𝑾𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝑾𝒂𝒊𝒍 ( දුක් ගන්නා රාළ )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Aegrotat  (  (iːɡrə(ʊ)tat)  Degree is a type of academic degree awarded to a student who is unable to complete their studies or final examinations due to severe illness, injury, or other extenuating circumstances. The word "aegrotat" comes from the Latin phrase "he/she is ill." Key Features of an Aegrotat Degree: Award Without Final Examination : Aegrotat degrees are typically granted when a student has demonstrated sufficient academic ability throughout their studies but is unable to take final exams or complete final requirements due to exceptional circumstances. No Classification : In many institutions, an Aegrotat degree is unclassified, meaning it does not include distinctions like First Class, Second Class, or Honours. Instead, it is issued as a pass degree. Application Process : The awarding of an Aegrotat degree often requires the student (or their representative) to apply formally, providing medical evidence...

On a recent journey, I noticed that one of the CTB buses had a designated space for wheelchair users. At first glance, this seemed like a commendable step towards inclusivity. However, upon closer inspection, it became evident that this effort might fall short of truly addressing the needs of those it aims to serve. Several critical issues stood out: Narrow Entryway: The entrance of the bus is too narrow for a standard wheelchair to pass through comfortably, making entry a challenge. Lack of Assistance Mechanisms: There is no mechanical lifter or ramp to assist wheelchair users in boarding the bus, leaving them dependent on others for help. Absence of Safety Measures: Once inside, there are no restraints to secure the wheelchair in place during movement, posing a serious risk to the passenger's safety. Emergency Preparedness: In the event of an emergency, one must question how a wheelchair user could be evacuated quickly and safely. Crew Trai...

 

 

The Truth Behind the Titles The issue of fake academic qualifications to gain undue favour and attention is dominating public discourse today.  Whether it's fake credentials or merely fake news, I am not in a position to determine. The first casualty of this controversy was the former Speaker of the House, Mr. Ranwala.  When social media articles questioned the legitimacy of his doctoral title, he promptly submitted his resignation.  Was it a voluntary decision, or was he coerced into stepping down?  Again, I leave that for others to decide. What followed was significant: his "Doctor" title was removed from the Parliament website.  Some blame a "Trojan horse" left by the previous regime for this act.  But the real intrigue lies elsewhere—how did the title disappear from his professional and personal social media accounts?  Was his account hacked, or did he quietly remove the title himself? If a "Trojan horse" and a hacker were at play, this points to a...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lunch is often a mundane affair, but sometimes, it opens windows into realities we seldom consider. Today, while enjoying a meal at a restaurant, a young server approached to check if we needed anything else. Polite and eager to please, she hesitated when I asked her how she felt about her job. Pressing further, I inquired about her salary. Though reluctant at first, she eventually disclosed it—a meagre amount. However, what followed struck a chord in my conscience. She revealed a troubling truth: diners sometimes leave without paying their bills. The loss isn’t shouldered by the establishment but passed on to the servers, deducted from their already modest earnings. Bottled water theft, in particular, posed a significant issue. Last month alone, the total unpaid cost exceeded Rs. 50,000, divided among 14 servers. Imagine the indignity of working long hours, catering to customers with a smile, only to have your wages docked because of someone else’s dishonesty. What drives such behavio...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granting them a majority in the upcoming general election (which seems unlikely given the current sentiment in the country) is important. Otherwise, they might continue to blame a lack of majority for their inability to implement policies, just as they currently blame past administrations. It's important to remember that they played a role in establishing three of the most corrupt periods in our parliament's history. If they do receive a majority, it will be interesting to see how they handle their own perceived successes. එළැඹෙන මහ මැතිවරණයේදී (රටේ දැනට පවතින මනෝභාවය අනුව එය කළ නොහැකි බව පෙනේ) ඔවුන්ට බහුතරයක් ලබා දීම වැදගත් ය.   එසේ නොවුවහොත්, ඔවුන් දැනට පවතින පරිපාලනයට දොස් පවරනවා සේම, ප්‍රතිපත්ති ක්‍රියාත්මක කිරීමට ඇති නොහැකියාව ගැන බහුතරයේ හිඟය දිගටම දොස් පැවරිය හැකිය.   අපේ පාර්ලිමේන්තු ඉතිහාසයේ දූෂිතම කාල පරිච්ඡේද තුනක් ස්ථාපිත කිරීමට ඔවුන් කාර්යභාරයක් ඉටු කළ බව මතක තබා ගැනීම වැදගත්ය.   ඔවුන් බහුතරයක් ලබා ගන්නේ නම්, ඔවුන් තමන්ගේම අවබෝධ කරගත් සාර්ථකත්වයන් හසුරුවන්නේ ...

 

 

 

While quantitative easing and replacing old notes are common reasons for printing money, there are other factors that influence a country's decision to print currency: ප්‍රමාණාත්මක ලිහිල් කිරීම සහ පැරණි නෝට්ටු ප්‍රතිස්ථාපනය කිරීම මුදල් මුද්‍රණය සඳහා පොදු හේතු වන අතර , වෙනත් සාධක රටක මුදල් මුද්‍රණය කිරීමට ගත් තීරණයට බලපායි : Economic Stimulus: During recessions or economic downturns, governments may print money to inject liquidity into the economy, stimulating spending and investment. This can help jumpstart economic growth. ආර්ථික උත්තේජක : අවපාත හෝ ආර්ථික පසුබෑම් වලදී , රජයන් ආර්ථිකයට ද්‍රවශීලතාවය එන්නත් කිරීමට මුදල් මුද්‍රණය කළ හැකිය , වියදම් සහ ආයෝජන උත්තේජනය කරයි . මෙය ආර්ථික වර්ධන වේගය ඉහළ නැංවීමට උපකාරී වේ . Inflation Control: Ironically, in certain circumstances, printing money can help control inflation. If the economy is experiencing deflation (falling prices), increasing the money supply can encourage spending and prevent prices ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The recent tragedy involving a train collision that killed three elephants and derailed carriages along the Batticaloa-bound night train has sparked an intense outcry on social media. In response, the railway authority’s decision to run trains on that line only during the day appears to be more reactive than strategic. While it may appease online critics, it overlooks the deeper issue at hand and sets a worrisome precedent for decision-making based on social media pressures rather than thoughtful, long-term solutions. Limiting train operations to daylight hours may seem like an immediate fix, but it's far from practical or sustainable. Such a change will inevitably disrupt schedules, affect freight deliveries, and impact communities that rely on these transport services. Economically, this shift could be detrimental to regions dependent on nighttime rail operations, as increasing the number of carriages to offset the loss of commercial capacity isn’t feasible with the current ...

Negative inflation means that the general price level of goods and services in an economy is falling over time.  This is the opposite of inflation, where prices rise.  It's also known as deflation . Why might a country report negative inflation? Economic slowdown: If the economy is slowing down, people may spend less, leading to a decrease in demand for goods and services. This can cause businesses to lower prices to attract customers. Increased productivity: If businesses become more efficient at producing goods and services, they can lower their costs and pass those savings on to consumers in the form of lower prices. Currency appreciation: If a country's currency becomes stronger compared to other currencies, it can make imported goods cheaper, leading to lower prices for consumers. Can negative inflation be maintained? Maintaining negative inflation can be challenging and can even be harmful to an economy.  If people expect prices to kee...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A " triple hat-trick " in cricket refers to an extraordinary achievement where a bowler takes four wickets in four consecutive deliveries. While the term "hat-trick" typically refers to taking three wickets with three successive balls, a "triple hat-trick" extends that by one more ball and wicket. It is an extremely rare feat in cricket due to the difficulty of dismissing four batsmen in as many consecutive deliveries. Some people may informally use the term "triple hat-trick" to describe even more consecutive dismissals (e.g., five wickets in five balls), but technically, the term applies to four in four. No cricketer has ever officially achieved a "triple hat-trick" (four wickets in four consecutive deliveries) in an international match. However, there have been several instances where bowlers have come close by taking hat-tricks or even four wickets in five balls. Here are a few notable achievements related to multiple wickets in sho...

 

Nominating a visually impaired candidate in an election is a progressive move that reflects inclusivity and a commitment to diversity. However, such a decision comes with both pros and cons and if the person is voted in, certain preparations will be necessary to ensure they can fulfill their role effectively. Pros 1. Promotes exclusivity and representation: Nominating a visually impaired person sends a powerful message about the importance of diversity in politics. It highlights the value of providing representation to people with disabilities and shows that barriers to participation can be overcome. 2. Advocacy for disability rights: A candidate with firsthand experience of living with a disability is likely to be a strong advocate for policies that support the disabled community. This could lead to more inclusive public policies and improvements in accessibility across the country. 3. Challenges societal biases: Electing someone with a visual impairment can help shift public ...

 

The recent appointment of a former Sri Lanka Air Force chief as the Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited, the state-run airport management company, has been the subject of much debate. While it may seem like a newsworthy event, in reality, it follows a long-established pattern of selecting top military personnel for civilian roles. This practice, however, raises several questions. First, the company is registered as a "Private" entity, yet government influence over decision-making appears as strong as ever. How private can it truly be when the government retains control over its leadership appointments? More troubling is the broader implication of bringing in an outsider, someone who, while distinguished in his chosen field, is not very familiar with the intricacies of managing a specialized organization like Airport and Aviation Services. Why isn't there a system in place to groom leaders from within the company? Many successful private...

 

The Nine Arches Bridge in Ella, Sri Lanka, recently made headlines again, and it's an opportune moment to share a personal story connected to it.  During our daughter's recent visit to Sri Lanka, she and a friend decided to explore Ella, a common destination for many tourists.  They bought tickets for the train, like most travellers, intending to disembark at Ella. During their journey, a railway security officer, who also doubled as a ticket checker, approached them, seemingly to inspect their tickets.  Discovering that their journey was to end in Ella, he made an unsolicited suggestion: “Why not continue to the next station?  The train will stop on the Nine Arches Bridge for at least 10 minutes, and you can take as many photos as you like.” My daughter, always one to follow the rules, pointed out that their tickets were valid only up to Ella and not for Demodara, the station beyond the bridge.  The officer replied, “We can allow you to continue, but it will co...

 

Sri Lanka’s current Prime Minister, who holds a PhD in Anthropology, has sparked conversations on social media, where many are hailing her as the most academically qualified leader in the nation's history.  Indeed, the fact is irrefutable, but it raises a broader, more nuanced question: Is there a direct correlation between academic qualifications and political success? The debate over what makes a politician successful is as old as politics itself, but education is often brought into the discussion.  Does possessing a prestigious degree guarantee good governance?  Does academic prowess naturally translate into political effectiveness? Looking back at our own history, the answer seems to be far from straightforward. Sri Lanka gave the world its first female Prime Minister, Mrs. Sirima Bandaranaike, who held only a Junior School Certificate (JSC).  Her supporters, especially those aligned with leftist ideologies, argue that she was one of the most successful leaders t...

 

Some supporters of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) may feel personally attacked when their party's missteps are highlighted, but this isn’t about revenge. It’s about truth and accountability. The JVP is not part of the solution to our country's problems, largely because of their controversial history. Their attempt to overthrow a democratically elected government during the 1971 uprising resulted in the deaths of thousands and significant property damage. While some may romanticize this as a class struggle, I see it more as a caste struggle. Just look at the backgrounds of the first 20 JVP members who were brought before the courts. Moreover, the JVP's history is tainted by its opportunism. They've propped up three corrupt regimes in exchange for positions and favours. While the exact amounts of money that changed hands are known to only a few, businessman Dudley Sirisena recently hinted at such dealings. So, if anyone believes the JVP can transform this country i...

Yesterday, while out and about, we came across a restaurant in Bandaragama that boasted of serving  " ගලේ පුච්චපු රොටි" — roti prepared on a hot granite slab. Intrigued by their claims of a unique taste, different from the usual metal plate preparation, and having seen many romanticize the experience, we decided to stop by and give it a try. Unfortunately, our expectations were met with disappointment. The rotis were more akin to tortillas than the traditional Sri Lankan roti we know and love, which is typically made with freshly scraped coconut, chopped onions, green chillies, and curry leaves.  These essential flavours were notably absent.  As for the accompaniments — chicken curry gravy, mushrooms, lentils, and Kochchi sambal — they were ordinary at best, lacking the "wow" factor we were hoping for. To make matters worse, being charged Rs 100 for such an unremarkable roti felt almost sacrilegious.  The establishment also lacked basic amenities, such as toilet fac...

The simple act of paying a bus fare in Sri Lanka has become a perplexing puzzle. For a minimum fare of Rs 28, handing over a Rs 100 note results in a Rs 70 return. Where does the remaining Rs 2 disappear to? It's a question that has puzzled commuters and raised concerns about transparency and efficiency in public transportation. The answer lies in the antiquated cash-based system. The unaccounted-for Rs 2, while seemingly insignificant, represents a systemic inefficiency.  It neither benefits the loss-making Ceylon Transport Board (CTB) nor the passenger. This inefficiency is a stark reminder of the need for a modern, electronic payment system. Such a system would not only ensure accurate fare calculation but also streamline revenue collection. By eliminating the need for physical cash handling, service providers could reduce their operational costs and potentially decrease their reliance on subsidies. Moreover, electronic payments could help mitigate the risk of fare evasion, a si...

 

ලැබුන ජයග්‍රහනය සාමූහිකව සමරමු , හැබැයි කුහකයෝ නම් වෙන්න එපා . කියලා සමාජ ජාලවල සංසරණය වන කතාවක් දැකලා මේක ලියන්න හිතුවේ . බලමු මේ කුහකයෝ කව්ද කියලා . පාසල් අධ්‍යාපනය අඛන්ඩව පවත්වාගෙන යාමට ඉඩ නොදෙමින් වැඩ වර්ජන කරමින් ලමයි අමාරුවේ දාන අයද ? කැට හොල්ලන කොල්ලෝ කුරුට්ටෝ දාල විශ්වවිද්‍යාලවල කලබල ඇති කරලා ඒවා වහලා දාන්න කටයුතු කරන අයද ? ඉස්පිරිතාලවල වැඩ වර්ජන , අකුරට වැඩ කරලා ලෙඩ්ඩු අමාරුවේ දාන අයද ? රාජ්ය සහ පුද්ගලික ව්‍යාපාරයකට දියුනු වෙන්න නොදී තර්ජන , ඝර්ජන සහ වැඩ නැවැත්වීම් වලින් එවා පාඩු ලබන ව්‍යාපාරකරපු අයද ? බස් කොච්චී , ට්‍රාන්ස්ෆොර්මර් , වෙළද ව්‍යාපාර ගිනිබත් කරපු අයද ? බස් එකක් , කෝච්චියක් නොදුවවන්න වැඩ වර්ජණ , කඩාකප්පල්කාරී වැඩ කරපු අයද ? නැත්නම් සාධාරණ රැකියාවක් කරලා , රටට අවශ්‍ය බදු මුදල් වෙලාවට ගෙවපු අයද කුහකයෝ . ඔය අද කුහකයෝ ගැන අටුවා ටීකා ලියන කීදෙනෙකුට අද වෙනකොට ආදායම් බදු ගෙවන අංකයක් තියෙනවාද ? දුෂණ මර්ධන පනතට විරුද්ධව පාර්ලිමේන්තුවේ එදා චන්දය දීපු අය අද දූෂණ මර්දධනය ගැන කතා කරන එක කුහක කමක් නෙමෙයිද ? මේ ටික එදා මුන්ට තේරුණා නම් අද සමහර විට අපි සිංගපූරුවට ව...

Drones are becoming popular and useful in various industries, including airport management and offer many benefits for inspecting airport facilities, equipment, and operations. Types of inspections Drones can perform a variety of inspections at airports, such as checking the surface conditions, markings, lighting, and signs of the runways and taxiways for foreign object debris. Inspect the roofs, walls, windows, and doors of the terminal and hangar buildings, as well as monitor fire safety systems, ventilation, and electrical wiring. They can also patrol the airport perimeter fence to identify breaches or intrusions, as well as monitor access points, gates, and vehicles. Furthermore, drones can survey wildlife habitats and populations around the airport to assess potential risks of bird strikes or other wildlife hazards. Additionally, they can measure the noise, air quality, and water quality impacts of the airport operations. Advantages of drones Using drones for airport inspections c...