News
Home » NewsNew COVID surge hitting Lanka hard
With a new surge of COVID-19 pandemic reaching catastrophic level, this scene at a Colombo District Hospital shows doctors treating a patient in the intensive care unit.
Shipments turned away; Govt. pushes ahead with chemical fertiliser ban
The Government has turned away two shipments from China and suspended the issue of letters of credit (LC) to import chemical fertiliser to the country in a bid to give way to the new policy of converting to organic fertiliser. Two shipments from China carrying 18,000 Mt of chemical fertiliser for paddy and other crops [...]
Hotels permitted to accept dollar payments from Sri Lankans
In a bid to draw foreign currencies in the possession of Sri Lankans into the banking system, the Government has issued a gazette allowing hotels registered with the Sri Lankan Tourism Development Authority to accept such money as payment for services. The gazette was published under the Foreign Exchange Act by Mahinda Rajapaksa in his [...]
CEB engineers pull switch off US company’s bid for Kerawalapitiya
A proposal by the United States-based energy company M/s New Fortress Energy (NFE) to acquire the Government’s shares in West Coast Power (Pvt) Ltd (WCPL), owner of the Kerawalapitiya Yugadhanavi power station, has been shot down by Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) engineers. “With the surfacing of this proposal by NFE, we see a great danger [...]
S’pore slaps ban on travellers from Lanka
Travellers from Sri Lanka, including those on transit flights, visiting Singapore will not be permitted entry into the country from today, Singapore’s Health Ministry said. The move follows a surge in COVID-19 cases in Sri Lanka. SriLankan Airlines will, however, operate its cargo flights to Singapore, an official said.
COVID-19 UK variant spreading countrywide
The UK variant of COVID-19 is taking a heavy toll in Medirigiriya, Galle, Hikkaduwa, Vavuniya, Kalutara and Kurunegala forcing the Government to adopt countrywide measures, according to Dr Chandima Jeewandara, Director of Operations and Clinical Services of the Allergy, Immunology & Cell Biology Unit of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. The UK variant (B1.1.7) of [...]
Vaccine talks with other countries as hopes fade for Indian supplies
The Government has started talks with several countries, including the United States and Australia, to purchase Oxford AstraZeneca vaccines as hopes for a quick delivery of fresh batches of the vaccine from India are fading. Presidential advisor and vaccine task force chief Lalith Weeratunga told the Sunday Times that talks were underway to obtain vaccines [...]
May Day: No big rallies, but small meetings streamed online
Most major parties did not conduct large scale political rallies and meetings to celebrate International Worker’s Day or May Day yesterday, but some of them held smaller meetings in their party offices. This was the third consecutive time the political parties had to conduct their May Day meetings without major processions or rallies.There were no [...]
Arrest of Bathiudeen brothers: Family lawyers mull fundamental rights petition
Lawyers for former minister and All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) Leader Rishad Bathiudeen and his brother Riyaj Bathiudeen are drafting Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions to be filed in the Supreme Court against their arrest and detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Complaints over the arrests have also been lodged with the Human Rights [...]
Where is the pragmatic strategy, ask Specialists
Concern over oxygen delivery to patients Call for apolitical experts to produce National Plan to combat COVID-19 No pragmatic decisions or strategy can be seen in place to face dire eventualities, warned the Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) this week, reiterating that “we seem to have failed to learn from lessons in India to avert [...]
COVID-19: No co-morbidities but requiring oxygen
Many of the symptomatic young adults being brought to hospitals in this third wave of COVID-19 have no co-morbidities unlike earlier, but require oxygen, doctors told the Sunday Times. Their oxygen saturation is low, especially after some exertion, though they may not be highly symptomatic, they said. “When the patient is brought he/she looks okay. [...]
Frontline Samurdhi officers face flak over relief omissions
Samurdhi officers continue to face assault and threats by people puzzled and resentful that they are excluded from the Rs. 5,000 hardship benefit being handed out to sections of the community. Many people are confused about why they have not received the allowance this time when they received it during previous occasions, Samurdhi Development Officers [...]
Elephants kill more farmers in fightback for land
Pemadasa, a farmer in Gongangara, Buttala, was on his way to stand guard over his plot on Wednesday evening when he was suddenly attacked by a wild elephant on the Waguruwela Temple road. The father of three was rushed to the local hospital and then to the Moneragala District General Hospital but died of his [...]
New soursop wine claims to beat killer diseases: University
A tasty soursop wine that can fight diabetes, cancer and boost the immune system has been concocted by Sabaragamuwa University’s Faculty of Applied Sciences and there are hopes of winning overseas markets with the product. “A research team at the university has entered into a licensing agreement with an agency to sponsor the beverage and [...]
Centre for Society and Religion refuses to give Easter attack report to CID
The Centre for Society and Religion (CSR) has turned down a request by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to hand over a copy of the report on the Easter Sunday attacks given to the centre by a delegation of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MPs this week. CSR Executive Director Rev Fr Rohan Silva said on [...]
Anamaduwa hospital gets ready for COVID-19 patients
With a surge in the number of COVID-19 patients and designated hospitals running out of space, hospitals around the country are making preparations to receive patients. Here staff at the Anamaduwa base hospital are seen preparing a ward for COVID-19 patients. Three wards in the hospital are being prepared for patients. Pix by Hiran Priyankara [...]
Final journey of ex-IGP Balasuriya
The funeral of Mahinda Balasuriya, Sri Lanka’s 33rd Inspector General of Police (IGP) was held last evening at the General Cemetery, Borella. He passed away on Thursday at the age of 68. Mr Balasuriya joined the Sri Lanka Police as a Probationary Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1978 and held various multiple positions in the [...]
Crucial questions as third wave rampages through country
A COVID-19 tsunami is engulfing Sri Lanka and numerous life-and-death questions are on the minds of the people. The Sunday Times raised some of these crucial questions with regard to the third wave which is rampaging through the country, at a media briefing on Thursday. The answers would be essential for serious decision-making such as [...]
Now it’s the UK variant, 50% more transmissible and causing 55% more deaths
The rapidly spreading variant of the COVID-19 virus in Sri Lanka which is also causing more severe disease than usual is the United Kingdom (UK) variant – B.1.1.7. This was revealed on the morning of Wednesday (April 28) along with the information that the Epidemiology Unit had been informed on April 8 about an ‘S [...]
Genetic sequencing results were needed as a large number of contacts from Boralesgamuwa remained negative
Many ground level health officials told the Sunday Times that on the advice of the Epidemiology Unit, they conducted lots of random tests to get an early indication of the infection level before the New Year. In late March and early April, the infection rate was down and even Boralesgamuwa had only a few infections [...]
Pandemic or no pandemic, it’s business as usual for drug smugglers despite arrests and detection
Last year’s countrywide lockdowns and travel restrictions did not lead to a decline in narcotics-related arrests, National Dangerous Drug Board statistics show. The figures indicate that in the first six month of last year alone, 45,013 arrests were made for drug-related crimes. Of them 23,203 people were arrested for heroin-related offences and 20,640 for cannabis-related [...]
Lockdown fears and empty shelves: Food price hikes choke consumers
With the resurgence in the number of Covid cases, the authorities are advising the people not only to remain indoors, but also stock up essential goods to face sudden lockdowns. But people are hit by a price increases and a shortage of food items, especially rice, due to panic buying and disruption in the supply [...]
‘We will fight this corrupt ring of rogues even if we are killed on the streets’
There is a “ring of corrupt rogues” in the country who have deprived the people of billions of rupees in funds that belong to them, National People’s Power (NPP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Parliament last week. Speaking during the second day of the adjournment debate on the final report of the Commission of Inquiry [...]
Pick of the Pix
FROM OUR READERS Shutterbugs out there, we would once again appreciate your contributions to this picture corner. Please send your captioned photograph along with your name, and the location of the photograph, to: pictures@sundaytimes.wnl.lk We would also appreciate if you mention the camera or cellphone that was used.
Unmasked perpetrators
In spite of the tightening restrictions imposed in the country, people could be seen being reckless and not following health guidelines in the face of the surge in Covid-19 infections. When the whole country is struggling amidst the third wave, the public has lost interest in obeying quarantine rules imposed by the police. Despite strict [...]
Only handful of mask-makers legit: Hundreds selling dodgy products
Only about 15 facemask manufacturers have obtained official approval but hundreds of unauthorised mask makers are selling substandard products all over in the country, the Surgical Face Mask Association (SFMA) said. As more public complaints flow in about poor-quality masks produced locally, SFMA President Dinesh Perera insisted that the government, health and law enforcement authorities [...]
SLPI joins hands with Hilton to launch the Press Club
The Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) has partnered with the Colombo Hilton to launch the Press Club. SLPI Chairman, Kumar Nadesan and Colombo Hilton General Manager Manesh Fernando signed the agreement last week. Colombo Hilton will be the host-hotel for the Press Club’s activities, which will include arranging for media-related events concerning visiting dignitaries and [...]
Special “quarantine packages” on sale for Indian workers as travel bubble continues amidst concerns
There’s growing concern about continued arrivals in Sri Lanka from pandemic-stricken India, particularly of workers availing themselves of 14-day “quarantine packages” sold by some travel agents. The worker category is confined to hotels, thereafter travelling to a third country in violation of the India-Sri Lanka travel bubble agreement published by the Indian Government which clearly [...]
Coconut and palm oil crisis continues; bakers, confectioners warn of shortages
The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) is to take legal action against coconut oil producers and market distributors in the crisis involving a well-known brand of coconut oil which allegedly contains aflatoxins that can cause cancer. The move came as the CAA requested the manufacturers of N-Joy coconut oil to withdraw it from the market as [...]
Jaw-bomb success story shines as Wild Lanka treasures
For three months, a young elephant that had its mouth blown apart with a cruel hakkapatas (explosive bait) was fed buckets of fresh juice and crushed grass through a tube inserted through a slit in its neck until its mouth healed. The animal’s life hung by a thread. Eventually, success followed the work of the [...]
Nature protectors battle with Army to save rehab home elephant calf
The Sri Lanka Army’s bid to remove an orphaned elephant calf from the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home (ETH) to serve as the new regimental mascot of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLII) has run into protests. In a statement, the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka (WNPS), points out that since its establishment [...]