Apr 21 (DN) Organizational Psychologist at Forte Consultancy Rozaine Cooray called on society to recognize the large mental health problems that the COVID crisis brings. She said given that it is expected that incomes will fall greater than they did during the Global Financial Crisis society should look to actively mitigate the linked mental health issues. Cooray was speaking as part of a Ceylon Chamber of Commerce webinar on mental health on 20 April. more..

Apr 21 (Hindu) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa has called on all citizens to remember the victims of the Easter terror blasts that shook SL on April 21 last year, claiming over 270 lives and injuring more than 500 persons. The serial blasts, which was carried out by an apparently IS-inspired squad of suicide bombers, targeted 3 churches in and near Colombo, and in the eastern Batticaloa district, and 3 luxury hotels in the capital. more..

Apr 21 (CT) The Central Bank has issued a statement on the question whether Sri Lankans are permitted to send money to their relatives and friends who have gone abroad for training, education or leisure travel etc. and currently stranded in various countries. Here is the full statement issued by the bank: Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) is aware that some Sri Lankans who have gone abroad, for short visits for leisure and holidays, to meet relatives and friends, for pilgrimage, more..

Apr 21 (EAF) A year has passed since last April’s Easter Sunday bombings, when SL was hit by a wave of suicide bomb attacks carried out by a terrorist cell linked to the so-called Islamic State (IS) on three luxury hotels and three churches. The attacks came as a shock — SL was not on the international community’s radar as the country had no previous history of Islamist terrorism. These were also the first attacks in which the perpetrators deliberately targeted foreigners and Christian more..

Apr 21 (Island) Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, yesterday, in his message on the first anniversary of the Easter Sunday carnage, said that "those responsible for governance at that time, did not take seriously the repeated warnings received concerning these attacks and so, not only allowed this massacre to take place, but also sought to hide their culpability, in different ways, after the attack." more..

Apr 21 (Island) Some Northern politicians and several civil organisations pessured civilians to disregard precautions taken by health authorities to prevent the spread of coronavirus, to commemorate the 32nd death anniversary of LTTE activist Annai Poopathi, last Sunday. A series of commemorative events were organised at various places in the North starting from April 19 to mark the death of Poopathy Kanapathipillai, commonly known as Annai Poopathy (Mother Poopathy), who died on more..

Apr 21 (Island) President of the Maha Bodhi Society and Chief Sangha Nayake of Japan Ven. Banagala Upatissa Thera, said that many Buddhists including those living abroad would participate in religious observances today to mark the first anniversary of the Easter Sunday carnage. Ven. Upatissa Thera said that Lankan Buddhists living in Japan had been requested to participate in the religious observances scheduled to be held at the Lanka-Ji Buddhist temple and those living in India to attend more..

Apr 21 (DN) Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith called for Sri Lanka to observe a two-minute silence and appealed for all places of worship to ring bells to commemorate victims of last year’s April 21 Easter Sunday bombings. The Cardinal called for bells to be rung at all religious places of worship nationwide at 8.40 a.m. today and requested the victims be remembered. “Keep a two-minute silence at 8.45 am and light a lamp or a candle more..

Apr 21 (EN) Colombo Stock Exchange said it will not open on April 22 as earlier announced after curfews in Colombo was extended to April 27, while the century old tea auctions moved online. “Subsequent to the statement, the Govt has announced that the curfew in the districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Puttalam will continue until 27th April 2020,” the stock exchange said. “In view of the above, the CSE will not recommence Trading on 22nd April 2020.” more..

Apr 21 (Island) All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) expressed intense grief and emotional pain, along with the entire Nation in sadly commemorating the barbaric suicidal terror attacks that took place on Easter Sunday on the 21st of April 2019."We reiterate, that we vehemently condemn this inhuman cruel deed, in the strongest possible terms," said Ash Shaikh M.M.A. Mubarak, General Secretary – ACJU in a statement. We also extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the families more..

Apr 21 (Island) Election Commission (EC) had decided to hold the next general election, on June 20, Chairman of commission Mahinda Deshapriya said. 3-member EC met, last evening, to decide a date for the general election, which has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. A proposal for holding the election on 20 May was defeated. Second proposal for holding the election on 2 June faced a similar fate. more..

Apr 21 (DM) April 21, 2019 or Easter Sunday that year will go down in the history as one of the darkest days that saw a dastardly crime against humanity when terrorists with a Muslim tag killed more than 250 innocent people and wounded hundreds more in three churches and three tourist hotels in Sri Lanka. It was a barbaric attack against human civilization, since the attackers targeted a particular community just because the latter were of a different faith and nothing else. more..

Apr 21 (DM) A year ago, at 8.25 a.m. on this day, Alawdeen Ahamed Muaath, a 22-year-old law graduate turned suicide terrorist detonated an explosive-filled rucksack amid a throng of Easter Sunday worshipers praying at St Anthony’s Church, Kochchikade. The explosion killed more than 50 people and wounded scores more. Within the next hour, multiple coordinated suicide attacks ripped through the churches and tourist hotels, unleashing serial carnage. more..

Apr 21 (DM) The second worst affected church in the 2019 Easter terror attacks was St Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade, Colombo. According to the figures compiled by the Catholic Church, there were 57 deaths among those who attended the Easter mass, and a total 119 families were left feeling helpless and hopeless due to deaths and injuries caused to worshipers. The victims were not just those from the vicinity more..

Apr 21 (DN) The Wakf Board of SL under which all mosques in the country are registered with, has extended the directions which have prevailed in the country thus far including the closure of mosques and prohibition of the distribution of food such as porridge, particularly during the month of Ramadan. In a communique signed by A.B.M Ashraff, the Director of the Muslim Mosques and Charitable Trusts or Wakfs while wishing Muslims for Ramadan which is due to begin this week, said that more..

Apr 21 (SLN) In order to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus in the country, Sri Lanka Navy conducted several disinfection programmes at Colombo North Teaching Hospital-Ragama, Railway stations in Mahawa and Galle, on 19th and 20th April. These sterilization programmes were carried out by Navy’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Unit. Considering the safety of the patients who come to Colombo North Teaching Hospital-Ragama for treatments and more..

Apr 21 (DM) Sea pollution has dropped steeply by 45% in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) General Manager Dr. Terney Pradeep Kumara said. He told Daily Mirror that the data was collected through a survey conducted by a team from MEPA on pollution in the coastal belt and oceans in Trincomalee, Galle, Matara, Kalutara, Wellawatte, Dehiwala and Negombo. “During the analysis, we found that sea pollution had plummeted by 40 to 45%. more..

Apr 21 (AD) A maximum retail price of Rs. 750 per kilogram has been fixed for Turmeric Powder with effect from today, the CAA said. The relevant gazette notification has already been issued by the CAA Chairman Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Shantha Dissanayake. The gazette states that under the powers vested in it by Section 20(5) of the Consumer Affairs Authority Act, No. 09 of 2003, the CAA orders that no importer, producer, distributor, or trader shall sell, expose or offer for sale, more..

Apr 21 (DM) SriLankan Airlines said it will operate special flights from India’s Amritsar, Coimbatore, Pakistan’s Karachi, Lahore and Nepal’s Kathmandu to bring home 433 Sri Lankan students who have been stranded overseas due to the prevailing travel restrictions imposed in view of the COVID 19 pandemic. These special flights are being operated as part of the Govt of Sri Lanka’s programme to bring back SL students more..

Apr 21 (EN) Sajith Premadasa is saying that the Director-General of Health Services must issue a public guarantee that it will be safe for the country to carry out an election campaign for his alliance to agree to participate in an election now planned for June 20th. Premadasa, leader of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) laid down the condition after meeting with the members of National Election Commission (NEC) in Rajagiriya today. “This certification of the public health situation more..

Apr 21 (DM) The govt will reconsider its decision to open universities and schools on May 11 on account of the sudden rise of the number of COVID-19 patients in Colombo, a Minister said today. Minister Bandula Gunawardane said any decision on the reopening of schools for the mid-year term and the universities would be taken only on recommendations by the health authorities. He said the Vice Chancellors of the respective authorities would be given authority to decide on it. more..

Apr 21 (EN) A date for the upcoming parliamentary elections must be announced only after the last COVID-19 patient has officially recovered, the opposition Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) said. Writing to National Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya today, SJB Secretary General Ranjith Madduma Bandara said that scientific confirmation must be sought that no more carriers of novel coronavirus exist more..

Apr 21 (AD) Police says that over 650 individuals have been arrested for violating the curfew during the last 24 hours. Police Spokesman stated that 165 vehicles have also been taken into custody within that period. Accordingly the total number of persons arrested so far for violating the curfew is almost 34,500. In addition to this around 8,800 vehicles have also been taken into custody, he said. Future legal action would be taken on the advice of the Attorney General. more..

Apr 21 (NR) The JVP says Pavithra Wanniarachchi should resign as Minister of Health over irresponsible and baseless claims focused on obtaining political mileage. Chief Secretary of the JVP Tilvin Silva said the Health Minister claimed that coronavirus cases will not be reported in the country after the 19 of April. He added that the Minister said even stated there will be no further positive virus cases recorded while patients would be cured by the 19. more..

Apr 21 (AD) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa says he will not leave any room for any form of extremism, or violence from any extremists to be unleashed on the Sri Lankan people again and assured that the true perpetrators responsible for the Easter Sunday attacks will be identified and brought before the law. He stated this issuing a message today on the first anniversary of Easter Sunday attacks. more..

Apr 21 (PMD) With corporate and individual donations and direct donations, the COVID – 19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund‘s balance has now surpassed Rs. 785 million. The donations made to the Fund today were Gemunu Watch Ex-Servicemen’s Regimental Association Rs.50,000, Association of Licensed Aircraft Engineers Rs.1.5 million, Rs. 5 million each by GlaxoSmithKline and Wijaya Products, Rs. One million each by Nishico Int'l, People’s Insurance and Russian more..

Apr 21 (NR) Commander of the Army Lt Gen Shavendra Silva says 149 persons who completed the quarantine period and passed PCR testing were released today to return home. He said 4,348 persons have thus far completed the quarantine process. 1,582 more persons are presently at quarantine centres. 242 persons from Keselwatte were directed to quarantine facilities, while this morning 1,010 persons were directed to three quarantine centres overseen by the SL Army. more..

Apr 21 (PTI) SL and Mumbai Indians pace spearhead Lasith Malinga was rated as greatest bowler in the history of IPL by his contemporaries, who are also commentators. Malinga was bestowed the honour by Star Sports, commentators includes Kevin Pietersen, Dean Jones, Mathew Hayden, Aakash Chopra, Graeme Smith, Simon Doull, Ian Bishop and Tom Moody. SL veteran, part of an elite 10-bowler nominee list, pipped the likes of more..

Apr 21 (DM) More than 1,000 people belonging to 242 families from Bandaranayake Mawatha in Colombo 12, have been sent to quarantine centres, the Army said. Accordingly, a total of 1,010 people would be sent to quarantine. Army said the decision was taken after 57 Covid-19 patients were reported from the Bandaranayake Mawatha. The discovery of a large number of asymptomatic persons had shown the need for a more active random or voluntary testing, observers say. more..

Apr 21 (AD) A decision has been taken to close the Peliyagoda Fish Market for three days from tomorrow, according to the fish traders’ association. Chairman of the traders’ association of the Central Fish Market Complex in Peliyagoda stated that the decision was taken after a coronavirus patient was reported from Peliyagoda yesterday. The new Covid-19 patient in question is a fish vendor and that it has been confirmed that he had visited the Peliyagoda Fish market on April 18. more..

Apr 21 (AD) Sri Lanka today commemorates the one-year anniversary of the coordinated terror attacks that left the country devastated on the 21st of April 2019. A two-minute silence was observed at 8.45 am in remembrance of the victims of the tragic carnage which killed over 250 including foreigners and injured at least 500 people. On Easter Sunday last year, in a coordinated move by a local militant group called more..

Apr 21 (AD) Another person has tested positive for COVID-19 bringing the total count of positive cases to 310, the Director General of Health Services, Dr. Anil Jasinghe confirmed. This patient has been reported from Warakapola and according to reports he has had close contacts with another COVID-19 case. In the meantime, five other coronavirus cases were identified from Bandaranayake Mawatha in Colombo 12 today. This area confirmed a record surge of 33 positive cases on Monday (20). more..

Apr 21 (NR) The group of 113 Sri Lankans pursuing higher education in Pakistan returned to the country this evening. The students will be directed to quarantine centres. The group arrived on board a SriLankan Airlines flight UL1206. Steps were taken to deploy special flights to bring home Lankan students in Amritsar and Coimbatore in India, Lahore and Karachi in Pakistan and Kathmandu, Nepal. Accordingly, 443 Lankan students, who are stranded overseas owing to travel restrictions imposed more..

Apr 21 (AFP) Survivors of Sri Lanka's devastating Islamist suicide bombings held a private anniversary service Tuesday as the nation paid sombre tributes and the US vowed to push for justice. The coronavirus pandemic forced the Roman Catholic leadership to call off elaborate services to honour the 279 people killed in the Easter Sunday attacks. Instead, churches across the country rang their bells for five minutes. more..

Apr 22 (CT) Last week in this column I wrote how much greater damage prolonging the lockdown does to people’s lives than the calculated risk of dismantling it while, of course, keeping intelligent controls in place. Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan managed the epidemic excellently but never indulged in blanket curfew because wise leaders, not a cabal made decisions. Singapore neglected its sardine-packed camps of cheap foreign labourers and is now paying the price. more..

Apr 22 (CT) This paper presents a glimpse of how all aspects of Sri Lankan society have been engulfed by politicisation since independence, and how the quality of public life has eroded as a result. Politicisation is a manifestation of a political culture during the tenure of a particular ideological group (Elkins and Simeon, 1979 [1]), and leaves a lasting effect on the society. It is reflected in acts of political interference, pressure and patronage, and in actions of politicians and their henchmen, more..

Apr 22 (CT) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on New Year's Day 2020 suspended the importation of ethanol which is one of the main ingredients used in the manufacture of liquor. The statement said this move was taken in order to strengthen local sugar cane farmers where ethanol is a by-product of the sugar manufacturing process. According to the local media, Distilleries Company of SL (DCSL) which is the leading more..

Apr 22 (DM) Facebook Cofounder and now President of Social Capital, Chamath Palapithiya is inarguably one of the most famous, successful, and recognized Sri Lankans abroad. At 34 years old, and a millennial, he’s amassed an incredible wealth of $4.8B and an impressive following from Silicon Valley’s most notable entrepreneurs. According to Chamath, Silicon Valley suffers from a culture of raising money too quickly and bloated growth, something that has become more..

Apr 22 (DM) Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of the Easter Sunday attacks, in which eight IS terrorists senselessly murdered 269 Catholic and Christian worshippers and tourists, shattering our collective sense of unity and togetherness. Families celebrating Christianity’s holiest day and tourists visiting our beautiful shores were massacred by those who claimed Islam only in name. Joe lost his wife and a child in the blast that killed 115 people, including 27 children at more..