This year, there was a decrease in the number of students who sat for the G.C.E. (A/L) Examination compared to the past two years. However, there were positive trends in university admissions. The number of students qualifying by passing at least three subjects and those achieving three A grades both increased, while the number of students failing all subjects declined.
Between January 2023 and May 2024, monthly pension payments increased significantly by Rs.3.9 billion, alongside a rise in the number of pensioners from 676,622 to 711,511. During this period, expenditure on pension payments increased by 16.3 percent.
Immersion in water can cause severe damage to your car, especially to the engine, electrical system, and interior. If your vehicle has been caught in floodwaters up to the door level, do not attempt to start it. Instead, contact a service centre and have your car towed to a garage for inspection by a qualified mechanic.
In 2023, drug arrests saw a decrease in heroin arrests compared to the previous year, while cannabis and methamphetamine (ICE) arrests increased. Specifically, heroin arrests dropped by 5 per cent, while cannabis and ICE arrests rose by 28 per cent and15 per cent, respectively, compared to the previous year.
In 2023, Sri Lanka’s prison institutions have a recommended capacity of 10,395 inmates. However, approximately 27,562 inmates are currently detained, exceeding the capacity by more than double. In Colombo and other major urban prisons, the overcrowding is three to four times the intended capacity.
Sri Lanka’s Bureau of Foreign Employment data reveals that only 21% of those who left the country in 2023 departed for foreign employment. The majority emigrated for reasons such as permanent residency abroad, educational pursuits, or other personal endeavours.
According to a Ministry of Finance report, there has been a notable decrease in both mobile phone and landline usage as of June 2023 in the country. In comparison to June 2022, the number of active mobile phones has declined from 29.5 million to 27.9 million, indicating a reduction of approximately 1.7 million devices.
The majority of children admitted to child care homes in Sri Lanka are categorized as destitute children. Department of Census and Statistics data indicates that 70% of children in these homes fall under this classification, with females comprising the largest proportion among them.
The incumbent President’s term expires on November 17, 2024. The constitution mandates a new President be elected between September and October of this year. The current parliament’s term is expected to end in November 2025. But as per the 20th Amendment of the constitution, the President is able to dissolve the House when the legislature completes two and a half years of its term.
Data from the Census and Statistics Department reveals a significant population decline in 2023. Compared to 2022, the mid-year population has shrunk by 144,395. This decrease is attributed to a combination of factors, including fewer births, a rise in deaths, and a notable increase in emigration.
In 2022, 63% of people sentenced for crimes were incarcerated for drug offenses, and most of them are repeatedly imprisoned for the same crime. The maximum prison sentence for these offenses is usually six months, but this type of criminality is characterized by repeated offending and short prison sentences.
The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has received 7523 complaints in the first eight months of 2023. More than 4,000 complaints related to crimes against children related to children in need of care, compulsory education, and cruelty.
According to the Department of Census and Statistics survey, the unemployment rate is highest among those with G.C.E.(A/L) and above qualifications, at 8.3%. The unemployment rate for males with G.C.E.(A/L) and above qualifications is 4.7%, while the unemployment rate for females with G.C.E.(A/L) and above qualifications is 12.0%. Female unemployment rates are higher than male unemployment rates at all levels of education.
The latest data from the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau shows that the percentage of Sri Lankan women who left for foreign jobs in 2022 was higher than the percentage in 2021. Conversely, the percentage of men who left was lower.
Revenue from liquor in Sri Lanka declined by 2.2% to Rs. 58.2 billion in the first four months of 2023, mainly due to a 22.6% decline in the production of liquor. However, revenue from cigarettes increased notably by 29.6% to Rs. 42.7 billion during the same period, mainly due to the increase of the tax rate on all kinds of cigarettes by 20 percent.
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