Mar 24 (FT) Much has been said about the rapid spread of COVID-19 which has become almost like the third World War. Nature has stricken back. It has not spared any caste, creed or country with cruel implications associated. Today’s column is a collection of thoughts while being confined to home stay during the lengthy weekend. Let me call it The 10 Commandments for Tackling COVID-19. It is a clarion call for all communities to collaborate in the name of humanity. It is needless to stress more..

Mar 24 (FT) In the previous two parts of this series, we argued that the ominous rise in religious and cultural fundamentalism in SL during this election season does not augur well for the future of the country. Though human beings share a common DNA, they are today divided into groups of people on ethnic, religious, language, location or cultural grounds. These groups have been invaded by fundamentalists who believe that the groups to which they belong are the supreme, more..

Mar 24 (CT) The ninth International Conference on Birth Defects and Disabilities in the Developing World (ICBD) was held in Colombo with the participation of a large number of local and foreign scholars. There it was revealed that of the 360,000 annual births in Sri Lanka, around 5,800 children are afflicted with birth defects, and around 650 of them do not live to celebrate their first birthday. Birth defects, also called congenital impairment, more..

Mar 24 (CT) In recent weeks and months, we have been watching with alarm what is unfolding first in Wuhan, China and then in countries including South Korea, Iran, Italy, France and Spain by way of the fast spreading Covid-19 virus. At the time of writing Italy seems to be undergoing the worst scenario while the situation in the US and some European countries is evolving into serious health crises. Countries such as Australia and SL have been making preparations to face the impending more..

Mar 24 (CT) Let me first reiterate that this is my personal opinion and not the official view of the SLMC. In Economics, Return on Investment (ROI) is a ratio between net profit and cost of investment. A high ROI means the investment’s gains compare favourably to its cost. As a performance measure, ROI is used to evaluate the efficiency of an investment. In economic terms, it is one way of relating profits to capital invested. In Healthcare ROI, It incorporates more than money more..

Mar 24 (CT) Army Commander and Chief of the National COVID-19 Prevention Centre, Lt Gen Shavendra Silva, says the Army is now acting under the instructions of the President, to prevent the spread of COVID-19, in the country and out of the country. Q: Is coronavirus the main challenge, after LTTE terrorism? A: Although I was not the Army Commander, Easter Sunday Attack also took place when I was in service in the Army. more..

Mar 24 (CT) COVID-19 which has turned out to be a monster has alerted every nook and corner of the planet on more threats of this nature to unfold in the future. Several fatal diseases such as Plague, Ebola and SARS had appeared in various parts of the world in the past. However, unlike other life-threatening diseases, COVID-19 which firstly originated from Wuhan Province in China and currently found in its severest form in Italy, has thrown a huge challenge to mankind more..

Mar 24 (DN) Sri Lankans, like people in most countries, grow up learning about heroes and the heroic. Every age has its personalities. Some live beyond generation and century, some are forgotten. In recent times, in SL, all the national heroes we read about in text books or heard of in class were put in the shade by the war heroes, better known as Ranaviruwo. When conflict is in your face and people give life and limb to bury anxiety and fear it is natural for them to be seen as exceptional more..

Mar 24 (Island) The world has slowed down, albeit temporarily, thanks to coronavirus. Pollution levels have dropped considerably across the globe. The azure welkin is now visible in smoggy cities. The slaughter of wild animals has decreased. Calves must be frisking around their mothers, in glee, because humans are said to be consuming less bovine milk, which is believed to promote the growth of the new virus. Much attention is paid to the wellbeing of the elderly, children & pregnant more..

Mar 24 (Island) At the very outset, I have to declare that the ONLY purpose, of writing this article is to provide some information to the public and for no other reason, overt or covert. My intentions are identical to the sentiments very clearly expressed by Professor Russell Viner, President of the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health of the United Kingdom on March 20, 2020. He has written that his efforts are in making sure that the needs of children and young people are not overlooked as more..

Mar 24 (DM) The deadline for the 2020 Parliamentary Elections nominations scheduled for April 25 ended at noon on Thursday (19). Two hours later Chief Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya announced that elections would be indefinitely postponed due to the spread of the dreaded COVID-19 virus pandemic in the Island. Deshapriya explained to the media the legal position that the Commission could not announce more..

Mar 24 (Island) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Premier League tier A tournament has come to a standstill with the deadly corona virus affecting sports around the world, but not before Colombo Cricket Club (CCC) dominated another season of First Class cricket. The defending champions from the 2018/19 season have recorded a whopping 97.5 points to top group A while also recording four outright victories in six matches. The fact that they’ve missed their top players Kusal Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga more..

Mar 24 (Island) Halting trading of the market due to an extreme decline in a particular index during the day, as a result of the share prices falling rapidly, is a measure that is implemented by stock markets around the world. Trading Halts triggered by circuit breakers, were a common occurrence during the recent weeks and continue to be so in stock markets globally, as the investment community responds to global economic implications of the COVID-19 pandemic. more..

Mar 24 (DM) While claiming that former Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa ‘never prescribed the drug for the Coronavirus as he only brought it to the attention of the relevant individuals’, former MP Harin Fernando vehemently rejected the propaganda carried out by distorting the statements of Mr. Premadasa. “It is regrettable that even amidst this catastrophic situation we are facing as a country, more..

Mar 24 (DN) Department of Census and Statistics released Colombo Consumer Price Index data for the month of February which showed a year on year increase of 6.2% in the index. Year on Year inflation of Food Group has increased from 12.4% in Jan 2020 to 14.7% in Feb 2020 while that of Non-food Group has decreased from 2.9% in Jan 2020 to 2.8% in Feb 2020. The moving average inflation rate for the month of Feb 2020 was 4.6%. The corresponding rate for Jan 2020 was 4.5%. more..

Mar 24 (ST) Insurer Softlogic Life will pay all medical and life claims that relate to COVID 19, despite it being classified a pandemic. “Softlogic Life considers that the health, well-being, and safety of their policyholders and their families are of paramount importance. This has never been truer than today, with COVID-19 impacting every Sri Lankan. COVID-19 is an evolving situation that has the full attention of Softlogic Life,” the company said in a statement on Tuesday. more..

Mar 24 (Island) The British High Commission (BHC) in Colombo has said that as it is busy handling the Covid-19 crisis, our questions regarding interdicted former Chief Colombo Magistrate Thilina Gamage’s recent testimony before PCoI cannot be answered presently. PCoI consists of retired SC Judge Upali Abeyratne, retired Court of Appeal Judge Daya Chandrasiri Jayatilake and one-time IGP Chandra Fernando. more..

Mar 24 (FT) Given the situation, maximum retail price of eggs has been reduced to Rs. 10 with immediate effect, PM’s Media Division said. The PM’s Media Division in a statement said the All Island Egg Producers’ Association (AIEPA) had agreed to supply adequate stock to quarantine centres, following a request made by PM Mahinda Rajapaksa. The AIEPA has agreed to supply enough eggs for food processing at quarantine centres, it said. Quoting the AIEPA President, more..

Mar 24 (Island) COVID-19 had made it extremely difficult for the Election Commission (EC) to stop illegal campaigning of candidates, Manjula Gajanayake, National Co-ordinator - Centre for Monitoring Election Violence-(CMEV) alleged. Gajanyake said that some unscrupulous candidates had used the crisis situation for political gains. "Around 7,452 candidates are on the nomination lists, the highest number of candidates contesting a general election ever in the country. more..

Mar 24 (Island) Coronavirus has delivered a deadly blow to the high profile SLPP bid to secure a parliamentary majority required to repeal the controversial 19th Amendment or bring in far reaching amendments to it. Throughout the 2019 presidential campaign and after, the SLPP, and those aligned with it, repeatedly vowed to either do away or amend the 19th Amendment. SLPP needs a staggering two-thirds majority, at the next more..

Mar 24 (Island) Curfew imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus had seriously affected the food supplies to the estate sector, Convenor of the Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR) Chinthaka Rajapakshe told The Island. He said: "The estate workers are paid in a very complicated way. They get paid daily but there are targets. They are paid Rs. 750 a day, if they pluck 18 kilos a day but due to the prevailing dry weather meeting that target is not possible." more..

Mar 24 (SKY) Sky Sports statistician Benedict Bermange is using a cricket simulation to play out a Virtual Test Match of the postponed series between SL and England. Ben Stokes struck the boundary which brought England a fifth successive Test victory in SL as the visitors clinched a convincing seven-wicket win an hour after lunch on day five of the first Virtual Test Match. A great deal of the credit on the final day should go to the openers - Zak Crawley (51) and Dom Sibley (72) more..

Mar 24 (FT) Former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe called on the Govt to reconvene Parliament and get the necessary funds approved to deal with the situation that has arisen due to the coronavirus, saying that the Prez has no powers to draw money from the consolidated fund after the dissolution of Parliament. “It is difficult to predict when a new Parliament can convene. This is a crisis and this crisis can be resolved more..

Mar 24 (EN) Sri Lanka has enough food for several months, the Ministry of Agriculture said, while urging people not to crowd around shops when curfew imposed to combat Coronavirus is lifted. The ministry said private super markets and state shops have sufficient stocks for people to buy whenever there is no curfew. Arrangements have also been made to distribute pre-packed packages priced at 500 and 1000 rupees at housing schemes and apartments which are densely populated. more..

Mar 24 (DN) Sri Lanka’s Prima Ceylon, a unit of Singpapore based Prima group has donated over 220 ttonnes of wheat flour, chicken, sausages and eggs to be used at quarantine centres, the ministry of Agriculture and Mahaweli development said. “In response to a request by Minister Chamal Rajapaksa Prima Ceylon had given 200 tonnes of wheat, 20 tonnes of chicken, 2 tonnes sausages, 100,000 eggs and 5,000 yoghurt containers for use in quarantine centres,” the ministry said. more..

Mar 24 (EN) Sri Lanka’s total number of confirmed COVID19 cases climbed to 95, Monday with ten new cases being found since Sunday evening, officials said. Director-General Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe says that four new patients found last night and among them is a woman from Pakistan whose daughter had already been diagnosed as positive and the father of a tour guide who had been in self-quarantine. more..

Mar 24 (DM) Police department has sought public support to identify at least 12 persons including infants who failed to undergo quarantine process, on their arrival from Italy recently. “They have returned from Italy and had not been registered or quarantined,” the police media division said. Although the Police Media Division has issued the photographs of those children for publication purpose, Daily Mirror has decided to refrain from publishing them except 3 persons. more..

Mar 24 (Island) Health authorities have taken action to impose self-quarantine on 49 persons of 11 families in the Mannar District, who had attended a service at the Philadelphia Church in Ariyalai near Nallur in Jaffna last week. The families are residents of Madu and Nanattan areas of Mannar. They attended a mass held at the Swiss Church in Ariyalai on March 15. Among the four new cases of covid-19 detected, on Sunday, was a person who associated with the Switzerland-based Christian Pastor more..

Mar 24 (MoD) Defence Secretary Maj.Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne said the Govt was re-imposing islandwide curfew to restrict public movements and also gatherings to keep spreading of the coronavirus at bay to ensure public safety and health. Requesting the public to heed to the instructions and advices issued by the Defence and Health ministries he said the number of people violating the police curfew law was increasing more..

Mar 24 (FT) Health Ministry has issued guidelines for mental health professionals to follow in the wake of the coronavirus to ensure that treatment continues uninterrupted for person with mental disorders. This is while ensuring that if they are suspected/confirmed with COVID-19, they are cared for as any other patient. As per guidelines issued by Health Services Director General Dr. Anil Jasinghe, persons with disabilities, persons with mental disorders are the most vulnerable in this more..

Mar 24 (SLN) The renovation work of the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Colombo General Hospital to treat patients diagnosed with COVID-19, was commenced by Navy, today (23). Accordingly, considering the possible emergency situation in the country by influence of coronavirus, the renovation of the ICU of the General Hospital, Colombo began today and the manpower for construction work was provided by SL Navy, in a bid to swiftly put up necessary facilities to treat the patients more..

Mar 24 (NR) Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe says that there was no mandatory requirement for the general public who are in good health to wear face masks. He pointed out that several incidents of people being subject to harassment for not wearing face masks have been reported, adding however that in the event that face masks become an essential requirement for the entire population, govt would take necessary more..

Mar 24 (NR) It has been decided to release the first group of 350 people who have completed their mandatory 14 day quarantine period at quarantine centres. Army Commander Lt Gen Shavendra Silva said accordingly relevant individuals will be released to return to their homes, following a stringent medical check-up, on the directives of the Prez. Army Commander also assured that the public residing in areas in which relevant individuals return home do not need to fear their return. more..

Mar 24 (CT) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has set up a special fund to strengthen mitigation activities to control the spread of COVID-19 and for related social welfare programmes. The Fund is titled COVID-19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund. President Rajapaksa has instructed Rs 100 million to be donated from the President's Fund for this purpose. A special account has been opened at the Corporate Branch of the Bank of Ceylon and the account number is 85737373. more..

Mar 24 (AD) President’s Media Division (PMD) says that the curfew in the 8 districts, where it was lifted earlier today (24), will be re-imposed at 2 pm. The curfew in Colombo, Gampaha, Puttalam and the 5 districts of the Northern Province was temporarily lifted at 6 am today. It was scheduled to go into force again at 12 noon, however, the PMD announced a 2-hour extension until 2 pm. more..

Mar 24 (EN) People’s Bank said it is funding the country’s energy utilities and key state enterprises, giving priority to salaries and keeping cash flowing with the help of over 1,000 cash deposit machines and automated teller, a top official said. “At the moment as a state bank our staff is working night and day to serve our customers,” Chairman Sujeewa Rajapaksa said. “Our front office staff are giving priority to discharge salaries. The service personnel, Navy, plantations workers.” more..

Mar 24 (DM) From Oceania to the Americas, country after country is grinding to a halt by the coronavirus global pandemic. Less than a month ago, US Prez Donald Trump pooh-poohed that “it’s going to disappear. One day, like a miracle, it will disappear”. Now, there is a grim realisation that this is just the beginning. According to a study by Imperial College, London, it would take 18 months and repeated lock-downs to beat the virus. By then hopefully, a vaccine may have been developed. more..

Mar 24 (DM) Amid 86 people being tested positive at the time this article was penned and 222 others currently undergoing treatment at designated hospitals with two critical cases in ICU, health authorities are expanding quarantine facilities to accommodate more people who have returned from abroad. As means of curbing COVID-19 outbreak, all flights and ships scheduled to enter SL territorial borders have been temporarily suspended. more..

Mar 24 (DM) We, Sri Lankans have fought among ourselves so many times when we should have been united. Subsequent to receiving Independence, at a time when unity was paramount for the development of the country, we started to bicker over language and sowed seeds for a thirty-year war. Some of us found holes in the first ever development scheme after Independence, the Gal Oya irrigation project and made it a platform for communal discord. Lately, at a time when more..