Aug 9 (FT) A vaccination drive for persons over the age of 60 who are yet to receive the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine will be carried out in the Western Province for three days starting tomorrow. The vaccination drive will also target persons with serious illness and all eligible persons can register by calling 1906. As of Friday, 100% of the Over-30 population in the Colombo and Gampaha Districts had received the first dose of a vaccine while 88.4% of the Over-30 population in Kalutara District more..

Aug 9 (AD) Former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe says that the govt should immediately set up a committee consisting of specialist doctors to crack down on the COVID-19 pandemic. UNP leader Wickremesinghe pointed out that the pandemic is spreading widely and that many fall victim to the virus daily. He added that there are issues with statistics as well. The former PM says that it is not acceptable for the Army to administer the vaccine unless it was done under the Ministry of Health. more..

Aug 9 (FT) Over 5,500 persons tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend, with 2,956 detections yesterday and 2,815 detections on Saturday. The patients detected yesterday were from the New Year cluster and the patients detected the previous day include 2,786 persons from the New Year cluster, 19 SL overseas arrivals, and 10 persons from the Prisons cluster. This brings the Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, Prisons and more..

Aug 9 (ST) Despite publicly rejecting costly mega projects funded through foreign loans, Govt will award the 58km section of the Central Expressway Project (CEP) from Kurunegala to Dambulla to a company named M/s Roughton Int'l Ltd which is seeking to borrow about 691.5mn Euros (Rs 162bn) from UK Export Finance (UKEF). Cabinet last year cleared the Finance Ministry to negotiate with Roughton International to secure 100% foreign financing for the civil works contract cost, more..

Aug 9 (DM) Around 30% of the reported COVID 19 patients within Colombo City have been infected with the Delta variant, Chief Medical Officer Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni said. �An average of 550 to 600 cases of COVID are reported daily in the City of Colombo and the Delta variant accounts for 30% of it,� he said. The spread could be controlled with extensive vaccination. �We have managed to jab 75% of city dwellers above 30. more..

Aug 9 (ST) The Govt has decided to continue the ban on imports of vehicles for next year also and issued strict guidelines to all ministries on the preparation of their allocations for the 2022 budget to be presented in November, a senior Treasury official said. On the recurrent expenditure, a Treasury circular to all ministries and departments has declared that there will not be any new provisions allocated next year since more..

Aug 9 (DM) The authorities in Ragama have begun cremating the bodies of 42 people who died from the coronavirus. The bodies were piled up at the Ragama Teaching Hospital morgue. State Minister Nimal Lanza said that most of the bodies were cremated by 6pm yesterday. The remaining bodies will be cremated over the next few days. The relatives of some of the victims had informed the hospital that they were staying far away so will need a few days to come and claim the remains. more..

Aug 9 (DM) A medical team has performed a successful Liver Transplant surgery for the first time in the Sri J'pura Hospital, its Director Dr. Rathnasiri Hewage said. A 37-year-old patient has undergone the liver transplant surgery on July 30 and it was confirmed today that the surgery was 100% successful, he said. The Director said the liver of a 62 year-old brain dead man was transplanted after a 12-hour surgery. He said the surgery was performed by a medical team comprising of more..

Aug 9 (TM) The average number of burials carried out daily at the Oddamavadi burial site for Covid-19 victims tripled in the past week, with the highest number of burials in a single day being recorded on Saturday. The number of burials per day had been 10 on average, but over the last week this had progressively increased to over 30 burials a day. The 34 burials of Covid-19 victims buried at the site on Saturday was the highest number for more..

Aug 9 (FT) The UAE has resumed accepting travellers from Sri Lanka subject to conditions. Major UAE carriers Emirates and Etihad have announced entry requirements. As per Emirates, transit passengers must hold a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate for a test taken 72 hours or less prior to departure as required by their final destination. All passengers with a valid UAE residence visa, who have been fully vaccinated in the UAE and who hold an official vaccination certificate issued and more..

Aug 9 (DM) Facebook has announced that Facebook Marketplace is now available in SL, making it easier for people to discover, buy and sell items from others in their local communities. Facebook Director Emerging Markets APAC Jordi Fornies said, �We know that people are increasingly shopping online, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are excited to launch Facebook Marketplace, which offers a convenient way for Sri Lankans to buy and sell. more..

Aug 9 (DM) SL�s war against the Delta variant which has exhausted the country�s health system and overburdened hospitals is still in its formative stages and is only expected to worsen in the coming three weeks, doctors have warned. In addition to more COVID-19 deaths which will be witnessed in the coming weeks, deaths caused by other illnesses will also increase, as people with other sicknesses are presently afraid to more..

Aug 9 (FT) Dr. Sarath Gamini De Silva, a reputed physician with long experience in the government as well as in post-retirement practice, has reappeared in the publishing business once again with his latest, Essays on Random Topics: Common Sense of a Physician, released a month ago. This is the fourth of his publications. The present volume contains 30 middle length essays which he has written for over a decade, some of which have been previously published in newspapers or journals. more..

Aug 9 (FT) The introduction of oil palm has created much controversy and polarisation in SL in recent times, especially with the decision to remove oil palm in a phased manner and replace it with rubber. The banning of oil palm cultivation may be an environmentally sound decision but it has ruffled many feathers. Lack of in-depth understanding of the critical issues related to oil palm and biodiversity and climate change, unsupported assertions and political imperatives led to this more..

Aug 9 (AD) Four persons including a sergeant of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) have been arrested in connection with a theft of explosives from a SLAF warehouse in Welisara. The suspects have been arrested by the Kelaniya Divisional Crime Investigation Unit following a complaint lodged by the SLAF Director of Discipline that an explosive device had been stolen from the warehouse. Police have found a three-wheeler with 70 kilograms and 700 grams of stolen explosives, more..

Aug 9 (Island) Additional Solicitor General Sumathi Dharmawardene yesterday informed the Court of Appeal that the Central Environmental Authority had undertaken to demarcate the western and the southern boundaries of the Muthurajawela, Wildlife Sanctuary. The President�s Counsel also explained that the Director General Wildlife would demarcate the boundaries of block 1 and 2 of the southern areas within six months. Assistance of the Surveyor General and the IGP were needed for it, more..

Aug 9 (EN) Unless the authorities drastically change strategy and ramp up testing, SL�s ongoing third wave of COVID-19 may end up taking over 20,000 lives by the end of 2021, according to a leading epidemiologist. Director of the Institute for Health Policy (IHP) Dr Ravindra Rannan-Eliya said that the situation in SL is definitely getting worse. �Most likely over 3,000 people are dying of COVID-19 now more..

Aug 9 (AD) State Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana has visited the Kalubowila South Teaching Hospital to inquire into the recent media report regarding the congestion in its COVID-19 wards. Following the visit, he revealed that that the reported situation was only a temporary congestion. �It was a temporary situation because congestion was temporary until the PCR and rapid antigen tests were done and sent to the ward. The situation has now been systematically restored.� more..

Aug 9 (DM) France, in its entry conditions, has classified SL in the orange zone enabling Sri Lankans to arrive in, subject to health protocols. According to French embassy website, Sri Lanka is classified in the orange zone. Persons fully vaccinated with Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Covishield can enter two weeks after their second doses. Also, those vaccinated with Johnson & Johnson vaccine can enter four weeks after their second doses. more..

Aug 9 (DM) Justice Minister Ali Sabry takes questions regarding the process of amending Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act and others. In his interview, he also responds matters related to cases under the PTA. Q: How far have you progressed in your legislative work to repeal or amend the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA)? A: Cabinet paper was presented together by Prez Rajapaksa more..

Aug 9 (Island) Sri Lanka is the best in South Asia as regards efforts being made to mitigate the effects of the climate emergency, Ken O�Flaherty, says Ambassador for Asia-Pacific and the South Asia Region at UN Office for Climate Change (COP26). Ambassador O�Flaherty said so when he met Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister Environment, and Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe last Friday. He was accompanied by Andrew Price, Head of the Prosperity Unit, more..

Aug 9 (EN) SL has raised a de facto 12-month policy rate which is below the overnight rate, through which large volumes of debt has been monetized by 05 basis points to 5.33%, according to a central bank notice. SL�s overnight policy rate is 5.5% but hundreds of billions of rupees of govt debt had been monetized and legacy debt has been turned into reserve money exchangeable for dollars at various ceiling rates for bond auctions. The new liquidity has then prevented the crowding out of more..

Aug 9 (Island) Despite being cleared by the Administrative Appeals Division (AAD), the interdicted Solicitor General Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe hadn�t been allowed to return to Attorney General�s Dept regardless of specific instructions issued in that regard. The AAD gave the ruling in respect of a case filed by Wickramasinghe against the Public Service Commission (PSC). The then Attorney General Dappula de Livera, PC, more..

Aug 9 (Island) Kilinochchi Magistrate, S. Lenin Kumar on Saturday (07) ordered police to stop the excavations to determine whether a site where skeletons, Army uniform and equipment had been found in Vilavotei was a mass grave. The Magistrate did so after taking into consideration two reports by the Police and the Judicial Medical Officer of Kilinochchi. Last Thursday (05), the Magistrate ordered Kilinochchi Police to start excavations after visiting the site. more..

Aug 9 (DM) National Council for Road Safety, which is under the Transport Ministry, today provided Rs. 10 million to the SL Police to purchase test kits to apprehend errant motorists who drive after consuming alcohol. The decision was taken following a request made by the Public Security Ministry to procure the required test kits for the Traffic Police to control road accidents and to find drivers using drugs. Although the number of road accidents is high, according to the analysis more..

Aug 9 (EN) Sri Lanka plans to vaccinate below 30-year-olds against Coronavirus from late August with young people making up a third of the hospital admissions and a third dose is also being eyed, officials said. Sri Lanka has vaccinated 50% of the population with one dose, and 13.8 percent with two doses by Aug 8. �We have already given it to some (below 30-year olds) in the apparel sector,� Chairman State Pharmaceutical Corp more..

Aug 9 (DM) The number of COVID deaths reported in SL is 10 times higher than the COVID deaths reported from India, Rajarata Un Medicine Faculty Prof. Suneth Angampodi said. He tweeted saying that the number of daily COVID positive cases reported from SL is four times higher than the cases reported from India. The COVID mortality rate reported in SL is three times higher than the deaths reported in India. Also, the number of COVID deaths in SL is higher than the COVID deaths more..

Aug 9 (CT) It is strange that the Govt is blaming protesters for the increase in COVID-19 patients, despite the fact that even MPs have contracted COVID-19, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said. He said they had to halt the protests due to the pandemic, which is worsening, and that MPs from the ruling party have begun to spread a conspiracy theory blaming the protesters, claiming there was a surge in COVID-19 cases following protests. �If the protesters are to blame for COVID-19 spread, more..

Aug 9 (FT) The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) has collaborated with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) supported Partnership for Accelerating Results in Trade, National Expenditure and Revenue (PARTNER) Activity to implement a capacity building program for Development Officers attached to EDB. more..

Aug 9 (CT) General Secretary of the SL Teachers� Union, Joseph Stalin speaking on behalf of the Teacher-Principal Trade Union Alliance said that if no solution is given at the Cabinet meeting scheduled for today to the teachers and principals salary issue, they would intensify their trade union action further and even get parents to join in the struggle. Referring to the COVID-19 situation prevailing in the country, he said �Everyone was expecting a Teachers� cluster to erupt but more..

Aug 9 (CT) Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, Pradeep Nilanga Dela, said the Kandy Esala Perahera will commence today (9) with the Kap planting ceremony at an auspicious time of the four dewales. Following the Kap planting ceremony held at the auspicious time of 1:09 a.m. today (9) at the four dewales, Natha, Vishnu, Katharagama and Paththini, five peraheras are scheduled to be held internally in the dewales. The first Kumbal Perahera of the Kandy Esala Perahera will parade more..

Aug 9 (IS) Two among the many three cricketers, who had been banned for flouting Covid-19 norms in England, are reportedly planning to maneuver to USA and resume their careers there. Danushka Gunathilaka, Niroshan Dickwella and Kusal Mendis had been handed 2-year-bans by the Sri Lanka Cricket Board after they had been seen roaming the streets of Durham in an obvious violation of Covid-19 guidelines. more..

Aug 9 (DM) National Trade Union Front Chairman Saman Rathnapriya today alleged that the Govt should take the whole responsibility for the escalation of Covid mortality among senior citizens, as it has failed to prioritise vaccinating the people who are above 60 years of age as instructed by the WHO. He said the WHO had initially instructed the Health Ministry to prioritize the vaccinating the people above 60 years of age, as they face a high risk of falling prey to the killer virus. more..

Aug 9 (Island) National Freedom Front (NFF) has questioned the failure on the part of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) to take tangible measures to compel Laugfs Gas PLC to resume supplies without delay. SLPP MP Mohammed Muzammil (NFF) has written to State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanne, calling for urgent action. Muzammil has questioned the rationale behind the CAA and the State Ministry turning a blind eye to the Laugfs gas shortage that has caused immense difficulties to more..

Aug 9 (FT) The SJB yesterday called for an urgent review of Govt policies and take corrective action to prevent the current health and economic crises from worsening further. �Govt needs to change its stubborn stance, learn from mistakes and correct policy failures urgently,� SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva said. �Please don�t hold the public hostage for the purpose of achieving your political and personal ambitions. more..

Aug 9 (Island) A group of civil society members under the umbrella of the Sri Lankan Collective for Consensus has discussed a range of issues, including the repealing or amending of the PTA with Prez Rajapaksa. Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, President�s Secretary Dr. P B Jayasundara and Foreign Secretary, Admiral Professor Jayanath Colombage had been present at the Presidential Secretariat discussion on Aug 3. civil society group presented a memorandum that set out their more..

Aug 9 (Island) Construction work on about 700 out of 1,000 rural bridges scheduled to be completed by the end of this year was in progress as per the plans, Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said yesterday. Speaking to the media at his Ministry after meeting to review the progress of constructing 5,000 rural bridges as per Prez Rajapaksa�s Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour, the Minister said that the work had been in progress according to plans despite the effects of the pandemic. more..

Aug 9 (DM) At least 40,000 persons above 60 years of age have not received their COVID-19 vaccine in the Colombo city owing to several misconceptions, Chairman of State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) Dr. Prasanna Gunasena said. In a special discussion held at the Govt Information Dept, he said they had been several misconceptions like vaccine is not suitable for people with different diseases and also some vaccines are ideal more..

Aug 9 (EN) SL�s private credit surged by 83 billion rupees in June 2021, while credit to govt surged 170 billion rupees, of which 124 billion rupees were printed, official data showed. SL private credit in the first six months of the year was 414 billion rupees, up from 372 billion rupees a year earlier. Authorities are expecting private credit of around 800 billion rupees in 2021. Analysts had warned that rising private credit would expand imports and the trade deficit, as money is channeled into areas more..