Mar 27 (Island) The world has come to a standstill, totally disoriented and helpless rendered by the advancing coronavirus. COVID-19 respects no borders: Concrete or steel fortifications and patrolling armed guards offer no barrier to this novel microbe. Muscle-flexing countries claiming superiority over the weak and the powerless, are now going bended knees begging for help from anyone for protection and saving their citizens from the lethal consequences this virus can cause. more..

Mar 27 (DM) The coronavirus has killed more than 20,000 people around the world and infected more than 350,000 others, including more than 100 people in Sri Lanka. The virus was first detected in Wuhan, China and began to spread rapidly around the world. As China celebrates the eradication of the virus from its soil, there are growing calls for China to be held accountable for the suffering undergone by so many countries more..

Mar 27 (DM) With the World Health Organization (WHO) pointing out the link between corona deaths and tobacco, the medical officers and academics here are urging the govt to ban the sale of cigarettes in view of the epidemic. Several medical organizations have already conveyed this to govt authorities. Meanwhile, a spokesman for Dept of Health Promotion of the Rajarata Uni said that ban on cigarette sales should have been imposed weeks ago. �It�s still better late than never� he said. more..

Mar 27 (FT) John Ionnidis, Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology and Population Health, of Biomedical Data Science and of statistics at Stanford University and Co-Director of Stanford�s Meta-Research Innovation Center has suggested that our once-in-a-century pandemic could also be a once-in-a-century evidence fiasco. As our govts grapple with the best response, neither alarmism, nor unchecked paranoia nor denying the danger nor irresponsible negligence can be allowed to hold sway. more..

Mar 27 (FT) The new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges and created a global crisis on all fronts, with many countries scrambling to contain or delay a potential COVID-19 tsunami. What most countries have done thus far, including SL, is to establish sweeping procedures and measures to deal with this crisis never experienced before, irrespective of huge financial impact more..

Mar 27 (AI) Responding to President Rajapaksa�s decision to release Sergeant Sunil Rathnayaka, Amnesty International�s Regional Director for South Asia, Biraj Patnaik, said: �Where accountability is so rare for serious human rights violations in Sri Lanka, the govt�s arbitrary decision to release Sergeant Rathnayaka sends an extremely worrying message. It means that military perpetrators of horrific crimes, even if convicted through a court of law, will be pardoned and released.� more..

Mar 27 (Island) Police spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana yesterday said that 99% of those arrested for violating curfew had been given police bail. He said so in response to a query by The Island. The DIG said that since the declaration of the curfew, on March 20, and up to 6 am yesterday, 3076 had been arrested, along with 771 vehicles. Police sources said that a curfew hadn�t been declared in Sri Lanka, since Independence, to meet a health crisis, prior to the declaration of the current one. more..

Mar 27 (Hindu) The TNA, SL's main party representing Tamils of the north and east, condemned Prez Rajapaksa�s decision to pardon and release an Army officer who was on death row for killing eight Tamil civilians � including a 5-year-old and two teenagers� in 2000 during the civil war. �If true, we condemn the opportunistic action of Prez @GotabayaR under guise of dealing with the issue of prisoners at a time like this. more..

Mar 27 (FT) The main trade union at Katunayake Free Trade Zone (FTZ) have written to Army Commander Lt Gen Shavendra Silva who heads the National Operation Center for Prevention of COVID-19, appealing for urgent assistance for around 20,000 of its employees who are confined to their hostels and are in dire need of food and other essentials. �The immediate requirement of the FTZ is food, as they have no money to meet their basic needs. The employees are paid their salaries more..

Mar 27 (Island) The public should not let their guard down because of a decrease in the detection of COVID-19 patients, Dr. Haritha Aluthge of the GMOA, warned yesterday. He said that though the official count of COVID-19 patients was 101, the actual number of infected people might be about 500. The GMOA feared that many people were not able to maintain an appropriate distance when they went out to buy goods, after the curfew was lifted, and that could have led to more infections. more..

Mar 27 (SLN) SL Navy has developed a disinfection chamber to prevent and control the spread of new coronavirus. In the backdrop where the WHO has announced an epidemic of new coronavirus, Navy is conducting various programmes for the control of the virus in public places as well as in the pvt sector establishments. Navy�s initiatives have been focused to strengthen the joint mechanism implemented by govt, more..

Mar 27 (DM) The govt has identified the period till Apr 10, as a high risk period for the spread of coronavirus and therefore the curfew situation in the western province will continue, a minister Bandula Gunawardane said. He that this was discussed at a meeting chaired by Prez Rajapaksa on Wednesday. He said the Puttalam district had been identified as a high risk district. �We have to control the situation during this period. If we manage the situation until then, we can come out of it,� more..

Mar 27 (AD) The ongoing curfew in the districts of Puttalam, Vavuniya, Mannar, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Jaffna was temporarily lifted at 6 am today and will come to effect again at 2 pm. The curfew in these areas will continue till 6 am on Monday (30) and will be re-imposed at 2 pm on the same day. The curfew imposed in the districts of Colombo, Kalutara and Gampaha, which were identified as High-Risk Zones in view of the spread of COVID-19, will continue to be in force until further notice. more..

Mar 27 (EN) SL extended a work from home period to April 3, and has slapped indefinite Coronavirus curfews on 3 districts with authorities making a final effort to stop any remaining unidentified carriers infecting others. The work from home period from March 30 to April 3 will apply to all State, semi-govt and private sector entities except which are categorized as essential services. �This period is not considered as public holidays. more..

Mar 27 (IFEX) As the COVID-19 virus spreads globally as a pandemic, SL is also seriously feeling its impact. In such a context, all media groups play an extremely important and admirable role in delivering accurate and reliable news and information in protecting the public�s right to information. It is our intention as a collective of media organizations in SL to fulfil that duty and responsibility of the media throughout the period whilst taking action against COVID-19. more..

Mar 27 (AD) A Sri Lankan residing in Switzerland has died after contracting the COVID-19, says Ministry of Foreign Relations. �SL Embassy in Berlin has informed the Ministry that the Swiss authorities have confirmed that the Sri Lankan aged 59 years who died in Switzerland on 25 March had tested positive for COVID-19.� �The deceased was from Punkuduthivu in Northern Province and held residence permit in Switzerland,� Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. more..

Mar 27 (NR) A programme was initiated today for employees of the Katunayake Export Processing Zone (FTZ) who are unable to return to their homes and remain in hostels, to return home. Over 5,000 persons had arrived at the FTZ from 5am this morning for the programme. Katunayake Police spread the news around the area using loudspeakers last night. The programme is being carried out by BoI, Katunayake Police, more..

Mar 27 (SLN) The Navy conducted a social responsibility programme to distribute drinking water and dry ration among religious places and poor families in areas belonging to the North Central Naval Command on 26th and 27th March 2020. Under the directives of Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva, this programme was conducted with the intention of sustaining the routine life of poor community, amidst looming threat of COVID-19 pandemic. more..

Mar 27 (AFP) British PM Boris Johnson announced on Friday that he is self-isolating after testing positive for COVID-19. "Over the last 24 hours I have developed mild symptoms and tested positive for coronavirus," he said on Twitter, posting a video message. "I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the govt's response via video-conference as we fight this virus," he wrote. "Be in no doubt that I can continue thanks to the wizardry of modern technology to communicate with more..

Mar 27 (EN) Sri Lanka�s overcrowded prisons are constantly simmering with tensions, and the threat of COVID19 entering them has raised anxiety to a new level and placed jailors and inmates on edge. Already the current situation has resulted in two deaths at the Anuradhapura jail when jail guards opened fire to quell a riot that grew out of a protest by inmates on March 21. At least six other inmates were injured in the shooting. more..

Mar 27 (EN) SL has exempted ships calling at ports from entry charges and demurrage during a Coronavirus curfew, while shippers have been relieved from warehousing rents and fees for container storage. Prez�s office quoted SLPA Chairman Daya Rathnayake as saying that ships have been exempted from entry fees. �Measures will be taken to grant required facilities to the business community at Port premises itself to ensure uninterrupted import and export mechanism,� more..

Mar 27 (AD) Acting IGP C. D. Wickramaratne has ordered police stations to ensure that all supermarkets, groceries and pharmacies, except state-run Rajya Osu Sala outlets, in the country are closed with immediate effect. The Police Media Spokesman said that although supermarkets have been permitted to deliver essential food items to the homes of consumers, there have been reports that certain supermarkets and grocery stores are open and selling goods to customers. more..

Mar 27 (EN) With the COVID-19 outbreak showing no signs of relenting and the govt-imposed curfew continuing indefinitely in the high-risk districts of Colombo, Gampaha and Kaluthara, state and private sector have organised delivery operations for food and other essentials. The following is a list of options to choose from. Medicine and healthcare: If you need medicine delivered to your doorstep, ministry of health more..

Mar 27 (AD) Govt insists that the public must strictly adhere to the curfew now in force island-wide. Curfew has been imposed with the sole purpose of to preventing the spread of COVID � 19 which has now become a major health issues, Prez�s Media Division said. Task Force entrusted with the management of the essential food and other items distribution has taken all the necessary measures to ensure continued door to door supply of essential items for the people to purchase, it said. more..

Mar 27 (AD) Govt urges SL expatriates who wish to return to their motherland to safely remain where they are now until the risk of COVID�19 virus minimized. Govt has taken several effective initiatives to prevent the spread of the pathogen, PMD said. In order to stop the virus coming into the country and its spread, the Govt had completely banned overseas arrivals. Other countries in the world too have taken similar step and suspended traveling within country as well as foreign more..

Mar 27 (EN) Suwaseriya Paramedic Ambulance Services have been in the frontlines of the anti-coronavirus battle, along with nurses doctors and minor staff of hospitals, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said. �Staff of the Suwaseriya ambulance service should receive national honour for their service of picking up patients as soon as they are informed,� she said. �They go and pick up patients whether or not they are infected with COVID-19, taking a high risk on themselves.� more..

Mar 27 (AD) Fourth group of 163 individuals who successfully completed the quarantine process has left for their homes today. This group was quarantined for a period of 14 days at the facility set up at Batticaloa Campus. They had returned to the island from Italy, South Korea and several other countries. They are residents of Colombo, Katuneriya, Chilaw and Matara areas. So far, 3 batches comprising more than 700 individuals were sent home upon successful completion of more..

Mar 27 (DM) Minister Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi expressed her utmost disappointment and anger when the Police and Health authorities detected a 67-year-old COVID 19 infected individual who had dodged quarantine for more than a week and suspected of having infected over 50 other Sri Lankans in the last few days. The patient from the East has come back to SL after a two week stay in India on March 18 and more..

Mar 27 (EN) On the 12th of March, WHO declared the new coronavirus, COVID-19 to be a pandemic. With cases in Sri Lanka reaching over a 100, govt of SL has taken several measures to prevent the spread of this disease. One such measure was enforcing an island-wide curfew. The risks posed by COVID-19 to the health and safety of our population is considerable, and measures to prevent the congregation of people and the spread of the disease are commendable. more..

Mar 27 (DM) Former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe came up with several situations which he said govt was likely to face from Apr 4 to 11 as highlighted by some health sector officials. "They had warned that COVID-19 would peak from Apr 4 to Apr 11 and therefore it is important to have a common plan, which the public and private sector stakeholders in the health sector could follow. I urge the govt to have discussions among all stakeholders in health sector, produce or import of ventilators, masks. more..

Mar 27 (TM) The UNHRC in a press statement condemned Prez Rajapaksa�s decision to pardon Sergeant Sunil Rathnayaka �We are troubled by reports that the convicted perpetrator of the Mirusuvil massacre, in Sri Lanka, has received a Presidential Pardon and was released from jail this week,� Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Rupert Colville said. Former Army sergeant Sunil Ratnayake more..

Mar 28 (CT) "We invest in global health because we know that when health improves, life improves by every measure" - Bill Gates, speaking about the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Going through several international studies on a subject now titled Political Economies, one of which is by a Sri Lankan for an institute in the Netherlands, one is struck by the fact that the name fails to, in itself, spell out the full meaning of the term. However, the reason in the study was to probe all facets more..

Mar 28 (CT) A virus of the Beta coronavirus 2B lineage was first discovered in December 2019, in three bronchoalveolar lavage samples of a Chinese patient who was affected by pneumonia of unknown aetiology (1), in a hospital in Wuhan the capital of the Hubei Province in China. The doctors treated the patient and not much was thought of the virus at that time. Doctors, Li Wenliang and Ai Fen realized the dangers of the new virus. They wrote about it on social media. more..

Mar 28 (Roar) For Kendrick Fernando (19) and his fellow passengers, the process took more than 14 hours. They landed at the BIA on March 15, but only arrived at the Vavuniya quarantine centre the next day. Although they were some of the first there, the camp was at capacity by the end of the next day, holding as many as 200 people, as the govt moved swiftly to round up all those returning from countries identified as more..

Mar 28 (CT) Triple tragedy! Not being able to be close to your loved one at the time of his/her death. The death itself. Then, the undignified send off. These are the after-effects of a Covid-19 death. It is a deeply painful experience for the loved ones which no word dares to express. A feeling that will keep on upsetting you, renewing the grief each time and this will continue for quite some time after the loss. All of us are destined to die and die only once. Funerals are, therefore, unique as more..

Mar 28 (FT) Our Parliament stands dissolved. The elections for a new Parliament have been put off. The President dissolved Parliament a few weeks after he set up the national task force to counter the coronavirus threat. In the lockdown mode, my access to archival information is limited. So, I am not sure if the dissolution order was before or after the WHO declared it a pandemic. I am also not sure of the legal implications of the President�s ability to reconvene the dissolved Parliament more..

Mar 28 (CT) One of the best explanations on COVID-19 I heard was by Dr. Sumedha Jayasena, a Sri Lanka bio-technologist resident in California. His explanation was scientific and covered all aspects of the virus. He explained what flattening the curve actually meant. The curve is a graph that explains the pattern of the virus spread, and has three phases � containment, expansion and declining or clearance phase. more..

Mar 28 (FT) In 2004 when I was heading the SL Export Development Board (EDB), just two days into my appointment, the most devastating natural disaster struck Sri Lanka � the 2004 tsunami where the country lost 40,000 people. However, Sri Lanka recovered to end the next year at $ 6 billion in export proceeds. Then in 2008, when the US property bubble burst and most economies were crashing (incidentally, I was heading the Economic Council � NCED under the Chairmanship of Dr. P.B. more..

Mar 28 (CT) The inevitable postponement of Parliamentary Elections may have left the poll issue open. The pandemic, its handling by the Govt, and the Opposition's approach to appreciating the incumbent's inherent difficulties in the matter, all could well become the talking point in street corner conversations and also TV talk shows, once coronavirus is behind the Nation. In postponing the elections, scheduled for 25 April, the Elections Commission acted on the virusthreat, more..