Mar 29 (Island) Identifying COVID-19 infected people as much as possible at this juncture is now the priority and thereby preventing the virus from spreading within the community at a rapid pace, says the Consultant Microbiologist, Dr. Kushlani Jayatilleke. Dr. Jayatilleke, who also serves in the panel of experts on Infection Prevention and Control in the WHO, said that one-meter distancing of people cannot be undermined at this point, so that direct transmission of the virus is prevented. more..

Mar 29 (EN) Sri Lanka is extending a ban on arriving passengers by one week to April 07 from March 31, the island’s Civil Aviation Authority said, but aircraft would still be able fly in with cargo, transit passengers and fly out with outbound passengers. “..[A]ll international Airports in Sri Lanka will continue to be closed for the operation of inbound international commercial passenger flights (i.e. arrivals) until 2359hrs on 7 April 2020,” the CAA said in a notice to all airlines. more..

Mar 29 (ST) The Central Bank (CB) has been called upon to impose a six months debt moratorium for tourism, apparel and industries affected by the coronavirus crisis immediately. It has also been asked to provide working capital at four percent interest. Ministers have authorised the Cabinet Secretary to give a direction to the CB. The move is part of initiatives taken by PM Rajapaksa in his capacity as Minister of Finance. more..

Mar 29 (NR) Ministry of Heath says it will not release the body of the man who died at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases yesterday after contracting the novel coronavirus. Ministry said according to govt protocol, health officials cannot release the corpse adding that they will perform the final rights. Relatives will be allowed to pay their last respect at a designated area at the IDH. Health Ministry confirmed that the entire process should be completed within a 24-hour period more..

Mar 29 (ST) To fight the corona battle, ventilators are being produced by a multidisciplinary team of specialists from the Peradeniya University’s medical and engineering faculties in collaboration with the National Institute of Fundamental Studies in Kandy. According to Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Professor Vaanthi Pinto, the spokesperson for the specialist team, they had come together to produce ventilators as they were vital for the treatment of critically ill COVID patients. more..

Mar 29 (MFA) Over 17,457 Overseas Sri Lankans had by Saturday noon (28), registered on the Contact Sri Lanka Online Portal of the Ministry of Foreign Relations. Of these, 6773 are from the Middle East region, 1892 from Europe, 1302 from South Asia, 1028 from North America and over 6000 from other parts of the world. This portal jointly created by Ministry of Foreign Relations and ICTA for the benefit of Overseas Sri Lankans, more..

Mar 29 (SO) SL’s only current Olympian Matilda Karlsen may have a verdict delivered in her favour with enough time to fight her case following the postponement of the Games by one year in the aftermath of the coronavirus. Matilda was the first SL to qualify for the Tokyo Games in July 2020 as an equestrian show jumper but was disqualified on the grounds that she secured a passage after the deadline for qualification had passed. She is currently fighting a legal battle to prove more..

Mar 29 (AD) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa paid homage to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy today (28). Prez was received by Diyawadana Nilame Nilanga Dela Bandara at the venue. The Diyawadana Nilame donated Rs 10 million to the COVID – 19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund. Prez called on the Maha Nayaka of Malwatta Chapter Most Venerable Thibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Thero briefed on the measures taken by the Govt to mitigate the spread of COVID–19 more..

Mar 29 (ST) Efforts by a section of the opposition to re-convene Parliament amidst the globally spreading Covid-19 pandemic proved futile this week. The move was raised at an all-party meeting chaired by PM Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees last Monday. It came four hours after a prolonged curfew was lifted on Monday, forcing people to flood the streets for food stocks and other essentials. more..

Mar 29 (NR) Presidential Task Force for Essential Services has decided to pay pensions on the 2nd and 3rd of April. Individuals who do not receive the pension on the allocated date, will receive the pension on the 6th of April. Task Force said persons who receive pensions through Post Offices will be delivered the pension to their homes through the Postal Department or the respective Grama Seva officer. Those receiving bank deposits, will receive their deposits on the 2nd or 3rd of April. more..

Mar 29 (SO) Following India’s decision to put the country under lockdown for three weeks, Sri Lanka plans to obtain essential drugs from her big brother through a special Govt to Govt (G2G) supply channel, Deputy Director of the Medical Supply Division (MSD), Ministry of Health Dr A.T. Sudarshana said. In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the central government of India decided to lock down the entire country which includes a total shutdown of all its ports and airports. more..

Mar 29 (EN) Sri Lanka has extended an indefinite curfew to Kandy and Puttalam areas and put the town of Akurana under lockdown after the identification of new confirmed cases. The curfew in Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutura, Puttalam, Kandy and Jaffna will continue until further notice. The village Atalogama in Kalutara district and Akurana in the Kandy district have been declared completely isolated areas. more..

Mar 29 (AD) The main suspect who had allegedly organized the suicide bomb attack Zion Church in Batticaloa on Easter Sunday 2019 has been arrested, Police Media Spokesperson SP Jaliya Senaratne mentioned said today. On 21 April 2019, Easter Sunday, three churches and three luxury hotels Colombo, were targeted in a series of coordinated terrorist suicide bombings. The attack on the Protestant Zion Church came just before the church’s Easter mass was to begin. more..

Mar 29 (EN) Sri Lanka’s exports were down 3.6% to US$ 1,931 million in the first two months of 2020, the EBD said before a Coronavirus crisis took hold. SL exporters have shipped 2,429 products to 174 countries. USA had bought US$ 260 million of goods, UK, US$ 95 million India US$ 73 million, Germany US$ 51 million and Italy 40 mn. Apparel exports were US$ 939 million, mainly to the US, UK, Italy, Germany and Belgium. Tea was US$ 208 million mainly to Iran, Russia, Turkey & Iran. more..

Mar 29 (TM) A dispute has risen between BOI companies in the free trade zones (FTZs) and the zones’ worker unions, with the latter claiming the employees have not been remunerated while the former insists both wages and April bonuses have been paid. The dispute arose after Minister Prasanna Ranatunga last week instructed the BOI to close all the FTZs in the country until further notice. more..

Mar 29 (NR) Another individual has recovered from the novel coronavirus in the country. The number of recoveries has accordingly increased to 11. A total of nine persons tested positive for COVID-19 in SL yesterday bringing the number of COVID-19 cases confirmed in SL to 115. Meanwhile, 103 persons are currently receiving treatment at three separate hospitals after testing positive. COVID-19 cases are being treated at IDH, the Welikanda Base Hospital and the Colombo East Base Hospital. more..

Mar 29 (AD) Chairman of State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC), Dr. Prasanna Gunasena says that an order has been issued through the Presidential Secretariat to import the drug found in Japan against COVID-19, the novel coronavirus. Joining Ada Derana Big Focus, he said that plans are underway to streamline the drug distribution system in the country. He further said that the pill found by Japan to combat coronavirus is due to be brought to Sri Lanka within two days. more..

Mar 29 (AD) Another Sri Lankan living in London, England has died of the novel coronavirus infection. This is the second Sri Lankan in England to have succumbed to the virus. Reportedly, the deceased is a 70-year-old retired doctor. Meanwhile, another Sri Lankan residing in Feltham, London passed away from COVID-19. Currently, 115 COVID-19 patients are recorded from SL. One patient succumbed to the disease yesterday while 10 others have already recovered and discharged from the hospital. more..

Mar 29 (DM) Aranodaya Mawatha at Obeysekerepura in Rajagiriya, has come under scrutiny following the information that two children and four adults, who had gone on a pilgrimage with a pastor, were found with symptoms of Covid-19, Municipal Council Chief Medical Officer Manoj Rodrigo said today. He said that those with symptoms had taken part in a Divine Service organised by the Pastor at Suriyawewa on March 15. The Pastor had also used two buses to more..

Mar 29 (TM) Despite the relatively low number of confirmed Covid-19 cases reported last week, health authorities yesterday warned the public that the threat was not over as they forecast another spike in infections in the first week of April. GMOA Deputy Secretary Dr. Naveen De Zoysa said that GMOA expected the next surge to occur on 7 April. It urged the Govt not to relax the strict regulations currently in place to control more..

Mar 29 (EN) Sri Lanka should return about 20% of Employees Provident Fund balance to holders after the Coronavirus pandemic ends as the island no longer had fiscal space to boost the economy after recent tax cuts, a top official said. Sri Lanka had already given a stimulus in the form of a tax cut in January and a debt moratorium after the new administration came to power. The island did have the fiscal space to give the tax refunds and grants announced by advanced nations, more..

Mar 29 (DM) Despite being a second world economy, Sri Lanka is setting a global example by taking swift and impressive response to the global epidemic of COVID-19, a report by the Healh Review Global said following a thorough analysis of public health measures employed by SL. “We have studied the responses of many countries to the coronavirus pandemic. We at healthreviewglobal.com decided to select SL for its swift and impressive response to more..

Mar 29 (AD) The final rites of the patient who died of the coronavirus will be carried out according to the international quarantine regulations, stated Director-General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe. Sri Lanka’s first coronavirus death was confirmed from the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH), last evening (28). The deceased is a 60-year-old kidney transplant patient who had suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure. more..

Mar 29 (TM) US State Department and USAID will provide $1.3 million financial assistance to SL to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The measure is a part of the U.S. Govt’s $274 million emergency health and humanitarian assistance programme to help countries in need during the pandemic. “$1.3 million will help the SL govt prepare laboratory systems, activate case-finding and event-based surveillance, support technical experts for response and preparedness, risk communication, more..

Mar 29 (EN) Sri Lanka’s stock market would be closed on Monday over a holiday, the Colombo Stock Exchange said, while bond markets and banks are open. “In view of the extension of the curfew by the Govt, the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) has decided that the CSE will remain closed for Trading on Monday (30),” the Colombo Stock exchange said. Banks would be open on Monday though customers are not expected to come. Bond and forex markets also operated Friday. more..

Mar 29 (EN) SL’s apparel sector has turned their factories to make mask & protective equipment for frontline workers who are fighting against Coronavirus, though tight controls are making it difficult to keep factories running. In many countries, personal protective equipment are in short supply. “At the moment the industry is making one million pieces of safety suites through JAAF for the people who are working frontline in coronavirus more..

Mar 30 (ST) A global health pandemic is not the time for political upmanship. It is also the worst time to engage in fragrant violations of justice in the exploitative belief that the uproar therein would be muted when the citizenry is in survivalist mode. At any point, this would be abhorrent but to do so during a pandemic speaks to a special kind of contempt towards the Rule of Law. On both these counts, this Presidency and this Govt needs to be held to account by the nation even as more..

Mar 30 (ST) Today it is heartening to note China beating its breasts and exclaiming proudly Wuhan has finally laid to rest the deadly virus it once spawned, bred and spread to the rest of the world. But is it too early to open the bubbly? Too early to give Wuhan a clean bill of health? The bat borne virus, transmissible from human to human, may have been temporarily slain, but has a stake been driven through its heart to close the lid permanently on its Chinese sojourn? more..

Mar 30 (Roar) Colombo is usually teeming with activity as people pour into the city for work or school, causing bottlenecks and gridlocks during peak hours. But all of that has now changed as a result of the curfew imposed on the island to contain COVID-19. While it is not uncommon to see bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Galle Road that runs through Colombo this picture from Bambalapitiya, shows how empty the road is more..

Mar 30 (CT) Prez on 2 March, 2020 by Gazette Extraordinary No. 2165/8legitimately dissolved Parliament from midnight and fixed 25 April, 2020 as the date for the General Election. While the proclamation was legal, it was poorly thought out because it was made well after the Covid-19 outbreak had begun. Passengers at many int'l airports like Kuwait were being tested for fever before letting them enter, but our govt seemed hell-bent on holding elections, even inviting more..

Mar 30 (CT) I heard of the death in Angoda from two busybody acquaintances late Saturday night. The tenor of one was gossipy. The other was condemnatory of all who chose to live and work beyond our shores but decided to return when pestilence threatened them. Death at our doorstep should have diminished us. That it sparked excitement appalled me. The French philosopher novelist Albert Camus wrote his famous novel La peste- The Plague precisely to explain how more..

Mar 30 (ST) For many decades, Sri Lankans have displayed their ingenuity at historic moments even if what they said or did bordered on insanity. Some 65 years ago, an ayurvedic physician cum astrologer, came out with a recipe for a cocktail that would make dark women turn white. This was when the sun, moon and the earth aligned itself during a total eclipse that brought darkness during daytime. When sunlight arrived later, more..

Mar 30 (DN) SrL workers at the frontline of battling the COVID-19 outbreak received close to half a million serves of food and beverage products from Nestlé, worth Rs. 15 million. The products were donated to the National Operations Center for Prevention of COVID-19 for distribution to medical workers, armed forces and others, in support of the critical work they do. “Now more than ever is the time to uphold our strong values as a company; to continue making a meaningful contribution more..

Mar 30 (TM) The continuous calls by many opposition political parties on the Govt to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the global Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on Sri Lanka were finally answered by PM Mahinda Rajapaksa last week by holding an all-party meeting to discuss the way forward. Rajapaksa has convened the meeting with party leaders at Temple Trees on Tuesday (24). With Parliament dissolved and the general election postponed indefinitely, the all-party meeting more..

Mar 30 (TM) Despite its dark side, Covid-19 has also been somewhat of a blessing in disguise for the majority of us Sri Lankans who, all this time, have steadfastly refused to obey basic public sanitation protocols. Now, Covid-19 has succeeded in doing what no politician or govt could do, that is, to get people to wash their hands at regular intervals and await their turn to be served. The deadly pandemic which has killed thousands across the globe is yet to claim a life in Sri Lanka, more..

Mar 30 (Island) Leaving aside the idiocy and the lack of social responsibility displayed by some of our brethren, returning to the safety of the Motherland escaping the virulence of a tiny virus devastating Europe, many an interesting fact has emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic. The term pandemic itself causes jitters as most assume that it implies severity, whereas what it actually means is the geographical distribution: That it is prevalent in many continents of the world, simultaneously. more..

Mar 30 (TM) Despite airlines around the world temporarily reducing salaries of employees to mitigate losses, national carrier SriLankan Airlines has no plans to resort to any pay cuts. Currently, all passenger flights into Sri Lanka have been postponed indefinitely with effect from 17 March, with only departure flights being operational since last Sunday (22), in a measure adopted to contain the spread of Covid-19 within SL. more..

Mar 30 (Island) Sri Lanka Cricket has issued a directive to all contracted players to watch their eating habits. The members of the national cricket teams are on strict diets constantly monitored by the trainers but now that the players are isolated due to the island-wide curfew, there are fears that the players might end up putting on additional weight. With no training whatsoever taking place, the players are restricted to indoor training within their houses. more..