Mar 18 (AD) National Operation Center for the Prevention of Covid-19 has decided to ban all pilgrimages and leisure trips within Sri Lanka with effect from today until further notice. Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi announced this decision addressing the special media briefing held by the National Operation Centre for the Prevention of Covid-19 today. The govt on Monday announced a special 3-day holiday from March 17-19, more..

Mar 18 (NR) Former Minister Harin Fernando has called on the govt to set aside all preparations to hold an election and alleviate the country from the COVID-19 threat. Former MP Fernando urged for the coronavirus challenge to be addressed before the election. He stressed Parliament must reconvene in order to discuss response measures, adding the public are living in fear. Fernando called for politics to be set aside in order to effectively face the prevailing pandemic, more..

Mar 18 (AD) Sri Lanka and China Development Bank have signed an agreement for a financing facility of US$ 500 million for development efforts. Earlier, Senior Deputy Governor of CB of Sri Lanka, Nandalal Weerasinghe stated that the Govt is in the middle of negotiating a loan from the China Development Bank, which could be between $ 1-2 billion. “The loan could be finalized within weeks, and the loan would be within the borrowing limits approved in a vote on account up to April,” more..

Mar 18 (AD) All Sri Lankan pilgrims returning from India will be directed to quarantine centers, stated Army Commander Lt Gen Shavendra Silva. Speaking at a special press conference currently ongoing, Silva requested all foreigners in the country to curtail their movement within the country in order to avoid infection and limit the spread of the virus. Further, Silva noted that he had received reports of foreigners currently more..

Mar 18 (SLN) In an attempt to stop the spread of COVID – 19 in the country, Sri Lanka Navy threw its weight behind sterilization of the Trincomalee bus station on 17th March 2020. In the backdrop where the novel coronavirus has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, the government has taken several steps to control the spread of the disease. Accordingly, under the directives and guidance of Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Piyal De Siva, more..

Mar 18 (DM) A programme to sterilize all train compartments arriving at the Dematagoda, Maradana and Maligawatta Running Sheds was commenced today, General Manager of Railways, Dilantha Fernando said. The sterilization campaign was launched with the aim of protecting the passengers from the coronavirus, which is a threat to the world. Accordingly, all the long distance service trains including Denuwara Menike, Podi Menike, Sri Devi, Ruhunu Kumari and more..

Mar 18 (AD) Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi says that 9 more patients who had tested positive for Coronavirus have been identified in the country bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 50. She stated that 41 patients had been identified as of yesterday and that another 8 were identified today (18). However, during the press conference she stated that another patient has just been identified bringing the total identified today to 9. more..

Mar 18 (SLN) In a bid to arrest the spread of COVID–19 in the island, SL Navy engaged in a programme of disinfecting the Trincomalee railway station today. In support of the govt’s coordinated efforts to control the spread of the disease in the country, the Navy has already commenced several programmes under the able guidance of Commander of Navy, Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva. Taking the safety of commuters into consideration, this programme of public transport more..

Mar 18 (BBC) Many Asian nations are facing an increasing battle to stem the spread of coronavirus, amid a World Health Organization warning that some needed to take aggressive measures. Malaysia, Sri Lanka and the Philippines are among nations imposing strict border controls. Cases in the South Asian subcontinent are still below 500 but there are fears a spike could overwhelm health systems. There are 185,000 cases globally, with 7,500 confirmed deaths. more..

Mar 18 (EN) Health authorities have ordered revellers at the Royal – Thomian Big Match to immediately isolate themselves following reports that at least one person infected with the Coronavirus was making merry among thousands of fans. Prez on Tuesday noted that organisers had disregarded his opposition and went ahead with staging their annual school cricket encounter. An old boy of S. Thomas’ College tested positive more..

Mar 18 (AD) All taxes on imported face masks and sanitizers have been waived off, stated the Ministry of Finance. The decision will come into effect from midnight today (18), stated the Ministry. This decision has been taken under the directive of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to further augment the efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19. Accordingly, the aforementioned imported goods have been subjected to the Special Commodity Levy Act. more..

Mar 18 (NR) Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi says the final decision on extending the on-going three-day holiday period will be taken by the President. Minister said the concern was also raised during today’s Cabinet meeting. She noted that the decision on the holiday extension will mainly depend on the number of COVID-19 infections in the country. The govt on Monday announced a three-day holiday period in a bid to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus in Sri Lanka. more..

Mar 19 (CT) Yesterday, Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa addressed the nation. He outlined measures taken to combat and contain the Covid-19 virus. He entreated all Sri Lankan to cooperate with the govt in the superintendence and mitigation of the threat. People should avoid gatherings to prevent the spread of the virus. Decisions of the govt must address multiple issues. Parts of the country faced a drought and drinking water had to be provided. Agricultural produce should reach the market more..

Mar 19 (CT) It’s a long game and the stages are (a) the SLPP and Gota fall short of a 2/3 majority on 25 April, (b) Sajith’s gang get enough MPs, who added to the SLPP are sufficient to deliver the constitution amending majority, and (c) Mahinda agrees to the final version of a proposed 20A. The fly in the ointment is (c). My ball-park expectation is 120 for the SLPP and 50 for Sajith; nirvana is 150. I will explore Mahinda’s concerns at the end, but let’s do Gota and Sajith first. more..

Mar 19 (CT) Hopes and dreams of a number of students and parents have shattered over the years, unable to handle the inhumane torture of ragging by their seniors. A staggering number of over 2,000 freshmen dropped out of universities over the past decade due to this reason. This is however, not the worst of it, - 16 students have lost their lives to ragging in SL universities. These freshmen go through one of the country's most competitive more..

Mar 19 (DM) Coronavirus or COVID-19, as defined by the WHO, is taking its toll on the entire world by the day. The countries around the globe resort to action after action in succession to prevent community spread of the disease that has already claimed 8000 lives around the globe. SL is fighting the disease with a host of measures such as the adoption of quarantine measures for possible patients, the closure of the airport for int'l arrivals, school closure, declaration of public holidays. more..

Mar 19 (DN) One of my most fascinating childhood memories is the film The Land That Time Forgot. A fantasy/adventure film based upon an Edgar Rice Burroughs novel by the same name, it is set during World War I and has survivors of a British merchant ship taking over the German U-boat that torpedoes their vessel. The U-boat goes off course and is running out of fuel, when the crew discover an uncharted vegetated subcontinent vegetated replete with prehistoric creatures and primitive men. more..

Mar 19 (DM) Farmers in Rajanganaya Yaya 18 in A'pura District are harbouring high expectations. They feel that all their hardships would soon end with a new aloe vera cultivation project which is expected to commence operations in the near future. But the project seems to be adding fuel to the existing fire with regard to environmental concerns since there is no Environmental Impact Assessment done. more..

Mar 19 (DN) The country’s defensive measures against the new Coronavirus ‘COVID-19’ dominated the news cycle over the week, overshadowing the Parliamentary Election. The country virtually came to a standstill as social institutions were closed one after the other to restrict social engagements as far as possible. Govt together with health authorities, Security Forces and all other stakeholders put in place a host of proactive measures with immediate effect for a period of 2 weeks. more..

Mar 19 (DM) Italy. As of now, the spread of the contagion is 250 times higher than anywhere else in the world. It is 120 and 56 times higher than in Iran and China respectively. The stories coming from that country are heartbreaking. It’s not as though situations in China and Iran, for example, were of an order that wouldn’t stir the heart. Put it down to the way global media operates. When the coronavirus first surfaced in China, there was palpable smirking. Some predicted that more..

Mar 19 (Island) Australia, during the yahapalana administration, humiliated Gajaba Regiment veteran military strategist Chagie Gallage. Accused of unsubstantiated war crimes, Gallage was denied an Australian visa. Gallage’s predicament didn’t receive the media attention it really deserved. The parliament conveniently refrained from taking up the issue. Even nationalist groups ignored the plight of a GOC (General Officer Commanding) of fighting forces. Denial of Australian visa to one of more..

Mar 19 (FT) The Colombo stock market will remain closed for the fourth consecutive day today. The decision not to open trading was made by the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), in consultation with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), after an earlier announcement that the market will resume today. The market has been closed so far this week to minimise public interactions and assist in curbing the spread of COVID-19, and to ensure more..

Mar 19 (FT) The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) yesterday made a fresh appeal for urgent support from the Govt to prevent what it called unprecedented levels of closures and job losses from the novel coronavirus COVID-19 crisis. Whilst welcoming the Govt’s six-month moratorium granted for all businesses as a step in the right direction, THASL said the twice-battered tourism industry needs an immediate and more..

Mar 19 (Island) Pressure is mounting on the govt to consider lockdowns as the number of COVID-19 infections is rising steadily. Eight new cases were detected, yesterday, and the infections have exceeded 50. But the govt is not prepared to grasp the nettle. Instead, it has opted for partial lockdown by way of a curfew in some red zones. Affluent Sri Lankans have stripped grocery stores bare, and stocked up. Prez Rajapaksa has granted some relief to the ordinary public and businesses. more..

Mar 19 (FT) SriLankan Airlines has temporarily suspended services to 31 destinations worldwide on account of a week-long partial shutdown of BIA whilst retaining select flights to London, Melbourne, Chennai, New Delhi and Narita. The National Carrier also said it has got special approval from the Civil Aviation Authority to bring back stranded Sri Lankan passengers from UK on 19 March, hours after the partial shutdown of the airport commences. It said as per the directive from CAASL/AASL, more..

Mar 19 (FT) Fearing COVID-19, a group of outraged villagers in Nuwara Eliya have recently prevented around 50 tourists from taking accommodation at three hotels. The incident, which the Police had failed to prevent, has caused concern within the tourism industry which is in crisis and struggling to retain the few tourists it has. Tourists had been prevented from entering the hotel with road blockages by protesting villagers. more..

Mar 19 (ST) Sri Lanka went into the historic Davis Cup World Cup Group II play-off tie against Paraguay full of confidence but were brought down to earth by two 16-year-olds who cruelly exposed their lack of international exposure to send them crashing to 4-0 defeat. Playing in alien conditions and against a South American nation for the first time in a rejigged Davis Cup format, the Sri Lankans stumbled on the red clay courts at Club Internacional de Tenis in Asuncion in the tie played on more..

Mar 19 (ST) Ace riders Jacque Gunawardene and Dushan Mudalige were among the recipients for the main awards at the annual National Riders’ Awards Ceremony of SL Motorcycle Federation (SLMF), which took place at the Eagle Lagoon Hotel in Katunayake. The awards ceremony was held for the calendar year 2019 and winners were determined based on their performances at different motorcross events held throughout the year. The awards ceremony was held from 7.30pm in which more..

Mar 19 (FT) The first-ever partial shutdown of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in 19 years will come in to force today for a week, with authorities stating they have made all arrangements for a smooth transition. Prez Rajapaksa on Tuesday decided to ban the entry of visitors from today for one week in a partial shutdown of the airport as a drastic measure to contain the spread of new coronavirus. more..

Mar 19 (DN) Softlogic Life, Sri Lanka’s fastest-growing life Insurer, will pay all medical and life claims that relate to COVID 19, despite it being classified a pandemic. Softlogic Life considers that the health, wellbeing, and safety of their policyholders and their families are of paramount importance. This has never been truer than today, with COVID-19 (Coronavirus) impacting every Sri Lankan. COVID-19 is an evolving situation that has the full attention of Softlogic Life. more..

Mar 19 (CT) Leading Sri Lankan poultry producer Crysbro, in its latest initiative to empower the rural economy, is collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture in an effort to aid small-scale poultry farmers in Mahiyanganaya, in the Badulla District through a smallholder agribusiness partnership programme. The project aims to develop new poultry farm infrastructure and equip these farm owners with the physical resources required to keep their businesses profitable. more..

Mar 19 (FT) The Public Health Inspectors’ Union of SL (PHIUSL) called for updated legislation on quarantine measures and disease prevention as well as the establishment of a single organisation to notify the public on measures taken to halt the spread of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka. PHIUSL Chairman Upul Rohana told journalists that while there had been a lot of discussion on the quarantine, prevention of diseases ordinance, more..

Mar 19 (Island) Human- monkey conflicts (HMCs) have become a serious problem in Sri Lanka. Unlike the human-elephant conflict (HEC) which is restricted to the dry zone, HMCs occur throughout the country. Between 2007 and 2015, Dept of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) received nearly 500 complaints from twenty one of twenty five administrative districts of the country. These complaints indicated that crop and property damage inflict substantial financial hardships, more..

Mar 19 (DN) Prez Rajapaksa has authorised a total of Rs.1,224.9 billion from the Consolidated Fund for the uninterrupted continuation of Govt services and development activities from March to the end of May. The Treasury has issued a Circular to all Ministry Secretaries, Provincial Council Chief Secretaries and Heads of Departments informing them of the revised provisions. The Circular, undersigned by Treasury Secretary S.R.Attygalle, has been issued by the National Budget Department also more..

Mar 19 (AD) Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) today launched investigations into the controversial statements made to the media by former MPs Rajitha Senaratne and Sarath Fonseka on COVID-19. Fonseka had claimed that three patients in the country have succumbed to coronavirus in the country. Holding media conference, Fonseka emphasized that his comments were a mistake. more..

Mar 19 (DN) Catholic Bishops’ Conference (CBC) in Sri Lanka has called on all Catholics to observe March 22 as a day of fasting and prayer, continue to recite the Prayer to our Lady of our Country and recite the Hail Mary three times, after the Post Communion prayer during the celebration of all Holy Masses, seeking Our Blessed Mother Mary to intercede with God to prevent, protect and heal all concerned in our country and all other countries and to rid the world of this devastating virus. more..

Mar 19 (CT) TNA and UNP submitted candidate nominations yesterday to contest the upcoming general election from the Jaffna District. The TNA's prime candidate from Jaffna is Mavai S. Senathiraja, accompanied by former MPS M.A. Sumanthiran, D. Sitharthan and S. Sritharan, submitted nominations of ten TNA candidates fielded to contest the poll from the District. The nominations were submitted at the Jaffna District Secretariat by the TNA and UNP candidates amidst tight security. more..

Mar 19 (FT) The partial shutdown of Sri Lanka to fight the spread of COVID-19 by way of special holidays is impacting millions of daily wage earners and thousands of micro and small and medium businesses. The plight of daily wage earners especially in rural areas was highlighted by Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi during the COVID-2019 Task Force meeting chaired by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Tuesday. more..