(VIDEO) Govt. engaged in campaign against fundamental freedoms – Dr. Mendis
COLOMBO (News 1st); Academics have alleged that the government increases suppression and oppression when it is challenged by the peace-loving democratic citizenry in the country. Dr. Mahim Mendis, a Member of the Academic Circle of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya speaking to reporters on Friday (06) condemned the manner in which a student movement leader was arrested by police early morning. He said the people who democratically expressed their views need to be respected by a democratic government. He slammed the government for insulting the Sri Lankan people and the Republic and for undermining the will of the people by making this horrible disastrous campaign against fundamental freedoms. The government is held responsible as a country that is not respecting democratic freedom,” he said.
Source:The Nation
August 06, 2021 15:00 UTC
How to Cope With Empty Nest Syndrome During the Pandemic
Now, as everything opens back up, many parents are dealing with their children moving out again, prompting a second round of empty nest syndrome. “There’s just more vulnerability with COVID,” said Natalie Caine, whose organization, Life In Transition, provides support to parents going through transitions, such as their children moving out. Even if the parent-child relationship is a healthy one, having an adult child move back in can still be stressful. As parents deal with empty nest syndrome, it’s important to be patient, and to remember that adapting will take time. “It’s incredibly difficult to make these adjustments,” Shapiro said.
Source:The Nation
August 06, 2021 14:37 UTC
First transgender athlete to win an Olympic medal
A Canadian footballer will become the first openly transgender athlete to win an Olympic medal on Friday. The player's pioneering status at the Tokyo Games has until now largely been overshadowed by the presence of transgender New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard. Hubbard, whom the International Olympic Committee acknowledges became the first openly trans woman to compete at the Olympics on Monday, set off a firestorm of debate over her appearance. After arriving in Tokyo, Quinn reflected on what it meant to appear on sport's biggest stage as an openly trans athlete. '(There's) trans girls being banned from sports, trans women facing discrimination and bias while trying to pursue their Olympic dreams.
Source:The Nation
August 06, 2021 14:03 UTC
Tokyo Olympics: Jamaica win gold in the women's 4x100m relay
By Ollie Lewis For MailonlinePublished: 09:33 EDT, 6 August 2021 | Updated: 09:55 EDT, 6 August 2021Dina Asher-Smith completed her Olympic comeback with 4x100 metres relay bronze in Tokyo. The 200m world champion ran the third leg as the British women clocked 41.88 seconds at the Olympic Stadium behind Jamaica and the USA. Asha Philip and Daryll Neita add to the relay bronze they won in Rio while Imani-Lara Lansiquot claims her first Olympic medal. The 25-year-old returned on Thursday to help the squad reach the final, qualifying fastest in a new national record of 41.55s. Baton changes cost Team GB who settled for bronze, five years on from the same result in Rio
Source:The Nation
August 06, 2021 14:03 UTC
AMS appeals teachers & principals to suspend trade union action
COLOMBO (News 1st); The Association of Medical Specialists urged Teachers and Principals to temporarily suspend the trade union action purely for the safety and health of the nation in the middle of the deadly pandemic. In a statement, the AMS urged the government to consider the reasonable demands of Principals and Teachers in a favorable manner and initiate a dialogue at the highest level to resolve this crisis. In an Urgent Open appeal to Principal and Teacher trade unions and the Government, the Association of Medical Specialists requested the government to ensure that all the principals and teachers are given both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and allow adequate time to develop their immunity before they resume school activities. Whilst focusing on the surging COVID-19 infections due to the deadly DELTA variant the Association of Medical Specialists stressed “We all should be more considerate of ordinary citizens than politicians in a more pragmatic approach. If the pandemic reaches catastrophic levels our crafty politicians may even frame teachers as solely responsible for generating “DELTA clusters'” and we sense that they have already started working on this.”
Source:The Nation
August 06, 2021 13:52 UTC
Amended circular issued on recalling public servants to work
An amended circular on recalling state sector employees to work under new health guidelines has been published today (August 06). The communiqué with amendments to Circular 02/2021(III) was issued by the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Services, Provincial Councils and Local Government, J.J. Rathnasiri. The circular says that each public servant is required to report to the office at least three days per week. Accordingly, they will work from office on shift basis to ensure that services provided by their respective institution remain uninterrupted. Pregnant staff members and female officers with children below the age of one year will not be called to work, the circular read further.
Source:The Nation
August 06, 2021 12:56 UTC
Court slams Police for arresting people on baseless grounds; Activists granted bail
100,000/- each by Colombo Chief Magistrate Buddhika Sri Ragala. The three suspects were arrested by the Cinnamon Gardens Police on charges of engaging in a demonstration causing inconvenience to the general public. However, Sri Lanka Police was strongly advised by the Chief Magistrate NOT to pointlessly arrest members of the public and produce them in court. The Chief Magistrate pointed out that a person should be arrested when there are reasonable grounds that one had committed an offense against which a charge can be filed. The Chief Magistrate ordered for the case to be called up again on the 06th of December.
Source:The Nation
August 06, 2021 12:56 UTC
117 COVID patients had contracted the Delta Variant
COLOMBO (News 1st); The number of people confirmed to have contracted the Delta COVID variant has increased to 117. Dr. Chandima Jeevandara, the Head of the Department of Allergy Immunology and Cell Biology Unit at the University of Sri Jayawardenapura said that the Delta COVID-19 variant is spreading fast in Colombo. A brand-new study has shown that the Delta Variant has turned up positive in 75% of random samples tested in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Dr. Chandima Jeevandara, the Head of the Department told News 1st that random samples obtained in the first week of July showed that around 19.3% of the samples tested were of the Delta-Variant. The report with its findings is expected to be handed to the Director-General of Health.
Source:The Nation
August 06, 2021 12:22 UTC
Russian TV attacks Tom Daley with homophobic insults
By Ross Ibbetson For MailonlinePublished: 07:19 EDT, 6 August 2021 | Updated: 07:56 EDT, 6 August 2021Russian state TV has attacked Tom Daley with homophobic insults and labelled transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard a 'psychopath', prompting an investigation by the International Olympic Committee. MP Alexei Zhuravlyov also pointed at a screen showing Kiwi trans athlete Hubbard, referring to her participation as 'smut and perversion.' Hubbard, 43, became the first ever trans athlete to compete at the Games earlier this week, an appearance which has been highly controversial. However, the debate by panellists on Rossiya's 60 Minutes programme was filled with derogatory language and insults levelled at Hubbard. As well as mockingly wearing a wig, the host Anatoly Kuzichev branded trans people 'psychopaths' and said they needed psychiatric treatment.
Source:The Nation
August 06, 2021 12:00 UTC
Bruno Fernandes identifies Manchester United youngsters to watch out for
By Alex Bowmer For MailonlinePublished: 06:09 EDT, 6 August 2021 | Updated: 06:47 EDT, 6 August 2021Bruno Fernandes has identified James Garner and Anthony Elanga as Manchester United stars of the future. Both players have featured in pre-season and Fernandes, who has returned to the club after a summer representing Portugal at Euro 2020, told United's official website that he has been impressed by the pair. He's really aggressive off the ball too. He's a nice kid, works hard and is really humble and I think he's deserving of everything that's happening to him. 'It feels like this season coming up is one of the strongest Premier League seasons.
Source:The Nation
August 06, 2021 10:18 UTC
Coronavirus- 1,942 more patients discharged upon recovery
August 6, 2021 03:42 pmA total of 1,942 more COVID-19 patients have been discharged from hospitals and treatment centres as they have recovered from the virus infection, says the Ministry of Health. This brings the total number of recoveries in the country to 288,307. Sri Lanka has confirmed as many as 321,429 cases of COVID-19 to date. According to Epidemiology Unit’s data, more than 28,000 virus-infected patients are currently under medical care. Meanwhile, the death toll now stands at 4,821.
Source:The Nation
August 06, 2021 10:07 UTC
Revised guidelines on employee attendance in public sector
August 6, 2021 03:36 pmThe government has decided to once again revise the procedure to be followed in recalling employees in the public sector back to work. Accordingly, it has been decided that only employees who are essential should be called to the offices from Monday (16). Army Commander General Shavendra Silva says that the respective Heads of government institutions are allowed to decided on the number of staff members to be called for work. Meanwhile a decision has also been taken to postpone all state function until September 01, in view of the prevailing Covid-19 situation in the country.
Source:The Nation
August 06, 2021 10:07 UTC
Sarath Weerasekera clashes with Nalin Bandara, challenges to prove allegations
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (Retd) Dr. Sarath Weerasekara has challenged opposition lawmakers to prove that he or anyone close to him had taken clothes for any person that was detained by Police. JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said clothing is not the main issue at hand and said the main concern was why teachers arrested by various police stations were moved together to the Harbour Police. “This is serious because what are we to do when underworld gangsters also start abducting people,” he stressed. ‘Address these issues officially and I will respond,’ said Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (Retd) Dr. Sarath Weerasekara. Opposition MP Nalin Bandara responding to the Minister said he would bring the recording of Piumi Hansamali who thanked the Minister for providing clothes and allowing them to move to Bandarawel for quarantine purposes.
Source:The Nation
August 06, 2021 09:56 UTC
Opposition Leader visits detained student activists
COLOMBO (News 1st); Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa visited the Thalangama Police on Friday (06) where several university student activists are being held. Several student activists including the convener of the Inter-University Students Federation Wasantha Mudalige and Chairman of the Sri Jayawardenepura University Students Federation Amila Sandeepa were arrested by Sri Lanka Police for their involvement in a protest opposite Parliament earlier this week. Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa said that the government is cracking down on those who are fighting for democracy in a brutal manner. The Leader of the Opposition said that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya would continue to fight against the violation of the democratic rights of people of the country, adding that the government could not stop the struggles of people arising through grief, tears, and pain. However, he said that struggle against all the measures taken by the government against people will not be stopped.
Source:The Nation
August 06, 2021 09:56 UTC
Health guidelines for wedding ceremonies revised
Sri Lanka has announced revised health guidelines for wedding ceremonies in light of the prevailing Covid-19 situation in the country. Accordingly, a decision has been taken to allow only 150 guests to be accommodated for a wedding at a venue with a seating capacity of over 500 persons. At the same time only 100 guests are allowed for weddings at venues with a seating capacity of less than 500 persons. Meanwhile the maximum number of people allowed to attend a funeral at any given time has also been limited to 25. These revisions of health guidelines will come into effect from midnight today (Aug 06).
Source:The Nation
August 06, 2021 09:22 UTC