Advisory issued for thundershowers and severe lightning
The Department of Meteorology issued an advisory today (Sep. 18) for thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning in Northern, North-central and Eastern provinces. Department also warned of fairly heavy showers about 100 mm can at some places in Uva, Eastern, Northern and North Central provinces. • Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms. • Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms. • Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 10:30 UTC
SJB goes to CID over Gnanasara Thero’s terror attack statements
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) submitted a complaint to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday (17), calling for an inquiry into the warning issued by General Secretary of Bodu Bala Sena Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero regarding a possible terrorist attack in the future. Gnanasara Thera had claimed that he had information and evidence that a terrorist attack such as the Easter Sunday bombings could take place at any time. He had also stated that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had been informed of the groups who are to be involved in the said attack and the whereabouts of such groups. It has become clear to us that Gnanasara Thero knows more information than the intelligence officials. Therefore we hope that through him we will be able to avoid devastation in the country,” Alawathuwala stated.
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 10:18 UTC
Contact numbers introduced to receive public complaints on mobile vendors
Two contact numbers have been introduced for the general public to submit complaints about mobile vendors selling vegetables at unreasonably high prices when rates have seen a drop at economic centres. Colombo District Secretary, Pradeep Yasarathna said the licences of such mobile vendors will be revoked. Thereby, the complaints can be lodged through the telephone number 0112 369 139 and fax number 0112 369 142. In the meantime, the economic centres in Ratmalana, Narahenpita and Bokundara have initiated a home delivery service, Mr. Yasarathna said speaking further. The public in relevant areas can get food items home-delivered by contacting the aforementioned economic centres, he added.
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 10:07 UTC
Coronavirus- 1,260 more patients discharged upon recovery
September 18, 2021 03:01 pmA total of 1,260 more COVID-19 patients were discharged from medical care today (Sep. 18) as they have recovered from the virus infection, the Ministry of Health said. This brings the total number of recoveries reported in the country to 431,036. Since the outbreak of the pandemic last year, Sri Lanka has confirmed as many as 500,772 cases of COVID-19. According to official data, more than 57,700 virus-infected patients are currently receiving treatment at hospitals, treatment centres and homes. Meanwhile, the death from novel coronavirus stands at 11,938.
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 09:33 UTC
BASL nominates Kishali Pinto-Jayawardena to RTI Commission
As the five-year term of the first Right to Information (RTI) Commission will be coming to an end this month, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has exercised the right given to it under and in terms of Section 12(1) (a) of the Right to Information Act No. 12 of 2016 and nominated Ms. Kishali Pinto-Jayawardena to the RTI Commission. Accordingly, the BASL urged the President, the Honourable Speaker (Chairman of the Parliamentary Council) and the Members of the Parliamentary Council to expeditiously constitute the RTI Commission so that its valuable work in safeguarding rights can continue uninterrupted. She has served on several drafting committees concerning Right to Information legislation in Sri Lanka whose work contributed to the enactment of the Right to Information Act, No. She also formulated draft legislation on contempt of court for the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (2006),”
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 08:37 UTC
DIZO Buds Z TWS earphones are coming on September 23, design and features revealed
And the company has announced it will further expand its portfolio of audio devices in India on September 23 with the DIZO Buds Z TWS earphones. DIZO has also set up a product page for the Buds Z on its official website, revealing the earphones' design and features. The Buds Z flaunt what DIZO calls a "Natural Light Design," reflecting light in multiple colors. DIZO Buds Z feature touch controls and have three EQ presetsThe Buds Z come with Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity and are IPX4 water-resistant. The Buds Z are IPX4 water-resistant and offer up to 16 hours of playbackThe DIZO Buds Z will be sold in India through Flipkart and select retail stores.
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 08:37 UTC
Reduced PCR tests to curb identified case numbers?
“The Government only conducted 9,672 PCR tests on Thursday (16). The number of infections reported has reduced by 50%. On the 22nd of August, 28,000 PCR and RATs were conducted in the country,” he said. Accordingly, Rathnapriya noted that when the 9,672 PCR tests conducted on Thursday are added to the number of RAT tests conducted, only 13,000 tests were conducted. Rathnapriya went on to question the Government on whether there is a point in reducing the number of tests in order to create a reduced number of infections.
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 08:15 UTC
Health Ministry not consulted on re-opening wine stores
COLOMBO (News 1st): Deputy Director General of Public Health Services, Dr. Hemantha Herath says that the decision to reopen liquor outlets was not one taken by the Ministry of Health. The Deputy Director General of Health Services also stated that decisions regarding reopening establishments are usually taken by the Government with the involvement of the health sector and the security forces. 03 of 1897, the competent authority is the Director General of Health Services. DG Health Services imposed the curfew on the island on the 11th September and extended it. In announcing the situation, the Director General of Health Services did not permit to reopen wine stores in the countryDeputy Director General of Health stated that he was aware that the competent authority, the Director General of Health, had not given any approval for that.
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 08:15 UTC
No guidelines issued on moving about without vaccine card: DDGHS
The Ministry of Health has not issued any guidelines which prevent people from travelling without their vaccination card, Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath clarified at a press conference held yesterday (17). He also added that if they knew who had made such claims, the Ministry of Health would look into the matter. “The Ministry of Health has not issued any such guidelines. If this has been implemented by someone with the same authority as the Ministry, we cannot do anything about it. Nevertheless, if we have the details of where this is taking place, we could look into it,” he stated.
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 07:07 UTC
Top 10 Unexpected Things Inspired By Comic Books
But what are some unexpected — or even shocking — things that were inspired by comic books? It turns out comic books have also influenced real-life transportation for people looking to up their coolness factor. Their website showcases a gallery of highly themed guns featuring colors and images associated with iconic comic book characters. The visual storytelling style of comic books has inspired medical professionals to innovate ways of teaching information and sharing meaningful stories. This process has led to numerous scientific names inspired by famous real and fictional people, including beloved comic book characters.
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 06:56 UTC
Who gave the directive to open liquor stores?
COLOMBO (News 1st): The United National Self-Employed Businessmen’s Association is questioning the Government as to who took the decision to open liquor stores at a time when the general public has lost all sources of income. Its Chairman Pradeep Charles alleged during a press conference yesterday (17) that the Government had taken action to open liquor stores at the behest of politicians. ” Was this action taken at the requirement of the politicians? was it due to most of MP’s being owners of liquor stores? We would like to know who gave this directive at the time when three-wheeler drivers cannot even do their job due to COVID-19 quarantine curfew,” he added.
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 06:00 UTC
Japan to lift entry ban for returnees from six countries including Sri Lanka
In a major change to border-control measures, Japan will from Monday allow re-entry to all returnees from six countries blacklisted over the spread of the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus. The six countries — Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka — have been covered by a near-total entry ban on foreign nationals, including those who have been vaccinated and those with a valid residence status in Japan. The entry ban was imposed earlier this year as part of Japan’s quarantine measures on all foreign nationals who spent time in the six countries within 14 days prior to their intended arrival. The end of the entry ban for the six countries is part of a major revision of Japan’s quarantine policy. These measures would likely be accompanied by an entry ban for some foreign nationals, including residents of Japan.
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 06:00 UTC
Undisclosed money doesn’t mean it is illegal: Cabraal
As the Government’s special tax amnesty on undisclosed income has faced much opposition, including allegations that the measure would throw the door wide open to large scale money laundering, Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal says that there has been a misconception regarding what undisclosed funds really mean. “Undisclosed money does not mean that it is illegal. Accordingly, the Governor noted that through this tax amnesty, the Government has given such persons the opportunity to “come clean”. “By paying a tax of one percent, people with undisclosed money can come clean and bring those funds into the formal economy,” Cabraal explained. He also noted that money laundering laws will not be compromised due to the new tax amnesty law.
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 06:00 UTC
Sri Lanka-born researcher appointed to U.S. National Cancer Advisory Board
A leading Johns Hopkins cancer researcher Dr. Ashani Weeraratna, who is of Sri Lankan origin, has been appointed by U.S. President Joe Biden to serve as a member of the National Cancer Advisory Board. McCollum Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor. She also serves as the co-leader of the Cancer Invasion and Metastasis Program at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, and a professor of oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She had joined the Johns Hopkins faculty in 2019. Born in Sri Lanka and raised in Lesotho in Africa, Dr. Weeraratna first came to the United States in 1988 to study biology at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 05:37 UTC
India supplies 20 railway passenger coaches
In line with India’s continuing commitment to assist Sri Lanka in the development of its railway infrastructure, a consignment of 20 railway passenger coaches supplied by Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) Ltd, reached Colombo Port on September 17, 2021. With this consignment, a total of 60 coaches out of 160 have been supplied to Sri Lanka and 20 more coaches are ready to be shipped from India. It may be recalled that the first lot of passenger coaches had arrived in Sri Lanka in March 2021, following which requisite trials were conducted. These State-of-the-Art ‘India-made’ modern passenger coaches have been custom made and built as per the requirements of Sri Lanka Railways. Other projects under this line include the upgrading of the Railway Line from Maho to Omanthai (128 kms), Maho-Anuradhapura Signaling project, Double Tracking of Railway Line from Polgahawela to Kurunegala etc.
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 05:37 UTC