Apr 9 (FT) The Office of Missing Persons (OMP) yesterday recommended that families of the missing and disappeared be included in any proposed relief measures, including the provision of food and financial assistance in response to the COVID-19 crisis. OMP Chairperson Saliya Pieris P.C., in a letter addressed to Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa, said that as a short-term measure, the OMP recommends that dry rations be provided to families of the missing and disappeared through Grama Niladharis. more..

Apr 9 (EN) Sri Lanka will give an incentive package to anyone who repatriates dollars held abroad to the island in the next three months, Deputy CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said as the rupee came under pressure in forex markets. �If anyone has dollar deposits abroad, it may be an exporter or someone who had worked abroad, if he brings in the dollar we will give concessions in this period,� Weerasinghe told during a tv show. more..

Apr 9 (EN) Sri Lanka has requested a 400 million dollar swap line from the Reserve Bank of India under an arrangement available for South Asia while another request for a billion US dollars may be made at head of state level, an official said as the country fought off a Coronavirus crisis. �Due to the current period here is capital flight in all countries,� Deputy Governor of Sri Lanka�s central bank Nandalal Weerasinghe said in an interview with Sri Lanka�s Derana TV. more..

Apr 9 (FT) Over 200 dignitaries including one-time world leaders and heads of international bodies including former Prez Chandrika Kumaratunga have issued a joint statement calling for world leaders to immediately agree to commit $ 8 billion � as set out by the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board � to fill the most urgent gaps in the COVID-19 response. The signatories also included former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, former State President of South Africa Frederik Willem de Klerk, more..

Apr 9 (CT) The new Olympic qualification period, which has been revised to 1 Dec, could be a windfall for SL Athletes, President of AASL Maj. Gen (rtd) Palith Fernando said. World Athletics yesterday announced that they will be suspending the Olympic qualification period from 5 Apr to 1 Dec. The new qualification period will run from 1 Dec to 29 June for track and field events, while the Marathon and 50Km race walk qualification will end on 31 May. more..

Apr 9 (EN) Helidarawwa, a journalistic initiative put together to debunk disinformation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, was launched yesterday. In recent weeks, there has been a rising volume of disinformation on coronavirus infection and governmental responses. Spreading through rumour, social media platforms, messaging apps and sometimes even mainstream media, these can confuse the public and hinder public health efforts to contain the pandemic. more..

Apr 9 (AD) The curfew within Ratnapura and Pelmadulla police areas will not be lifted tomorrow morning (9), Police Spokesman said. He added that travel through these areas will also not be permitted. The curfew in these areas will remain in force until further notice. The curfew in 19 districts including Ratnapura District will be temporarily lifted from 6 am to 4 pm tomorrow (9). However, the curfew in Ratnapura and Pelmadulla police areas will not be lifted and more..

Apr 9 (FT) The Task Force on Essential Services has issued new regulations for the distribution of vegetables around the country, which will be done through the respective Divisional Secretariats from yesterday. Issuing a statement, the Task Force Secretariat noted that it had been pointed out to them numerous times by experts that allowing hundreds of farmers to converge at economic centres was risky as more..

Apr 9 (CT) MoU between the Ministry of Education and SL Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) on the allocation of two TV channels for the educational activities of all SL children in primary, secondary and tertiary education was signed recently. While emphasizing that the Govt is focusing on the children and their education in every action taken by the Govt, Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said that the main objective of these educational channels is to ensure that the education sector continues more..

Apr 9 (CT) Dr. Ananda Wijewickrema, of the IDH, said that facilities are available to conduct 1,500 tests for COVID-19 per day, but, such a requirement has not arisen as yet. However, he added that now there is an increase in PCR tests and it was reported that till yesterday (8) evening, nearly 500 such tests had been conducted. He said that the PCR tests should not be conducted unnecessarily and that the persons who have been identified to undergo it compulsorily are directed for the tests. more..

Apr 9 (EN) Hiru TV is denying that it brought more than a hundred staff and artistes to record its Sinhala Avurudu Special show to its studios at Thalawathugoda on Tuesday in defiance of govt guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID 19. Social Media was set alight last night by stories of how around 120 people had been bussed in to the studio complex to record a grand finale to annual Hiru Avurudu Kumari beauty pageant more..

Apr 9 (FT) Dept of Pensions yesterday remitted Rs. 25,000 each to people eligible but were unable to register for pensions by 1 Feb. Pensions Director General Jagath Dias issuing a press release stated that many eligible pensioners were unable to register with the Dept to receive their pensions due to the outbreak of the COVID-19. Under the move, former Govt employees and others who are eligible for pensions but failed to register have been paid the allowance based on latest pension circular more..

Apr 9 (DM) Humanitarian law expert Raja Goonaratne was appointed as the Director General at the National Secretariat for Non-governmental Organizations today (8). The letter of appointment was official handedover by Defence Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne at the Ministry premises. Mr. Raja Goonaratne has also served as Dean of the Faculty of Law at Open Uni. He has over 22 Years' of teaching experience at undergraduate & post-graduate levels. more..

Apr 9 (CT) GMOA yesterday claimed that owing to the Health Ministry neglecting to heed the instructions given by the Prez and PM, to increase the tests to detect COVID-19 patients, the virus has reached stage four and the resultant rise in the number of patients cannot be averted. GMOA Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge claimed that although they had pointed out that from the moment the first COVID-19 patient had been reported in SL, more..

Apr 9 (AD) Department of Meteorology has issued an Extreme Caution heat advisory for North-western Province and Mannar District and five districts � Anuradhapura, Mannar, Vavuniya, Gampaha and Monaragala. The advisory, which will be in effect until tomorrow (10), says that heat cramps and heat exhaustion are possible during this time. Meteorology Department has advised the general public against continuing strenuous outdoor activities. more..

Apr 9 (DM) SLPP Thanamalwila PS member R.A. Ranaweera and four others have been arrested and remanded in connection with the alleged rape of a 13-year-old mentally retarded girl. A senior police official said that the suspects were remanded till April 16 after produced in the Embilipitiya Magistrate�s Court. He said the suspects had allegedly raped the girl from Kiriwewa area at times for more than three months and that she was admitted to Hambantota General Hospital more..

Apr 9 (AD) European Union (EU) is providing a grant of EUR 22 million to support Sri Lanka�s COVID-19 response while the funding will go to health, agriculture and tourism sectors. European Union and its Member States are working with partners around the world to tackle the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and mitigate the effects of the crisis. EU�s response follows a Team Europe approach, aimed at saving lives by providing more..

Apr 9 (EN) United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has handed over prepositioned maternity and dignity kits worth more than 3 million Rupees (USD 36,000) to the govt of Sri Lanka in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These are dignity and maternity kits containing hygiene and sanitary items, as well as other items explicitly tailored to the needs of mothers, women and girls of reproductive age in local communities. �The aim of this initiative is to provide the simplest amenities that have more..

Apr 9 (AD) Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army Lt Gen Shavendra Silva says that 67 persons from Ratnapura Town have been sent for quarantine to the Diyatalawa Army quarantine center. He stated that a decision was taken to place these individuals under quarantine as they have had close contact or suspected to have had close contact with persons infected with coronavirus (COVID-19). Meanwhile the curfew within Ratnapura and Pelmadulla police areas was not lifted more..

Apr 9 (EN) Sri Lanka�s apparel industry has asked for early re-opening of factories to avoid competitors taking their business, suspension of provident fund contributions and support and more credit without collateral to pay 400,000 direct workers. The industry is expecting to lose 1.5 billion US dollars of order in the next quarter, hitting 400,000 workers and over 2.0 million indirect workers, more..

Apr 9 (AD) A mobile app � My Health � has been launched to facilitate consultation of a medical doctor through video technology. Accordingly, a person who is suffering from cough, cold or respiratory complications can seek medical help through video consultation and the doctor who is at the receiving end is able to examine the patient closely. The people can also call the two hotlines � 1390 or 1999 � to seek medical help if they are having any symptoms. more..

Apr 9 (AD) The President has agreed to grant Rs 5000 allowance to private bus drivers and conductors who are affected by the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, said Minister Mahinda Amaraweera. Amaraweera said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, yesterday (08) responded positively to the proposal submitted by him to provide an allowance to private bus drivers and conductors who do not have access to their regular income due to coronavirus outbreak. more..

Apr 9 (USE) The US Govt, through the USAID has committed $1.3 million USD to help protect healthcare workers and slow the spread of the virus with infection prevention and control support. �Through even the most difficult times, Americans and Sri Lankans support one another as partners and friends,� said U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alaina B. Teplitz. �This donation reflects our enduring relationship, more..

Apr 9 (EN) The manufacture of moonshine has spiked in Sri Lanka as a nation-wide indefinite curfew slapped to contain COVID-19 was in its third week, officials said. With a blanket ban on the manufacture and sale, there were reports of illicit distilleries mushrooming across the island to fill the void left by the ban on legitimate spirits, police and excise officials said. �We have set up five special units to carry out raids during the lockdown,� Excise Dy Commissioner Kapila Kumarasinghe said. more..

Apr 9 (SLN) Sri Lanka Navy nabbed 06 treasure hunters, during a search operation conducted in the Erambukudella area in Etalai, Puttalam on 08th April 2020. Sri Lanka Navy has been conducting regular search operations to curb illegal acts secretly being performed during curfew hours. During a similar operation, naval personnel attached to the Northwestern Naval Command had apprehended these 06 suspects while engaging in treasure hunting in Erambukudella area. more..

Apr 9 (AD) Secretary to the President, Dr. P.B. Jayasundara has sent a letter to the Chairman of Election Commission, Mahinda Deshapriya in response to the letters sent by the Chairman of Election Commission to the President with regard to the parliamentary election. Chairman of the Election Commission had sent letters to the Secretary to the President under the title Parliamentary Election 2020 and Date of more..

Apr 9 (ICRC) The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in Sri Lanka is supporting the national authorities in their efforts to protect the public and the detainee population against the spread of COVID-19. In coordination with the Ministry of Health, the ICRC proposed a response plan that includes recommendations shared with the Ministry of Justice, the Department of Prisons and the Inspector General of Police and other relevant authorities. more..

Apr 9 (TM) The UNICEF and National Child Protection Agency (NCPA) are gravely concerned by the dramatic rise in the proportion of child cruelty cases reported to the 1929 child helpline since the start of Sri Lanka�s COVID-19 curfew. In the 3-week period between 16 Mar � 7 Apr 2020, the proportion of child cruelty cases as a total all reported child protection complaints, rose from 10% to 40%. �The quick action of the Govt of SL has been successful in limiting the spread of COVID-19 in SL more..

Apr 9 (EN) Select members of SL�s dissolved parliament shared their views on COVID-19 pandemic today in an unofficial online parliamentary session hosted by a Colombo-based private think tank. Among the issues discussed were the govt�s response to the public health crisis and the calls for as well as opposition to the legislature being reconvened in the absence of a parliamentary election amid a nationwide lockdown. more..

Apr 9 (EM) The chief executives of People�s Bank and Bank of Ceylon have both been ousted as part of the govt�s new hard line on state-owned banks it considers are not doing enough to help the struggling economy. Sri Lanka�s banking sector is under orders to help the economy recover from the impact of last year�s terror attack and this year�s coronavirus crisis � and the govt is signalling that obedience isn�t optional. Following the terror attacks on churches and hotels in Colombo more..

Apr 9 (AD) Sri Lanka Navy personnel during an intelligence operation arrested 28 individuals who were ordered to undergo self-quarantine in Sudewella Ja-Ela over failure to follow quarantine regulations. Recently, a taxi-driver from the area injured in an assault was hospitalized with the intervention of the police. Subsequently, upon display of symptoms, he had been tested for the coronavirus, which confirmed his infection with the virus. more..

Apr 9 (AD) Several requests have been made to the President on repatriation of the SL postgraduates in medicine who are currently in the UK and other countries for mandatory specialist training programs. Along with the postgraduate specialist trainee team overseas, Post Graduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM), Association of Medical Specialists and the GMOA have written to the Prez with regard to the matter. more..

Apr 9 (CT) Minister Wimal Weerawansa says that if the Election Commission (EC) considers politicians helping the helpless during the COVID-19 crisis as an offence, the Commission should be the first to be given medication. He opined that the Commission cannot stop people's representatives from giving leadership to the society, regardless of party differences, to help the general public who have become helpless due to the coronavirus. He said that he feels disappointed that more..

Apr 9 (AD) The govt has decided to bring back Sri Lankans stranded in airports across the world, said Minister Ramesh Pathirana. The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal submitted by Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Cabinet meeting. Accordingly, 33 Sri Lankans including state officials and students, who are stranded at 13 international airports, will be repatriated by the SL govt. They will be subjected to a 21-day quarantine process upon arrival, said Pathirana. more..

Apr 9 (AD) Confirmed COVID-19 infections in Sri Lanka has reached 190 as another patient tested positive for the virus today. The Health Ministry stated that two more coronavirus patients have been discharged after recovering completely. Accordingly, the number of patients who recovered from the virus now stands at 49. 134 coronavirus patients are currently under medical care at selected hospitals. more..

Apr 10 (CT) Historical first record of the brutal murder of four children in 1814 � �One single instance of no distant date will be acknowledged to include everything which is barbarous and unprincipled in public rule, and to portray the last stage of individual depravity and wickedness, the obliteration of every trace of conscience, and the complete extinction of human feeling. In the deplorable fate of the wife and children of Ehalepola Adikari these assertions are fully more..

Apr 10 (CT) Sanctioned by the editor of Colombo Telegraph himself, I write in the disguise of a pseudo name so I can expose the truth. The fight against COVID-19 has taken many shapes around the globe. It differs from country to country and even within countries the strategy and policy to tackle the deadly virus changes with time. While the entire world is grappling with the pandemic, SL seems to be quietly handling itself. There seems to be good control over the spread of disease more..

Apr 10 (CT) The lack of civilian oversight over Sri Lanka�s militarised COVID-19 response raises some very serious human rights concerns, said the International Truth and Justice Project. �Sri Lanka has an alleged war criminal heading its COVID-19 response, who served in the same army regiment as the President, raising questions about transparency, accountability and oversight,� said the ITJP�s Executive Director, Yasmin Sooka, more..

Apr 10 (CT) In the 24 hours ending at 10 a.m. on Wednesday (8), the State run Epidemiology Unit (EU) reported six new coronavirus cases, lifting the number of such patients, seeking treatment at Govt hospitals, to 138. But, on a positive note, during the same time period, the number of suspected cases discharged from State hospitals, rose from a minuscule two during the corresponding period of the previous day, 10 a.m. on Tuesday, to 31 the following day, Wednesday (8), more than more..

Apr 10 (CT) Is there an urgent need to reconvene Parliament as certain parliamentarians demand stating the President cannot approve any expenses towards the eradication and prevention of the spread of COVID-19 after April 30? The persuasive argument here is that Government funds have only been allocated through the 'Vote on Account' until the 30th of April. The President does not have powers to approve additional expenses from that day onwards until Parliament is reconvened. more..