Apr 28 (ST) Anugget of good news spreading relief among the beleaguered people of Sri Lanka particularly in the high-risk areas, came from the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), Angoda. The wholesale fish vendor from Piliyandala who was suspected of having COVID-19 was negative for the new coronavirus and discharged from the NIID on Friday, for home isolation for two more weeks. more..

Apr 28 (FT) Defence Ministry yesterday requested print and electronic media to respect the privacy of COVID-19 infected patients and refrain from broadcasting or publishing homes of patients or visits by public healthcare personnel. Some TV channels have shown the tracing of COVID-19 suspects and visits by Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) and Police officials during news telecasts, other news related programs, in news and feature articles in newspapers. more..

Apr 28 (DN) Sri Lankans confined to their homes by the COVID-19 pandemic were able to withdraw money virtually at their doorsteps thanks to the deployment of mobile ATM units by the Commercial Bank of Ceylon. The Bank�s mobile cash service units traversed a total of 119 different routes in three weeks and covered 672 locations, reaching homes in many areas where travelling to a bank branch was not possible due to the curfew. Sri Lanka�s largest private bank reports that these units more..

Apr 28 (FT) Leaders of political parties from the last Parliament issued a joint statement with the offer of sincere and responsible cooperation to the Govt with no strings attached and in the interests of the country and the people. The statement was signed by UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, TNA Leader R. Sampanthan, SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem, TPA Leader Mano Ganesan and ACMC Leader Rishad more..

Apr 28 (PMD) With corporate and individual donations and direct donations, the COVID � 19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund�s balance has now surpassed Rs. 866 million. The Chief Incumbent of the Mihinthala Rajamaha Viharaya, Ven. Walahahengunawewa Dhammaratana Thero handed over Rs. 01 million to the Fund. Recent donations made to the Fund included Rs. 01 million by Kelani Rajamaha Viharaya, Rs. 01 million by Kataragama Kirivehera Rajamaha Viharaya, more..

Apr 28 (CT) Sri Lanka's third-largest foreign exchange earner, tourism earnings, declined a staggering 71% during March this year, as the novel COVID-19 (Corona) outbreak restricted travel among countries. According to data, tourism earnings in March reached US$ 134.5 million, down 71% compared to US$ 460.5 million received during the same month of last year. Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka during the month too declined 71% to 71,370 from 244,328 recorded a year earlier. more..

Apr 28 (FT) Govt yesterday criticised international rating agency Fitch�s downgrade of Sri Lanka�s sovereign rating as illogical and ill timed and said it was committed to proactive measures to meet all debt obligations and protect the economy. In a statement issued by the Finance Ministry in response to the Fitch ratings decision to downgrade Sri Lanka from �B� to �B-� with Outlook Negative, govt emphasised that is vehemently disagrees more..

Apr 28 (Island) The security forces personnel, currently on leave, had to be brought back to their camps according to a scientific method, otherwise the COVID-19 situation take a turn for the worse, Public Health Inspector's Union said. Secretary of the union, B.M.M. Balasuriya said that a single mistake in the process could have disastrous consequences. It was not advisable to lift the curfew as it could lead to the entire society being exposed to those from high risk areas. more..

Apr 28 (PMD) A new special Presidential Task Force headed by Western Province Governor and Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Goonatileke was appointed yesterday to tackle health security at camps of the armed forces. The newly established Presidential Task Force is responsible for preparing, implementing and monitoring an effective mechanism under the guidance of Secretary of Defence and Commanders of Tri-Forces, President�s Media Division (PMD) said. more..

Apr 28 (AD) Curfew in 21 districts was lifted at 5 am today (28) and will be re-imposed at 8 pm on the same day. The curfew in these districts will be effective from 8 pm to 5 am until Friday (1). Curfew for these 21 districts was originally scheduled to be relaxed on Monday (27). However, the government extended the island-wide curfew, which was in force throughout the last weekend, until 5 am today, in order to facilitate more..

Apr 28 (DN) In terms of air quality, As at 4am today, Colombo�s air pollution status stood at moderate level of 57, as measured by PM 2.5 (fine particulate matter). The �moderate� level, which ranges from 51-100, means the air quality �is acceptable, but for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit more..

Apr 28 (NR) Trading at the Manning Market, that was closed for several days owing to the threat of the coronavirus, will resume tomorrow. Vice-Chairman of the Manning Market Traders Association Namal Attanayake speaking to NewsRadio said mobile vendors will not be allowed to engage in trade at the Manning Market from tomorrow. He said traders decided to reopen the market tomorrow, as they directly deal with farmers. Namal Attanayake noted that more..

Apr 28 (Island) The CID has commenced a probe to trace the persons who allegedly attempted to create social disturbance, and unrest by using a letter by the Ministry of Health seeking 1,000 body bags from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), to replenish its standard stock. The letter, dated Apr 24, 2020, and addressed to ICRC Forensic Coordinator, Angelica Guzman, signed by more..

Apr 28 (Island) Not a single school would be used as a quarantine centre; Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva said. Army had, however, asked the Ministry of Education to allow them to use several schools, near military camps, to house soldiers. "Camps are established to hold a certain number of personnel but with the need to follow physical distancing, these camps can now hold only about 50% of the previous numbers," he said. In the past, beds in camps had not been placed more..

Apr 28 (AD) MillenniumIT ESP � one of Sri Lanka's leading Systems Integrator and Information Systems providers � recently partnered with Cisco Sri Lanka offered free AI enabled video conferencing system to the Healthcare Sector in Sri Lanka. This solution, along with state-of-the-art digital infrastructure was installed at the Ministry of Health, Medical Research Institute (MRI) and Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) last week. The solution kit consisted of latest collaboration solutions, more..

Apr 28 (EN) SL would grow 1.5% in 2020, down from 2.3% a year earlier amid a Coronavirus crisis and imports would shrink by US$ 4.5 while exports would fall US$ 3.2 billion to US$ 8.7 billion, central bank has said. SL�s growth slowed in 2019 as the economy was recovering from a currency collapse in 2018 and was just starting to stabilize in early 2020 in a cyclical recovery, though attempts to stimulate the economy through more..

Apr 28 (AD) The website www.covid19.gov.lk was launched by Chief of Defense Staff, Army Commander Shavendra Silva on Monday at the National Operational Center for Prevention of Covid-19. This National Website for COVID -19 response is administrated by the Information Technology Agency (ICTA). This website is launched with the objective of providing information to the public that is accredited by the Govt of SL and data received from the Prez Secretariat, Health Promotion Bureau, more..

Apr 28 (wsws) Under pressure from President Gotabhaya Rajapakse and his caretaker cabinet, the Election Commissioner (EC) announced last week that SL�s postponed general election would be held on June 20. Rajapakse�s agitation for a quick election takes place amid surging coronavirus infections in SL and internationally. Anyone aware of Rajapakse�s authoritarian actions�past and present�knows that his early election had nothing to do with defending democratic rights. more..

Apr 28 (EN) The total number of people infected with COVID 19 through the Welisara Navy camp is 198, Dr Anil Jasinghe said. He said 148 COVID 19 positive cases were detected inside the camp and 45 outside it who were sailors who were on leave. Five out of the 8 new patients detected as having COVID 19 today were also from Welisara navy camp bringing total to the highest number from a single cluster of patients. more..

Apr 28 (TM) Covid-19 pandemic is now estimated to put 50 million jobs in the global travel and tourism industry at a risk, with travel set to go down by 25% this year and Asia being the most affected continent, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council, which represents the international tourism industry. Statistics from the council site show that the global tourism industry currently accounts for 10% of global GDP, having contributed $ 8.8 trillion to the global economy in 2018, more..

Apr 28 (AD) Eight more patients who had contracted COVID-19 have been discharged from hospitals, says the Ministry of Health. The total number of coronavirus recoveries have accordingly risen to 134. Meanwhile, the tally of positive COVID-19 cases went up from 523 to 588 just within 24 hours on Monday with a record daily total of 65 new infections. According to the Health Ministry, 447 active cases of coronavirus are currently under medical care at selected hospitals. more..

Apr 28 (CI) This time in Alternative Universe, the series in which our writers let their imagination change the game: our masochistic Sri Lanka correspondent wonders what would have happened if Arjuna Ranatunga's men hadn't won the World Cup 24 years ago. Sri Lanka pulled off maybe the greatest underdog triumph in the history of cricket when they won the 1996 World Cup with a mostly semi-professional team, backed by a board more..

Apr 28 (Island) So far 25 Sri Lankans, living in the UK, had passed away due to COVID-19, sources at SL High Commission said. They said most of the victims were Lankans, who had been living in England for a long time. It is also reported that around 900 Sri Lankans, living in England, wished to return home as coronavirus rages in the UK. Most of them are Sri Lankans, studying in England, doctors who have gone for further training, and those who were on vacation there. more..

Apr 28 (SLN) A remote-controlled smart appliance called Medi Mate developed by Navy was handed over to the Negombo District General Hospital, today (27). According to a basic concept mooted by an inventor, Mr. Thushara Kelum Wadasinghe, the Navy�s Research and Development Unit, going by the directives of Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva, developed this remote-controlled smart appliance called Medi Mate. One of these remote-controlled Medi Mates more..

Apr 28 (CT) The GMOA claimed that the Navy being exposed to COVID-19 constituted a turning point in the current pandemic. GMOA Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge said that it had led to the contamination of several areas such as Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Hambantota, and Moneragala which had been identified as sterile areas before. A'pura has reached the high risk capacity like Colombo, he claimed. more..

Apr 28 (AD) A group of 73 Sri Lankan students who were stranded in Bangladesh have been brought back home on Monday night (27). They were repatriated from Dhaka, Bangladesh in a special flight (UL1423) chartered by SriLankan Airlines. The flight touched down at BIA at around 9 pm on Monday. The repatriated students have been directed to quarantine centres by SL Army. A group of 113 SL students stranded in Pakistan were repatriated from Lahore & Karachi on Apr 21 more..

Apr 28 (AD) Election Commission has announced that all postal voting applications for the General Election 2020 received by the certifying officers should be handed over before 4 pm today. The certifying officers have been instructed to submit the postal voting applications received by them as of March 17 to the District Secretariat, District Election Office or Election Secretariat in Rajagiriya with a cover letter. March 17 was the previous deadline for receipt of postal voting applications. more..

Apr 28 (DM) Health authorities yesterday declared Torrington 60 watta in Colombo 7, Dabare Mawatha in Narahenpita and Havelock Lane, as isolated areas after COVID-19 positive patients were found from those areas, officials said. According to Director General of Health Services, Dr. Anil Jasingha, out of the 65 patients detected on Monday, four patients were from Colombo city while the remaining were navy officers from the Welisara Navy camp. more..

Apr 28 (PHC) Pakistan High Commission, Colombo coordinated with Govt of Pakistan and local SL Authorities for the successful return of 50 stranded Pakistanis via Sri Lankan Airlines flight UL-1185 that left Colombo today morning at 0700 hrs local time. Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Tanvir Ahmad was present on behalf of the High Commissioner to see off the departing Pakistanis at the BIA, Colombo. The returning Pakistanis thanked Govt of Pakistan and Pakistan High Commission for arranging more..

Apr 28 (DM) Some 1,553 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests were carried out within Monday (27), the Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe said. He said that it was the highest number of PCR tests conducted within a day. Meanwhile, Dr. Anil Jasinghe said that facilities for PCR tests are now available at 16 institutions including the Batticaloa hospital. more..

Apr 28 (DM) Prez Rajapaksa is not in a hurry to hold the General Elections and the allegations made by the Opposition to this effect are false, PHU Leader Udaya Gammanpila said. He said the Opposition alleges that the Prez is in a rush to hold the parliamentary election despite the epidemic caused by COVID19. "This is a baseless allegation. The first COVID19 patient was diagnosed in SL on Jan 26. She was discharged from the hospital more..

Apr 28 (DM) The Central Bank has imposed maximum interest rates on pawning advances of licensed banks to provide relief to low income families affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The CB said that the current interest rates charged by licensed banks on pawning advances range from 12% - 17.5% per annum and that the decision was taken considering the necessity to provide relief to low income individuals who are pawning gold jewellery to meet their short-term financing more..

Apr 28 (AD) A group of 164 Sri Lankans who were stranded in Bangalore, India due to the outbreak of COVID-19 were brought back home today (28). These Sri Lankans were repatriated in a special flight belonging to SriLankan Airlines. The flight had departed for Bangalore at 9.10 am this morning and returned to BIA at around 12.40 pm in the afternoon. The repatriated Sri Lankans have been directed to the mandatory quarantine process upon their arrival at the airport. more..

Apr 28 (EN) In the past six days a total of 285 new COVID 19 positive cases have been diagnosed throughout Sri Lanka. Total number since the outbreak of the disease and the discovery of the first patient, a Chinese tourist, is now 596. So in the past six days the number of COVID 19 patients in SL has nearly doubled, a huge surge for a country that has had a very incremental increase in patient numbers on a daily basis. more..

Apr 29 (CT) 180 from Welisara Camp test positive for COVID-19 so far screamed an online newspaper on Monday. Tight living facilities in barracks and cantonments, similar to a lockdown in civilian tenement gardens and blocks of flats, have spread the infection. The numbers will continue to rise so long as people are not allowed to walk around, get fresh air and feel psychologically depressed which is just what the clampdown and the curfew are doing. Prez is under the thumb of the GMOA and more..

Apr 29 (FT) All is suspended, if not already cancelled. And what plans and schemes we had! At national, community as well as personal level all those hopeful ambitions are now scuppered, thrown out, made meaningless by an invisible, little-understood, virus. Right across the world, mice, men and kings are halted; hopes dashed, theories challenged, sentiments denied, work stopped, lives lost, the disaster is all-encompassing. For a moment we did not imagine that in our lifetime more..

Apr 29 (CT) The Corona Virus pandemic is not a time to reject democracy and replace it with authoritarianism in the name of strong leadership, the Friday Forum said on Tuesday. In a hard-hitting statement the group of academics, retired public officials, senior lawyers and other professionals warned that world history had shown that a Govt in elected through huge majority can soon transform itself into more..

Apr 29 (FT) One unintended consequence of COVID-19 has been the frustration that was caused to those with future plans. Employees of private banks who had planned to enjoy a holiday with family in Bali or Phuket after they get April bonus have not been able even to step outside their homes with family members. Gota�s Govt which sought to get parliamentary majority at the General Elections of April had to shelve its plans and try for alternative power-gaining schemes. more..

Apr 29 (CT) Govt planned to open the country from lock down on 27th April 2020 which was then delayed for a week trying to bring back normalcy. But Corona has accelerated during this period and reached the 500 mark on 26th April just two days after reaching the 400 mark. The graphs below indicate that we are in the exponential growth of the infection. Opening of this country at this time would be an unwise decision that could cost a serious setback to the reduction of the Corona Virus. more..

Apr 29 (FT) All is suspended, if not already cancelled. And what plans and schemes we had! At national, community as well as personal level all those hopeful ambitions are now scuppered, thrown out, made meaningless by an invisible, little-understood, virus. Right across the world, mice, men and kings are halted; hopes dashed, theories challenged, sentiments denied, work stopped, lives lost, the disaster is all-encompassing. more..