Apr 20 (NR) Only individuals with season tickets and an official identity card will be allowed to use railway services. All commuters must maintain a distance of one meter at all times, including when they are purchasing the train ticket, waiting on the platform and within train compartments. While only 50 persons will be allowed to travel within one compartment, it is mandatory for all passengers to wear face masks. Meanwhile the Department of Railways said commuters who purchased more..

Apr 20 (DM) The coronavirus or COVID-19, which surfaced in a Chinese seafood and poultry market in December last year, has spread to at least 177 countries, killing over 120,000 people and infecting more than a million in a matter of weeks. Most people who contract the disease suffer mild symptoms, such as a cough, cold, or a high temperature. However, in more severe cases, the infection can cause breathing difficulties and even pneumonia. The world is still learning about more..

Apr 20 (DM) Sri Lanka tourism is readying for an early revival post COVID-19, as the country starts opening up gradually from today. A major step was the Cabinet last week approving the critical five-year global promotion initiative. �We are now finalising the Terms of Reference and appointment of the Procurement, Project and Technical Evaluation Committees; and will start the process, to be in readiness when the time is right,� more..

Apr 20 (DM) Attorney General's Department has been closed until further notice after a private female security officer at the Department was infected with COVID- 19. The daily meals for the private security personnel have been provided by the said lady security officer who was admitted to the IDH Hospital, after having tested positive for COVID-19. ASG Sumathi Dharmawardena has informed this in a letter to the Judicial Service Commission Secretary with copies to Secretary to Prez. more..

Apr 20 (DM) Back in first week of January, many global scientists predicted that the spread of the new COVID-19 or coronavirus in China would reach a turning point by the second or third week of February. They were right. Indeed, the total number of serious and critical cases in the country has been declining since Feb 22, and there have been no new cases in the last few days other than int'l travellers arriving in China. Unfortunately, new infections outside China have risen very fast, more..

Apr 20 (EN) Sri Lanka may re-evaluate school re-opening, a top official said after the discovery of a new cluster after long delay leading to a surge of new confirmed cases in a new cluster under country�s passive strategy of waiting for index cases to turn up in hospital. Sri Lanka said schools would be opened on May 11, universities from May 4. However 15 new cases were found from a cluster where a patient turned. more..

Apr 20 (SLN) Stepping in to provide some respite to the people confined at apartments as a result of the imposition of curfew in Colombo district, the Navy carried out another entertaining event on 19th April 2020, in a bid to lift their spirits. Augmenting the govt�s efforts to lift the spirits of people confined to their residences following the looming threat of novel coronavirus, this series of entertainment events organized by the Navy got underway, following the directives of Commander of the Navy, more..

Apr 20 (EN) Moody�s Investors Services has downgrade Bank of Ceylon�s rating to �b3� from �b2� and placed the bank along with HNB on watch for a further downgrade as the rupee came under pressure amid a Coronavirus crisis and liquidity injections. The rating agency had already put the sovereign rating under watch for downgrade. �The decision to place the banks� assessments and ratings on review for downgrade reflects Moody�s placement of Sri Lanka�s B2 sovereign rating more..

Apr 20 (AD) The curfew in Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Puttalam districts has been extended until the 27th (Monday). Previously, the curfew in the aforementioned districts was set to be lifted on Wednesday (22), aside from several pre-announced areas. However, the PMD announced today that the earlier announcement on the timings of imposing and lifting of curfew in each district has been amended. more..

Apr 20 (EN) The govt and National Election Commission (NEC) must take full responsibility for any increase in COVID-19 related deaths as a result of premature elections, the opposition Sammagi Jana Balavegaya said. Former MP and SJB member S M Marikkar said that though the party does not oppose elections, the priority now should be to overcome the ongoing pandemic, feed the hungry and rebuild the crisis-riddled economy. Marikkar�s remarks come in the backdrop of more..

Apr 20 (CI) South Africa's limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka, which was scheduled for the first half of June, has been postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The teams were set to play three ODIs and three T20Is during the tour, with results from the former counting towards points in the ICC's new one-day league. "It is very sad that we have been forced to take this step and we will re-schedule the tour as soon as cricket returns to a sense of normality and our int'l fixture list allows," more..

Apr 20 (EN) 24 persons, the largest number of COVID 19 positive patients detected on a given day were found today. They are all from the Bandaranayake Mawatha area in Aluth Kade. The cluster stemming from a family that returned from a pilgrimage to India on March 14 has now grown to a total of 45 people all living in the neighbourhood in the Keselwatte Police area called Roti Kade Watte. more..

Apr 20 (TM) The Election Commission (EC) is to issue a gazette notification declaring 20th of June as the general election date. The decision was reached when the election commission convened this evening to finalize the date of the polls. The EC met with health ministry officials this morning to understand the coronavirus situation in the country. The polls body is scheduled to meet political party leaders to discuss its decision at 10.30 am tomorrow. more..

Apr 20 (NR) One more individual has been confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 in SL. Accordingly, the number of positive coronavirus patients in the country has risen to 304. The Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health stated 33 coronavirus cases were recorded today alone, the country�s highest number of cases in a single day. 32 persons who tested positive today are residents of Bandaranayake Mawatha, Colombo-12 and have been directed to quarantine centres. more..

Apr 20 (AD) Another COVID-19 positive patient has completely recovered from the virus and been discharged from the hospital. Accordingly, the total number of recoveries in the country has come up to 98 cases. With 33 cases reported today, the tally of coronavirus cases in Sri Lanka has soared to 304. Currently, 199 active cases are under medical care at IDH, Welikanda Base Hospital, Colombo East Base Hospital more..

Apr 21 (DM) The world as we know it has changed drastically in the past few weeks with countrywide curfews imposed to counter the COVID-19 outbreak. Our sense of normalcy and semblance of control has been disrupted. Schools, universities, and workplaces are closed, and we are trapped indoors. We work from home, and must distance ourselves from others. While such counter-pandemic steps are needed, what would be the social, political and economic repercussions of this situation? more..

Apr 21 (CT) As it swept the globe starting in 1918 through the end of 1919, the deadly virus afflicted 500 million people, and left 50 million dead. Among the dead were royalty and world leaders, like Louis Botha, the first PM of South Africa, Saudi Prince Tuki I bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Rose Cleveland, a First Lady of the US, Brazilian President Rodrigues Alves and Prince Erik of Sweden. Another notable fatality was Bavarian businessman Frederick Trump, whose grandson Donald Trump is today Prez of US. more..

Apr 21 (CT) Two days ago, the Chairman telephoned me to confirm my attendance at the Commission meeting on 20.04.2020, and proposed that we gazette polls for 28.05.2020, suggesting that if the COVID Pandemic is not over we could postpone again. I disagreed. I am writing this note to the Commission to argue that we must not set a date until we are sure that we will not be jeopardizing population�s health by doing so. more..

Apr 21 (CT) Amidst the aggressive spread of Coronavirus, a prisoner sentenced to death has been set free under the Prez�s general amnesty. During the end of his term, former Prez Sirisena continuously declared that he would mandate the death sentence for drug offenders. He maintained that he would execute this order no matter who opposed it. People wouldn�t have forgotten how applications were invited for positions of Executioners to carry out the death penalty. more..

Apr 21 (ST) Ensuring the availability of the minimum food requirements of the entire population is a formidable task as the Govt has to achieve this while trying to contain the spread of COVID-19. It is made even more difficult as it has to be accomplished under an island-wide curfew. There has been success in both containing the virus, as well as the provision of food. However, much more could have been achieved in containing the virus had people acted in a more socially responsible manner. more..

Apr 21 (DM) Election Commission, comprising former Commissioner of Elections Mahinda Deshapriya, retired Legal Draftsman Nalin Abeyesekera PC and Ex-Jaffna Uni VC Dr. Ratnajeevan Hoole, is scheduled to have an important conclave on Monday (20). The three wise men of the election commission will take up for discussion, the crucial question whether elections could be held to Sri Lanka�s parliament while more..

Apr 21 (ST) Call it synchronicity, call it coincidence, call it simple happenstance, just call it what you will. But two recent stories that gelled tell of the key role that UK�s ethnic minorities play in battling the coronavirus pandemic and the sad news of the sacrifices they make for their adopted home. Last Sunday�s column dealt with the impact of the coronavirus on the UK in the course of which I mentioned the death of Dr Anton Sabastianpillai, a Sri Lankan doctor who died of Covid-19 at more..

Apr 21 (CT) The latest investigation carried out, with certain important arrests, into the Easter Sunday Attacks in April last year in the island, has come out with startling revelations on terrorists, who were even planning a second attack, causing more damage to lives and properties. The Easter Sunday suicide bomb attacks in Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa were carried out in April last year, exactly ten years after the three-decade ruthless separatist war came to an end, shaking more..

Apr 21 (Island) Last year, suffering and death struck with the arrival of Easter, to plunge us back into Good Friday. Thousands who lost loved ones and limbs were shattered by this senseless violence. Many of them still continue in search of Easter life, submerged in the agony and questions of Good Friday. This year we kept Easter, in the inescapable atmosphere of Good Friday. As deaths caused by the virus pile up world-wide, bodies of loved ones are disposed of clinically, govts enforce more..

Apr 21 (Island) The first anniversary of the Easter Sunday carnage falls today while the country is battling a highly contagious virus, which is as destructive as extremist terror, which snuffed out more than 250 lives at several churches and hotels. Our hearts go out to the grief-stricken family members, relatives and friends of the victims of the terror attacks. It is heartening that churches and other places of worship have come together to sound their bells, today, to commemorate more..

Apr 21 (CT) Today it is 365 days since the Easter Sunday attacks took place. Even though time has passed so fast, for those who faced the attacks that miserable day, it just seems like yesterday. The memory of close family members and friends who died in front of them is forever etched in their hearts. They still live with these painful memories. "Mahaththaya, how can I ever forget? We simply did not just lose people. more..

Apr 21 (ST) The margosa tree in the garden has been lonely for many weeks now since COVID-19 hit SL. The trio � Kussi Amma Sera, Mabel Rasthiyadu and Serapina � has been unable to sit on the plank bench beneath the tree and have their usual Thursday gossip since physical distancing became mandatory. But the tree has drawn many birds and squirrels, with the environment free of pollution, vehicles and noise. Life across the world will never be the same again with a large-scale loss of more..

Apr 21 (Island) Last year�s suicide bomb explosions that dealt death and destruction in three churches and three hotels all within the space of half an hour took place on Easter Sunday. A year later, tragedy again engulfs not only our country, but the entire world that is struggling to overcome a pandemic. Human society has never been far from tragedy. Man�s inhumanity to man guarantees that; and now, nature itself appears to be hitting back at the so called civilized species that has abused it. more..

Apr 21 (TM) Currently, a large portion of the world is in lockdown. However, even amidst such lockdowns due to a global pandemic such as this, there were cases in some nations where people had stepped out of their homes and gathered together at religious meetings. A pastor in Virginia, US defied warnings about the danger of religious gatherings during the pandemic and vowed to keep preaching unless I�m in jail or the hospital; more..

Apr 21 (Island) It�s hard to imagine that a virus could bring the modern day world down to its knees! And, that�s exactly what COVID-19 has done, and the whole world is now in despair�not knowing what to do, and what should be done. The coronavirus pandemic has not only claimed hundreds of victims but has also totally disrupted the daily lives of people living all around the world. And, the curfew and lockdowns have put many out of business. The local showbiz scene is dead � completely dead � more..

Apr 21 (Island) Murtaza Jafferjee - CEO, JB Securities said that COVID-19 is a huge reminder for Sri Lanka of the need to embrace the right ideology over financial safety nets or economic relief packages. "Embracing the right ideology and implementing it, rather than mulling on a virus stimulus package will determine the strength of our social and economic recovery henceforth," he said. Asked if the govt's Rs.50bn stimulus package will run out before helping all struggling SMEs, more..

Apr 21 (DN) The US $ 5 billion and 1 million employee - strong Sri Lanka Apparel Industry was facing death in the light of the vast cancellations of orders that the industry was facing from American and European markets in the light of Covid 19. This is a catastrophic situation and where western markets have cancelled these orders where both western buyers and local manufacturers cum exporters are facing bankruptcy, more..

Apr 21 (FT) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa called on all communities to join in the first year remembrance of Easter Sunday attack victims in accordance with their respective faiths. The full statement: Last year, on Easter Sunday � 21 April 2019, suicide bombings on three Christian churches as well as three prominent hotels in Colombo killed over 250 and injured more than 500 people. Most of the victims were worshipers who had gathered in churches to celebrate resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ. more..

Apr 21 (FT) The main Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Sri Lanka has been functioning without a CT scan machine and the needy patients have been taken to other hospitals when a CT scan is to be performed. Ministry of Health has allocated a CT scan machine to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) of IDH but there was a need to construct a building on urgent basis to house the CT scanner and perform the required tests. Accepting a proposal submitted by more..

Apr 21 (FT) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday focused on the possibility of creating a new mechanism by combining all districts in the country to purchase, store and distribute agro products. The Govt Agents were encouraged to take this mechanism forward by the President at a meeting with the District Secretaries held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday, the President�s Media Division (PMD) said in a statement. more..

Apr 21 (DN) With Covid-19 taking the upper-hand and virtually bringing sport activities to a halt over the world sports personalities have been forced to self-isolate and quarantine themselves at home. The Daily News spoke to a few SL sportsmen who shared their experiences of how they were coping with the situation. Former SL rugby captain and MP Namal Rajapaksa has initiated a home gardening challenge awareness via twitter and requested citizens to continue and join the program. more..

Apr 21 (DM) While stating that the law does not expect to do the impossible, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today said that he had no intention whatsoever to reconvene the old parliament. "Whatever the cause maybe, I have no hope of reconvening the old parliament," he said during a special discussion held with his Senior Advisor Lalith Weeratunga. He said he had no legal power to convene Parliament after early June. "The law does not expect to do the impossible,' he said. more..

Apr 21 (ENS) Soon after BCCI postponed IPL till further notice last week, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) expressed its desire to host the event. SLC, however, has not yet officially spoken to its Indian counterpart and has been waiting for the opportune time to make a move. �No, not yet,� SLC secretary Mohan de Silva told this daily when enquired about whether the board has made an offer to BCCI. �It was just a thought amongst more..

Apr 21 (ST) Hit by the current COVID-19 pandemic, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) was this week, forced to extend the deadline to pay the non-refundable deposit to own broadcasting rights � TV/Radio and Digital to April 30. The date was fixed for April 15 to make the deposit and sign the non-disclosure agreement for those potential buyers to own broadcasting rights for the next three-year cycle starting April 1, 2020, but with no sign of end to the virus sweeping across the globe, more..