Apr 30 (Island) Convenor of the civil society organization, Yuthukama, Genvindu Cumaratunga, said that reconvening of parliament could cause a debilitating setback to the ongoing govt efforts to bring the unprecedented health emergency under control. Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa dissolved parliament on March 2, acting under constitutional provisions, bestowed on him, to pave the way for early parliamentary polls, more..

Apr 30 (AD) Most Ven. Dr. Dewalegama Dhammasena Nayaka Thero, the Chief Incumbent of the Tissamaharama Sadagiri Ubaya Raja Maha Viharaya and the Chief Sanghanayaka of the Hambantota District handed over a donation of Rs. 1.5 million to Prez Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat, today (29). Executive Association of SriLankan Airlines and the Generation Next Communication Lanka Ltd donated Rs. 01 million and Rs. 02 million respectively to the Fund more..

Apr 30 (Island) The visa division of the Department of Immigration and Emigration is currently in the process of introducing an Online Application Submission service for the purpose of extending the visas of foreign nationals, the department said in a statement. Earlier, the validity period of all types of visas issued to all foreigners, currently residing in Sri Lanka, had been extended till May 12, considering the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the country. However, in line with the Govt policy more..

Apr 30 (Island) The GMOA wrote to Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, yesterday, informing her that the ministry officials were yet to reveal how samples were selected for conducting Covid-19 tests. "As you are well aware, the GMOA has urged the relevant officials of the Ministry of Health to streamline the testing process to detect COVID-19 and it is regrettable that such testing process, in a way of an algorithm, is not declared by more..

Apr 30 (CT) Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, stated that as the country's dry weather was likely to be replaced by the monsoon period commencing from next month, unless necessary precautions are taken by the people, the country could witness another spike in dengue cases. She stated that during the past year or so, a severe rise in dengue patients had been reported from urban areas. She said that data collated by her Ministry had indicated that a spike in dengue cases had been specifically more..

Apr 30 (DN) As part of supporting the nation’s fight against COVID-19, Mobitel, introduced the latest Body Cameras to SL Police at an event held at the Police Park Headquarters recently. The landmark event which took place under the patronage of the Senior DIG of SL Police, Deshabandu Tennakoon had the presence of officials representing both the Police and Mobitel. Further, Mobitel also made a financial contribution to support the ongoing efforts of the Police in curtailing the spread of more..

Apr 30 (PMD) “Sri Lanka is a special friend of China. We have long standing and cordial relations between the two countries. When we faced COVID- 19 disaster recently, Sri Lanka stood with us. China is willing to return that goodwill in the form of fullest cooperation to revive SL’s economy in the post-COVID – 19 period”, the Acting Ambassador and Chargé d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Colombo Hu Wei said to more..

Apr 30 (DM) Due to the increase of the value of Japanese Yen and the US Dollar against the Sri Lankan Rupee after March 20, the vehicles with engine capacity less than 1,000cc would also be subjected to a luxury tax, the Vehicle Importers Association of Sri Lanka (VIASL) said yesterday. The VIASL President Ranjan Pieris said it was unfortunate to face such a situation for the middle-class people and that they would have to pay 15 per cent more than the vehicle price. more..

Apr 30 (AFP) SL's opposition Wednesday called on the govt to urgently recall parliament which was dissolved in March ahead of elections now postponed to June due to a coronavirus curfew. State spending will become illegal from Friday if the legislature remains in recess, they said, accusing strongman Prez Rajapaksa of using the virus lockdown to sidestep constitutional requirements. Opposition MP and former minister Mangala Samaraweera called for the immediate return more..

Apr 30 (EN) Sri Lanka has imposed a nation-wide curfew from April 30, 2000h till May 04 as infections of Coronavirus as new infections were detected driven mainly by a cluster of military officials who went on leave. Prez’s office said a curfew which will be imposed at 2000 hours on April 30 on most districts will continue till May 04. SL has seen a surge of new infections after military officers from a Navy base in Welisara went on leave more..

Apr 30 (FT) Covid-19 shows how vulnerable we remain to pandemics, which will be quite common in the future. Even though a vaccine is found, similar self-replicating pathogens will become a major threat to humanity. Therefore practicing working from home even under normal circumstances at least few days a week will bring in the self-discipline and the mindset shift required to work from home during crisis situations. There is much debate on how productive working from home is, more..

Apr 30 (FT) The incubation time of the coronavirus is less than two weeks, and most people who develop symptoms are infective for less than two weeks after that. So now, after six weeks of curfew, the virus should be extinct in Sri Lanka. But it isn’t. On the contrary, it looks set to stay and work its way through the community. Our strategy at the beginning was designed for a 100-metre sprint to the finish line. Now it is clear that what we are running is a 42-kilometre marathon. more..

Apr 30 (TM) Dept of Meteorology announced that the Western, Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, North Central, and Southern Provinces along with the Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, and Monaragala Districts will experience extreme weather conditions. The heat index of the aforementioned region is expected to be at extreme caution level. It also states that dehydration may lead to muscle spasms and excessive heat strain, resulting in stroke. more..

Apr 30 (AD) PickMe delivery drivers who had to undergo strict once a week temperature checks during the past two weeks, will now go through this exercise daily, as the number of COVID patients islandwide, are on the rise. The riders and drivers have also been given a new set of rules to follow, as per directives given by the police for those making deliveries. “We have given all the instructions to the PickMe Delivery Balakaya so that they strictly follow the rules when making deliveries. more..

Apr 30 (EN) Sri Lanka is headed for a Constitutional crisis after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa rejected an offer from the joint opposition to summon Parliament before the deadline to do so expired today. A spokesman for the Opposition said that the President’s reply to the letter sent by the main opposition parties on April 27 has reached the office of the former Leader of the Opposition and leader of SJB Sajith Premadasa today. more..

Apr 30 (EN) The special flight carrying Sri Lankan students stranded in Kolkata, India has arrived at the BIA, earlier this evening (30). The SriLankan Airlines charter flight UL 1187 manned by 7 crew members left for Kolkata, India at 10.15 am this morning. Accordingly, 125 students in Kolkata were brought back to the island while maintaining social distancing and other health safety measures. The students and their luggage were sterilized by the Sri Lanka Air Force upon arrival. more..

Apr 30 (AD) A charter flight of SriLankan Airlines left the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) to bring back a group of Sri Lankan students stranded in India over the COVID-19 outbreak. Accordingly, flight UL 1187 manned by 7 crew members left for Kolkata, India at 10.15 am today (30) and is scheduled to land in the Kolkata airport at 1 pm this afternoon. BIA has not yet been informed on the number of students returning from India on this trip, according to Ada Derana reporter. more..

Apr 30 (EN) Public Health Inspectors who have been battling Coronavirus in the largest cluster in Colombo without personal protective equipment have gone on self-quarantine and demanded PCR tests, a media report said. “We allowed them to go on self-quarantine as they are subject to high risks,” Daily Mirror newspaper quoted Chief Medical Officer of Colombo Municipal Council as saying. more..

Apr 30 (ER) SL’s Constitutional Council (CC) and it’s independent commissions face serious issues due to the postponement of the general elections. When the 19th Amendment was passed in April 2015, it was hailed as the biggest achievement of the then govt. Under 19A the CC was reinvigorated, empowering independent democratic institutions. Today, there is a marked division of power centres and the common belief is they do not reflect the majority will of the people of the country. more..

Apr 30 (EN) Cabinet had cleared the proposal to support state-run SriLankan Airlines which had been badly hit by the Coronavirus crisis. “Cabinet of Minister approved a proposal by Minister Prasanna Ranatunga to give govt assistance to SriLankan Airlines,” Minister Gunewardene said. He did not disclose an amount. SriLankan Airlines is over 95% owned by the govt and it has been given credit lines from state banks. Most of the fleet is grounded but it is operating rescue flights and carrying cargo. more..

Apr 30 (AD) The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the procurement of 150,000 metric tons of fertilizer to cultivate 523,000 hectares of land during the upcoming Yala Season, says Minister Bandula Gunawardana. He revealed that an allocation of Rs. 10 billion will be made for this purpose. Cabinet has unanimously approved the provision of seeds, fertilizer and other financial allotments for cultivating lands in Yala more..

Apr 30 (SLA) Harvesting in the Army-sown paddy fields that cover 12 acres in extent, near Sri J'pura Army HQ under the Thuru Mithuru-Nawa Ratak concept of the Chief of Defence Staff, Commander of the Army and Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), Lt Gen Shavendra Silva took place this morning (30) in a simple arrangement befitting social distancing and health guidelines. The brainchild behind the project that goes hand in hand more..

Apr 30 (EN) SL’s rupee traded slightly stronger against the US dollar in the one week forward market Thursday while the spot market was mostly inactive dealers said. The rupee was quoted around 192.50/193.00 to the US dollar in one week forwards, slightly stronger from 192.25/193.50 to the US dollars on Wednesday, dealers said. The spread between buying and selling rates have narrowed over a few days as CB sold dollar in the spot market to keep the rupee around or below 195 more..

Apr 30 (TM) Over 3,500 persons from four areas within the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) administrative region are presently held in isolation zones after one or more persons were tested positive for Covid-19 from the area over the past week. The areas that are currently identified as isolated zones are located at Nakulugamuwa Street in Grandpass (280 persons), Bandaranayake Mawatha in Grandpass (about 2,000 persons more..

Apr 30 (DM) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said the spread of COVID-19 is under control in general, and that immediate remedial steps have been taken following the sudden spike in recent positive cases, the President's Media Division said. President Rajapaksa said this in response to a query by the Acting Ambassador and Chargé d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Colombo, Hu Wei, when he called on the President at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday. more..

Apr 30 (DM) Four patients have been tested positive for COVID-19 as at 6.30 pm this evening (30) marking the first coronavirus cases to be identified within the day. The newly identified patients are among those under quarantine from Suduwella at Oluvil quarantine center. Thereby, the total number of coronavirus cases in the country rises to 653. A total of 507 patients are currently under medical care at hospitals across the island, according to the Health Ministry. more..

Apr 30 (EN) The govt is cracking down on drug dealers who it says are causing the spread of the COVID 19 disease as four more positive cases were reported today bringing the total number in Sri Lanka since the outbreak to 653. Dr Anil Jasinghe was quoted in a govt press release this evening that the four cases were all diagnosed while being quarantined at the Oluvil Quarantine centre. They are all from the persons quarantined more..