up with a collaborative approach.

“Now, the agreement has been signed. The purported objective of the agreement is to help the country restructure its debt. IMF staff and the Sri Lankan authorities have reached a staff-level agreement to support Sri Lanka’s economic policies in September 2022. So, almost 18 months have passed. We have only restructured domestic debt so far. That too was done by misusing the EPF and ETF,” he said.

Gunasekara said that by the time the 2015 bond scam happened, 16 companies had bought Treasury bonds and bills issued by the government. Four of them were owned by the state, i.e., the EPF, the Bank of Ceylon, the People’s Bank, and the National Savings Bank.

“So, 12 private companies also own a significant amount of debt. These were not subject to restructuring. If we look at the external debt, we have borrowed about 40 percent from the international capital markets. China, Japan and India are our main bilateral lenders,” he said.

After assuming duties, Wickremesinghe had been to Japan, France, England and India, Gunasekara said. In each of these visits, he has tried to persuade the leaders of those nations to persuade the Paris Club to give concessions to Sri Lanka, he said.

“This has not worked out at all. We are still trying to negotiate an agreement, and the government keeps postponing the expected date of finalising external debt restructuring,” he said.

from The Island https://ift.tt/5O1dDyI

Who is James Baldwin and why is he the Google Doodle?

Decades on from his death, Baldwin's writing continues to be read widely, and he is regarded as one of the most important voices of the 20th century.

from Daily Express :: US Feed https://ift.tt/fK0gIRs

Migrant flashes offensive gesture after arrest for mob attack on police officers

Jhoan Boada, 22, made the offensive double-handed signal after he was released from police custody on charges of assaulting a police officer and gang assault for the shocking beat down in Times Square on Saturday near a migrant shelter.

from Daily Express :: US Feed https://ift.tt/0ZtG3Xo