Jun 5 (NR) 48 more COVID-19 deaths have been confirmed raising SL’s virus death toll to 1,656. The deaths were reported between the 11th of May and the 3rd of June. A majority of the deaths, 16 were recorded on the 31st of May. 25 males and 23 females were among the fatalities while a majority who succumbed to the virus among the individuals are between the ages of 60 and 69 recording 16 deaths. 18 persons had succumbed to the virus while at homes while 29 individuals more..

Jun 5 (EN) The insurers and owners of X-Press Pearl, which caught fire off Sri Lanka spilling debris have agreed to make interim payment for costs an official said while authorities are still on the watch for a possible oil spill. X-Press Feeders is covered for protection and indemnity insurance (P &I) by London Club P & I. “We have had discussion with Singapore as the flag country of the ship, the ships agents and the P & I insurers and the ship owners,” more..

Jun 5 (FT) We are currently throwing a temper tantrum against reality, and it cannot end well. The graph pictured encapsulates it and is consistent with all global data and research. The longest-running European lockdown is Germany…coming into seven months! Germany is one of the richest countries in the world and has become a quasi-police state with detention camps set up and closed-down restaurants converted into PCR testing centres. While Sweden, with no mass lockdown, more..

Jun 5 (FT) Former MP Ranjan Ramanayake who is undergoing a four-year rigorous imprisonment over a case of contempt of court, has signed a letter requesting Presidential pardon, media reported recently. It was earlier reported that the Prez Rajapaksa has requested the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa to make a written request in this regard. Retired Air Force Officer Sunil Perera and Rev. Magalkande Sudatta Thera have filed two petitions in the Supreme Court alleging more..

Jun 5 (AD) The National Building Research Organization today (June 05) issued landslide warnings for seven districts – Colombo, Galle, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Matara and Matale. Accordingly, Level 3 (Red) warning is effective in Kalutara and Ratnapura districts for a period of 24 hours until 5.30 am tomorrow (6). • Kalutara District – Ingiriya, Palindanuwara, Bulathsinhala, Agalawatta and Matugama • Ratnapura District – Kalawana and Eheliyagoda more..

Jun 5 (Island) John Keells Foundation – the CSR entity of the John Keells Group – entered into a three-year collaboration with Ruk Rakaganno – a NGO engaged in the field of conservation and restoration of trees and forests – to reforest 20 hectares of Suduwalipotha Forest located in Kukulagema Beat, Kalawana Range, Kalawana DS Division in Ratnapura District through Ecological Restoration. The project falls within John Keells Foundation’s focus area of Environment more..

Jun 5 (DN) SC Judge Yasantha Kodagoda yesterday recused himself from hearing the Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions filed by former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and his brother Riyaj Bathiudeen. Bathiudeen brothers had filed FR petitions in the SC seeking an Interim Order to release them forthwith from the custody of the CID. They had been arrested and detained in connection with the Easter Sunday attacks. more..

Jun 5 (DM) While condemning the fake news circulating in social media about the reopening of schools in the country in four stages, Education Ministry Secretary Prof. Kapila Perera said there was no such announcement made by the Ministry. He told the Daily Mirror that this is not correct to circulate such fake news item citing the Education Ministry. "A pandemic situation is widespread in the country and it is not the time to entertain people by publishing such news," he said. more..

Jun 5 (DM) The recent furnace oil overflow from the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery was due to inadequate supervision and operation of the slop oil being stored in pits or tanks in the Oil Refineries, CPC JSS wing's Secretary Ananda Palitha said. He told the Daily Mirror that this overflow of oil cannot be treated as an oil leak. "The Slop Oil, by definition, is considered crude oil which is emulsified with water and solids rendering it a waste stream that cannot be sent down the pipeline. more..

Jun 5 (EN) Inclement weather is wreaking havoc in SL on top of a public health crisis and the country’s biggest marine disaster yet, with four dead and thousands evacuated amid landslide and flood warnings for more calamity on the way. DMC issued landslide warnings for nine districts on June 05 with heavy rainfall expected to continue over the next few days. DMC said in a statement that by 9am June 05 Saturday, 4,863 people belonging to more..

Jun 5 (DM) Concerns were raised over the name board, especially at a time when similar criticism had been directed at some Chinese companies for not giving space to Tamil on their name boards. Well informed sources told Daily Mirror that the name board of the Indian Consulate General in Jaffna had been placed 5 years ago. Indian sources said that the need for Sinhalese to be placed on the name board was probably not seen at the time as over 90 percent of the population in Jaffna are Tamil. more..

Jun 5 (AD) SL Police has arrested 975 individuals on Friday (5) for violating quarantine regulations such as wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing in public places, DIG Ajith Rohana said. A total of 22,950 arrests have been made in connection with the same offences since the 30th of October 2020. Reportedly, 147 of the arrests were made by Matale Police, 80 by Nikaweratiya Police and 75 others by Kandy Police. Meanwhile, 139 vehicles attempting to cross the provincial more..

Jun 5 (Island) The govt should re-examine the procedure in place to allow visitors from abroad amidst the rampaging Covid-19 epidemic as part of the overall efforts to alleviate difficulties, a Danish-SL dual citizen told The Island. Danish passport holder now staying at a hotel in Kalutara with his wife said that even those who had been inoculated overseas and PCR tested negative immediately before leaving for Sri Lanka more..

Jun 5 (DM) Rock cuttings done for various purposes such as construction of roads and buildings have caused frequent landslides in SL, a geologist said. Well known Geologist Professor Kapila Dahanayake said that rock cuttings done for construction of buildings or roads especially on slopes in the hills have resulted in frequent landslides in Sri Lanka in the recent past. “Retaining walls should be constructed or grass should be grown after cutting soil to prevent landslides,” he said. more..

Jun 5 (AD) SriLankan Airlines has informed its customers that Sri Lanka will be added to the red list for entering the UK with effect from 0400hrs (UK time) on Tuesday (June 08). Accordingly, passengers will not be allowed to travel to the UK, if they have been in a country added to the red list in the previous 1-0 days unless they are a British or an Irish national or anyone with residence rights in the UK, the national carrier said issuing a special notice. However, passengers who have booked more..

Jun 5 (EN) Sri Lanka’s state authorities are engaged in the biggest nurdle hunt in the country’s history following a spill from X-Press Pearl though at least eight volunteer hunters have been arrested by police probably in the world’s first, amid a Coronavirus lockdown. Nurdles, little plastic pellets the size of a lentil or wheat grain is the raw material used in factories to mould plastic goods and polythene sheets. more..

Jun 5 (Island) District General Hospital Vavuniya, too, would be given a PCR testing machine soon, Minister of Fisheries Douglas Devananda said, on Thursday, in Vavuniya. He said that in the Northern Province only the Jaffna Teaching Hospital currently had a PCR machine. At a meeting with health officials in Vavuniya, the Minister said that the number of COVID-19 positive cases was increasing in the North and the Jaffna Teaching Hospital alone couldn’t handle the PCR samples. more..

Jun 5 (TM) US has sent urgent medical assistance to Sri Lanka to support the frontline workers in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak, the USAID said. Accordingly, an aircraft belonging to Kalitta Air – an American cargo airline – touched down at the BIA early this morning, with a stock of medical supplies worth USD 6 million. The consignment consisted of 1,200 pulse oximeters and 880,000 pieces of essential medical equipment including KN95 masks, goggles and gloves. more..

Jun 5 (ST) Film assistant director, production executive and television producer Shirley Samarasinghe’s maiden film Piyabanna Ayeth will be released soon. Screenplay written and produced by U. A. Palliyaguruge, the film stars Kalana Gunasekara and Chamathka Lakmini in the main roles and it revolves around a middle aged woman who yearns for love. Cinematographed by Gayan Geethapriya, edited by Chandana Sonnadara and music director of the film is Amith Guruand. more..

Jun 5 (ST) Despite repeated assurances from the Govt that the price of turmeric would drop from January this year with local farmers sending their harvest to the market, the price remains high, consumers complain. They say a 100-gram pack of turmeric powder is being sold at Rs 450 or more just as the case had been during the height of the demand following the imposition of the import ban in Dec 2019. Dept of Export Agriculture which had repeatedly reassured consumers of a price more..

Jun 5 (PMD) President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa emphasized that if we are to preserve the health of our planet and ensure human health and sustainability, Govts the world over must not hesitate to adopt bold policies. ‘Such policies should support ecological conservation, help combat the loss of biodiversity, and enable people to achieve their economic aspirations in more sustainable ways,’ he further said. more..

Jun 5 (DM) A Sub Inspector of Police attached to the Hatton Police was killed and six others including 3 police officers were injured, when a van escorting a hearse carrying a COVID-19 body to Oddamavadi in Batticaloa for burial, was skidded off the road and toppled at Watawala on the Hatton - Ginigathhena Road this morning. DIG Ajith Rohana said that the body of a 79-year old Muslim woman was being transported at around 7 a.m today from Hatton when the accident occurred near 59th mile-post. more..

Jun 5 (CT) The online registration for COVID-19 vaccine roll-out in Galle was suspended due to external influences. The online registration initiated by Galle Four Gravets Divisional Secretariat gained immense praise for its effectiveness and there were requests to implement the system in other parts of the country as well. The eligible people were requested to register only via online. They then received a date, time and venue to come to get the vaccine through a text message. more..

Jun 5 (ST) One of the worst things about lying in a COVID ward is listening to others gasping for air, calling for their love ones and dying while fearing you might be next. Anuja Wickramasinghe is a 58-year-old restaurant owner from Boralesgamuwa who was recently released from the Homagama Base Hospital after five days of suffering from COVID. His wife was also infected and stayed ten days. more..

Jun 5 (CT) There are no laboratory facilities in the country to analyse any organic fertiliser to determine whether it is harmful or not, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera revealed. Before any organic fertiliser is imported, the Govt and competent authority should take steps to make laboratory facilities accessible for testing organic fertiliser, he said. He stressed that only after this process is completed that organic fertiliser can be imported. The quarantine section of more..

Jun 5 (DM) Model Piumi Hansamali, who was under quarantine for violating quarantine laws, admitted calling Minister sarath Weerasekara over the phone and said it was the first time she spoke to him. She said in a live Facebook video that she had no personal contact with the Minister or his son. “I have never spoken to him before. I have two phone numbers, anyone can check my phone details, if I have ever spoken to him,” she said. She said she phoned the Minister after her lawyer asked more..

Jun 5 (FT) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa on Thursday claimed that Sri Lanka had now been turned into a land for auction and warned the whole country was in danger because of irresponsible rulers selling national resources to foreigners and close friends, destroying the heritage of future generations. In a special communiqué, he said details had been revealed about a proposal to hand over several historically-important more..

Jun 5 (ST) The exodus of workers from the Western Province to the safety of their homes in the plantation sector in the wake of the worst COVID-19 upsurge in the country has aggravated the land encroachment problem in estates managed by Regional Plantations Companies (RPCs). Regional Plantation Company (RPC) officials said the issue had become more acute after the arrival of these returnees who now grow vegetables and fruits in the encroached land to earn a living. more..

Jun 5 (TM) The govt is attempting to threaten and silence those who speak the truth about the plight of Sri Lanka after the calamities of the X-Press Pearl inferno and the Covid-19 spread, SJB MP Imthiaz Bakeer Markar stated today. He accused the govt of trying to hide the real situation of both these tragedies. “When Interpol released the results of the breakdown of the events leading up to the X-Press Pearl catastrophe, it was revealed that three other countries refused to admit the vessel into more..

Jun 6 (CT) The enthusiasm that yesteryear enveloped the president is much subdued, the mood at best is give him more time, it has been a bad year, let’s wait and see. On the other side detractors who feared repression, racism and family banditry seem mollified that events have hurled such heavy blows that he is unable to raise his head and cow down the masses, who in any case are so passive and need no cowing down. The sullen Sinhala-Buddhist mass broods but is resigned to more..

Jun 6 (TM) The X-Press Pearl saga that has been unravelling for the past two weeks has succeeded in exposing all that is wrong with SL’s quest to become a regional maritime hub. The destructive trail left in the wake of the sinking ship has raised many questions ranging from security lapses to infrastructure issues to foreign policy matters to legal inequities. For the record, this is the third serious maritime and shipping issue to surface in just the past nine months and is now the subject of more..

Jun 6 (TM) While enduring the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, SL has to battle another catastrophe – the worst-ever maritime disaster to occur in the country – due to the fire that broke out aboard the MV X-Press Pearl vessel. After dousing the fire on the vessel, Govt decided to tow it to deep sea, and when struggling to move it, the vessel carrying tonnes of chemicals started sinking on the western coast of the island, resulting in more..

Jun 6 (CT) Qadri Ismail, Professor of English, Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature, at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, passed away recently. His death was sudden and shocking. Yet another Sri Lankan scholar, writer and activist has been prematurely snatched away. Everyone who reads SL politics in English knows of Qadri Ismail. I hardly knew Qadri apart from his writings. I have met him only once, and that was in Minneapolis, in 2007. The backdrop to our meeting was the rather more..

Jun 6 (GV) The theme for the World Environment Day 2021 is Ecosystem Restoration. The main aim of the World Environment Day this year is to garner support for a global initiative that will be launched by UN termed Decade of Ecosystem Restoration. Ecosystem restoration can take many forms ranging from restoring degraded or destroyed natural ecosystems to greening cities as well as one’s own backyard. Therefore, every citizen has a role to play during the decade of ecosystem restoration more..

Jun 6 (CT) The Govt, despite its attempts to arrest the spread of third COVID-19 wave by extending travel restrictions and taking the vaccination drive to other parts of the country, has come under severe criticism over irregularities, biases and ignorance. With increasing incidence of unfair preferences in the vaccine drive, strong calls are made on the Govt to keep politicians away from the entire process. more..

Jun 6 (GV) Laki is seated on a black, high-backed, padded executive swivel chair. He is bare-bodied, in a bright red sarong, dappled sunlight catching his white beard. On the table in front of him is a pair of binoculars, which he picks up frequently to look at the birds in the trees around the pond that he overlooks from a raised open-air platform. Esoteric avant garde music is playing from speakers hidden in the trees. And everywhere you look, art. Mostly sculpture. Bronze wild boar at water’s edge. more..

Jun 6 (Island) The list gets longer by the day. glyphosate, asbestos, thin polythene, palm oil, coconut oil and now, chemical fertiliser and insecticides. I have no knowledge of whether the above-mentioned products should be prohibited or not. However, I can explain the process followed over four years starting 2015, to prohibit unsafe electrical plugs, sockets and converters. The experience revealed that still there are experts, academics and efficient state officers, more..