Mar 19 (AD) Three more Coronavirus patients have been identified today bringing the total confirmed cases in Sri Lanka to 59. Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe said a small child, a 64-year-old patient from Colombo North Teaching Hospital and 23-year-old youth from IDH Hospital have tested positive for the virus. He revealed this while responding to a question during the press breifing of the National Operation Center for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak. more..

Mar 19 (DM) The ballot paper for Colombo District at this year’s General Election is slated to be longer than last year’s ballot paper of the Prez elections which was around two feet with 17 political parties and 25 independent groups joining in the fray in Colombo. The ballot paper would also have to allot space for the display of numbers, to cast the preferential votes. The 17 political parties that had entered the fray are SLPP, UNP, SJB, more..

Mar 19 (DM) SL Labour Party Leader, A.S.P Liyanage is to contest the General Election for the UNP from the Colombo District. Liyanage who was the former Ambassador to Qatar, has also been appointed as the UNP organiser for Borella. He signed his nominations paper on Wednesday at Sirikotha, the Party headquarters. UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Ravi Karunanayaka, Daya Gamage, Sunethra Ranasinghe and ASP Liyanage were among the UNP candidates who would more..

Mar 19 (MFA) High Commission of SL in New Delhi and the Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka in Chennai, in consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Relations and the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, continue their coordinating and facilitating endeavours for the early return of Sri Lankan Buddhist pilgrims currently in India, following the temporary closure of the BIA for inward commercial flights. During the day of 18 March, approximately 700 pilgrims returned to Sri Lanka from India more..

Mar 20 (FT) They say that character is who you are when no one’s looking. Maybe it’s also what you do and say when everyone’s watching you. Perhaps the president was not aware that all eyes were on him. Not only that of his electorate or that of the once and future prime minister. But even the expectant eyes of those who did not vote for our stalwart – yet, that are now looking to him for sterling leadership in the time of an impending national emergency. And there are many in both camps more..

Mar 20 (CT) I have borrowed the title of this article from the immortal work of Robert Lewis Stevenson, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde. This novel is about a mysterious and tragic transformation caused by the use of certain chemicals. By the use of such chemical concoctions, Dr. Jekyll, an amiable, compassionate and respected individual, achieved greater community approval. However, it brought into being another person— Mr. Hyde. He was the very opposite of Dr. Jekyll. more..

Mar 20 (MB) Herathhami Dissanayake, 71, a rice farmer from Hambantota in southern Sri Lanka, says he’s despondent about the increase in wild animals raiding the crops in his village. He’s among dozens of farmers who continue to lose their crops to marauding herds of elephants and boars, and are suffering from the loss of income. Herathhami says some of the old methods of keeping out crop raiders — elephants more..

Mar 20 (CT) Comrade Saman Wagaarachchi had joined the JVP in early 1977 while we were still being held incarcerated for our role in the April 1971 uprising. Later I heard that he had supported strike action taken by the workers of Galle Harbour and the Ceylon Cement Corporation site in Galle. My association with comrade Saman’s family commenced during the Galle bye-election held in Dec 1979. Since then comrade Saman and his family became strong supporters of the JVP more..

Mar 20 (FT) COVID-19, the coronavirus that originated in Wuhan and has been in the news for the last few months, has brought the entire world to a halt in the last few weeks. With 198,006 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 7,948 deaths across almost 154 countries, it came as no surprise when the WHO declared the virus a pandemic on Thursday. Despite the biological nature of this virus, much of the crises we are dealing with today due to COVID revolve around human behaviour, economics. more..

Mar 20 (CT) The number of Corona-infected persons in this country had increased to 43 by Tuesday (17) night. The first Sri Lankan Corona patient was reported on 8 March. From then onwards, within a period of nine days, the number of patients increased to 43. This was viewed by both Ruling and Opposition parties in politics as being a severe epidemic. Those who assumed it to be thus, began to see the lockdown of entire country more..

Mar 20 (DN) The growing global pandemic of the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease has slowly but surely encroached upon SL, with the country following a pattern of an exponential growth in the number of cases detected particularly over the last few days. This is causing significant concern at the highest level of govt with worries that, if the virus follows trends noted in other countries, a fully blown epidemic will hit the nation in the next few weeks that could potentially cripple the country. more..

Mar 20 (Island) Opinion is divided on Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s address to the nation, on Tuesday night. It is being hailed, in some quarters, as a good speech that reassured the public, but some observers think it trenched on a damp squib. The President spoke like a politician and beat about the bush, in the first half of his address, preaching as he did to the choir, so to speak. It is only natural that he has drawn flak for having made a political speech aimed at garnering votes for the SLPP. more..

Mar 20 (SLN) In an attempt to stop the spread of Corona virus in the country, Sri Lanka Navy threw its weight behind sterilization of the Election Secretariat, today (19). In a bid to strengthen the incorporated mechanism for controlling the spreading of the Corona virus and in response to a request made by Commissioner General of Elections Mr. Mahinda Deshapriya, Navy’s Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Unit engaged to sterilize the Election Secretariat in Colombo. more..

Mar 20 (FT) The country’s private sector has commended Prez Rajapaksa for measures taken so far to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19, while listing a host of new initiatives including support to resolve the crisis and stabilise the economy. The commendation and submission of new recommendations immediate, short and medium term were by nine chambers of commerce – Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs, Nat. Chamber of Commerce, more..

Mar 20 (Island) Sri Lanka has commenced the production of personal protective equipment required by hospital staff that is treating COVID-19 patients, Director General of Health Services, Dr. Anil Jasinghe said, yesterday. "There is a shortage of personal protective equipment not only here but also the world over. Many countries that manufacture personal protective equipment have stopped exports and more..

Mar 20 (ST) Leading SL integrated solutions specialists, Hayleys Fentons has announced its partnership with sister companies Hayleys Fabric and Hayleys Power to convert the rooftop of one of its primary manufacturing facilities into one of the largest private sector renewable energy sources in the country. The senior management of all three companies was in attendance at a special ceremony to commemorate the milestone agreement, including Hayleys Fentons Managing Director more..

Mar 20 (FT) Prez Rajapaksa yesterday requested the Army Commander and Chairman National Operating Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak to ensure uninterrupted working arrangements backed by precautionary measures to export-oriented manufacturing enterprises, noting that continuous economic functions were critical. “Many steps are being taken to mitigate the possible negative impact of the COVID-19 outbreak to the society at large, and it will be more..

Mar 20 (AD) Several parties have submitted their nominations for the National List to the Elections Commission today (19). The national list of SLPP was handed over by the party Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris and its General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam. The list with 29 names consist of Chairman of SLPP Prof. G. L. Peiris, President’s Counsel Ali Sabry, Yuthukama Chairman Gevindu Kumaratunga, former SLFP Gen. Secretary more..

Mar 20 (Island) As Cassandra sits at her computer, cabined, cribbed, confined, but totally approving of the said cabining, confinement and no sensation of being cribbed, she wants to state categorically that the shutdown, imposed most by the people themselves, is salutary, needed, necessary and will save lives. Yesterday, Prez, in his address to the nation in his usual calm and measured tones, said the govt would not impose a shutdown of Colombo or the country, but the people must curtail more..

Mar 20 (GV) As unprecedented events unfold due to the pandemic caused by the novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19), misinformation can be deadly. This is a brief guide to the pandemic, policy efforts and a 7-step plan as to how we can contribute. What is COVID-19? This a novel strain of the coronaviruses (CoV) – a large group of viruses that can cause common colds but also can cause more severe illnesses. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV) in 2003 and more..

Mar 20 (DM) There is a high-level threat as hackers could attack remote user credentials and emails when organisations allow employees to work from home, the Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) has warned. (CERT|CC) Information Security Engineer Ravindu Meegasmulla said an attacker could use social engineering techniques such as phishing or spear-phishing attacks to steal user credentials and more..

Mar 20 (ST) Leading local dairy milk producer, Pelwatte Dairy Industries Ltd has taken steps to uplift and empower the local dairy farmers and small holders through multiple socio-economically empowering avenues rendered through the company’s dairy services and extension field team. “Many dairy manufacturing companies opt not to purchase milk produce during the rainy season, where the scalability of yogurt sales depletes. Pelwatte Dairy Industries maintains that, more..

Mar 20 (Island) IGP would take disciplinary action against OICs who violated the directives on curbing the spread of COVID-19, DIG Ajith Rohana said. DIG was responding to a question posed by a journalist, who pointed out that a number of large public gatherings had taken place around the country, on Wednesday, despite govt warning against mass gatherings. A religious ceremony against COVID-19 had been conducted at Kelaniya, on Wed and a bicycle race held in Dambulla, more..

Mar 20 (CT) Discussions are underway to quarantine more than 350 frontline staff who worked closely with passengers at the arrival lounge of BIA following COVID19 outbreak, Dy Chairman of AASL, Rajiv Sooriyarachchi said. BIA staff who had been continuously working at the arrival lounge till the operation was suspended is currently isolated at the BIA. He said they were holding a series of discussions with more..

Mar 20 (DN) International Olympic Committee on Thursday conducted a teleconference with regard to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic that is posing questions on the conducting of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games which is scheduled for July-August this year. The Video Conferencing with IOC President Bach's, accompanied by Pere Miró, deputy director of the IOC, and James Macleod, director of Olympic Solidarity and Relations with the NOCs with NOC’s of Asia was held with more..

Mar 20 (DN) Roshan Mahanama, an ex-match referee of ICC’s elite umpires panel, became the country’s first retired sportsman to self-quarantine, however, only as a precautionary move, though, he is uninfected. This was after, Mahanama, a member of SL’s 1996 World Cup winning squad, which anniversary eclipsed with the coronavirus surge this week, had returned home after his match referee duties were hit midway by the coronavirus crisis, worldwide. His duties as well as the PSL more..

Mar 20 (Island) Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said that he had decided not to contest the next general election from either the UNP or SJB. He has also rejected offers to be on national lists of both parties. "A number of religious leaders, journalists and others have asked me why my name is not on the lists of the candidates or national list nominees of either the UNP or SJB. During the past few months I've tried my best more..

Mar 20 (SKY) Sky Sports statistician Benedict Bermange is using a cricket simulation to play out a Virtual Test Match of the postponed series between Sri Lanka and England. A spirited England fightback in the evening session left the first Virtual Test Match at Galle evenly poised with Sri Lanka 255-7 at the close of play on day one. Sri Lanka opener Oshada Fernando remains at stumps, unbeaten on 141 after registering his second Test century in his seventh Test cap. more..

Mar 20 (KP) The Ukrainian government has reached an agreement with Fly Dubai and Air Arabia to evacuate Ukrainians in Sri Lanka, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said. “I think that we will solve the situation with the Ukrainians who are in Sri Lanka. There is an agreement with the airlines that brought them there: these are Fly Dubai and Air Arabia. There is an agreement with SkyUp that it is ready to backstop,” he said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine on March 19. more..

Mar 20 (DM) Cabinet gave the nod to allocate a massive Rs. 75 billion to settle unpaid bills of the Yahapalana government to small and middle-level development projects, fertiliser companies, banks and many other investors, goods and services suppliers, Minister Bandula Gunawardana said. Cabinet gave approval to pay Rs. 10 billion immediately to drug companies for outstanding bills that remained payable by Ministry of Health more..

Mar 20 (Island) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) held a meeting yesterday with the Board of Directors of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and the President of Colombo Stock Brokers Association (CSBA) in order to obtain their views with regard to the functioning of the stock market in the light of the govt’s decision to declare public holidays in order to curb the spread of the COVID 19 Pandemic. After the meeting, it was the considered view of the SEC that under more..

Mar 20 (DN) Over 180,000 acres of paddy fields will be cultivated during the Yala season 2020 in the Ampara district and the activities have begun on March 15. Agricultural and Irrigation Dept officials request Ampara district farmers to complete their paddy sowing operation for the Yala season-2020 before April 10. Arrangements are made to issue fertilizer to the farmers through farmer organizations. Farmers are already informed of this arrangement. The cultivation meeting for the Yala season, more..

Mar 20 (MoD) While strictly warning rumour mongers to avoid making misleading statements using the cyber space to create unnecessary tension among people over govt’s efforts to mitigate COVID–19, Defence Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne has requested all Sri Lankans, including those who are living abroad, to support Govt’s efforts to contain coronavirus outbreak by being indoors more..

Mar 20 (FT) Following is a Special Joint Statement by the Bishops of the Church of Ceylon of the Dioceses of Colombo Rt. Revd. Dhiloraj Canagasabey and Kurunegala Rt. Revd Keerthisiri Fernando on the risk of the spreading of new coronavirus (COVID19): “Our dear sisters and brothers in Christ, we write to you at a time when the entire world including our nation is going through a very anxious time due to the spreading of the coronavirus. more..

Mar 20 (FT) CAA together with Sri Lanka Police will conduct raids from today to arrest consumers and vendors stockpiling essential goods as well as healthcare items. DIG of Police Ajith Rohana called on the public to refrain from hoarding essential goods, insisting that there was no immediate emergency in the country. The Govt has assured that there was no shortage of essential goods, including dry rations and health items such as hand sanitisers and face masks in the country. more..

Mar 20 (FT) Govt yesterday announced a fresh stimulus package for five sectors hardest hit by the COVID-19 and allocation of billions of rupees to settle unpaid bills from 2019. Prez Rajapaksa has already authorised the Secretary to the Finance Ministry to draw funds from the Consolidated Fund using powers vested in him by the Constitution. Minister Bandula Gunawardana said Cabinet approved the proposal by Prez more..

Mar 20 (AD) Police curfew will be imposed within the Ja-Ela and Wattala Police Divisions from 10 pm tonight (19). The curfew will be in effect until further notice, stated Police Spokesperson. Previously, the govt imposed police curfew in 11 police divisions in Puttalam, 7 in police divisions in Chilaw and the Kochchikade police division in Negombo from 4.30 pm last evening (18). However, the curfew was lifted for 6 hours from 8 am this morning (19) and re-imposed at 2 pm in the afternoon. more..

Mar 20 (Island) The govt said that further extension of the ongoing holidays that had been declared for the public and private sectors due to the Coronavirus, would be decided on, as and when necessary. Minister Bandula Gunawardena said that the Task Force appointed to combat the Cornonavirus, which had affected 60 Sri Lankans by yesterday, would in consultation with the govt decide on when and to which sectors in the public and private sectors holidays would be given. more..