Author: Buzzer Editorial

The government is taking significant steps to address salary disparities in the education sector and elevate five key education services, including teachers and principals, to be among the 10 highest-paid professions in the country, Deputy Minister of Labour Mahinda Jayasinghe said.Speaking at an event held in Maharagama, the Deputy Minister outlined the government’s commitment to improving remuneration and addressing long-standing salary issues in the education sector. “We will present the first budget next month, and there will be an increase in the salaries of public servants in that budget. Do not have any doubts about that,” said Jayasinghe, emphasizing the government’s…

One World Duty Free (ODF) is a leading and an omnichannel duty free global travel retail brand that is headquartered in Singapore, proudly announced its latest duty- free store opening at the Port City Duty Free Mall in Colombo on 1 January 2025. This marks a milestone in the ODF’s strategic entry to the South Asian market which is expected to offer its premium shopping experience for international travelers as well local consumers. ODF eagerly anticipates the completion of the second phase of its Port City Duty-Free store by March 2025. This expansion will fully realize the store’s 12,800 sq. ft. retail footprint,…

In a bold step towards sustainability, A. Baur & Co. (Pvt.) Ltd. is joining forces with Hayleys Solar to adopt a solar PV system on the rooftop of its iconic Colombo 01 corporate office. Renowned for its strong foundation in Sri Lankan agriculture as a leading supplier of fertilizer, plant protection, seeds, and animal health products, a reliable distributor of healthcare and consumer products and a trusted service provider in air services, education and tourism industry, Baurs is embracing solar power reaffirming its dedication to environmental stewardship.The new solar installation, boasting a capacity of 168.56 kWp, is set to cover more than 75% of…

The price of tamarind has been rapidly rising due to a shortage in the local market.Normally priced between Rs. 350-400 per kilogram, it was reported that tamarind was sold for as much as Rs. 2,000 per kilogram in the Hatton area today (12). This marks a nearly fivefold increase in price, leaving consumers and traders concerned.According to traders, the sharp price hike is due to an alarming lack of tamarind harvests in recent months. They anticipate that the shortage will continue until the harvest season concludes, expected in late March.Tamarind is a key ingredient in many food preparations and is…

The Secretary to the Ministry of Health, Dr. Anil Jasinghe, has announced that the government is focusing on the establishment of several laboratories to test medicines in the near future.Dr. Jasinghe also indicated that an investigation is planned into recent allegations regarding the importation of medicines by a blacklisted company.Speaking in response to several questions raised by journalists in Kandy, Dr. Jasinghe elaborated on the government’s plans:“These tests should be conducted at various stages of quality checking. However, so far, such testing has only been carried out when a complaint arises. This approach is insufficient. Now, the government is concentrating…

Current and former presidents and vice-presidents gathered at Washington National Cathedral on Thursday for the funeral service of former US President Jimmy Carter, who died at the age of 100 last week. Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton were seated together in the first rows of pews. Vice-President Kamala Harris, who lost the presidential election to Trump in November, and her predecessors Mike Pence and Al Gore were also among the select group of politicians and members of the public paying their respects to Carter. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton – who lost to Trump in…

The Sri Lanka Vehicle Importers’ Association has raised concerns about the potential hike in vehicle import taxes, which are currently at approximately 300%. According to the association, taxes could climb to 400%, 500%, or even 600% for certain vehicles.The president of the association, Prasad Manage explained that the sharp increase in taxes is due to multiple layers of taxation.“There is a special import tax based on the vehicle’s value. Additionally, there’s a luxury tax, and all three are added to the CIF value. On top of that, an 18% VAT is applied. This results in four types of taxes determining…

MEDALS from the Paris Olympics look battered and worn despite being handed out just four months ago.French swimmers Clement Secchi and Yohann Ndoye-Brouard have both shared shocking images of their bronze medals on social media.First, Secchi showed off his prize with a caption that read: “Crocodile skin.”In the image, the front of the medal has irregular bronze patches where the colour has changed and worn away.Meanwhile, Ndoye-Brouard joked his medal was from 1924 as opposed to 2024.The duo won them together after finishing third in the 4x100m medley relay.Athletes began complaining about the state of the medals just weeks after…

The Ministry of Urban Development and Housing has announced the decision to restart 12 government housing projects that were stalled midway. The decision was made at a meeting led by the ministry’s secretary, Ranjith Ariyaratne, with officials from several institutions, including the Urban Development Authority and the National Housing Development Authority.The suspension of these projects was attributed to the economic crisis and the engagement of unsuitable contractors. The 12 halted projects include six managed by the Urban Development Authority and six by the National Housing Development Authority, with plans to construct around 4,000 houses.Ministry secretary said that the existing contractors will be replaced…

The Doctors’ Trade Union Alliance for Medical and Civil Rights has alleged misconduct by the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC), accusing it of awarding a tender to a blacklisted Bangladeshi company for the supply of disinfectant used to clean patients’ mouths.Speaking at a press conference today (11), Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, President of the alliance, criticized the tender decision, which he claims was made despite the company’s controversial status.“A serious tender transaction has occurred within the SPC in the past few weeks. In June last year, the SPC called for tenders to purchase a total of 270,000 bottles of disinfectant used to…