Daily Mail – 12 July 2023 Organic molecules have once again been found on the surface of Mars, which could provide scientists with fresh clues as to whether life has ever existed on the Red Planet. Similar molecules that contain predominantly carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur have previously been detected in Martian meteorites and in the planet’s Gale crater. Now, NASA’s Perseverance rover has detected organic compounds in the Red Planet’s Jezero Crater, an ancient lake basin with ‘high potential’ for past habitability. The findings suggest that a more complex system than previously thought may have existed in the…

Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne Looking beyond our noses Q: As a naturalist, how do you view Sri Lanka’s progress – or lack thereof – in the context of the environment? A: Sri Lanka has a reasonably good legislative framework and network of protected areas. It’s on the right trajectory but faces many macro challenges ranging from climate risk, groundwater pollution and waste management, to excessive plastic disposal. These challenges are not easy to solve; they call for a range of government institutions to work with public and private sector experts, to devise strategic and long-term solutions. At the national level,…

Dr. Indu Peiris The essence of leadership Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in academia? A: I worked in Sri Lanka’s corporate sector for nearly a decade, focussing on international business and product development. While working, I shared my knowledge as a visiting lecturer at two universities. I enjoyed teaching more and decided to pursue a PhD. Q: And why did you relocate to New Zealand? A: I looked at Australia and New Zealand as potential destinations when seeking PhD opportunities. And I preferred the latter – because I like being with nature and the slow pace of…

ESPNcricinfo – 15 July, 2023 While Sri Lanka have played six of their last eight Tests in Galle, Pakistan’s form in the longest format will be their biggest concern On July 16, Sri Lanka played Pakistan in Galle in the first of two Test matches, with the second Test starting on the 24th. That statement is true for both 2022 and 2023. It’s not clear why this series has been set up to perfectly mirror Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka last year, but it provides the opportunity to evaluate each side’s progress in the interceding 12 months. Sri Lanka begin…

The Register – 12 July, 2023 China’s private space industry took a giant leap past Musk, Bezos and everyone else today with the first successful orbital launch of a methane-powered rocket. LandSpace Technology Corp’s ZQ-2 was launched early Wednesday morning, Beijing time, according to Chinese state-run news agency CCTV, and “was a complete success,” per a machine-translated reading of the news. Accompanying videos and photos show the purported launch, which was verified independently by telemetry picked up by the US Space Force, astronomer and astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell said in a tweet. “Ground track based on the Space Force TLEs is consistent with…

I wasn’t trying to be an advocate for a cause nor starting a nonprofit but saw the desperate needs of hurting children and marginalised women

INVEST IN SRI LANKA Now is the time! Dinesh Weerakkody responds to a host of burning questions on Sri Lanka’s investment prospects Q: Could you update us on developments at the Port City Colombo? A: The Port City Colombo project has attracted approximately US$ 1.3 billion in foreign direct investments (FDIs) since its inception and these inflows haven’t imposed any liability or costs on the government. And the 269 hectares of reclaimed land is wholly owned by the Government of Sri Lanka and has already contributed US$ 3-4 billion to the nation’s GDP, creating over 12,000 direct jobs and providing…

Associated Press – July 13, 2023 Kamala Harris, who made history as the first woman or person of color to serve as vice president, made history again Wednesday as she matched the record for most tiebreaking votes in the U.S. Senate. The vote, her 31st, advanced the nomination of Kalpana Kotagal to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The only other vice president to cast so many was John C. Calhoun, who served as vice president from 1825 to 1832. “It is a moment and I think that there’s still so much left that we have yet to do,” Harris told…

CONNECT NOOSA Peter Kuruvita ‘Deep and long’ roots A celebrated chef and restaurateur with a resume that includes the roles of TV presenter, author, industry speaker, tour guide, and food and beverage consultant, Peter Kuruvita has a passion for food and cooking that is rooted in his grandmother’s kitchen – in his ancestral home in Greater Colombo. Born to a Sri Lankan father and Austrian mother, Peter spent the first four years of his life in England before his family relocated to Sri Lanka in 1967 and thereafter, Australia. Throughout his culinary career – a journey that spans more than…

Sri Lanka cut its key interest rates for the second straight month on Thursday as inflation eased after last year’s devastating economic crisis and the focus returned to reviving growth following a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).