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Ramadan: Praying for normalcy

Ramadan: Praying for normalcy

  Muslims celebrate the Ramadan Festival this week, with large congregations being disallowed for festival and other prayers because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This lone devotee is seen praying at Colombo’s Devatagaha mosque. Pic by Indika Handuwala  

Govt. revises import ban; range of items exempted

The Government has once again revised its import restrictions allowing for a range of items to be exempted from what it called a temporary ban. These include raw materials to be imported for local manufacturing. The import of items for the telecommunication industry (subject to applicable taxes and regulation) as well as IT equipment and [...]

CID, TID chiefs to be transferred

The National Police Commission has approved the transfers of the Directors of the Criminal Investigation Department and the Terrorism Investigation Department. The request for the transfers were made by the Acting Inspector General of Police, citing service requirements. An NPC spokesman said permission had been sought from the Elections Commission for the transfers as the [...]

EC planning to count votes at electorate levels

Counting of votes at electorate level instead of bringing them to central counting stations in each district and spraying rather than applying the indelible ink onto a voter’s index finger are among plans under consideration to conduct the upcoming parliamentary elections after health authorities give the greenlight to conduct the poll, a senior official said. [...]

Release stocks or face punitive action, Govt. warns millers

The Government has warned four major rice millers, providers of the country’s major requirements, to put out their rice stocks or face punitive action. The Sunday Times learns that the warnings have gone to the popular brands of ‘Araliya’, ‘Nipuna’, New Ratna’ and ‘Lathkandura.’ The move comes hard on the heels of the Government imposing [...]

RDA calls bids for six road projects

The Road Development Authority (RDA) has called bids for six road rehabilitation packages funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The projects are all part of the Integrated Road Investment Programme for which the ADB has already passed funds and which has been continuing for the past few years. Called iRoad for short, it aims [...]

Fertiliser shortage continues despite new shipments

Despite two shipments of fertiliser arriving at the Colombo Port, farmers may continue to face shortages due to issues in the distribution network, a senior official at the Fertilizer Secretariat said. Director Mahesh Gammanpila told the Sunday Times that two shipments of 10,000 metric tonnes each had arrived in the Colombo on Friday while another [...]

Pick of the pix

Pick of the pix

Fort: The new normal Boralesgamuwa: Fully loaded Town Hall: Safe bite Enterprising spirit Nuwara Eliya: Ponies get a respite Pettah: Double danger

Deserted landscapes

Deserted landscapes

With the tourism industry suffering a major blow due to the pandemic, most hotels remain closed, employees have been laid off, associated businesses closed down and informal sectors too affected. The situation has been worse in the southern coastal belt spreading from Kalutara downwards where most people depended on the tourism sector. Travelling through Beruwala, [...]

Maligawatte stampede: Suspects face charges under Penal Code and Quarantine Law

Maligawatte stampede: Suspects face charges under Penal Code and Quarantine Law

The suspects arrested over the stampede that claimed the lives of three elderly women in Maligawatte face charges under the Penal Code and the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance. They were remanded until June 4 after policr produced them before a magistrate. The Police also produced in court Rs. 500,000 recovered from the scene. [...]

Health DG writes script for film/tele-drama industry

Health Ministry guidelines issued this week to the film and tele-drama industry for shooting new material amidst the COVID-19 pandemic could significantly limit creativity if applied to actors. Scenes depicting intimacy seem out of the question for now and masks have been deemed compulsory, in keeping with general advice meted out to all citizens. The [...]

Vesak under lockdown in London Viharaya

Vesak under lockdown in London Viharaya

The London Buddhist Vihara, Britain’s oldest Theravada temple managed by the Anagarika Dharmapala Trust, held its annual Vesak programme with a live stream due to the prevailing lockdown in the country. Here, the Ven. K. Kassapa Thera, a resident monk, handles the technical aspects during a discussion by the head monk, the Most Ven. Bogoda [...]

Driving licences valid till July 31

The validity of driving licences with expiry dates between April 16 and May 31 has been extended till July 31. This was announced by a special Gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Transport Management.

Sunday- Monday all-island curfew to be lifted on Tuesday in all districts except Colombo, Gampaha

The curfew effective on Sunday and Monday throughout the island will be lifted on Tuesday morning, in all districts, excluding Colombo and Gampaha. The curfew lifted in districts other than Gampaha and Colombo will be reimposed at 8 p.m. on the same day. Curfew will be imposed and lifted at the same times (8 p.m. [...]

Lankans in Bangladesh fear for their health and safety and want to come home

“The life of every Sri Lankan in Bangladesh is at grave risk,” said a 45-year-old NGO worker. “In Dhaka alone, there are approximately 20mn people, almost the total population of Sri Lanka. They are planning to end the lockdown now which means we will have to go to work if we stay on here.” He [...]

Health of people and health of democracy: Arguments continue as SC hears FR petitions

Health of people and health of democracy: Arguments continue as SC hears FR petitions

The Attorney General’s (AG) Department on Friday informed the apex court that the March 2 dated Presidential proclamation of dissolving Parliament continues to be valid and urged the eight fundamental rights petitions which challenged its legality to be dismissed. Representing the AG, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Indika Demuni de Silva told court that even though [...]

Where has all the turmeric gone?

Where has all the turmeric gone?

What’s available goes at an exorbitant price Spice sellers and processers warn shortage will worsen, blame govt. move to ban turmeric import along with other non-essential goods before fixing the retail price It will be one year before the next batch of domestic crop is available, which is nowhere close to meeting country’s demand   [...]

MASKERADE

Going barefaced is no longer an option for Sri Lankans now that the deadly coronavirus lurks right in front of our faces. Face masks of all hues, patterns, makes, and standards, have become an essential accessory, if only to assure us without much scientific evidence that these flimsy strips of fabric are indeed protection against [...]

Tourism sector to hold talks for cautious reopening

Tourism authorities will hold talks with health officials and the presidential task force with a view to working out guidelines ahead of gradually opening up the country for tourism, a senior official said. Tourism Development Authority Director General Dhammika Wijayasinghe said she was optimistic that the sector could be revived by the end of July [...]

Concern over drop in blood donations: Blood bank issues SMS passes to donors

Blood donors can now use a blood bank SMS as a curfew pass to travel to and from the blood bank, a senior official said. National Blood Transfusion Service (blood bank) Director Lakshman Edirisinghe said Defence Ministry approval had been obtained to implement the SMS pass system for donors as there was concern over the [...]

How to spend EU grant of € 3.5mn: Tourism Authority and Tour Operators not travelling together

A difference of opinion has arisen between tour operators and the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) on how to spend a European Union (EU) grant of 3.5mn euros (Rs 714mn). Inbound tour operators want the money invested on an aggressive, Europe-wide promotion campaign, targeting tourists who will be ready to travel post-pandemic. They feel [...]

CP schools to form health committees

Central Province schools have been instructed to form health committees to maintain cleanliness and high health standards when they reopen. Education Ministry Secretary N.H.M. Chitrananda told a conference of CP educational officials that together with school authorities, they should take the initiative to sanitise and clean up school premises before reopening the schools that were [...]

Keeping the nation verdant and abundant

Keeping the nation verdant and abundant

The Irrigation Department of Sri Lanka, established on May 15, 1900 marks 120 years of service to the nation this week. In an attempt at fulfilling the historical excerpt “Not to let a drop of rain water flow in to the sea without first being used for the welfare and livelihood” by the great King [...]

Effect of the curfew on air quality in Colombo and Kandy

Effect of the curfew on air quality in Colombo and Kandy

The COVID-19 situation has affected normal activities all over the world. There are fewer motor vehicles on the roads and many factories remain shut, giving rise to significant decreases in airborne pollution. For example, Beijing has reported visible blue skies after many years. In some regions in Northern India, residents have been able to see [...]

Relief measures for floods and landslides, in the face of COVID-19

Relief measures for floods and  landslides, in the face of COVID-19

ith several parts of the country hit by floods, landslides and gusty winds, authorities and residents face a double hurdle; battling COVID-19 and adverse weather conditions. Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Deputy Director Pradeep Kodippili told the Sunday Times the biggest challenges were increasing the number of relief centres this year and mapping out a plan [...]

Gearing up to hit the road: Fears over post-curfew traffic chaos

Gearing up to hit the road: Fears over post-curfew traffic chaos

Colombo and suburban roads that saw little vehicular movement are gradually attracting traffic with the authorities relaxing the two-month-old lockdown to bring back normalcy. However, experts express the fear that post-curfew traffic congestion can be overwhelming and stressful to both passengers and drivers. “The streets of Colombo were always busy. This is the first time [...]

Economic activity crawls back from hibernation

Economic activity crawls back from hibernation

Public and private sector economic activity is limping back to normalcy, now that coronavirus containment restrictions in Colombo and Gampaha districts are being eased. In the rest of the country where the curfew is lifted during day, the situation should further improve. At operations that are allowed to open, Public Health Inspectors are checking on [...]

Farmers fed up of waiting and waiting for non-existent, substandard fertiliser

Farmers fed up of waiting and waiting for non-existent, substandard fertiliser

Rice, vegetable and fruit growers say delays in fertiliser distribution could be damaging and organic substitutes will not meet urgent needs. Farmers say the shortage has persisted for more than five months now and that government fertiliser is substandard. All-Island Farmers Federation Secretary T.B. Sarath said the fertiliser shortage has badly affected coconut and banana [...]

The price of freedom remembered at salute to the fallen

The price of freedom  remembered at salute to the fallen

As with many major events over the past two months, the coronavirus pandemic had a tangible impact on the 11th anniversary commemoration of the end of the war against terrorism in Sri Lanka. The health and social distancing measures enforced throughout the island meant that most commemorations, including religious events, were not possible. Even the [...]

Don’t open BIA until virus settles down abroad, urge experts

Don’t open BIA until virus settles down abroad, urge experts

Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 situation is under control so far, but serious consideration needs to be given before a decision is taken to open the main entry-points of the country, particularly the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake, many health experts said. The strong assurances that community transmission has not started in the country came as the number-affected [...]

Rat fever raises its head again

Rat fever raises its head again

Heart-warming images of vast expanses of land with farmers knee-deep in muddy waters ploughing their fields, as rains lash Sri Lanka. In those waters, danger lurks for these humble sons of the soil. Leptospirosis (rat fever or mee una) is on the rise, warns Consultant Physician Dr. Wimalasiri Uluwattage of the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, explaining [...]

Insidious COVID virus will leave a trail of untold mental mayhem

While the government set a pathway to gradually open up an already weak economy devastated by the coronavirus pandemic, psychiatrists caution that by the time the disease is contained, Sri Lanka will have to come to terms psychological problems among people who have been traumatised by the months-long lockdown. Prof. Shehan Williams, president of the [...]

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