Apr 7 (MFA) Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha has outlined the role and preparations of the Ministry of Foreign Relations and its missions across the world, in helping Sri Lanka tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and addressing concerns of Sri Lankan nationals overseas. Referring to Sri Lankan citizens abroad, he said “parents here in Sri Lanka, should rest a little bit more comfortably about their children, knowing that the Embassy is a phone call away and if there are issues on the ground, more..

Apr 7 (DM) Four more coronavirus patients have recovered and have been discharged from hospital today. This brings the total number of Covid-19 patients who have recovered in the country to 42. The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Sri Lanka is at 180 while 132 patients (active cases) are currently under medical care. Meanwhile some 255 suspected patients are also under observation at selected hospitals in the country. There have been 06 deaths due to coronavirus in the country. more..

Apr 7 (AD) Two more patients have been confirmed to have contracted the novel coronavirus earlier this evening (07), said the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry. Seven new patients have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus as of 7 pm today. Accordingly, the confirmed COVID-19 case count in Sri Lanka rises to 185. A total of 147 COVID-19 patients are currently under medical care while 42 patients have recovered from more..

Apr 7 (DM) India gifted a 10 tonne consignment of essential life saving medicines to SL, in view of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. These medicines have been requested by Govt of SL. The consignment was brought to Sl by an Air India Special Charter flight today. This is yet another manifestation of India’s unwavering commitment to stand with SL, in rain and in shine. Despite its own domestic challenges and constraints, India has always believed in sharing its resources & expertise more..

Apr 7 (NR) Dambulla Economic Centre has been closed until further notice. Chairman of the Dambulla Economic Centre Traders Association Channa Arawwala said the decision to close the Centre was reached after taking into account the safety of farmers, traders and the public. The Chairman stated that extensive talks were held with Basil Rajapaksa and Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon, over the risk of the virus spreading and poor health practices observed by the public more..

Apr 7 (EN) The current COVID-19 lockdown should be reviewed after the coming traditional new year, while increasing testing capacity and encouraging continued social-distancing and self-isolation practices, chair professors of medicine in six SL state universities said today. The academics, who are also specialist physicians, made this remark in a joint-statement issued this morning recommending an exit strategy for Sri Lanka more..

Apr 7 (EN) Holders of valid student or work visa can still travel to Korea and enter the country after being quarantined but the embassy in Colombo said it is halting consular services. Qatar Airways still travels to Korea. After arriving in Korea, a quarantine fee of 100,000 Korean Won a day has to be paid for 14 days. The full statement is reproduced below: Due to the curfew order implemented by the Govt of SL, Consular Section of the Embassy of Korea has closed services until further notice. more..

Apr 7 (AD) Sri Lanka confirmed its 6th death due to COVID-19 as an 80-year-old male succumbed to the virus today. The death is reported from the IDH in Angoda, Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe stated. The deceased is said to be a resident of Dehiwala area. The country has reported 178 positive cases so far while 38 of them were discharged from hospitals after recovering completely. 137 patients continue to be under medical care while over 250 suspected more..

Apr 7 (EN) DIG Ajith Rohana is warning people who are fear-mongering about minority communities and distracting the authorities from the fight against the spread of the COVID 19 virus. Referring to a sound clip purported to be from an employee who has been advised by his managers against Muslims which is being shared widely, Rohana said that the CID is probing the origins of the tape. The police have identified the individuals involved in spreading audio clip and action would be taken against them. more..

Apr 7 (PMD) A contribution of Rs. 66 million was made to the COVID – 19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund within two days. The latest donations had increased the balance of the Fund to Rs. 380 million. Minister Dullas Alahapperuma donated his Cabinet Minister’s salary for the month of April and Minister Gamini Lokuge donated Rs. 10 million. These donations were received by Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa today (6). The balance of the Fund had gone up with the contributions of Rs. 25 mil more..

Apr 7 (NR) The Police has introduced four new methods of obtaining curfew passes. President’s Media Division said the public gathering in large numbers to obtain passes during curfew, has hampered govt efforts in containing the spread of the coronavirus. Accordingly, the Police will issue curfew permits under four methods. The passes will be issued by Police Headquarters, office of Senior DIG, more..

Apr 7 (Island) The govt has urged the people to drink more hot black tea, which, it says, would help in combating the spread of the novel coronavirus disease. Minister Ramesh Pathirana, said that even though it has not been proven, medically, that tea could kill the coronavirus, there was circumstantial evidence to say that it could act as a cure. Recent studies done, in Taiwan, he said indicated that black tea has properties that could potentially inhibit SARS-CoV2, which is bio-structural more..

Apr 7 (EN) Colombo tea auction which went online due to a Coronavirus curfew ending a 126 year old tradition doing the job, but the digital sales process is still slower than human outcry system it replaced as market market participant learn the ropes, brokers said. An auction due to take place on March 24 had to be abandoned as curfews were slapped on district which had been defined a high risk areas for Covid-19. For 126 year, Colombo’s tea brokers have met an auction floor to sell tea. more..

Apr 7 (CT) GMOA has warned that if the Govt fails to take prompt preventive measures to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, at its peak the fatal illness could infect some 2,500 people in the country. The GMOA has observed that the health officials must specifically monitor the situation of the pandemic in the Kalutara District. They have stressed that if the health authorities fail to address this alarming situation forthwith, more..

Apr 7 (HT) Four men from Sri Lanka, who had allegedly attended the Tablighi Jamaat Markaz in Delhi’s Nizamuddin last month, tested positive for Covid-19, in the Nuh district on Sunday. Eight people have been confirmed to have Covid-19 from Nuh and seven of them had visited the congregation in Nizamuddin, held mid-March. Virender Yadav, CMO, Nuh, said: “Two of the patients were found near the Palwal border on March 31 while entering Nuh and the other two were traced to Umra village. more..

Apr 7 (CT) Secretary to the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Culture and Religious Affairs, Bandula Harischandra, says the Govt has decided to suspend the staging of the National Vesak Festival this year, in light of the situation in the country. He said that due to this reason, the public should engage in both Amisa and Prathipatti Poojas at homes. The 2020 National Vesak Festival was earlier slated to be held at the Olaboduwa Raja Maha Vihara in the Kalutara District. more..

Apr 7 (EN) The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) has complained to the National Elections Commission about packets of spices being distributed by Sathosa which bears the election symbol of the SL Podujana Peramuna, a spokesman for the election watchdog said. CMEV Convener Manjula Gajanayake said that the packets of chili powder and curry powder were being given out as part of the relief measures more..

Apr 7 (TM) The govt has barred residents from making payments through Outward Investment Accounts (OIA) for overseas investments for a period of 3 months. PM who is also the Finance Minister issued the relevant Gazette Extraordinary earlier today (06). The govt over the past weeks has taken several measures to ease the pressure on the exchange rate amid the coronavirus outbreak. SL Rupee hit an all-time low today with the selling rate of the US dollar at Rs.199.40. more..

Apr 7 (EN) Senior executives of top business groups in Sri Lanka have taken up to 60% salary cuts as Coronavirus killed sales and hit cash flows, but not state sector salary cuts have been announced though most are staying at home. SL’s publicly traded John Keells Holdings told employees in a memo that directors will take a 60% salary cut, and other executives will take a 35%, while lower paid executives will have a Travel allowances will not be paid for the next three months. more..

Apr 7 (Island) A senior spokesperson for the Catholic Church, said that in line with measures taken by the govt to curb the rapid spread of Covid-19, prayers wouldn’t be conducted at churches, countrywide, on Maundy Thursday (9), Good Friday (10) and Easter Sunday (12). The spokesman, based at the Bishop’s House, Borella, emphasized that immediately after the outbreak of coronavirus, Church cancelled Sunday mass on Mar 15. more..

Apr 7 (EN) Two more COVID 19 patients were reported today, taking the total reported to 178 since the outbreak Director-General Health Services Dr Anil Jasinghe said. The first is a Three-wheeler driver from Jaela and “he has had many contacts and at present he is being interviewed and we are trying to trace his contacts,” he said. The other person is a woman from the Puttalam area and we are tracing her contacts as well, Jasinghe said. We are conducting more tests for COVID 19, more..

Apr 7 (FT) The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) yesterday said it has taken swift measures to thwart possible attempts to cross Bolgoda Lake by bordering Atulugama residents. The area has been placed under a total lockdown and all residents have been advised to remain quarantined. The Navy has deployed its Rapid Action Boat Squadron (RABS) at the adjacent areas of Bolgoda Lake from Sunday to prevent any crossings. Following information received from various sources on attempts to more..

Apr 7 (AD) Prez Rajapaksa and PM Mahinda Rajapaksa discussed matters relating to the prevailing situation in the wake of COVID-19 spread with the representatives of Samagi Jana Balawegaya at the Prez Secretariat today (06). Prez elaborated on the measures already taken by the Govt to prevent the spread of the lethal virus and the future actions in this regard. The responsible manner in which the govt acted following more..

Apr 7 (Island) Most of us live in the cramped cold cages of our private projects, frantically struggling to stake out our own little comfortable place in the sun. Driven in circles by anxious yearnings and beckoning desires, we rarely ever glance aside to see how our neighbor is faring, and when we do it is usually only to assure ourselves that he is not trying to encroach upon our own domain or to find some means by which we might extend our dominion over his. more..

Apr 7 (DM) The future trajectory of COVID-19 that has swallowed the entire world is not clear yet. Only China has so far successfully contained the disease, but with imported cases still disturbing the serenity of its leaders of the country. All other so-called powerful countries are struggling to at least bring the rapid upsurge of new cases and deaths to a close. Countries such as Britain and Italy as guardians of capitalism had supported the sixty-year US-sponsored sanctions against more..

Apr 7 (Island) President of Sri Lanka Cricket Shammi Silva in a letter to the game’s stakeholders has assured that domestic cricket tournaments that were interrupted due COVID-19 epidemic will be completed before the end of the year. The SLC Chief after consultation with the Ex-Co and CEO had sent the letter to all stakeholders dated 3rd April. Shammi Silva however is uncertain about what will happen to some of more..

Apr 7 (DM) A collective of citizens and organizations comprising leading civil society members, academics and activists, has written to Prez Rajapaksa on the disposal of bodies of deceased persons who were infected with and suspected of being infected with COVID-19. The letter has been copied to Minister Pavithra Waniarachchi, Director General Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, Director of IDH Dr. Hasitha Attanayake, more..

Apr 7 (Island) Senior athletics official Saman Kumara said that despite all sports action halted and training programmes hampered due to the coronavirus pandemic, the coaches could still look at a brighter side of utilizing the time to set up a master plan for the next year. “It is a tough time for everyone. There is uncertainty regarding the start of sports action. It is difficult to predict when would be the first competition. This is an unprecedented situation. But still you can see a brighter side more..

Apr 7 (DM) Some quarters of Sri Lankans are indulging in a needlessly-caused and equally stubbornly promoted debate over the funeral managements of the Muslim COVID-19 victims. Last week, a 64-year-old Muslim man from Kochchikade, 2nd locally reported coronavirus related death, was cremated under the standard operating procedure adopted by Ministry of Health on disposal of dead bodies related to virus. more..

Apr 7 (DN) April 7, 2020 is the day to celebrate the work of nurses and midwives and remind world leaders of the critical role they play in keeping the world healthy. Nurses and other health workers are at the forefront of COVID-19 response - providing high quality, respectful treatment and care, leading community dialogue to address fears and questions and, in some instances, collecting data for clinical studies. Quite simply, without nurses, there would be no COVID-19 response. more..

Apr 7 (Island) It looks as if tipplers, of all people, were more equal than others, in India’s Kerala State. Others are prohibited from venturing out during the current lockdown, and those who defy the ban, get beaten by the police mercilessly, in public. But alcoholics are given special treatment in Kerala; they can obtain passes to buy liquor if doctors certify that they are having withdrawal symptoms! Some guzzlers are reported to have taken their own lives, unable bend their elbows, more..

Apr 7 (CT) The usual bustle of the capital city has now been replaced by an eerie silence as the new coronavirus (COVID-19) takes its toll on the country. Islandwide police curfew has been introduced to reduce the spread and to flatten the epidemic curve. Whilst Sri Lanka's comparatively low number of COVID-19 positive cases suggest the success of these measures, they still come at a heavy cost to the local economy. In an online discussion organised by the Advocata Institute on more..

Apr 7 (Island) The IMF has done well to select the least developed countries for some preferential treatment at this juncture on the question of debt repayments but it opens itself to the charge of veering from objective criteria in its treatment of crisis-scarred Venezuela. The IMF has rejected the latter’s request for a $5 billion loan to manage her COVID-19-linked woes on the ground that there is no clarity on international recognition of the country’s government. more..