Apr 1 (AD) Minister Dullas Alahapperuma says no decision has been taken on postponing the 2020 GCE A/L exam. He made this observation during a press briefing today, in response to false reports published on electronic media and social media. He stated that students preparing to face the 2020 A/L exam should not have any doubts with regard to this and it should not interfere with their studies. Minister also stated that steps are being taken to release the results of GCE O/L exam before April 30. more..

Apr 1 (EN) SL’s will honor all debt commitments Treasury Secretary Sajith Attygalle said as the island’s sovereign bond yields soared amid global market jitters and some maturities were trading as much as 40% below par. “We haven’t defaulted in our history,” Attygalle said. “The govt is keen to maintain that position.” SL has just raised a US$ 500 million loan from China Development Bank and another US$ 800 m tranche is on the way. more..

Apr 1 (NR) 140 persons of Pannila, Beruwala have been directed to a quarantine facility. Beruwala Medical Health Officer said decision was reached after taking into consideration the risk in the village after a family of 5 persons tested positive for the coronavirus. One person tested positive for the virus on the 29 of March adding that they then tested samples of 14 other family members. Results of 4 family members, individual’s wife, son & in-laws, were determined to have contracted virus. more..

Apr 1 (AD) The heat index, the temperature felt on the human body is expected to increase up to the Extreme Caution level at some places in North-western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Mannar, Vavuniya, Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, and Monaragala districts. The statement issued by the Dept noted that this weather advisory is in effect until tomorrow (2). The advisory urges the public to limit strenuous outdoor activities and to stay hydrated to avoid exhaustion & heat cramps. more..

Apr 1 (AD) Strict legal action will be sought against those who make defamatory, malicious posts on social media against public servants who are fighting the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, says the Police Media. The Acting IGP has given instructions to the DIG of the CID and all the OICs across the island to arrest such individuals and produce them before courts. Police Headquarters points out that the public sector is committed to controlling the spread of COVID-19 virus in Sri Lanka. more..

Apr 1 (NR) All pharmacies in the country have been requested to remain open by the govt on the 2, 3 and 6 of April, the days allocated to pay pensions. Police Media Spokesman SP Jaliya Senaratne said the Pensioners Identity Card can be utilised as a curfew permit. SP Senaratne said the Sri Lanka Army will assist in transporting pensioners in order to obtain their monthly pension. He noted that as a result of the decision by the govt to provide pensions during these three days, more..

Apr 1 (AD) Ministry of Health says that 3 new COVID-19 positive patients have been identified raising the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 146. Three new cases today were reported from Maradana, Jaffna and Kurunegala areas. As of 5 p.m. today, total number of COVID-19 confirmed cases stands at 146 while 126 suspected patients are under observation at selected hospitals. 18 patients have recovered and more..

Apr 2 (CT) Economic implications of the coronavirus are long-term and more severe than health implications, because people fear of hunger more than dying from the virus. Global supply chain is disrupted unprecedentedly, weakening supply side of the economy. This situation leads to a crisis, mainly not because of weak demand, but because of weak supply or disrupted supply chain. Accordingly, many economies in the world have already taken various measures to cut their rates and more..

Apr 2 (FT) This space is named the Lanka Guardian column. The title Lanka Guardian is from the two-decades-defunct magazine of which my father was Founder-Editor. I was Assistant Editor, Associate Editor and (for 2 years) Editor of that once-celebrated fortnightly journal. I realised that the conjuncture in which I was commencing this new column in Feb 2020 upon (collective) recall from Moscow where I served as Ambassador, is rather reminiscent of that in which Mervyn de Silva more..

Apr 2 (NIP) In the midst of preparing for elections in Sri Lanka, main Opposition leader and former minister and presidential hopeful Sajith Premadasa speaks to The New Indian Express about India, China, the rise of nationalism and Covid-19. “My policy will be to implement the 13th amendment by strengthening the system of provincial councils and thus ensuring the widest, deepest, devolution of power and autonomy more..

Apr 2 (CT) Ajith Nivard Cabraal, PM’s Senior Adviser on Economic Affairs, has come up with a novel proposal in his quest for advise to find ways and means of helping those affected by the Coronavirus endemic. The advising role apart, his quest is ours too. Nevertheless, going by the Press notice there are many areas which puzzle those who look at things bit more analytically. Hence this write up. Undoubtedly, it is the duty of the govt, compulsory as it is, falling within the Fundamental Duties more..

Apr 2 (FT) I am sure not a single astrologer – and there are many – predicted the situation we would face in 2020. Historians have identified that a pandemic has happened once every 100 years, and 2020 too has delivered – Spanish Flu was in 1919, Cholera Pandemic in 1820 and The Plague in 1720! On 31 Dec 2019 China alerted WHO of the disease cluster in Wuhan and couple of months from that day we have the WHO declaring a pandemic. Coming back to astrology I hear too many of them more..

Apr 2 (DM) As more patients continue to be diagnosed with COVID-19, strict warnings have been issued for those who are afraid to disclose their travel histories or signs of suspected symptoms. Already two hospital wards are locked down for quarantining while healthcare staff in these wards have been sent for quarantining. In the event of a flare up, Sri Lanka needs to be equipped with adequate critical care facilities more..

Apr 2 (Island) Nations are best tested in times of crisis. This is when our humanity should rise over self-interest and when all differences should be put aside. This is when intellect, indefatigable energy, absolute resoluteness and the courage and conviction to stand up and be counted all come together. This is when populations are united into nations. This is when an aggregate of individuals become a community. This is the moment of the team. In other words, COVID-19 has created more..

Apr 2 (DM) A time of crisis with the spectre of a common enemy, real or imagined, gives the ideal opportunity to roll up civil liberties to authorities. Whether it is civil war, insurgency or a natural disaster this is the case as history shows. Specially, among nations and communities where the respect for individuality is always secondary to the herd mentality, such encroachments of long held and universally cherished rights and liberties, though not always without a struggle and more..

Apr 2 (DM) Who won the battle against terrorism? The easy answer: Ranaviruwo. Yes, the men and women who battled, who put lives on the line and lost them or were maimed for life, played the most important role, without doubt. This is not the moment to enumerate contributors, but it can safely be said that many others helped in numerous ways. The general public also played a role. They took the hits and kept their faith. They were vigilant. Today, we are dealing with a different kind of terrorism. more..

Apr 2 (DN) Former SL cricketers Roshan Mahanama and Chaminda Vaas have got together in an initiative to support the daily wage earners of Sri Lanka who are facing severe difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the ongoing lockdown, many people have lost their method of earnings and are in a difficult position to feed their families. The initiative will help the daily wage earners by providing them with essential goods. Initiated by Dr. Krishan Thalagahage and team, Vaas and more..

Apr 2 (Island) Many businesses have taken a hit during the outbreak of COVID-19 and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is no exception. England had spent two weeks in Sri Lanka preparing for the Test series and just days prior to first Test in Galle the series was postponed after England players informed that they were not in a frame of mind to play cricket given the troubles at home. SLC was expecting huge profits from the series more..

Apr 2 (ST) Fall of the West and rise of Asia, was the title of a couple of lectures I used to deliver a few years ago. It was about the global economic crisis in 2008/09. Although the crisis was called global, it was the advanced countries – particularly the US, Europe, and Japan, which suffered the most and, not so much the Asian countries. In fact, the Asian developing countries benefitted from it, as the title of the lecture inferred. After little more than 10 years, here comes a global economic recession again, more..

Apr 2 (AFP) Wimbledon organisers on Wednesday scrapped the oldest Grand Slam tennis tournament for the first time since World War II as the coronavirus wreaks further havoc on the global sporting calendar. The cancellation of the only grasscourt major at London's All England Club leaves the season in disarray, with no tennis set to be played until mid-July. Devastated, tweeted eight-time champion Roger Federer, while Serena Williams, who has won tournament 7 times, more..

Apr 2 (DN) As the entire world including SL battles with overcoming the deadly Corona-19 epidemic, Sri Lanka Cricket are keeping their options open that they will be able to conduct the SL Premier League (SLPL) T20 tournament in August with a sprinkle of int'l stars thrown in for good measure. In all other countries the Premier League has become a money-spinner and SL, one-time winner and two-time runner-up of World T20 more..

Apr 2 (CT) Approaching 146 infected and two deaths have left all medical aid beyond any relief. At the time of writing, the war against COVID-19 has so far seen the preemptive responses guided under Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa's direction drawing quantitative applause from global leaders. The dynamics setting SL apart as something unique, at least up to date, is perhaps the fact there's certainly a man of very recent active field exposure to planning and executing an unprecedented military victory more..

Apr 2 (Island) Centre for Journalism and Education (CJE) urged media institutions to not identify by name, ethnicity, religion or other personal information, those who had contracted, or are suspected of having contracted, the novel coronavirus, due to the stigma of contracting this disease that is not prevalent. The CJE states that revealing such personal information can also put families of patients at risk, as well as make those from targeted communities, showing more..

Apr 2 (EN) SL’s GDP grew 2.3% in 2019, down from 3.3% a year earlier, statistics office said as the country started to stabilize after a currency collapse triggered by money printed to keep rates down in 2018. Industry expanded 2.7%, up from 1.2% a year earlier. Services grew 2.3%. Agriculture grew at a slower 0.6%. In the fourth quarter of 2019, SL’s GDP grew 2%. Industry grew 1.4%, services grew 2.7%, but agriculture more..

Apr 2 (CT) Former Chief Justice Sarath Nanda Silva claimed that considering some of the remarks made by former MPs Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sajith Premadasa, and Mangala Samaraweera, the people have to question as to whether the trio were living on this earth or on any other planet. He claimed that when Prez Rajapaksa and the Govt were taking concrete measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the calls made by certain former Opposition MPs to convene P'ment more..

Apr 2 (SLN) As a result of the outbreak of COVID–19, retired naval personnel, their spouses and family members of naval personnel and civil staff employees who receive treatment from the clinics of Navy General Hospital (Colombo) are facing numerous hardships as of now. Having realized the difficulties faced by the patients, Commander of Navy Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva has directed to deliver pharmaceutical drugs, barring cold chain drugs like insulin, to the houses of patients more..

Apr 2 (AD) SL Navy launched a successful naval operation to seize a large consignment of drugs. This special operation was carried out by one of the Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessels in high seas about 463 nautical miles (835km) away from SL shores. The seized haul of drugs along with the suspects and vessel were brought to the Dikkowita fisheries harbour this morning (1). Defence Secretary Maj.Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne more..

Apr 2 (FT) Joining in SL’s battle against COVID-19 and aware of the negative health and economic impact it will have, Akbar Brothers has pledged Rs. 100 million through a number of relief measures to ensure that its employees and the local community are sustained and supported during this difficult time. Akbar Brothers has pledged Rs. 50 million to the COVID-19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund initiated by President Rajapaksa. In its continued efforts to serve the people of Sri Lanka, more..

Apr 2 (NR) Election monitoring body Center for Monitoring Election Violence says electoral laws have been violated with the govt’s decision to deploy graduates, who were granted job opportunities by the govt recently, being deployed for curfew duty including the issuance of curfew passes. National Coordinator Manjula Gajanayake said the Election Commission must probe the matter by respective officials. He stressed that if anyone attempted to hand out appointments in such a manner, more..

Apr 2 (FT) Applicants have been given an extension to the closing date for university applications, and now have up to two weeks from the reopening date for Govt schools to submit their applications, Minister Bandula Gunawardana said. He said the Ministry along with the UGC had made the decision taking into consideration difficulties faced by students, given the current situation in the country. more..

Apr 2 (FT) Private sector experts are suggesting that the best help for businesses and individuals who have been economically hit by the multiple weeks’ partial shutdown owing to the COVID-19 pandemic is complete waiver of a month’s interest on their borrowing. The reason being almost all businesses hadn’t been able to generate any revenue owing to the haphazard shutdown, as opposed to a clear and definite, specified number of days of shutdown as has happened elsewhere. more..

Apr 2 (FT) Govt yesterday said it is looking at scaling-up production of a locally made ventilator that can be produced at a lower-than-market cost. The first such ventilator was handed over to PM Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday and will be used at a local hospital immediately, PM’s Media Division said. The ventilator was designed by Consumer Affairs Authority Directors Thushan Gunawardena and Viraj Perera and Chamika Gamage, electronics engineer from Moratuwa University. more..

Apr 2 (AD) Army Commander Lt Gen. Shavendra Silva said that a total of 96 quarantined returnees, 86 from Damminna and 10 from Diyatalawa Quarantine Centres (QCs) after the two-week long quarantine process, left for their homes this morning after receipt of Quarantine Certificates. With this, a total of 2,118 quarantined individuals have so far left those QCs, manned by tri services, he said. “Likewise, a total of 42 individuals, more..

Apr 2 (CT) All measures taken to tackle the spread of the COVID-19 should be carried out in such a manner that the day-to-day lives of the people are not unduly affected, Govt and UNP have reached a consensus when both parties met at the Presidential Secretariat last afternoon. Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa, PM Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Ministers Dinesh Gunawardena, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Wimal Weerawansa, Bandula Gunawardena, Johnston Fernando & Dullas Alahapperuma more..

Apr 2 (AD) The police have arrested 1,015 persons for violating curfew orders during the 24-hour period from 6.00 am yesterday until 6 am this morning. Accordingly, the total number of curfew violators, who were placed under arrest since the island-wide curfew was put imposed on March 20, now stands at 9,466. Police previously warned strict legal action against people violating the countrywide curfew. They will be immediately arrested, even without a warrant, & bail will not be granted for them. more..

Apr 2 (AD) Another patient who tested positive for the Coronavirus has died, marking the third death reported in Sri Lanka due to COVID-19, according to hospital sources. The patient, a 73-year-old from Maradana, had tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday while receiving treatment at Sri Jayawardenapura General Hospital. However, later in the evening, he had succumbed to the virus on admission to IDH in Angoda, more..

Apr 2 (DM) Health Ministry has reported that three more Covid-19 patients had recovered from the infection and was discharged from the IDH in Angoda bringing the number of those discharged to 14 while 20 new patients were detected during the past 24 hours bringing the number of those tested positive to the COVID-19 infection to 142. It said two patients had died from the coronavirus infection -- one a 60-year-old resident of Marawila, who was being treated at the ICU of IDH. more..

Apr 2 (DM) There are many positives that have come about due to the present Coronavirus despite there being no signs of the day we can move about freely again. One of those good signs is that the president of the country has got closer to the people thanks to the efforts he had taken to marshall the employees of serving his force. There was a time when some sections of the society looked at the security forces with fear. But now they view the men in uniform with so much love; for the efforts more..