Apr 21 (AD) The curfew, which was relaxed in 21 districts except for high-risk zones, will be in force again from 8 pm today until 5 am on Monday (27). In these 21 districts, curfew was relaxed between 5 am to 8 pm every day since April 20. The curfew imposed in Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Puttalam districts was set to be relaxed from April 22, however, govt later decided to extend the curfew until next Monday (27). Accordingly, an island-wide curfew will be in effect throughout this weekend. more..

Apr 21 (DM) Army has deployed a Quick Reaction Rider Team (QRRT) of 20 members to conduct random temperature checks on those arriving in Colombo for essential services. The QRRT was launched following an initiative, proposed by Army Commander Lt Gen Shavendra Silva in a bid to further strengthen the ongoing preventive mechanism of the govt against COVID-19 in most risky Colombo district. Army said the novel practice would promptly diagnose potential persons with abnormal temperature. more..

Apr 21 (FT) SL Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) hailed the decision by Cabinet to exempt them from the 8% VAT with effect from 1 April. �We are extremely happy with the decision by the Cabinet. This will now ensure an even playing field across the tourism industry,� SLAITO President Mahen Kariyawasam said. Although SLAITO had requested the authorities to consider the VAT exemption with retrospective effect of 1 Jan 2020, the Govt had only made it effective from 1 April. more..

Apr 21 (EN) Questions are being raised as to why the govt is to handover some of the testing of possible COVID 19 patients to the private sector when the full capacity of the state to conduct these tests is yet to be utilized. Association representing the Govt Medical Laboratory Technologists in a letter to Director-General Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe says that there is no requirement for the private sector services to be used because of the excess capacity in the state sector. more..

Apr 21 (AD) Employees of the Sheraton Colombo Hotel who have had their employment suddenly terminated have written to the President appealing for intervention against alleged severe labour rights violation and misappropriation of money by foreign investors of the hotel. In their letter, they urge the Prez to intervene against �an unprecedented scale of labour right violations of hundreds of employees and misappropriation of hundreds and millions of our country�s money� more..

Apr 21 (EN) Writing to the Election Commission (EC) today, Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) highlighted the urgent need to amend circular 2020/03 to reflect the changed circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. TISL Executive Director Asoka Obeysekere writing to EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said the misuse of public property is among key factors the commission should take into consideration ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for June 20. more..

Apr 21 (EN) Sri Lanka�s tight controls, transport , permits and price controls which have already hit food supplies and have also hurt fertilizer and seed distribution, and the military has been brought in to fill gaps created by state restrictions. �Although fertilizer stocks are currently received in Colombo, there is a problem in transporting fertilizers to other areas,� Minister Ramesh Pathirana said. �The workers have been caught in villages and estates.� more..

Apr 21 (FT) SL Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) yesterday said it would be compelled to lay-off some of its staff if the Government failed to provide an interest-free loan scheme for the industry to pay back in three years. �We have over 4,000 employees working for Destination Management Companies (DMCs) in the country at present. We have requested the authorities for an interest-free loan facility to pay 6 months� salaries for our staff, which will be repaid in three years,� more..

Apr 21 (CT) Religious leaders, including the Buddhist clergy, have taken a decision to suggest to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, to not reconvene the dissolved Parliament under any circumstances. A special discussion regarding this matter was scheduled to be held at 4 p.m. on Friday (24), at the Presidential Secretariat between the President and the Buddhist clergy. Co-Convenor of the National Intellectuals Bhikkhu Forum, Professor Ven. Medagoda Abayatissa Thera said more..

Apr 21 (CT) Leader of the TPA Mano Ganesan said that with the decision taken by the Election Commission to hold the General Election on 20 June, he along with a political party have decided to seek the opinion of the Supreme Court (SC) on reconvening Parliament to solve the crisis concerning the Executive and the Constitution. He added that initial steps are being taken for that and that most of the parties who are against the decision of the EC have agreed to go to the SC. more..

Apr 21 (Island) There is a shortage of medicine in the country due to the problems created by former Health Minister, Rajitha Senaratna, Secretary of the GMOA, Dr. Haritha Aluthge says. Dr. Aluthge said: "There is a shortage of medicine and we have been talking about this for months. In fact, we have had several discussions with the Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi. She accepted what we said and she tried her best to follow our advice and find the necessary funds. But the problem persists." more..

Apr 21 (MoD) Japanese Govt has commended the role of the military and Police in supporting the health authorities to combat coronavirus in the country. �We appreciate your efforts taken to control the spread of coronavirus,� Deputy Head of Mission of the Japanese Embassy Toshishiro Kitamura said when he met Defence Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne at the Ministry, today. He said in Japan, which has a death toll of 360, the Govt has requested people to Stay at Home more..

Apr 21 (Reuters) Zoom video conferencing app�s user base grew by another 50% to 300 million in the last three weeks, as the company fought to quell a backlash around security and safety that has seen a number of govts and firms ban its applications. Shares of Zoom, which have surged nearly five-fold since the company went public in March last year, rose 12% to a record high of $168.24 on Thursday. CEO Eric Yuan gave the numbers late on Wednesday in an update on the platform�s 90-day security plan, more..

Apr 21 (AD) Another case of novel coronavirus has been confirmed in SL, says the Ministry of Health. Accordingly, Sri Lanka has identified a total of 416 COVID-19 patients so far. Sri Lanka saw a record daily surge in coronavirus cases today as 48 persons tested positive for the virus. The Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry says that 300 coronavirus cases are currently under medical care. In the meantime, the island has reported 109 recoveries and 7 fatalities due to COVID-19. more..

Apr 21 (ANI) The solar light appears to have a "powerful effect" on killing the deadly coronavirus, which has infected over 2 million people worldwide, according to a senior US official. "Our most striking observation to date is the powerful effect that solar light appears to have on killing the virus -- both surfaces and in the air," said William Bryan, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary for Science and Technology (DHS) at a White House briefing here. more..

Apr 25 (CT) The purpose of this article is not to make people panic, but to increase the precautionary measures. First and foremost, we need to understand that the statistics are available for us to know the severity of the crisis and for us to take proportionate measures. Generally, the Fatality Rate of a disease is the percentage of the number of deaths due to the disease among the total number of infected cases. The below chart was released in March 2020, based on the above formula more..

Apr 25 (CT) Although many analysts have been calling this dreaded Corona crisis, as a great leveler that does not discriminate in terms of social status and is not deterred by borders, UK�s BBC TV anchor Emily Maitlis, interestingly called it a myth which needs debunking. She has received quite a bit of praise on Twitter for her opening remarks on her latest News-night programme. She called out the language surrounding the coronavirus crisis and denounced the suggestion that the pandemic more..

Apr 25 (CT) The world is in the grip of a health crisis. It has affected lives, livelihoods, education activities, economies and placed an unprecedented burden on health care workers around the world. SL too has been grappling with the threat of being consumed by this debilitating coronavirus. Timely action to close borders and stringent measures to impose curfew, quarantine suspected persons and to isolate identified more..

Apr 25 (DN) The UN�s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), described as an integral part of its highly-ambitious development agenda, may be in deep trouble. Aimed at addressing some of the global challenges the world faces� including extreme poverty and hunger, inequalities in incomes and gender, climate change and environmental degradation� the SDGs now seem threatened by a world economy facing a brutal recession. With a 2030 deadline, the SDGs are in near disarray, more..

Apr 25 (DN) Ramadan is the holiest month for Muslims. This year, Ramadan begins on 25th April depending on when the new moon is sighted. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Muslim lunar calendar. Every year, Muslims around the world fast during daylight hours � from dawn until dusk abstaining from drinking, eating, immoral acts and anger. They engage in good deeds such as prayers, reciting holy Qu�ran and charity activities. During the holy month, Muslims wake up early to eat more..

Apr 25 (TM) Muslims around the world will commence their holy month of fasting on Saturday 25 April. As instructed by the Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs and the Wakfs Board, the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) and the Supreme Council of Sufi Thareeqas in Sri Lanka have issued guidelines for Muslims to adhere to during the month of Ramadan (fasting). more..

Apr 25 (ST) SL students who returned from China due to the outbreak of the coronavirus there, didn�t waste their time anyway, according to a few of them I know. They continued to attend their lectures, participated in tutorial classes, submitted the assignments and, received assessment results from their professors. Just like others, they were also locked up in their homes under curfew, but with modern digital and delivery technology they did all their study-related work online. more..

Apr 25 (Island) It is raining in some parts of the country, and the probability of precipitation is high, elsewhere, according to media reports. Welcome as this news may be for those troubled by the sweltering weather, rains are likely to worsen their woes. Pluvial periods are usually followed by dengue outbreaks. Thousands of dengue cases have already been reported from different parts of the country. The situation will take a turn for the worse unless precautions are taken urgently. more..

Apr 25 (DM) With Earth Day marked on April 22, we look to nature�s solutions to climate change and other challenges. Wetland preservation is vital for our environmental, food and societal futures. Take a tuk-tuk ride in Colombo, and the chances are with every odd turn you�ll manoeuver past a lake. Water bodies including marshes, mangroves and paddy fields are a common sight among the hustle and bustle of city life, forming a wetland complex trapping pollutants and cooling the air. more..

Apr 25 (DM) Amid the devastating COVID-19 pandemic � worst viral disease in more than a century - the UN on April 22 marked the Int'l Mother Earth Day. We hope the International Mother Earth Day�s principles and values will continue to be observed by the people throughout the coming months and years. While govts and big movements do it on a mega level individuals could do it on a small scale by saving fresh water or electricity, planting trees and acting in a manner that will more..

Apr 25 (DM) The world including SL is undergoing a pandemic crisis of colossal proportions. The Island nation however is in double jeopardy as it is in the grip of two crises simultaneously. One of course is the COVID-19 Health crisis inflicted globally by nature. The other being experienced by SL is the Constitutional crisis which is essentially man-made. Complicating matters further is the fact that both the corona more..

Apr 25 (DN) The Covid-19 pandemic has spread worldwide causing major disruptions to the countries. As to the rapid spread of this fatal disease the countries are solely focused on taking measures to prevent the spread of the virus which has resulted in holding the countries� usual activities. One such measure that Sri Lanka was compelled to take is the postponement of the Parliamentary Elections which was fixed for 25.04.2020. The Commissioner has now fixed it for 20th June 2020. more..

Apr 25 (ST) With reports from the Bronx Zoo in New York, America, that a tiger had been infected with COVID-19 through its handler, many people�s focus turned towards the plight of zoos in this crisis. What of SL�s famous Dehiwela Zoological Gardens, the Sunday Times asked international zoo expert Vasantha Nugegoda. He says that most zoos run by govts like in Sri Lanka are less affected as there would be no job losses or interruptions in the food supply to the animals as the govts fund them. more..

Apr 25 (DM) National Elections Commission (NEC) member Ratnajeevan H. Hoole has not been in good terms with NEC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya in recent times and this has been evident in statements Hoole has made to the media. Hoole opens up on his issues with Deshapriya, concerns over the proposed dates for the parliamentary election and several other matters. Q: There was a lot of debate with regard to more..

Apr 25 (FT) Lawyers for Lawyers, int'l org that fights for rights of lawyers to practice their profession freely and independently, has expressed concern over the arrest and detention of Attorney-at-Law Hejaaz Hizbullah. In a press release, the organisation called on SL authorities to ensure and guarantee Hejaaz Hizbullah�s due process and fair trial rights, in accordance with guarantees under international law, including the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers. more..

Apr 25 (ST) That night our work ended around 10.30. It was March 28 and a person admitted to the Marawila Hospital the previous day had tested positive for COVID-19. We were on the road the whole day. We did not think of it as a challenge. This is our work. We traced 25 contacts of this patient and quarantined them in 16 homes including that of the patient. My team comprising four Public Health Inspectors (PHI), one Supervising PHI and myself returned to the MOH Office, had a discussion more..

Apr 25 (Island) With the coronavirus pandemic battering the international travel industry and the local hotel sector is on a nosedive, SL Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando is looking to bring about a sorely needed solution to a problem of the hotel sector employees � a way to pay their basic monthly salaries until the industry gets back up on its feet. She revealed her ongoing discussions with an int'l NGOs to explore more..

Apr 25 (Island) Forbes Magazine has appointed Talal Rafi as member of the Forbes Business Council. Rafi, a SL entrepreneur and consultant works across multiple fields in developing entrepreneurship. He is the co-founder of the co-working spaces turned business advisory company Hubpoint. He has also co-founded other ventures such as Venture Green and T3Follow. The Forbes Business Council is an invitation only group of successful business leaders and more..

Apr 25 (Island) Pelwatte Dairy has taken all the necessary steps to ensure the best practices for health and prevention protocols are followed during the dairy processing. The company, which has continued with uninterrupted dairy collection, has been able to ensure the livelihoods of the local dairy farmers were not disrupted during the crisis. As such, Pelwatte management has taken many steps to ensure that strict COVID-19 preventive protocols are put in place during milk collection more..

Apr 25 (FT) A group of 158 lawyers yesterday wrote to Bar Association of SL (BASL) expressing deep concern on the profoundly serious situation arising out of the unlawful detention and lack of access to lawyers for Attorney-at-Law Hejaaz Hizbullah. The letter was addressed to BASL President Kalinga Indatissa, PC, Vice President Shavindra Fernando, PC, Secretary Rajeev Amarasuriya and Assistant Secretary Vishwa more..

Apr 25 (Island) Diversified blue chip Hemas Holdings PLC stated that the group has initiated cost- cutting and cash conservation measures in order to protect business amid coronavirus pandemic. The measures include: freezing all discretionary expenditure, capital expenditure, recruitment and driving an efficiency program across the group. In a disclosure to CSE, Hemas Group CEO Steven Enderby stated that each of their businesses are working through a detailed more..

Apr 25 (Island) The govt says that there are over 7,000 imported vehicles lying at Hambantota and Colombo Ports. There were 6,600 uncleared vehicles at the Hambantota Port and around 500 at the Colombo Port. The vehicles had piled up due to the impact of the ongoing Coronavirus crisis, he noted adding that the relevant importers could get in touch with DIG Pussellawa and request for curfew passes, so that the clearance process though admittedly slow, could continue. more..

Apr 25 (Island) Former Deputy Speaker, Ananda Kumarasiri, who headed Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on the Easter Sunday attacks, said that he was not aware of specific action taken on the basis of his report. Moneragala District lawmaker handed over the report to Parliament on Oct. 23, 2019. Both the former Deputy Speaker and the Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dassanayake said more..

Apr 25 (EN) Sri Lanka�s rupee closed around 192.20/193.00 to the US dollar on interventions in the spot market Friday while more money was printed data showed. In the forward market the one week closed around 193.50/194.50 to the greenback, down from 195.30/196.00 to the US dollar on Thursday. On Friday the central bank�s Treasury bill stock went up to 291 billion rupees from 283.96 a week earlier three days after Treasury bills were undersold at the auction on Wednesday more..