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Monday, November 28, 2011

Sri Lanka Olympiad Federation


Official Establishment 
Sri Lanka Olympiad Federation was established on 24th November 2011, at the National Science Foundation. Dr .S.R D. Rosa, National Coordinator of Sri Lankan Physics Olympiad Competition and a senior lecturer at the University of Colombo was appointed as the Chairman.  

The Federation was established to fulfill the requirement of a central authoritative body to coordinate and facilitate activities among the different institutes that conduct National Olympiad competitions.

The establishment was assisted by the National Science Foundation, and other related parties.




Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Violations in Sri Lanka


We can stop it

In 2009 Sri Lankan people felt the freedom after the decades of brutal war. Now we are living in a peaceful country without war and all citizens have a responsibility to protect the country. However I have seen violations bit frequently during past days.  A murder of a kind doctor, killing of a schoolboy by his classmate by throwing a stone, a grenade attack to a bus due to a dispute with another driver and the shooting incidents during the election were among the recent violations took media attention. These incidents are personal and not organized crimes, but are red lights about the future of the country.  Usually post war violations are not very uncommon, but most of these crimes did not occur in war areas.

Sri Lanka is popular for its hospitality and generosity and we shouldn’t let it slip away. Spiritual qualities of the people are similarly important as the economy and other indicators of development.

At present we have a very competitive education system which is exam oriented. Although the competition is beneficial for some situations if the human qualities are neglected it may train someone to be better than others in any mean by any method. The person who killed the Karandeniya doctor, only thought about money and the compassion of the doctor didn’t make a sense. Schools and Dhamma schools are good places to teach about the value of the human qualities but the chance is not well used.

Corruptions of the rulers and bias judgments given to the people involved in corruptions are other reason for the violence. Law should be identical for everyone. If the law is relaxed to some, people others distrust it and try to take law in to their hand leading to more complex situation. Therefore if someone is doing a crime he should be punished without being biased. Law enforcement institutions such as police also should act fairly. It is good to note that, significant number of violations linked with military and ex-military personnel.

Politics are important for the development. However Unnecessary Political involvements should be limited. May be the current voting system influence the Political involvement as to gain preferential votes but Politicians have to think about the harmony and the future of the country. They have to be faithful.

Finally as a society all of us can do many things to keep the peace we achived. Better start today. 

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Colombo Stock Exchange Trading


New tool to analyze CSE

Stock investment decisions are not made blindly. Most of the time decisions are made with the careful analysis of share history and financial status. There are several tools to analyze the share price. Trade history charts are one of the popular tools. Today I like to introduce a new tool “Price Ratio” another tool to analyze the stock market.

The concept
When buying or selling shares, it is important to know whether the current price is at its lowest or highest. Buying shares while at it’s lowest in a particular period may provide high profits if other conditions (such as financial status) are satisfied. Similarly selling at it highest is also profitable.
However looking at each share price at the Colombo Stock Exchange is tiresome. Therefore the new tool is introduced to sort and identify the shares at there highest or lowest price range at a glance.

The tool
The Price Ratio tool is a mathematical calculation which involves maximum, minimum and current price. It ranges between 0-1. Value close to Zero indicates that the share price is at its lowest range while value close to 1 indicates that the shares at it highest price range. You can easily sort the values just by clicking the “Ratio”
This tool is available at the “colombo-stock-exchange.com” under the “Highlights” and the URL is http://www.colombo-stock-exchange.com/#!highlights. The site provides information from May 2011.


Things to be concerned
Although the tool is helpful, investment decisions should not be taken purely based on this. Changes in the share price do not always occur due to normal demand. Sub divisions, consolidations, right issues, etc. also change the market price. Therefore it is advisable to look at those factors well before the investment.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Stock Market terms

Stock market has it own terms and activities. This will provide further information about the frequently used terms and key activities in Colombo stock exchange announcements and reports.

Rights issues

When a company listed in the share market further wants to expand the capital it may issue rights.
Unlike an Initial Public Offer (IPO) rights are issued only for the current shareholders of the company. The price of the Rights is determined by the company considering current market price. However the approval of the shareholders is required. Usually the price is higher than the IPO but still lower than the current market price. They are issued proportionately to existing shares owned by the shareholders. By issuing rights the company can raise capital easily without borrowing money for higher interest.

Rights issue information is available in the CSE Daily and Weekly repots in the following format



Company
Proportion
EGM / Prov.
Allotment

XR From
Despatch Of
Prov.  Letter
Of Allot.

Renunciation
Last Date Of
Acceptance &
Payment

Trading  Of
Rights
Commences
On

AAA
01 for 04
12-08-2011
13-08-2011
19-08-2011
02-09-2011
03-09-2011
25-08-2011
Name of the company
One right for each 4 shares
Date of the Emergency general meeting
Ex-Rights/ Shareholders who purchase shares on this date and after will not get rights
Sending the allotment letter for your acceptance

Last Date Of
Acceptance &
Payment

You can start trading your rights from this date

Rights are not mandatory for the shareholders. If a shareholder feels he doesn’t need he can simply refuse the offer by informing the company. (If you do not return the duly completed allotment acceptance form, it is regarded as “declined”)
If you do not wish to purchase rights but still want to give it to someone that could also be done.

XR 
To be entitled for rights you should keep your shares until the XR date. If you sell your shares day before the XR you are not entitled for rights. Similarly if you purchase on XR date or after you are not entitled for rights.

Benefits to shareholders
Can purchase share at a price lower than the current market price
Can commence trading before payment

Thursday, August 25, 2011

All about Vaccines


Continued
Vaccines available in Sri Lanka

Vaccine

Disease/s prevent

Type

Age

Details

BCG
Bacillus Calmette-Guérin

Tuberculosis

Live attenuated

At birth








Vaccines given under the National Immunization Programme

Pentavalent (DTP-HepB-Hib)
Diphtheria,
Pertussis,
Tetanus
Hepatitis B
Haemophilus influenza-B

Toxoid
Live attenuated
Toxoid
Killed
Conjugate
2,4,6 m

Triple (DTP)
Diphtheria,
Pertussis,
Tetanus
Toxoid
Live attenuated
Toxoid

18m
Oral Polio vaccine (OPV)

Poliomyelitis
Live attenuated
2,4,6 18 m & 5y


Measles vaccine
Measles
Live attenuated
9 m

Measles and Rubella (MR)
Measles and Rubella
Live attenuated
3 y
Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A

Killed



Other
Inactivated Polio vaccine (IPV)

Poliomyelitis
Killed
2,4,6 18 m & 5y

Rotavirus vaccine

Rotavirus
Live attenuated

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
Pneumonia
Conjugate
Before 2 years