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The government will open both the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) to pick up non-Sri Lankan passengers and for crew rest, a group of envoys were assured on Thursday.

The move follows a meeting by these diplomats with Special Envoy Basil Rajapaksa who heads the 44-member Presidential Task Force. It was the result of a letter Australian High Commissioner David Jhon Holly wrote to Mr Rajapaksa.

Apart from Mr. Holly, the meeting was attended by Alaina B. Teplitz (United States), Sara Hulton (UK) and David Mckinnon (Canada).

The offer, however, does not mean that the two international airports in Sri Lanka will be re-opened for air traffic. A decision on the matter is to be made later this month. Even the national carrier SriLankan Airlines that remains non-operational (except for charter flights) have extended its deadline till April 30.

At present there are 13,000 tourists stranded in Sri Lanka. They are being cared for by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.

The envoys who were entertained to tea in the Prime Minister’s office at Temple Trees praised the current campaign of the government to cope with Covid-19 and said they wouldl urge their governments to support Sri Lanka at various international forums.

Lankan docs play truant in UK; may lose slots

Sri Lankan doctors who travel to Britain for a two-year stint to qualify to become consultants may lose their slots.

This is because many doctors who are now in Britain want to return to the country without concluding their obligatory two-year post-graduate programme.

British health authorities view the move as a breach of their contract. These doctors are entitled to all facilities provided by the British National Health Service (NHS). However, some of them have gone there with the immediate family members including parents who are not entitled to such benefits.

Wildlife Minister caged over zoo visit

Three weeks after the islandwide curfew was imposed, Environment and Wildlife Minister S.M. Chandrasena visited the Dehiwala Zoological Garden on Friday.

He called it a surprise visit, but there were TV crews and some media personnel accompanying him.

He claimed that he was instructed by the President to do so, but critcs say it was strange he had to be reminded by the President to perform his duties as a minister in charge of the subject.

Minister violates ‘stay home’ rule to attend musical show

It is true that these days are very challenging mentally and physically with social movements of people being restricted indoors due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Now various social activist groups, including music bands of security forces, stepped in to entertain the curfew-struck people by arranging mobile musical shows in Colombo and suburbs.

One such musical show was held in Homagama recently where co- cabinet Spokesperson Banduala Gunawardana was among the audience.

It was a JVP member who raised the issue as to how the minister was coming into the public to attend a musical event when all others have been told to stay at home.

Liquor in hospital ambulance: Probe on senior health official

The Health Ministry has launched an inquiry against a senior official attached to a district hospital in the North Central Province after police detected liquor being smuggled in an ambulance belonging to the hospital during curfew hours.

In a startling revelation, it has emerged that the liquor was being taken for a birthday celebration organised for the health official under probe. The ambulance driver and his helper who are in police custody have reportedly confessed to this.

The probe is the culmination of a long-running feud between the health official and a former ruling party MP from the area. The former MP had earlier tried unsuccessfully to remove the official. However, he had seized his chance when he is said to have information that the ambulance was transporting liquor. The former MP had then tipped off police.

Muslims urged to pray at home during Ramadan

The All Ceylon Jamiayyathul Ulema (ACJU) has advised Muslims to engage in the five obligatory prayers, Taraweeh (the night prayers in the fasting month of Ramadan) and other prayers in congregation with family members only within their residences.

They have been told to strictly avoid joining or inviting neighbours for the prayers, according to guidelines issued by the ACJU.

They have noted: “We are aware that the Government of our country also has taken various measures to curb the spread of this disease and has implemented curfews in order to prevent public gatherings completely. Hence, as Muslims who honour the laws of our country, the ACJU kindly urges all the Muslims to adhere to the guidelines, when engaging in good deeds during the month of Ramadan.”

Social media users slam Thilanga for comparing Covid-19 with dengue

Former Parliamentarian Thilanga Sumathipala has earned the ire of social media users after he compared the current COVID-19 outbreak to dengue fever in making a case for holding the parliamentary elections soon.

“There were 106 deaths due to dengue last year, but we didn’t shut down the country,” Mr. Sumathipala told the media this week. Arguing that the outbreak had been controlled, the former MP said that an election was needed to create stability in the country. He added that the Election Commission and authorities could take the necessary precautions to hold the election by maintaining social distancing and other precautions.

Social media users heaped scorn on the former MP over his claims, with some pointing out that Mr Sumathipala, a former State Minister of Science and Technology, appears unaware of the difference between dengue, which is spread by a vector in the form of a dengue mosquito, to COVID-19, one of the most contagious and deadly viruses ever known and is spread from person to person.

Livestock thefts on the rise in Curfew-hit Jaffna

With the continuous curfew forcing people to ‘stay home and be safe’, the police stations in Jaffna received several complaints over the weeks of theft of livestock particularly those who run poultry farms.

More than 100 police complaints have been lodged during the past week, alleging that unknown persons had trespassed into residences and farms to steal livestock.