May 24 (ST) It was significant, no less than ironical, that the SLPP Govt chose to present the Port City Bill to Parliament on the day the nation was commemorating the defining triumph over the Tamil militia�s long-drawn struggle to establish a separate state of Eelam on Lankan soil twelve years ago. On March 18, 2009, when Prabhakaran�s bullet riddled body was found in the mangrove belt on the banks of the Nandikadal lagoon in Mullaitivu, thus ending the 30-year terrorist war, the patriotic cry that more..

May 24 (Island) For far too long, the opposition in SL has concerned itself with abstractions and ideals: presidential term limits, constitutional checks and balances, judicial independence, individual rights, and so on. While these are laudable and must certainly be planked into the platform of any democratic resistance, by themselves they are hardly enough. Debates over which direction the opposition � the SJB � should be headed generally centre on the extent to which it has adhered more..

May 24 (GV) SL�s admired initial coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic is now a distant memory. The second wave that multiplied from the Brandix factory in Minuwangoda should have sounded a warning to the militarized COVID-19 Task Force. However, they failed to take occupational health issues seriously. The consequences are tragically unfolding as we write. We want to focus on SL apparels, often considered the poster child in global garment industry, more..

May 24 (Island) An independent investigation into BBC�s bombshell interview with the late Princes Diana, in 1995, has shed light on the dark side of the media world. BBC has come under heavy fire for using deceitful tactics to persuade Diana to go public with a host of issues concerning the royals in general and her personal life in particular. Martin Bashir, who became a hero overnight by conducting that career-defining interview, has become a villain. BBC, which has incurred the wrath of more..

May 24 (CI) Mehidy Hasan took 4 for 30 to wreck SL's top order and set Bangladesh on track to defend their 257 for 6, which in the end, they managed easily, despite a valiant Wanindu Hasaranga innings. That they were chasing so many on a sluggish surface was down to Mushfiqur Rahim's 87 off 84, as well as half-centuries from Mahmudullah and Tamim Iqbal. It had been a 107-run fifth-wicket stand between Rahim and more..

May 24 (ST) Former SL sprinter Ineka Cooray warned that authorities must take measures to prevent talented young athletes from burning out because of overtraining or peaking too early in their careers to ensure longevity. A former SL record holder in the Women�s 100metre and silver medallist at the Colombo SAF (South Asian Games) in 1991, Ineka started her career at the age of 15 and went on to represent the Uni of Texas in the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Assoc) C'ship. more..

May 24 (DS) A day before the match, guests of title sponsorship unveiling event were seen taking selfies in front of team dressing room. Although security personnel cleared the area after a few minutes, after a SL player returned Covid-19 positive again today, BCB president Nazmul Hassan talked about being more careful about the bio bubble in place. Shiran Fernando -- one of the three members of the SL cricket team who tested positive in the first tests on Saturday, returned positive result again while more..

May 24 (SLA) The SL Army, throwing its full weight behind as health providers, quite identical to the way they committed themselves to the elimination of terrorism as Defenders of the Nation are now nearing completion of manufacture /provision of record 20,000 beds and island-wide erection of more than 112 Army-improvised Intermediate Care Centres (ICCs), in addition to continuing conduct of Quarantine Centres more..

May 24 (DM) Multimedia artist Koralegedara Pushpakumara has been shortlisted for Asia�s most prestigious art prize. The Sovereign Asian Art Prize is given by the Sovereign Art Foundation for contemporary artists from the Asia-Pacific region and the 30 finalists have been selected from more than 700 entries in 17 countries. If the name of this highly original and deeply committed artist sounds unfamiliar, it�s entirely due to the poorly developed and largely misinformed groups that more..

May 24 (CB) The Bangladesh-Sri Lanka series will go ahead as scheduled despite Shiran Fernando testing positive for COVID-19. Cricbuzz understands Fernando hasn't shown any symptoms and will remain in isolation now. Chaminda Vaas and Isuru Udana too had tested positive on the sample collected on May 18 but returned negative tests from the sample collected on May 22. There was a scare in the Bangladesh camp as well with the team bus driver also testing positive for COVID-19. more..

May 24 (DN) The 2021 edition of the Asia Cup has been officially postponed and pushed back to 2023 owing to the packed international schedule and the logistical challenges of the second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic forcing the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to reschedule the multi-team event. �The ACC Executive Board, in face of the risks and restrictions posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, had made the difficult decision to postpone the Asia Cup 2020 to 2021,� the council said yesterday. more..

May 24 (DN) CIC Holdings PLC braved the Pandemic and an extraordinarily challenging year to record its highest ever profit of 3.84 billion for the financial year 2020/21, a colossal 250% increase over the previous year. The diversified conglomerate which consists of several key sectors which are aligned with a developing Sri Lanka, inclusive of agriculture, livestock solutions, health and personal care and industrial chemicals completed the financial year recording a turnover of 37.2 b more..

May 24 (FT) State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) has confirmed the securing of 32 million doses of different COVID vaccines, 2.5 million of which will be administered between tomorrow and first two weeks of June. �Two million COVID-19 vaccines will be administered during the first two weeks of June,� SPC Chairman and member of PTF for National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for COVID-19 Dr. Prasanna Gunasena said more..

May 24 (DM) Ministry of Health has suspended drive through PCR tests at private hospitals. Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardene has informed private hospitals that PCR and Rapid Antigen (RAT) tests should be carried out only when it is indicated as per the recommendations of the Consultant or the Medical Officer in charge of the triage counter. He said that no walk-in or drive through PCR or Rapid Antigen Tests should be permitted. more..

May 24 (FT) A group of salvage experts from the Netherlands, called in by the owners of the fire-stricken container vessel MV X-Press Pearl, have boarded the vessel to assess damages and coordinate combating the fire, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) said. According to the SLPA, the owners of the container vessel which was on fire in the anchorage off Colombo Port has called in a team of foreign salvage and firefighting experts to manage and coordinate the response to the incident. more..

May 24 (AD) Leader of UNP Ranil Wickremesinghe says that there is a need to think anew and formulate a new program to fight the COVID-19 pandemic situation in SL. Stating that Sri Lanka needs nearly 30 million COVID-19 doses, the former PM stated that not all citizens will be able to receive their vaccinations within 2021 despite the efforts of the govt. Therefore, priority should be given to seeking medical advice as to how to more..

May 24 (AD) Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa and his wife have tested positive for COVID-19 infection. Premadasa confirmed this posting on his social media a short while ago. Reportedly, his wife had been hospitalized on May 19 over COVID-19 symptoms and had subsequently tested positive for the virus. As per the health guidelines, the SJB leader too had undergone a PCR test which had confirmed that he too had contracted coronavirus. more..

May 24 (Island) The role of community physicians during prevailing pandemic is another disaster. There are 123 specialist community physicians in the country and of them, 88 are based in Colombo. At least during the past 16 months of the health crisis in Sri Lanka, they should have been mobilized to peripheries and stationed in all 25 districts to coordinate and monitor Covid-19 control and prevention activities, the Govt Medical Officers� Forum (GMOF) said. more..

May 24 (AD) SL Police says that drone cameras will be used to monitor and apprehend violators of quarantine regulators. This monitoring process will be carried out around the housing complexes in Colombo and the suburbs, DIG Ajith Rohana said. Meanwhile, a total of 369 persons have been arrested for flouting the quarantine regulations set in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus in the country. SL is currently under island-wide travel restrictions which commenced at 11 pm Fri more..

May 24 (TM) The health sector in the Northern Province is facing a shortage of about 240 doctors and 253 nurses amidst the rising Covid-19 infections in the country, health officials at the Northern Province local govt level said. According to officials, Northern Provincial govt overlooks four district hospitals, 10 base hospitals, 45 divisional hospitals, and approximately 53 primary medical care units. The aforementioned shortages are reported in total for these healthcare service places. more..

May 24 (DM) The govt has denied claims that the black fungus was detected in Sri Lanka. State Minister Sudarshani Fernandopulle said that claims a person who tested positive for the coronavirus in Ampara had contracted black fungus, was false. There were reports that the person in Ampara who tested positive for Covid had a fungus and that it was black fungus. However, Minister Fernandopulle said person was a TB patient more..

May 24 (MFA) Under the guidance of Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage, the Foreign Ministry has planned several religious programmes to celebrate the Vesak Festival this year. Accordingly, a special Dhamma Discourse organized by the Foreign Ministry was held on 21 May at the Bambalapitiya Siri Vajirama Temple under the patronage of Most Ven. Gnanaseeha Nayaka Thero. more..

May 24 (EN) SC has upheld the freedom of workers in China-backed Colombo Port City to be given foreign currency salaries and ruled that any violation of the rights of constitutional rights of other workers outside came from rupee depreciation. By denominating economic activities including salaries in a series of desginated foreign currencies, the Colombo Port City is intended to be a dollarized with multiple currencies. Workers would therefore be protected from currency collapses more..

May 24 (FT) Over 5,000 COVID-19 patients were detected over the weekend with 2,959 persons testing positive for COVID-19 yesterday and 2,909 persons testing positive for COVID-19 the previous day. The patients detected yesterday include 2,945 persons from the New Year Cluster. After three consecutive days with over 3,000 COVID-19 detections a day, Saturday saw a slight dip in detections with 2,871 persons from more..

May 24 (CT) A total of 50 Ayurveda hospitals, around the country, have been allocated to serve as intermediate care centres (ICC) to treat COVID-19 patients, the Health Ministry said. An official for the Ministry said the move was made on the instructions of the President. It increases the number of beds that have been allocated to treat patients with the coronavirus by another 3,500. A decision was also taken to give training, to all those working in the Ayurveda hospitals, more..

May 24 (CT) Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) has deployed 61 relief teams at strategic points of the country due to possible floods because of the prevailing inclement weather, SLN said. They comprise 26 relief teams from the Western Naval Command, 18 teams from the North Western Naval Command, 12 relief teams from the Southern Naval Command and five flood relief teams from the North Central Naval Command respectively. SLN said that in respect of the Southern Naval Command�s possible more..

May 24 (TM) Treatment of Covid-19 patients will be carried out at homes only if there is no other option, and the aim of the health authorities is to refer patients to hospitals or intermediate treatment centres as much as possible, according to the Ministry of Health. �At present, we are trying to refer every patient to a hospital or treatment centre as much as possible. In addition, efforts are being made to increase the capacity of hospitals more..

May 24 (FT) Violence has erupted once again in the territories of Israel and Palestine. This time the root cause was an attempt by the Jewish settlers to evict long-time Arab settlers close to East Jerusalem. This created tension, leading to violent clashes between the Israeli Police and the Arabs. Israeli Police raided the al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem�s holiest site for Muslims, and closed the Damascus gate, a popular gathering place during Ramadan. Arabs and Jewish extremists attacked each other and more..

May 24 (FT) Prez Rajapaksa, obviously on the advice of his economic advisors, has ordered that Sri Lanka should stop the importation of chemical fertilisers and pesticides to the country. The decision has been justified on the following grounds: �The usage of chemical fertilisers leads to a better harvest. However, the negative consequences caused on human lives through pollution of lakes, canals, and groundwater due to the chemical fertilisers outweigh the profit. more..

May 2 (Island) A rapid spread of Covid-19 was a possibility even while the country was under a lockdown, Consultant Clinical Microbiologist, Dr. Mahen Kothalawala told The Island yesterday. Police stations, Army barracks and camps, garment factories, some banks and govt offices and hospitals continued to function during lockdowns, Dr. Kothalawala said, adding that those were sites where the next big outbreak could take place. �More than a lockdown, what we need to do is to more..

May 2 (DM) Only one member from a family would be allowed to go out to buy essentials from any outlet within walking distance when the travel restrictions are relaxed, DIG Ajith Rohana said. He said travel restrictions will be continued till June 7. Meanwhile, travel restrictions will be relaxed tomorrow, May 31 and June 4 to buy essential items. The spokesman said that vehicles will not be allowed on the roads or for shopping purposes. "Those need to buy essential stuff could visit more..

May 2 (AD) Minister Johnston Fernando says that the govet has decided to extend the islandwide travel restrictions currently in effect, until the 7th of June. However, he said that the travel restrictions will be temporarily relaxed tomorrow (May 25), May 31 (Mon) and June 4 (Fri) for the people to purchase essential items from the nearest shop to their homes. However, the public will not be allowed to travel by vehicle to purchase essential goods as they will only be allowed to walk to more..

May 2 (DM) The Public Health Inspectors' Union today showed their dismay over the decision by the Health Ministry to vaccinate relatives of GMOA members ignoring other health workers, who also face the same risk in the fight against COVID-19. PHIs Union Head Upul Rohana told the Daily Mirror that it is important to vaccinate the family members of other officials such as nurses, paramedics, junior staff members and all other members linked to health sector if relatives of GMOA members are vaccinated. more..

May 2 (DM) Sri Lanka Medical Research Institute (SLMRI) has made a revelation on cases of black fungus detected in SL. With reports of a person from Ampara who has been diagnosed with the black Fungus, there has been much dialogue in SL regarding the infection which has stirred quite a storm in India. However, the Deputy Director-General of Education and Research at the Ministry of Health Dr. Hemantha Herath said that experts yesterday (May 24) allayed the fears by more..

May 2 (AD) Dept of Meteorology has issued an advisory for the deep and shallow sea areas around the island due to the cyclonic storm YAAS in the East Central Bay of Bengal. The deep depression located in East Central Bay of Bengal has intensified in to a cyclonic storm (YAAS) and lay centered near latitude 16.3N longitude 89.7E, on 24th May around 05.30 a.m. This system is very likely to intensify into a severer cyclonic more..

May 2 (DN) An effective mechanism will be formulated to distribute essential commodities across the country during the period of travel restrictions. Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said the govt has appointed a special Ministerial Committee to monitor and coordinate this mechanism to ensure that benefits of the programme reach the needy people across the country. The Committee includes Ministers Prasanna Ranatunga, Rohitha Abeygunawardene, Johnston Fernando and the Secretary to the PM and more..