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As the government's vaccination drive continued today, residents of the Moratuwa Municipal Council area who came to get vaccinated were in for a rude shock as those who carried a certain 'chit' from the Moratuwa Mayor Samanlal Fernando were given preferential treatment. 

The vaccination programme is carried out by the respective Medical Officer of Health (MOH) of each area. Accordingly, the Moratuwa Municipal Council area includes two MOH Divisions i.e. Moratuwa South and Egoda Uyana.

Once it was announced by the MOH Office that residents in the area will be vaccinated, the Mayor had issued 'chits' with his official seal to loyalists of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) last night.

A tense situation had erupted once the SLPP loyalists armed with the Mayor's chits had arrived at the site and sought to skip the line. However, the residents who had waited in line from 4 am had vehemently objected.

As the situation exacerbated, the health officers who were on duty had stepped out and stopped the vaccination programme. At that time, the Mayor had exerted pressure on the Regional Director of Health Services to immediately resume the vaccination programme.

The Regional Director of Health Services had then advised the relevant officers to resume the vaccination programme according to the Mayor's instructions.

As such, a lot of residents who have no affiliation to the SLPP have missed out on their first jab.

The Influential Ontario Legislative Assembly has resolved that Sri Lanka subjected the Tamil community to genocideduring the armed conflict.

With support from the United States, the Attorney General’s Department inaugurated a state-of-the-art training center and launched an electronic system to track cases and legal files.

The Sri Lanka government has taken prompt action to prohibit Indian travellers visiting West Asian countries or Singapore to use the island nation as a transit hub despite the Tourism Authority ruling to allow such visits.      

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced that travellers from India will not be allowed to disembark in Sri Lanka making the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) regulation null and void.

The decision to ban Indian travellers to make use of  Sri Lanka as a transit hub  for  visiting other destinations like West Asia or Singapore subject to  the need of  14 days in quarantine in the island with immediate effect has been taken as the coronavirus continues to spread rapidly in India.

Several countries have banned travellers from India as well as Sri Lanka and other South Asian countries. Restrictions were imposed last week on Indian tourists arriving in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has issued a new set of regulations on April 24 for international arrivals for the purpose of 14-day quarantine enroute to other countries.

SLTDA has stated that  “Some countries accept quarantine in Sri Lanka as an entry requirement to their country, where direct arrival for the origin country is not permitted. This is a reflection of Sri Lanka’s health and safety regulations,”

These regulations have now been reversed following the government’s usual practice of changing rules and regulations imposed by ministries and authorities frequently.    

Soon after announcement of these regulations to allow Indian travellers to use Sri Lanka as a transit hub hundreds of Indians have rushed in to make use of this facility.

Travel agents were also t promoting this type of travel to Sri Lanka with a view of tackling  the  decline  of tourists following  the tourism industry shut-down for nearly 10 months last year

Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga had said that Indian tourists visit Sri Lanka in a travel bubble.He said that since the coronavirus crisis in New Delhi the number of Indians visiting Sri Lanka had been reduced.

The Minister also said that the Indians were placed in separate hotels and had no contact with other tourists. Ranatunga also said that any decision on closing the airports or reducing the overall number of arrivals to Sri Lanka will be taken if the health authorities make such a request

He however said that the airport cannot be closed immediately as that will affect Sri Lankans returning to the country.The Minister said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has issued instructions to allow Sri Lankan migrant workers to return to the country.

Ravipriya Bandara, a 30-year-old marketing strategist and corporate trainer from Sri Lanka, had his work hours reduced amid nationwide lockdowns during the first wave of COVID-19.

Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila said that no proposal has been submitted to the Cabinet to increase the prices of LP gas. Responding to a question raised by a journalist regarding the increase in gas prices at the Cabinet press briefing on Tuesday (04), the Minister stressed that although the price of gas in the world market is increasing, so far no Cabinet decision has been made to revise the price of gas in Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, it is reported that Laugfs Gas PLC, one of the largest providers of LP gas in Sri Lanka, is facing a serious financial crisis.

It has been observed in many stores that there is a shortage of Laugfs gas cylinders in the market.

Company sources said that they are exploring the possibility of stopping the importation of LP gas if there is no increase in domestic prices.

A final decision in this regard will be taken after discussions with government officials.

The company has repeatedly requested the government to increase the price of gas in the local market in line with global market prices.

Laugfs Gas PLC accounts for about 30% of the domestic LP gas market.

According to projected global market prices for the months of April and May coupled with the rising USD/LKR rate, the company expects a price hike of at least LKR 520.

Meanwhile, it also reported that Litro Gas is faced with a similar predicament.

Both companies are currently incurring heavy losses and are hoping for a price hike from the government soon, it is learnt.

Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Namal Rajapaksa said that Basil Rajapaksa has no illness that warranted medical treatment.

Three key officials in the public institution hierarchy have resigned from their posts citing personal reasons recently creating confusion on the present regime's appointments to high posts.

The apparel sector is allowed to operate as usual during the travel restrictions period, says Army Commander General Shavendra Silva.

The Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) stated that despite imposing of travel restriction to control the spread of COVID-19, the apparel industry is permitted to carry out operations under health guidelines.

Apparel sector activities such as manufacturing, distribution, import and export can be carried out by following the ‘bubble’ concept, he added.

The European Palm Oil Alliance (EPOA) in a statement has expressed its grave disappointment caused by the intention of the Sri Lankan government to ban palm oil.

An islandwide travel restriction will be imposed from 11.00 pm tomorrow (13th) to 4.00 am monday (17th). Transport of essentials & food items will be allowed during this period stated the Army Commander.

He further added that the vaccination rollout will not be affected by the travel restrictions imposed.

Travelling to the airport and transporting sick persons to hospitals will not be affected with traval restrictions, stated the Police Media Spokesperson.

Menawhile, those who leave houses for non - essential activities from tomorrow (13) until May 31 should leave according to the last digit of the National ID, driving licence or passport.

Accordingly, on odd dates of the calendar one person from the same family with the National ID number, driving licence or passport ending with 1,3,5,7,9 can leave their homes while those with the numbers 0,2,4,6,8 can leave their homes on even dates.

Sri Lanka has become a transit hub for Indians visiting other destinations like West Asia or Singapore for instance, prior to which they need to be quarantined for 14 days.

“Some countries accept quarantine in Sri Lanka as an entry requirement to their country, where direct arrival for the origin country is not permitted. This is a reflection of Sri Lanka’s health and safety regulations,” Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has stated in a new set of regulations issued on April 24 for international arrivals for the purpose of 14-day quarantine enroute to other countries.

In this respect, travel agents are looking at promoting this type of travel to Sri Lanka that is faced with a dearth of tourists as the tourism industry has been shut-down for nearly 10 months last year and saw a slow revival. Hotels have moved onto providing healthcare and quarantining facilities for Sri Lankans until lately.

The new regulations have been brought in mainly targeting Indian travellers as more use this new route to enter other destinations as a result Sri Lanka is catering to this new demand by certifying Level 2 hotels to be used only for these visitors.

The regulations state that Level 2 hotels will be exclusively for the said category and not be permitted to take other international or domestic bookings.

Tourists need to strictly adhere to insurance, PCR testing etc., and all other health guidelines as detailed for Level 1 hotels continue to be applicable for these hotels as well.

The guests will be confined to their rooms and will not be permitted to use common facilities at any stage and even meals should be delivered to the room, it was noted.

Drivers, guides or any staff interacting with guests must be in full PPE, the regulations state adding that these regulations are applicable irrespective of being fully vaccinated.

Moreover, the regulations note that travel agents and hotels taking such bookings will be responsible to ensure the departure of such guests from the country at the end of the 14-day quarantine period, it was stated.

Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga told the Business Times said that currently they were permitting Indians to travel to Sri Lanka under these regulations.

He noted that this was in view of the fact that Sri Lanka has become an acceptable destination for Indians to seek quarantine facilities prior to proceeding to destinations like West Asia and Singapore.

Currently this facility is being used only by Indians as Pakistanis and Bangladeshis are banned from travelling overseas, he noted.

Meanwhile, the Minister said the authorities were still “working on” the new Tourism Act that is set to replace the existing Tourism Act of 2005.

“We have asked all stakeholders to give their opinions and give suggestions and only after that a discussion paper will be presented,” he said. The private sector has expressed opposition to replacing the existing Tourism Act.