Sri Lankan expats pray at a ceremony marking the country's 65th Independence Day at the consulate in Dubai. Razan Alzayani / The National
Sri Lankan expats pray at a ceremony marking the country's 65th Independence Day at the consulate in Dubai. Razan Alzayani / The National

Sri Lankans in UAE mark independence day



DUBAI// Sri Lankan expatriates were urged to come together and work for their country's stability during yesterday's 65th independence day celebrations.

Abdul Raheem, the Sri Lankan consul general, said that although the island nation had enjoyed peace since May 2009 - when the military defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam after three decades of civil war - problems remained.

"We are still under threat and some internal and external elements are trying to shake the long-lasting peace achieved in the country by disturbing the political stability and the country's progress," he said. "We had enough difficulties during the darker era and we should not let these foreign elements disturb our motherland's stability."

About 250,000 Sri Lankans live in the UAE. Acknowledging them, Mr Raheem said: "I salute my Sri Lankan diaspora in the UAE for their contribution towards Sri Lanka's development.

"We have been upgrading the services of the consulate to meet the demands of the community."

Sri Lankans who attended the celebrations at the consulate said the war was over but there was still a lot to do.

"There is development and reconciliation," said Mohammed Owais, an engineer in Dubai. "Today at the consulate we see different communities gathered here. This would not have happened five years ago.

"They have brought peace but we still have long roads to go. The government is trying to reach out but there are differences. Hopefully, time will heal us."

Speaking in Colombo, the Sri Lankan president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, said: "The nation has embarked on a path of development which has made freedom really meaningful. The time has come now when you and your children need not think with fear and suspicion about the future."

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NO OTHER LAND

Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal

Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham

Rating: 3.5/5

Third Test

Day 3, stumps

India 443-7 (d) & 54-5 (27 ov)
Australia 151

India lead by 346 runs with 5 wickets remaining

Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

A MINECRAFT MOVIE

Director: Jared Hess

Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa

Rating: 3/5

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While you're here
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
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  • Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
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Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

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