News

The second consignment of China’s Sinopharm (BBIBP-CorV) vaccine arrived in Sri Lanka today.

The Sinopharm vaccine was developed by Sinopharm’s Beijing Institute of Biological Products and the Wuhan Institute of Biological Products in China.

Sri Lanka have received 500,000 doses of the vaccine as a donation from China.

In March, Sri Lanka received 600,000 Sinopharm vaccines as a part of a donation by the Chinese government to Sri Lanka.

MP Rishad Bathiudeen’s All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) has suspended the party membership of two of its parliamentarians.

Thereby, Anuradhapura District MP Ishak Rahuman and Puttalam District MP Ali Sabri Raheem have been ousted from the party, Senior Deputy Leader of ACMC N.M. Shaheed stated.

The duo had supported the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill vote held in parliament on Thursday (May 20).

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB)  MP Nalin Bandara and his wife tested COVID-19 positive today.

The MP was a close contact of Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa who tested positive with the virus few days ago.

He has undergone PCR test while undergoing self quarantine at home.

Avant-Garde Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi & 07 others acquitted and released by Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar in the High Seas Arms Trafficking Case.

The Attorney General filed the case under a series of charges including the illegal possession of 816 automatic firearms and 202,395 live bullets aboard the MV Avant Garde without any legal document.

Earlier, the Attorney General filed an indictment containing 7573 counts against 13 Defendants including Avant Garde Maritime Services Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi.

After considering the objections, on the 17th of January 2020 the Permanent High Court Trial at Bar said of the 7573 counts filed against the accused, only 19 can be carried forward in the case.

The Bangladesh Bank board has approved in principle a draft US$ 200 million currency swap deal with Sri Lanka. The currency swap agreement would be finalised after getting a legal vetting approved by the Government, BB officials told New Age after the meeting.

BB governor Fazle Kabir chaired the meeting at its headquarters in Dhaka.

Under the draft currency swap proposal, the BB would provide up to US$ 200 million in foreign currency to meet Sri Lanka’s foreign currency expenditures, the officials said.

Against the fund, Sri Lankan would keep a same amount of its local currency, Rupee, with the Bangladesh Bank along with a Government guarantee. The BB would get around 1-2 per cent plus LIBOR from Sri Lanka as interest.

The currency swap agreement also contains a rollover condition, allowing Sri Lanka to extend the period of repayment of the loan, the BB officials said.

The currency swap initiative was taken after Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit to Bangladesh to join the celebrations of the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s Independence.

UNICEF, with the support of Australia, has procured and delivered a consignment of urgently needed oxygen concentrators and other vital equipment to the Ministry of Health in support of Sri Lanka’s ongoing response to Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Sri Lanka is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases with a daily average of nearly 2000 since the beginning of May.

The current trajectory is putting a strain on the country’s health system which has been vital in preventing a worst-case scenario since the onset of COVID-19 in 2020.

The supplies procured with funding from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) were handed to the Minister of Health, Pavithra Wanniarachchi by David Holly, the Australian Head of Mission in Sri Lanka, Emma Brigham, UNICEF Representative, a.i and Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, United Nations Resident Coordinator.

The items which include, 291 oxygen cylinders, 342 oxygen regulators, 2,490 masks for adults and children, and 20 fire extinguishers are going to the Western Province Level Three Base Hospital, Homagama, and eight Level Two hospitals that are managing COVID-19 patients, including those who require High Dependency Care such as Oxygen therapy.

UNICEF requires US$4 million to support the government’s response to the COVID-19 situation, to procure urgent supplies, including for treatment, care for pregnant mothers and newborns, and High Dependency Unit (HDU) equipment. So far, this appeal is only 20% funded.

Australia’s overall package of support to Sri Lanka for its COVID-19 response totals LKR 952 million (AUD 6.2 million) and is focused on bolstering health security, promoting social cohesion and stability for Sri Lankan communities, and supporting economic recovery.

A special 24-hour hotline dedicated for public inquiries regarding essential services has been introduced and will be operational from today (24).

The public is requested to call the hotline number 1965 for any inquiries regarding essential services during the travel restriction period.

This is being implemented under the Presidential Task Force for Economic Revival and Poverty Alleviation.

The call center has been established at Temple Trees with over 20 officials ready to answer calls regarding essential services while they will also provide contacts for the various relevant institutions as requested.

Launching the service this morning (24), Minister Namal Rajapaksa stated that the general public as well as those engaged in essential services have various issues regarding these services and they can call the hotline 1965 to report them.

Former Western Province Governor Azath Salley who is under CID detention, admitted to the National Hospital in Colombo yesterday.

Hospital sources said that he was admitted following a heart attack.

However, his condition is not critical and currently receiving treatment at Ward 49.

Azath Salley was arrested in March this year in connection with alleged involvement to the Easter Sunday attack

The government has decided to extend the islandwide travel restriction till June 7.

Further the travel restrictions will be relaxed for three days (May 25, May 31 and June 4) in between for people to purchase essentials.

However, the public will not be allowed to travel by vehicle to purchase essential goods as they will only be allowed to walk to nearest shop or pharmacy.

This was announced during a special press briefing at the Government Information Department attended by Ministers Johnston Fernando, Prasanna Ranatunga, Army Commander General Shavendra Silva and Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana.

The press conference was held to brief the public on the current Covid-19 situation in the country and the operations of essential services. 

The Court of Appeal on Monday (17) issued an order on the Superintendent of the Boossa Prison preventing him from escorting notorious drug trafficker ‘Wele Suda’ alias Gampola Vithanage Samantha Kumara, outside of the prison premises. The order will be in effect until the 24th of May 2021.

The Court of Appeal made the order after considering a writ application filed by R. D. Malini (Wele Suda’s Mother) which highlighted that there is a plan to assassinate her son and therefore, requested an order be made preventing him from being placed in police custody.

Wele Suda is on death row after he was convicted by the court for trafficking heroin.

The application was called up in the presence of Court of Appeal President Arjuna Obeysekera and Justice Ruwan Fernando.

The application will be called up again on the 24th of May and the petitioner was ordered to issue notice on the respondents.

The respondents are the Commissioner General of Prisons, The Superintendent of the Boossa Prison, The Inspector General of Police, and the Attorney General.

Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa and his wife have tested positive for COVID-19 infection. Premadasa confirmed this posting on his social media a short while ago.

Reportedly, his wife had been hospitalized on May 19 over COVID-19 symptoms and had subsequently tested positive for the virus.

Sajith Premadasa tweeted that his wife had tested positive with the virus yesterday.

He said following the health guidelines, he had undergone a PCR test and he himself tested positive with the virus.

A female Development Officer was assaulted by a member of the Ukuwela Pradeshiya Sabha while distributing relief packages yesterday (16). The Pradeshiya Sabha Member had assaulted the Development Officer in-charge of the Delthara (West) Grama Niladhari Division for not recommending the Rs. 5000 relief packages to her grandparents.

However, the grandparents are said to be residing at the Pradeshiya Sabha Member's house, it is learnt.

Both the parents of the SLPP Pradeshiya Sabha Member known as 'Nimali' are government servants. Her mother is attached to the security division at a state hospital while her father is a Samurdhi Officer.

The Development Officer has been admitted to the Jambugahapitiya hospital where she is currently receiving treatment.

All Development Officers in Matale have abstained from duties yesterday and have warned that they will continue the strike if relevant authorities fail to take action against the Pradeshiya Sabha Member.