Mar 14 (PMD) Several firm decisions have been taken under the guidance of Prez and PM to combat COVID -19 in the country. Measures initiated by the Govt since January have been instrumental in preventing the disease coming into the country. SL is in the forefront among the few countries that established a task force to tackle this global health threat. Prez Rajapaksa and PM Rajapaksa instructed officials to take more..

Mar 15 (SO) Even as the number of new coronavirus cases in China has recorded a decline, other countries are experiencing a spike. Italy, South Korea and Iran are the worst affected, though nearly 120 countries including Sri Lanka have recorded coronavirus or COVID-19 cases. Taking into consideration the rapid spread of the viral infection, the World Health Organisation is now officially calling it a Pandemic after avoiding that usage for nearly two months. Countries have reacted to more..

Mar 15 (CT) WHO warned on Friday the epicentre of the novel coronavirus 2019 - COVID-19 - has shifted to Europe, as the region now reports more daily cases than China did at the height of the outbreak there. The global death toll of the pandemic hit the 5,500 mark on Saturday with the number of reported cases surpassing 145,000. Of that number, nearly 72,000 patients have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University, which is tracking the global reach of the virus. more..

Mar 15 (TM) Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that whether the UN Human Rights Commissioner would accept or reject the Govt�s decision to withdraw from the Resolution 30/1 was yet to be seen. Q: What compelled the incumbent Govt to withdraw from co-sponsorship the UN Resolution? A: Co-sponsorship of a resolution against one�s own country is unprecedented and for SL Govt at that time to take a decision of this nature, more..

Mar 15 (TM) In a previous editorial, on 2 February to be exact, The Sunday Morning cautioned the authorities to brace for the economic impact of what is now the coronavirus or Covid-19 global pandemic. At the time we made the comments, the WHO had just declared the Wuhan-epicentred coronavirus outbreak in China a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Citing the heavy reliance of the SL economy on China, we stated that the authorities concerned would do well to more..

Mar 15 (Island) We had intended commenting last week on the drug menace which now has a stranglehold on this nation�s jugular. But with nominations for the forthcoming parliamentary election being received last week, and the efforts particularly of the ruling party to persuade the electors to give them a two thirds majority, made us change our mind. We again remind the voters of the dangers of giving any party or alliance that kind of majority as not just dangerous, but worse. more..

Mar 15 (TM) Former Minister of Foreign Affairs UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera asserted that SL�s withdrawal from the co-sponsorship of the UNHRC Resolution had no impact on the Resolution itself and the other countries that co-sponsored it would take it forward even more vigorously and vehemently. Q: Why did Sri Lanka decide to co-sponsor a resolution by itself? A: Sri Lanka was facing a serious int'l crisis more..

Mar 15 (ST) After hemming and hawing, the WHO eventually announced the coronavirus was a pandemic � a global disease. The world body is accused of being a week too late, holding back lest it be guilty of sending the world economy into an unnecessary spin. SL authorities were in a quandary themselves. Partly in denial that the hot weather was a deterrent to the spread of the virus, they also took the utterly ridiculous decision to reopen entry to Chinese nationals saying epi-centre of virus more..

Mar 15 (ST) My dear Pasindu, I am writing to you, knowing very well that you are not able to read this, as you lie on a hospital bed in an intensive care unit hooked up to machines that breathe for you. I am also writing to you knowing very well that you may never be able to read this. Still, I feel it is important to write to you now. Just last week, you were a youngster on the threshold of life, having overcome hardships during your young days. You lost your beloved mother a few days before A/L exam. more..

Mar 15 (ST) If the Attorney General has issued an arrest warrant and the CID is looking for certain suspects, and they abscond, there is no gainsaying that there is corruption there, and there has been an attempt at evasion. That is to state the obvious, but there can be no redemption for the people involved. Though some of the suspects have appeared in court since, they have run out of road, and their political or other careers should be over. The bond scam saga is now in its brand new iteration. more..

Mar 15 (Island) Parliament has now been dissolved and an election is now on even though the election campaign has not begun in earnest due to the Covid-19 threat. In China, where the Covid-19 epidemic originated, the first fatality from the virus was reported in mid January and the epidemic had run its course before mid-March. Medical teams from China are now being flown into Italy to assist in controlling the spread of the virus and China is no longer considered a danger zone. more..

Mar 15 (CT) Although agreement has been reached to give the Swan symbol to the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), the UNP has been sitting on the matter without taking a decision, several senior politicians said by last Sunday. It has been reported that several UNP members have informed that they would join the Sajith Premadasa-led alliance to contest the upcoming General Election, in the event the formation of more..

Mar 15 (Island) Airtel SL�s Fastest pace bowling prodigy, Arun Pragasham has been selected to play in the Ottawa Club Cricket Circuit, representing the Nepean Cricket Club. As the only SL transfer player to be tapped for the club this year, Arun credits the fast bowling competition as being pivotal in opening the door for his career as a professional pace bowler � both locally and now overseas. "It�s extremely exciting for me to have been selected to play for Nepean Cricket Club. more..

Mar 15 (CI) Joe Root, the England captain, says that his team's overwhelming reaction was one of relief after their two-Test tour of Sri Lanka was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tour's postponement was confirmed with England midway through the second day of their final warm-up match in Colombo, ahead of the first Test in Galle that had been due to get underway on March 19. The players left the field at P Sara Oval at 3.40pm local time, and immediately departed for the team hotel more..

Mar 15 (ST) A defiant unbeaten half century by 15-year-old Dasis Manchanayake enabled Royal College avert the ignominy of a follow-on as the 141st Battle of the Blues encounter against S. Thomas' College ended in a tame draw at SSC grounds yesterday. The diminutive left-hander endured a baptism of fire to hit a memorable half century to join the list of Royal freshers who have achieved this feat on their debut in big match. more..

Mar 15 (Island) The coronavirus that raised its ugly head in December last year has brought life to a standstill sparing no one and cricket is no different. Sri Lanka Cricket expressed its confidence that the two match Test series against England would continue uninterrupted and in the worst case scenario the games will take place behind closed doors. But less than 24 hours later, they were forced to call off the tour. The financial ramification for SLC aren�t said to be much as they have more..

Mar 15 (ST) Sony Pictures Networks has shown an interest in competing for TV/Radio and digital rights but wants the cricket board to also provide territorial rights including over SL to the successful bidder. Sony, who is SLC's existing rights partner, has made two other requests contingent to it placing its bid. One of its earlier concerns was taken positively by SLC which responded by combining TV/Radio broadcast rights with digital broadcast rights when floating the tender again earlier this month. more..

Mar 15 (SO) SL youth World Cup opener and Mahinda College batsman Navod Paranavithana hit the limelight by making the first ever quadruple century (409) in the country when he achieved the epic feat in his team�s traditional cricket fixture against Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda last Tuesday. His innings of 409 runs in 326 balls that included 39 fours and 19 sixes made him occupy the crease for nearly 502 minutes more..

Mar 15 (SLN) During two search operations carried out in northern seas today (14), the Navy has been able to seize 485kg of Kerala cannabis. Incidentally, SL Navy managed to seize approximately 02 tons of Kerala cannabis by naval operations conducted at sea and on land during the past 75 days of this year. Naval personnel attached to the Northern Naval Command, during a search operation in the sea area of Manalkadu today have intercepted a suspicious dinghy & apprehended 2 suspects more..

Mar 15 (AD) Archbishop of Colombo Diocese, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has requested all churches to refrain from conducting Sunday and other Masses till the end of March. He urged the Catholics in the country to support the efforts of the govt to curb the spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19). After looking into the situation that prevails in the country following March 31, the Catholic community will be informed of conducting Sunday and other Masses, the Cardinal stated further. more..

Mar 15 (ST) The escalating number of cases related to COVID 19 and the risk of spreading the virus in SL, has prompted almost all sports governing bodies and event organisers to call off or postpone events that were scheduled to take place from this week. Among the called off events were the England Test tour to SL, all cricket Big Matches that were lined up from this week forward and most importantly the Dialog Schools Rugby League C'ship. more..

Mar 15 (SO) Private domestic airline operations in the country are going through turbulent times due to the sharp drop in flight loads as the number of bookings has plummeted since the outbreak of the killer virus early this year, domestic airline operators said. Cinnamon Air, CEO Sean Dwight said their bookings have dropped by around 40% during the first two months this year compared to the corresponding months last year. �Around 90 percent of our business is from international markets. more..

Mar 15 (ST) The unending new coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak will exert a significant impact on SL's economy through various sectors including a sharp drop in domestic demand, lower tourism, business, travel, exports, trade, foreign remittances and industry etc, official sources said. The magnitude of the economic losses will depend on how the outbreak evolves, which remains highly uncertain, a senior Treasury official said adding that the economic impact is now being analysed more..

Mar 15 (TM) Supermarkets were left scampering to place new orders and transport goods from their warehouses into retail outlets over the weekend following widespread panic buying in Colombo and its suburbs on Thursday and Friday. The panic buying was triggered after two Sri Lankans were tested positive for Covid-19, better known as the coronavirus during the week, leading to fears of a shortage of food and groceries. more..

Mar 15 (SLN) Sri Lanka Navy, in collaboration with the Suwaseriya Ambulance Service, Firefighting Unit of Colombo harbour, Harbour Health Service and doctors from National Quarantine Unit conducted a drill at the harbour on 13th March 2020 to rehearse Standard Operational Procedure that could be adopted in the event of transferring a suspected COVID 19 contracted patient from a ship to the relevant hospital ashore and quarantining a particular area on the land. more..

Mar 15 (MFA) In view of the present circumstances of the rapid spread of COVID-19 globally, and in order to limit the spread of the virus among Sri Lankans who visit the Sri Lanka Missions overseas, the Ministry of Foreign Relations has decided to limit the provision of consular services in 11 SL Missions overseas commencing 16 March until further notice. These countries include Italy, Iran, South Korea, France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, The Netherlands, Sweden and Austria. more..

Mar 15 (EN) Sri Lanka has seen a surge of new Coronavirus cases driven by returnees from Italy, with one confirmed case who had not been quarantined, while the authorities blocked new arrivals tried measures to make people stay at home, though no lockdowns had been proposed so far. New cases were confirmed Saturday taking the total so far to 11, with 10 Sri Lankans now in hospital in addition to the first Chinese visitor. more..

Mar 15 (EN) A family member of a Sri Lanka foreign ministry official had been diagnosed with Coronavirus (COVID19) and leading to several colleagues being asked to self-quarantine, a spokesman said. �..Those staff who have come in direct contact with the officer concerned, during one working day earlier this week in Colombo, and others in an European capital where the person was working 2 weeks ago, have been advised to self quarantine,� foreign ministry said. more..

Mar 15 (AD) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa says the general public should not have undue fears over novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Delivering a special statement, the Premier pointed out that the govt is capable of providing required medicinal drugs and food items to the public without delay. The govt has a proper work plan in this regard, he added. PM Rajapaksa also stated that all information regarding the coronavirus will be expeditiously made available to the general public. more..

Mar 15 (TM) In what may be an unprecedented move, Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) are being employed by the Govt to monitor passengers that arrived prior to strict quarantine procedures being put in place in SL from countries which have suffered Covid-19 outbreaks. Passengers who arrived prior to imposing strict quarantine measures were requested to report to their nearest Medical Officers of Health, more..

Mar 15 (CT) SL's tourism sector has taken a bad hit from the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak, as room occupancy rates at many hotels across the country are plunging to drastically low levels, with both foreign and local tourists refraining to travel outside of their current locations. SL recently decided to suspend the issue of Visas-on-Arrival, as well as to ban tourists from Iran, Italy and South Korea. At present, room occupancy rates at hotels and resorts around country have plunged to below 50%. more..

Mar 15 (SO) The public can now obtain accurate information on COVID-19 by calling the two hotlines 0710107107 and 0113071073. Doctors and medical consultants will answer their queries. The free service is available 24 hours. The public can also obtain information on COVID-19 on the television program `COVID-19, the truth and lies� to be telecast on all television channels today (15) from 10 am to 11.30 am, Health Services Director General Dr. Anil Jasinghe said. more..

Mar 15 (ST) With ten Sri Lankans being affected by the new coronavirus up to last evening, many measures were implemented to meet the threat and mass gatherings were discouraged. Health Services Director-General Dr. Anil Jasinghe gave details of those affected by the disease, as Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi sought public support at a media briefing last afternoon, in curbing the virus which has been rampaging across the world. A National Incident Command Centre which more..

Mar 15 (EN) SL has reported new cases of Coronavirus (COVID19) on Saturday taking the total in hospital to 10, while a Chinese national had been discharged earlier, and authorities have banned public gatherings. SL�s zoological gardens would close and Monday March 16 had been declared a holiday as part of measures to contain the spread of the virus. A 56 year old lady who had returned from Italy on March 7, became the 10th Sri Lankan confirmed. 17-yr old girl who was the relative more..

Mar 15 (ST) The backlash on SL from the spread of novel coronavirus or Covid-19, which the WHO termed a pandemic, has dangerously spread to different continents, but has neither deterred the National Election Commission (NEC) nor major political parties on plans for April 25 parliamentary elections. The NEC, which has been in touch with different state agencies, including health authorities, is satisfied with more..

Mar 16 (CT) The coronavirus COVID-19 has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). It has rapidly spread worldwide in less than just three months, since it was first reported in China. As it stands, Italy, France, Iran and South Korea have been the most-affected countries with many countries, such as Italy and US declaring an emergency lock-down to contain the epidemic. Number of confirmed cases across the globe stands at 145,857 with 5,436 deaths more..

Mar 16 (CT) What will happen up to and on 25 April is all but certain; still unsettled details such as the fracas in the UNP are of limited consequence. Today is the Ides of March so don�t tempt providence. From long before 44 BC, when they dispatched Caesar, the Ides (plural) were days for settling debts; before they were occasions for revelry but that soothsayer�s Beware the Ides of March ruined it. Afterwards, it was mourning; formalized to three days by Claudius (reigned 41-54 AD). more..

Mar 16 (CT) Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said the people should not panic over the corona outbreak since the Govt has taken preventive measures to check the spread of the virus. The health set up is in place to tackle the situation and the public awareness campaigns have been launched. He said the authorities are well aware of the current situation. Testing & treatment facilities are available at Govt hospitals more..