Officers of Govt Analyst s Dept visit Bathiudeen residence
Parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen’s residence was today (August 02) inspected by the Government Analyst’s Department and Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO). This was over the death of the teenage domestic worker who died of burn injuries while serving the Bathiudeen household. The officials from the Government Analyst’s Department searched the residence for nearly an hour this morning, while the SOCO visited the residence in the afternoon. However, three among them, including the deceased girl, have died. On July 15, a 16-year-old girl, who was serving as domestic help at the Bathiudeen residence, succumbed to severe burn injuries while receiving treatment at the Colombo National Hospital.
Source:The Nation
August 02, 2021 15:56 UTC
Covid US: Text message reminders boosted vaccination rate nearly 85%
The key to getting more Americans vaccinated against COVID-19 could be as simple as sending them text message reminders, a new study suggests. Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) tested different types of text reminders. When people received reminders, the number of people who scheduled appointments increased by nearly 85 percent. Each group was sent one of five types of vaccination reminders the team developed. One was a simple text reminder to get the vaccine.
Source:The Nation
August 02, 2021 15:33 UTC
Coronavirus- 1,680 fresh cases confirmed in Sri Lanka
August 2, 2021 07:31 pmThe Ministry of Health says that another 1,680 persons have tested positive for the novel coronavirus today (02). All new cases are associated with the New year Covid-19 cluster. This increases the total number of cases associated with the Minuwangoda, Peliyagoda, Prisons and New Year clusters so far to 304,497. Meanwhile the tally of confirmed cases of Covid-19 reported in the country has climbed to 313,029. Presently a total of 27,653 coronavirus infected patients are undergoing treatment while total recoveries stands at 280,868.
Source:The Nation
August 02, 2021 15:00 UTC
Sixty-three more COVID fatalities reported
August 2, 2021 08:20 pmThe Director-General of Health Services has confirmed 63 more COVID-19 related fatalities that have occurred yesterday (August 01). The new development has pushed the official death toll due to the virus in Sri Lanka to 4,571. According to the data released by the Department of Government Information, the new victims confirmed today include 27 females and 36 males. None of them are aged below 30 years, seventeen victims are between 30-59 years and the remaining 46 are aged 60 and above.
Source:The Nation
August 02, 2021 14:48 UTC
Sunquick Lanka (Private) Limited Great Place to Work® Certified™
Sunquick Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd. (SQL) the joint venture company between CO-RO A/S Denmark and C. W. Mackie PLC was certified as one of the great places to work by the independent evaluators at Great Place to Work® in Sri Lanka. Sunquick Lanka (Pvt.) Another factor that contributed to Sunquick securing the Great Place to Work® certification is their performance evaluation and management culture. Ltd. for seeking employees’ feedback and the opportunity to certify itself”, said Kshanika Ratnayake, CEO of Great Place to Work® in Sri Lanka.
Source:The Nation
August 02, 2021 14:15 UTC
WHO Chief lauds Sri Lanka s inoculation drive in Twitter exchange with President
Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus lauded Sri Lanka’s inoculation drive against the coronavirus pandemic posting a message on Twitter. Re-tweeting the recent congratulatory message by WHO Sri Lanka on vaccinating over 500,000 in a single day twice in a row, the Chief said Sri Lanka is on track to fully vaccinate 10% of its population ahead of the September target. https://t.co/BJLUlomN4T— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) August 1, 2021In response to his endorsement, Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa tweeted a thank you message saying Sri Lanka is committed to ensuring immunity for all people in the country. https://t.co/TjulaeQQWT— Gotabaya Rajapaksa (@GotabayaR) August 2, 2021In a return tweet, the WHO Director-General thanked President Rajapaksa for his commitment. #InThisTogether https://t.co/MAaiuip7Fv— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) August 2, 2021
Source:The Nation
August 02, 2021 13:52 UTC
Kathy Griffin has lung cancer
Lung cancer is one of the most common and serious types of cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, there will be an estimated 235,760 new cases of lung cancer in 2021. 'It's absolutely driven by lung cancer,' which accounts for about a quarter of all cancer deaths, she said. Types of lung cancerThere are two main forms of primary lung cancer. - Small-cell lung cancer – a less common form that usually spreads faster than non-small-cell lung cancer.
Source:The Nation
August 02, 2021 13:30 UTC
Ranil goes to court against Presidential Commission recommendation
COLOMBO (News 1st); United National Party MP Ranil Wickremesinghe filed a petition with the Court of Appeal on Monday (02) seeking a writ order be made, making void the recommendations made against him by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on Political Victimization. Chairman of the PCoI Retired Supreme Court Judge Upali Abeyratne, the two other commissioners, the Secretary of the Commission, and Secretary to the President P. B. Jayasundara were named as respondents in the case. Ranil Wickremesinghe pointed out that he was made aware by the media that the Presidential Commission had made final recommendations holding him accountable over the complaints filed against him with the Presidential Commission regarding the Anti-Corruption Secretariat that operated during the period of the Government of Good Governance. The petitioner has pointed that, not giving him a fair time to appear before the Commission to present facts with regard to the investigations, is a violation of the law and justice in the land. Therefore, Wickremesinghe has pointed out in his petition that an interim injunction should be issued preventing the implementation of the recommendations against him by the Presidential Commission until his petition is examined and a final verdict is given.
Source:The Nation
August 02, 2021 12:45 UTC
Daily Authority: 5G still iffy 📶
There were three main measurements made to assess the progress of 5G rollouts: 5G download speed, 5G upload speed, and network availability. 13 of the cities showed median 5G download speeds above 200Mbps. 29 of the 30 cities had median download speeds of over 100Mbps (only Warsaw in Poland missed out). 13 of the cities showed median 5G download speeds above 200Mbps. That story is all about 5G availability problems.
Source:The Nation
August 02, 2021 12:00 UTC
24-hour water cut in several areas
August 2, 2021 05:23 pmThe National Water Supply and Drainage Board has announced a 24-hour water cut in several aeras in and around Wattala from 10.00 a.m. tomorrow (03) due to laying of pipelines across the Hendala Bridge and connecting it to the main water supply line. Accordingly, the water supply to the following areas will be interrupted due to this:A section of the Wattala – Negombo Road, a secton of Mabola, Welikadamulla, Hendala Road and all byroads up to Nayakakanda Junction, Alwis Town, Maradana Road, Puwakwaththa Road, Galagahaduwa and a section of Kerawalapitiya.
Source:The Nation
August 02, 2021 12:00 UTC
Qatar imposes new travel restrictions on Sri Lanka & other Asian countries
COLOMBO (News 1st); The Ministry of Public Health of Qatar has announced revised quarantine regulations for travelers from six Asian countries. According to the revised guidelines which were issued today (02), fully vaccinated travelers (who have received their vaccination in Qatar) originating from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines coming to the Gulf state must now quarantine for two days at a hotel until a negative PCR test sees them fit to leave the facility on the second day. All other travelers from these countries are subject to a hotel quarantine of 10 days upon arriving in Qatar, even if they are fully vaccinated with the same vaccine.
Source:The Nation
August 02, 2021 10:30 UTC
Schools need to open as soon as possible: Education Minister
COLOMBO (News 1st); Schools need to open as soon as possible, Minister of Education G.L. And in this situation, the primary goal is to open schools as soon as possible, subject to health restrictions” The Minister further stated. As the Minister of Education, I kindly request teachers and non-academic staff to go to the schools and make the necessary preparations for the reopening of those schools.” The Minister urged. “In theory, it is always possible to open schools on the advice of the health authorities after the second dose is given in August. The Education Minister also stated that the Government intends to open schools in a step-by-step process according to a systematic plan.
Source:The Nation
August 02, 2021 10:18 UTC
Another 700,000 doses of AstraZeneca to arrive on Saturday
COLOMBO (News 1st); Another consignment of 727,540 doses of Covishield-AstraZeneca vaccines will arrive in Sri Lanka on Saturday (07), Japanese Ambassador Akira Sugiyama says. According to a press release of the Presidential Media Division, the relevant consignment will arrive in Sri Lanka as a part of the donation from Japan. The previous consignment of 728,460 doses which arrived in Sri Lanka on 31 July was handed over to the President today (02).
Source:The Nation
August 02, 2021 09:56 UTC
Covid-19 alert for three Queensland suburbs
Health alerts have been issued for three suburbs in Queensland after people with infections visited a school, netball games and a coffee shop. Deputy Premier Steven Milles said Queensland's lockdown would be extended until 4pm next Sunday as a result of the new cases. Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick also announced a $260 million support package for Queensland businesses at the Monday update. 'That will be $5,000 grants available to Queensland businesses - not just businesses in the locked down area. Walkers seen in Brisbane's CBD on Sunday as south-east Queensland began it's first day of a snap three-day lockdown.
Source:The Nation
August 02, 2021 09:56 UTC
Steps to obtain assistance of fishermen to clean up beaches
COLOMBO (News 1st); The viability of obtaining the contribution of the fishing community for the purpose of cleaning Sri Lanka’s beaches in exchange for payment has been sought by the Ministry of Justice, Minister of Justice Ali Sabry mentioned during a press conference held at the Ministry today (02). The press conference was held with the participation of Minister Ali Sabry, State Ministers Kanchana Wijesekara and Mohan Silva, and Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam at the Ministry of Justice today (02). The Minister said that he has informed several institutions such as NARA, Coastal Conservation Authority, and the Sri Lanka Navy to remain vigilant of the steps taken to curb the damage caused due to the oil spill of burnt tanker MV X-Press Pearl. The need for the establishment of a National Committee for facing such natural disasters was also emphasized by the Minister. Minister Ali Sabry added that steps to provide remunerations for fishermen who lost their livelihoods due to the oil spill are currently underway.
Source:The Nation
August 02, 2021 09:56 UTC