May 9 (SO) State Minister Sisira Jayakody said a decision has been taken to convert all 118 Ayurvedic hospitals countrywide into intermediate care centres that have a capacity of over 5,000 beds to treat Covid-19 patients. Discussions have already been conducted to seek the assistance of over 1,000 doctors and nursing staff in the Ayurvedic hospital system on the Govt’s program to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, he said. State Minister Jayakody also held a crucial discussion with more..

May 9 (ST) Prevention of COVID-19 is critical, said a senior clinician, urging that everyone including the authorities should realize that whatever facilities Sri Lanka has can reach saturation at a certain point. Senior Consultant Physician Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama of IDH, Angoda, stressed that it is happening in India. They have come to a situation like this because they have exceeded their capacities in a very short period of time. more..

May 9 (AD) As many as 22 COVID-related deaths were confirmed in SL today (8), says Director-General of Health Services. The new development has moved the total number of COVID victims in the country to 786, according to official data. The victims had succumbed to the virus infection between the period of May 2 – May 8. The deaths were reported from Ragama, Kadawatha, Mulleriyawa, Thalawathugoda, Moratuwa, Lunuketiyamadiththa, Padiyapelella, Colombo 8, Bulathkohupitiya, more..

May 9 (TM) A meeting between Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and Dr. Olivia Nieveras, the Acting Country Representative of the WHO, took place today (8). Centred around the topic of the ongoing pandemic situation, the Opposition Leader has requested Dr. Nieveras to provide Sri Lanka with the support and assistance it needs at this critical juncture. Dr. Nieveras mentioned that the United Nations and the WHO is ready to support SL in its battle against the pandemic, despite the fact more..

May 9 (ST) Early last year, when COVID-19 hit Sri Lanka for the first time causing a shiver among the people, intelligence sleuths used their skills for contact tracing. The suspect victim was successfully located. Busloads of those who brushed shoulders were also rounded up for quarantine. Public confidence rose as figures of those connected with the pandemic fell low. That aura of safe living, however, was shattered more..

May 10 (DM) To date, worldwide over one hundred and fifty-five million people have been affected by the coronavirus and over 3.2 million have died of the scourge. All this in a period of around seventeen months, and the virus is spreading faster than before. On May 5 US Prez Biden expressed his support for a patent waiver on Covid vaccines as a means of boosting production and distribution worldwide. The US trade representative to World Trade Organization has however warned more..

May 10 (ST) Govt is exploring the possibility of rolling out a different brand of vaccine as the second dose to nearly 600,000 people who have already been jabbed with the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, it was announced this week. COVID Minister Sudharshani Fernandopulle told Parliament on Tuesday, that it will be possible to give the COVID-19 vaccine as a cocktail, based on the results of the research which is in progress to ascertain the possibility of giving the second dose with more..

May 10 (TM) With the sudden spike in Covid-19 cases, the country’s attention has once again been directed towards ways to control the community transmission. During the last few months, the country had successfully controlled the spread of the virus, but after detecting a new variant, there is a rapid growth in the number of reported patients. Meanwhile, the authorities had moved for local lockdowns in the areas where more..

May 10 (ST) How is the law equal to all in SL when some stray citizen unwarily dropping his mask at a tea kiosk is suddenly hoisted aloft by law enforcement officers in glistening Martian suits and carried kicking and screaming to waiting blue buses (not white vans) to be booked for violation of quarantine regulations while a Minister airily overrides the recommendation of the district health officer to declare an area lockdown in Piliyandala? If anything is required to explain how important more..

May 10 (CT) The incumbent President and the govt were elected to power by the ballots of 69 thousand voters of this country. During the recent elections, a majority of the working class worked tooth and nail and voted en masse for the President and for the govt to bring them to power. Nevertheless, today the working class along with the people at large are left high and dry in the lurch, leaving behind their hopes and dreams shattered. In the circumstance, masses have already come to conclude that more..

May 10 (TM) As the number of Covid-19-positive cases is increasing rapidly, the health sector unions allege that the country’s hospital network does not have sufficient medical infrastructure such as an adequate oxygen supply to meet a sudden increase in demand like in neighbouring India. According to them, only main hospitals have an adequate supply as of now, with only around 30 oxygen cylinders per hospital. more..

May 10 (TM) As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to rage on in Sri Lanka, adding to the global body count, there does not seem to be any immediate sign of flattening the curve, with the scramble to secure vaccines now bordering on desperation. That said, Sri Lankans will have no choice but to buckle up and get ready for the long haul to overcome the deadly virus, which is now spreading through the community like wildfire. The long arm of the law has finally realised that there are thousands of more..

May 10 (CT) These days, newspapers and social media are full of stories about China buying up SL. Hambantota port and land and Port City in Colombo are among the favourite topics. The common thread among all the articles is that this buying spree will result in China exerting undue influence in SL affairs and some even suggesting that that SL will end up as a Chinese colony. The extent of land involved is 15,000 acres ( around 60 sq km) in Hambantota and about 300 Ha (around 3 sq km) in Port City more..

May 10 (Island) Sri Lanka is entering the riskiest period in its battle against Covid-19, with the British Covid 19 variant now accepted as responsible for rapid escalation of infection rates and the danger of the Indian variant coming ashore through illicit landings. At this stage the most effective response to the virus is the sustenance of behaviour changes already adopted by the majority of the population, and the promotion of right behaviour among the laggards. more..

May 10 (Island) Prez Rajapaksa, it appears, is a firm believer in big, bold strokes in taking far-reaching policy decisions. The recent decision to immediately ban the import of inorganic (chemical) fertilizer is one such. Two fertilizer shipments have already been turned away from our shores. However, stocks of previous imports, believed to be sufficient for short-term requirements are said to be available in the country. So there is a little time yet available to change track if that be the wisest course. more..

May 10 (TM) At our very first meeting, Erik Solheim and I agreed to disagree about the LTTE. I called on Solheim at his invite at the Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi, only months after my unauthorised biography of the LTTE Chief Velupillai Prabhakaran was published and made waves. I was happy to meet Solheim, Norway’s Special Envoy to the Sri Lankan peace process. He was brimming with energy and optimism. more..

May 10 (FT) As Sri Lanka looks to entice foreign investors to encourage FDIs into the country, EY and HSBC collectively hosted a virtual investment forum for Chinese businesses seeking investment opportunities in Sri Lanka. SL Ambassador to China Dr. Palitha Kohona, delivering his keynote speech, stated Sri Lanka must identify strategic opportunities and market them under the concept of Sri Lanka as an Investment Destination, not merely as being the pearl of the Indian Ocean. more..

May 10 (FT) The LAUGFS Lubricants state-of-the-art laboratory located in the Malwatta BOI Zone has recently been accredited with the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 certification, a recognition of compliance with international standards for laboratory testing, from the SL Accreditation Board (SLAB), a full member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). It is the first petroleum testing laboratory in Sri Lanka to receive this accreditation under the scope of oil and lubricants, more..

May 10 (TM) After his ODI retirement many moons ago, and an outbreak of a pandemic and a resultant lockdown, here comes a hero probably for his last hurrah! Slinging sensation Lasith Malinga has been invited by the national selection committee to discuss the maestro’s future plans with the national team. “We will talk to Lasith soon. He is in our plans for the forthcoming T20 tours, including the T20 WC coming up Oct” more..

May 10 (ST) Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne said that the positives they gained from the West Indies tour paved the way for their Test series triumph against Bangladesh to record their only win in the inaugural edition of the ICC World Test Championship. The stalemate in the Caribbean provided a sigh of relief to the cricket adoring public after four consecutive Test defeats, boosting their confidence as their focus shifted to the home series against Bangladesh. more..

May 10 (ST) SL’s Mahesh Jayakody secured a direct entry to the Paralympic Games to be held in Japan this year after finishing first in the PRI Men’s Single Sculls at the Asia and Oceania Olympic and Paralympic rowing qualifier in Tokyo. 6th Summer Paralympic Games is scheduled to be held between Aug 24 and Sep 5. The final was dominated by the Sri Lankan who came to the event with a wealth of experience to lead from start to finish. He became the first para rower to qualify for more..

May 10 (Island) Sri Lanka’s Head Coach Mickey Arthur has brushed aside suggestions that fast bowler Lasith Malinga could make a comeback again ahead of the T-20 World Cup in India later this year. Although, there are some strict fitness guidelines that are in place to make national players fall in line, a clause that has been included in the players’ contracts says that exceptions could be made in certain cases. This clause has left a bad taste in many mouths. more..

May 10 (FT) Several UAE-based airlines including global giant Emirates have added Sri Lanka to their list of summer Eid holidays promotion. www.thenationalnews.com said Middle Eastern travellers planning a summer getaway can take advantage of cut-price fares to several destinations as Etihad and Emirates are running flight promotions over Eid. The national airline of the UAE has launched a summer sale with fares to select destinations reduced by 50%. more..

May 10 (FT) The Govt is working on securing concessionary multilateral funding for the tourism sector which is most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. A fresh lifeline for the sector came up for discussion last Thursday with Prez Rajapaksa during the meeting to review the progress of the industry with Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga. It was revealed during the discussions that the debt moratorium of the tourism sector estimated more..

May 10 (DN) Colombo Port City and the enabling legal framework is expected to bring about an immediate boost to economy and sustain a growth trajectory going forward. Construction within Port City alone is expected to bring about 100,000 jobs shortly. State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal cited the project as a turning point in economic history of SL. Cabraal said, “It will be a turning point. Once these developments take place we will be able to grow fast. SL will change its course of history.” more..

May 10 (EN) Ajith Wattuhewa, a former President of Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of SL (FCCISL) who was a champion of regional trade had passed away the chamber said. During his tenure in 2014-2015) he had promoted trade and investment opportunities in the Indian sub-continent and Asia Pacific for SL small and medium industry. “He was fondly called as Wathu by his friends and was a compassionate human being who always believed in giving back to the society, more..

May 10 (Island) Former Maris Stella College, Negombo high jumper Ushan Thivanka produced yet another record breaking feat in his bid to edge closer to Tokyo Olympic qualifying standards and immediately dedicated the victory in Texas to his polio victim mother on Sunday. The Texas A & M Commerce University scholarship holder cleared 2.30 metres, the top third height cleared in the world this year to win the high jump event held at more..

May 10 (Island) The first phase completion of National Savings Bank (NSB) Data Centre was reached recently. Bank became the first bank in SL to be awarded a TIER III Design Certification (TCDD) for its Data Centre and will soon obtain the Facility Certificate for the built facility (TCCF) from the UPTIME Institute for its state-of-the-art Data Center located in Colombo. The Tier III Certified Data Centre is expected to significantly enhance NSB’s digital banking services by making more..

May 10 (DM) SJB MP Harin Fernando said that he had received the COVID-19 vaccine after about one million people had been vaccinated against the virus. He said his health condition pushed him to get the vaccine as soon as possible as advised by his doctors. “Took my vaccine today with general public after one million of our country men and women were able to do the same. My health condition also pushed me to get the vaccine as soon as possible as advised by doctors. more..

May 10 (ST) Private sector employees are to be given pension rights under a new move by the govt to amend Employment Provident Fund Act. EPF and Employees’ Trust Fund (ETF) are to be transformed into a part-pension fund functioning under the Treasury, official sources said adding that the Finance Ministry has been directed to work out modalities of the pension scheme. The proposed pension fund would allow a retiring member more..

May 10 (TM) Joining a few family businesses that announced their Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) at the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), JAT Holdings, a leading conglomerate in Sri Lanka, is gearing to announce its IPO by end next month, The Sunday Morning Business reliably learns. JAT Holdings Founder and Managing Director Aelian Gunawardena, speaking to us, noted that they have completed the required documentation work and submitted it to the SEC recently. more..

May 10 (FT) Employees in the front line of the aviation and airports sector will get their second dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine from today. All employees attached to Katunayake, Mattala and Ratmalana airports will get their second jab of the vaccine from today. The staff of SriLankan Airlines will be covered as well. Following a special request made by State Minister D.V. Chanaka to the Health Ministry, around 10,000 employees will get their second vaccine. more..

May 10 (DM) Govt has revised the ban on chemical fertiliser, allowing the import of chemicals for non-agricultural industries on prior approval of relevant authorities. The revision was announced by Imports and Exports Controller General Damayanthi Karunarathne. Govt on 4 May banned the importation of chemical fertilisers, pesticides, and herbicides. The permission to allow chemicals for non-agriculture sector is more..

May 10 (AD) Army Commander General Shavendra Silva announced the isolation of twenty Grama Niladhari divisions and one area in Ratnapura District as well as an estate in Nuwara-Eliya District with immediate effect. Meanwhile the isolation of Narampitiya Grama Niladhari division in Panadura South police area in the Kalutara District has been lifted. Accordingly, the following GN divisions will be isolated until further notice: Ratnapura District: Rakwana police area, Dolekanda, Rambuka, more..

May 10 (Island) 2020 CB annual report presented to Parliament last week is a testimony to the fact that the country’s economy is in dire straits, says the JVP. JVP Politburo member Sunil Handunnetti alleged that the govt was using the funds meant for the development of the country for its projects to cling on to power. “The Central Bank report confirms many warnings we have been issuing in the recent past. The country’s economy is sliding into a recession and there would be a crash soon. more..

May 10 (Island) The Influential Ontario Legislative Assembly has resolved that SL subjected the Tamil community to genocide during the armed conflict. The Legislative Assembly voted in favour of Bill 104 (aka the Tamil Genocide Education Week Act),moved by SL asylum seeker-turned Scarborough-Rouge Park MP Vijay Thanigasalam, at the third reading in the legislature, Canada and the UK-based sources said. more..

May 10 (DM) Around 20,000 could lose their lives due to COVID virus in SL by September this year, if the country fails to arrest the vast spread of the disease, former Minister Mangala Samaraweera quoted in a Washington-based university's research report today. He said that SrL should focus on this research report. Uni of Washington had done an indepth study on the pandemic and had focused on entire globe. Therefore SL should act fast and take steps to arrest the spread of the pandemic" more..

May 10 (Island) State Minister Nalaka Godahewa says a total lockdown is not possible, but the govt remains committed to tackling the threat by isolating selected areas. He also acknowledges that the unexpected Covid-19 explosion in India has badly affected SL’s vaccination strategy. Dr. Godahewa said so after inspecting the ongoing construction of Covid-19 treatment centre at Warellawatta, Yakkala. Steps have been taken to convert the non-operating factory of Politex Garments in Warallawatta more..