SLMA urges people to limit movement
The Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) has urged the members of the public to limit their movement within the coming two months as much as possible until the majority of the population is vaccinated against the COVID-19. SLMA’s chairwoman, Dr. Padma Gunaratne, who addressed a media briefing in Colombo, stated that the public should be the most careful when using public transport services. That is why we cautioned of this uptick two weeks ago. How the next two weeks will turn out is already decided.”Speaking further, Dr. Gunaratne said, “People in this country know how the second lockdown was spent. We did not get the best results out of the second lockdown.”She urged the public to take precautionary measures and to wear the face masks at all times when they step out of the house.
Source:The Nation
August 03, 2021 11:48 UTC
IUSF takes to the streets once again over KNDU act
August 3, 2021 by Aazam Ameen No CommentsThe Inter University Students Federation organised a protest march against the Kotelawala National Defence University act today (03). Protesters began their march from the Ayurveda Junction in Rajagiriya and proceeded towards the Parliament where a tense situation arose between them and police officers. Pics by Pradeep Dambarage and Krishan Kariyawasam
Source:The Nation
August 03, 2021 11:37 UTC
Siemens drives digital transformation at its Virtual Smart Mining Forum
With its motto, “On the road to the digital future”, Siemens will be hosting its virtual Smart Mining forum from the 3rd to the 5th of August 2021. This is an insightful, strategic event that explores the impact of technology and how it can sustainably drive transformation within the African Mining Industry. During the forum, Siemens will also launch its SIDRIVEIQ, industrial IoT monitoring solution for drive systems. “The future of mining and the transformation of the mining industry depends highly on staying abreast of advancing technology and industry trends. Now is the time to contribute to small business growth, promote job creation and develop critical job skills required for the transformation in the mining industry”.
Source:The Nation
August 03, 2021 09:56 UTC
More than £40,000 raised for Royal National Lifeboat Institution hovercraft 'The Flying Farage'
Over £42,000 has been donated to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution after a mock fundraiser was set up to buy the organisation a new hovercraft and name it 'The Flying Farage'. Simon Harris, the fundraiser's creator, said he was inspired to raise the funds for a 'lifesaving hovercraft' after Farage's 'active interest' in the RNLI's recent activities. Mr Harris, of Southend-on-Sea, Essex, also donated more than £5,000 on his Facebook page after taking the sarcastic swipe at Mr Farage. 'I feel this would be incredibly appropriate due to Mr Farage taking such an active interest in the RNLI's activities right now.' Mr Harris added: 'The final decision about whether or not to proceed with 'The Flying Farage' is entirely at their [the RNLI's] discretion.'
Source:The Nation
August 03, 2021 09:56 UTC
Mask-free Sweden is close to ZERO daily Covid deaths
By Ross Ibbetson For MailonlinePublished: 05:32 EDT, 3 August 2021 | Updated: 05:59 EDT, 3 August 2021Mask-free Sweden is approaching zero Covid deaths per day while the country's chief epidemiologist has swatted away fears over the Delta variant's infectiousness. In the last two weeks, Sweden has recorded an average of 0.6 Covid deaths per day, this compares with 74 fatalities in the UK and 329 deaths in US per day over the same period. The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday warned the Delta variant was as infectious as chickenpox - but Anders Tegnell, the architect of Sweden's Covid strategy, cautioned against such sweeping analogies. Speaking to the Aftonbladet newspaper, Tegnell said that the Delta variant was the dominant strain in Sweden and had been circulating for 'for quite some time.' But despite zero infections being recorded in many municipalities, Tegnell by no means believes the pandemic is over.
Source:The Nation
August 03, 2021 09:33 UTC
Capacity to accommodate oxygen dependent patients has reached tipping point: AMS
With the delta variant being commonly detected and a disturbingly exponential rise in the number of oxygen dependent patients, the Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) noted that Sri Lanka’s capacity to accommodate critical Covid-19 patients has reached a “virtual” tipping point. In this backdrop, the AMS is of the opinion that further relaxation of Covid restrictions would be similar to adding “fuel to the fire”. However, the Association stated that impatient and hurried decisions to open the country up will invariably delay any expected economic growth due to surging Covid 19 related mortality and morbidity. Therefore, we are compelled to request the government to revisit their Covid-19 restriction protocols in the wake of surging numbers, especially with this deadly delta variant,” the AMS stated. As scientific, practical and pragmatic professionals, the AMS strongly believes that an intact nation is required to revive the economy.
Source:The Nation
August 03, 2021 08:48 UTC
Furious shopper blasts M&S for selling Plain Jane pastry
A furious shopper has blasted M&S for flogging a pastry called a Plain Jane - claiming 'name-calling is not OK' as 'not all Janes are plain'. Jane Hudson, 52, from Waltham Abbey, Essex, took umbrage when she spotted M&S had called its vanilla flavoured yumnuts 'plain Jane' after she bought a pack of three. Why do Marks & Spencer feel the need to call their yumnuts Plain Jane? You aren't a Plain Jane, I'm not a Christmas carol. Jane Edwards wrote: 'I'm a plain Jane and proud of it.
Source:The Nation
August 03, 2021 08:48 UTC
Top 10 Times Inventor’s Failed
But for all the inventions that made it into popular use, hundreds of times more failed along the way. It could be a faulty idea, a great idea in the wrong era, a great idea that someone else beats you to, an idea no one will sell, or an idea beat out by a competing concept. Here are ten times the world’s best inventors utterly failed. It’s hard to believe, then, that before the NES, they put their first home console, the Famicom, on the market, and it failed miserably. It actually took Dyson an unbelievable 5,127 failed prototypes before he landed on a design that worked.
Source:The Nation
August 03, 2021 06:56 UTC
Sri Lanka to play World Cup qualifiers in Abu Dhabi!
IPL and World Cup not clashingThe international venue would have completed hosting of their share of the second phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) before the start of the World Cup qualifiers, now scheduled from 17 October, according to tentative schedules out for the media. The first round of the World Cup is likely to run from 17 to 22 October. The World Cup proper will take place from 23 October to 14 November. The final schedule of the World Cup, anyway, is expected to be released soon. The IPL teams are not sure if the UAE government will allow a bubble-to-bubble transfer from Sri Lanka.
Source:The Nation
August 03, 2021 06:00 UTC
Four Managers of Sri Lanka Cricket Invitational T20
Vinothen JohnCharith Senanayake, Nevin Noyar, Shane Fernando, and Vinothen John will be the Managers of the four teams, ‘Blues,’ ‘Reds,’ ‘Greens,’ and ‘Greys’, when Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will conduct its Invitational T20 League, from 12-24 August at Pallekele with the participation of top national and 1st-class players as part of their preparation for the upcoming South Africa series next month and the T20 World Cup that starts in October.
Source:The Nation
August 03, 2021 05:48 UTC
NO threat to Sri Lanka following earthquake near Andaman Islands
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Meteorological Department has confirmed that the earthquake close to the Andaman Islands will have zero impact on Sri Lanka. However, in an earthquake information bulletin, people living near and along the coastal areas of the island have been requested to pay close attention with regard to the earquake. An earthquake of magnitude 6.1 struck about 310 km (190 miles) south southeast of Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar island, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said on Tuesday. The quake was at a depth of 40 km, EMSC said.
Source:The Nation
August 03, 2021 05:48 UTC
Tokyo 2020 highlights: Barshim’s gesture wins hearts of whole world
Russia* / 12 / 21 / 17 / 50* Participates in Tokyo 202 as ‘ROC’When sportsmanship exemplified what Olympic Games is all about! The scene was the final of the men’s high jump on Sunday (1) at the Tokyo Olympics. Now Canada has a chance to win the gold in their first-ever appearance in the Olympic final. The Americans, who came as favourites, have won the women’s football gold four times before. The 100 m champion clocked 21.66 seconds to lead the qualifiers for the final with silver medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce also safely through.
Source:The Nation
August 03, 2021 05:37 UTC
International Cricket News
That means the batting all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja will have to make way for a specialist pace bowler in Mohammed Siraj. The two-match Test series between the two teams will begin on 12 August. Former Australia Captain and cricket commentator Ian Chappell: “To overcome the perceived problem of a public not fully conversant with cricket, they’ve concocted another form of the game – The Hundred. Manchester Originals, Welsh Fire, and Birmingham Phoenix follow in the second, third, and fourth places respectively with two wins apiece. Southern Brave, Northern Superchargers, Oval Invincibles, and Trent Rockets are respectively in the first four places in the women’s segment.
Source:The Nation
August 03, 2021 05:37 UTC
SL displays tell-tale signs of sovereign default
Even though Sri Lanka paid a $1 billion bond last week, Reuters reports that the country’s alarming state of its finances suggests it may have been just another step towards its first sovereign default. It was also underscored that the chances of Sri Lanka recovering from this situation without assistance is slim as expat remittances from overseas have been limited due to Covid-19, along with revenue generation from the nation’s tourism industry. “Reflecting the gravity of its plight, Colombo’s dollar-denominated government bonds are among the most distressed in the emerging market universe. Yet last week’s bond payment underscored the strong desire of the government to honour its debt and avoid the ignominy of a first sovereign default,” the analysis highlighted. “We see the forecasted rise in reserves as overly optimistic,” said Esther Yong, Asia fixed income research at Julius Baer.
Source:The Nation
August 03, 2021 04:41 UTC
244,251 second doses of AstraZeneca rolled out within 2 days
A total of 174,985 second doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine have been administered yesterday (August 02). This brings the count of AstraZeneca second doses administered within the past 2 days to a total of 244,251. In addition, the first dose of the AstraZeneca jabs was administered in the Kegalle District yesterday. With the donation of 728,460 AstraZeneca jabs from Japan, Sri Lanka commenced administering the second dose for those who had received its first dose at the start of the country’s inoculation drive. To expedite the process, Sri Lanka Army launched a 24-hour vaccine drive at the Viharamahadevi Park and Diyatha Uyana.
Source:The Nation
August 03, 2021 03:56 UTC