Government’s drama has boomeranged on itself: Patali Champika Ranawaka
The above matter was a political witch-hunt against some priests, he charged. “I was the first to author a book in 2001 warning that religious extremism was occurring through Wahabism. Actually, certain politicians in the Eastern Province who had supported Zahran are voting in Parliament together with the Government. The Attorney General said that this was a conspiracy; then he should be the first to be questioned. It is extremely ugly how they summon different other people for interrogations from time to time without doing that.
Source:The Nation
September 19, 2021 18:00 UTC
Covid infections rise by just 1.5% in a week
By Henry Martin For MailonlinePublished: 11:51 EDT, 19 September 2021 | Updated: 11:52 EDT, 19 September 2021Britain recorded another 29,612 coronavirus cases today - a 1.5 per cent increase from last Sunday's 29,173. The figures come as booster jab invites are being sent out to more than a million people to 'strengthen the wall of defence' against coronavirus created by vaccines. Britain recorded another 29,612 coronavirus cases today - a 1.5 per cent increase from last Sunday's 29,173. Those eligible for boosters include anyone aged 50 and over, people living and working in care homes for the elderly, and frontline health and social care workers. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has said people should receive their booster dose at least six months after they received their second coronavirus jab.
Source:The Nation
September 19, 2021 15:45 UTC
Emmys 2021: How to watch online, and who’s nominated
The 73rd annual Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony is tonight at 8PM ET (5PM PT), and streaming platforms like Apple TV Plus, Netflix and HBO Max are poised to win big. This year, CBS will broadcast the Emmys, so you can watch on your local CBS affiliate. HOW DO I WATCH THE EMMYS ONLINEThere are plenty of options for watching the Emmys if you don’t have cable TV. You can watch in your internet browser, or through a streaming device (Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku) connected to your television using Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV, or SlingTV. The Apple TV Plus comedy Ted Lasso got 20 nominations for its freshman season, and HBO’s (unfortunately canceled) Lovecraft Country received 18 nominations.
Source:The Nation
September 19, 2021 15:00 UTC
Second doses of Sputnik V vaccine rolled out from tomorrow
The recipients of the first dose of Sputnik V vaccine will receive their second dose from tomorrow (Sep. 20), says the State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals, Prof. Channa Jayasumana. Sri Lanka received a new batch of Russia-made COVID-19 vaccine containing a total of 120,000 doses this morning. Accordingly, this batch of Sputnik V second doses is expected to be rolled out in the Kandy District. Following the completion of this vaccination program, all Sputnik V recipients in Sri Lanka will remain fully vaccinated against novel coronavirus. Commenting further on the national inoculation drive, the state minister revealed that Sri Lanka is expected to 4 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine within the next few months.
Source:The Nation
September 19, 2021 13:52 UTC
Men with prostate cancer could be cured in ONE WEEK
By Henry Martin For MailonlinePublished: 08:40 EDT, 19 September 2021 | Updated: 08:40 EDT, 19 September 2021Prostate cancer patients could be cured in just one week instead of a month with targeted high-dose radiotherapy sessions. There are nearly 50,000 diagnoses of prostate cancer each year, making it the most common form of cancer among British men. One option for patients is surgery to remove the prostate, but it leaves many men with erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence. Another treatment is radiotherapy, which involves blasting the prostate with X-ray beams that can destroy tumour cells – but there are trade-offs. Nearly 900 patients were recruited for the trial, funded by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
Source:The Nation
September 19, 2021 12:56 UTC
COVID- 103 new victims move death toll to 12,125
The total number people who fell victim to COVID-19 infection in Sri Lanka moved up as 103 more fatalities were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services on Saturday (Sep. 18). The new development has pushed the official death toll from the virus outbreak in Sri Lanka to 12,125. As per the data released by the Department of Government Information, the latest victims include 56 males and 47 females. As many as 77 deaths were reported among the elderly people aged above 60 years. In addition, 24 individuals aged between 30-59 years and two youths below 30 years have also succumbed to the virus infection.
Source:The Nation
September 19, 2021 12:33 UTC
Nine Pakistani suspects seized with heroin, detained
COLOMBO (News 1st): The Police Narcotics Bureau has taken steps to detain and question nine Pakistani nationals who were taken into custody by the Navy with heroin in the international waters south of Sri Lanka. Steps have also been taken to obtain the assistance of a translator to obtain statements from the suspects. The heroin seized by the Navy weighed 170 kilograms and 866 grams, with a value of over 1,575 million rupees. The Navy arrested the vessel along with the 9 foreign suspects on 10 September. The suspects and the vessel were brought to the Port of Colombo yesterday (18) morning under the protection of the Sri Lanka Navy.
Source:The Nation
September 19, 2021 12:02 UTC
Govt. attempting to disrupt education: Sajith
COLOMBO (News 1st): Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa alleges that the Government is trying to disrupt the education of children through its reluctance to solve problems in the field of education. Issuing a statement, the Opposition Leader said that the entire education sector in Sri Lanka is currently facing the darkest period in its history. Premadasa points out that the Government does not understand the consequences of its actions during this dark period in history, and has not taken action to ensure that the children can enjoy the benefits of the school system. The statement further underlines that the Government has not yet taken any successful action regarding the issue of teacher-principal salary anomalies as well as the issue of universities and other public and private educational institutions remaining closed for a period of over one and half years. The Leader of the Opposition calls on the Government to provide a solution to the teacher-principal salary anomaly issue and to immediately reopen schools and universities by providing a suitable COVID-19 vaccine for school and university students.
Source:The Nation
September 19, 2021 12:00 UTC
Sri Lanka confirms 1,297 new COVID-19 cases
The Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health says 1,297 more people were tested positive for the novel coronavirus so far today (September 19). This brings the total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in the country to 504,055. Reportedly, more than 59,900 virus-infected patients are undergoing treatment at the moment at hospitals, treatment centres, and undergoing home-based care. The total number of coronavirus recoveries climbed to 432,038 after 1,002 more patients were discharged from medical care earlier today. Meanwhile, the official death toll from COVID-19 now stands over 12,022.
Source:The Nation
September 19, 2021 12:00 UTC
Monks urge public not to obstruct Polonnaruwa walking path project
In the midst of several objections to the Government’s plan to construct a walking path on top of the Polonnaruwa Parakrama Samudra bund, several Theros from the area convened a media briefing yesterday (18) to educate the public on why such projects should not be obstructed. It is wrong to obstruct these development projects carried out by the leaders of the country. These interruptions have caused great misfortune to this nation,” Chief Adhikarana Sanaganayaka of the Polonnaruwa District Ven. Dadubandirupe Upanada Thero stated. Dimbulagala Henanigala Chulapanthakalankara Thero advised the public that this is a time where they need to act more responsibly and thanked the Government for continuing such development projects amidst pandemic.
Source:The Nation
September 19, 2021 08:37 UTC
UN’s ad-hoc mechanisms in SL not in line with charter: Foreign Minister
Foreign Minister Peiris said that Sri Lanka looks forward to further collaboration with the Commonwealth in a number of areas including commerce, education, vocational training and climate change. The Minister stated that Sri Lanka has been successful in Mangrove restoration and has emerged as a Commonwealth Blue Charter leader. All Commonwealth Members have the advantage of a common law background but have followed different avenues of development, the Foreign Minister said. The Foreign Minister also briefed Secretary-General Scotland on the steps taken by local institutions in the country with respect to reconciliation. Secretary-General Scotland warmly recalled her visits to Sri Lanka in 2018 and 2019 and appreciated the close engagement that Sri Lanka has consistently maintained with the Commonwealth.
Source:The Nation
September 19, 2021 08:26 UTC
Hambantota major arrested over assault
September 19, 2021 11:28 amMayor of Hambantota Eraj Fernando has been arrested by the Bambalapitiya Police, Police Media Spokesperson stated. This was over a case of assaulting another individual, the Police spokesman said. Please avoid outside hyperlinks inside the comment and avoid typing all capitalized comments. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by flagging them(mouse over a comment and click the flag icon on the right side). Do use these forums to voice your opinions and create healthy discourse.
Source:The Nation
September 19, 2021 06:00 UTC
Christian Porter resigns from cabinet
Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed Mr Porter had stood down as Minister for Industry, Science and Technology and would go to the backbench. The former attorney general sued the national broadcaster over a story that revealed a senior cabinet minister was accused of raping a teenage girl. Mr Porter outed himself as the minister days later in February and vehemently denied the allegations that dated back to 1988 when he was 17. The woman in 2019 came forward to police and accused Mr Porter of raping her when she was 16. Mr Porter then sued the ABC for defamation, arguing it was easy to identify him as the minister involved.
Source:The Nation
September 19, 2021 05:48 UTC
120,000 doses of Sputnik-V delivered to Sri Lanka
A consignment of Sputnik-V COVID-19 vaccine doses has arrived in Sri Lanka early this morning (September 19). A total of 120,000 doses of the Russian COVID-19 vaccine have arrived in this manner. The flight carrying the vaccine arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) from Moscow, Russia, via Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. The consignment of vaccines was taken by refrigerated lorries of the Sri Lanka Pharmaceutical Corporation to the Central Warehousing Complex in Colombo. State Minister on the subject, Prof. Channa Jayasumana said that the newly arrived consignment will fulfill the total requirement of Sputnik-V vaccines in Sri Lanka.
Source:The Nation
September 19, 2021 05:03 UTC
Over 75,000 persons arrested for violating quarantine regulations
COLOMBO (News 1st): The total number of persons arrested for violating quarantine regulations has exceeded 75,000. The number rose to 75,058 with the arrest of 551 persons by the Police, along with 37 vehicles being seized by the Police as well. The suspects were arrested within 24 hours from 6:00 a.m. yesterday (18) until 6:00 a.m. today (19). Police said that 1,261 persons and 833 vehicles entering the Western Province, as well as 1307 persons and 851 vehicles leaving the Province were inspected yesterday.
Source:The Nation
September 19, 2021 05:01 UTC