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DAILY BRIEF: WEDNESDAY, 17TH FEBRUARY 2016

February 17, 2016    Reading Time: 2 minutes

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The World Bank (pictured) has issued an assessment of Sri Lanka's development. Image credit - Qingwa/depositphotos

Reading Time: 2 min read

LOCAL NEWS

 
Development in the North to be discussed at donor summit

A report of developmental proposals for the North of Sri Lanka is to be presented at a donor summit organised by the Japanese government. The summit will be held in Tokyo later this year.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has mandated the task of collating the report to the Chief Minister of the Northern Province, C.V. Wigneswaran.

World Bank issues report on Sri Lanka

The World Bank has issued a wide-ranging assessment of Sri Lanka’s development efforts, praising several aspects but advising how it could end poverty and ensure shared prosperity.

According to the report, Sri Lanka should address its tax to GDP ratio, foreign investment, skilled labour, effective governance, and inter-regional disparities in poverty levels.

Sri Lankans critical of nepotism, reveals report

A survey conducted by the research firm TNS Lanka has revealed that Sri Lankans are concerned about previous and continuing nepotism in the country.  

Over three-quarters of respondents viewed nepotism as deeply rooted in Sri Lankan culture.
 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

 
Former U.N. chief passes away

Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the United Nations Secretary General from 1992 to 1996, passed away at the age of 93 yesterday. 

Boutros-Ghali held office during the peak of the Yugoslavian war and the Rwandan conflict.

Iran yet to confirm participation in global oil deal

Member countries of OPEC are in Iran today, in order to encourage Iran to help freeze the production of oil.

Iran’s participation in the first global oil deal in over a decade will be crucial to the success of the deal.

Italy and the U.N. to protect cultural heritage goods from terrorism  

Italy and the United Nations are collaborating to protect artefacts and heritage sites from terrorists, who fund their activities through the sale of looted items.

The Foreign Minister of Italy, Paolo Gentiloni, and the Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, have signed an agreement to create a taskforce for the purpose and to train heritage protection experts.

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