Daily coronavirus case tally at 1,453
July 14, 2021 08:46 pmThe Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry reports that another 465 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in Sri Lanka, moving the daily total of new cases to 1,453. This brings the total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus reported in the country to 279,059. As many as 253,014 recoveries and 3,611 deaths have been confirmed in Sri Lanka since the outbreak of the pandemic. The Epidemiology Unit’s data showed that 22,471 active cases are currently under medical care.
Source:The Nation
July 14, 2021 15:11 UTC
Community COVID vaccine clinic at Viharamaha Devi Park from tomorrow
The general public above 30 years of age in the Western Province are able to receive the first dose of Sinopharm vaccine at the Colombo Viharamaha Devi Park open theatre from tomorrow (July 15), says Sri Lanka Army. The latest community vaccination centre will be manned by army medical teams. The vaccine clinic will be held between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm from tomorrow until further notice, the Army said further in a media release. The Army-managed community vaccination centre at Werahera-based 1 Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps Regiment HQ will continue the project as per usual, the statement read further. However, Battaramulla ‘Diyatha Uyana’ community vaccination centre will cease to function beginning from tomorrow until it resumes operations again on Monday (July 19) at 8.30 am and continues on Wednesday (July 21) as well, the Army added.
Source:The Nation
July 14, 2021 14:48 UTC
Several teacher’s trade unions stage protest
July 14, 2021 by Aazam Ameen No CommentsSeveral trade unions including teacher’s unions staged a protest in Colombo today (14) against the arrest and release of a student on bail on charges of violating quarantine rules during a protest organized by the Students’ Movement for Free Education. Pics by Pradeep Dambarage
Source:The Nation
July 14, 2021 14:37 UTC
COVID- 988 new cases and 955 more recoveries reported
The Ministry of Health says 988 more persons were tested positive for the novel coronavirus today (July 14). This brings the total number of COVID-19 cases confirmed in the country thus far 278,507. According to official data, more than 21,000 virus-infected people are currently being treated at designated hospitals and treatment centres across the island. The recoveries count climbed to 253,014 today with 955 more patients who were under medical care for novel coronavirus returning to health. Meanwhile, the death toll from the pandemic outbreak in Sri Lanka reached 3,611 as the Director-General of Health Services confirmed 37 new fatalities today.
Source:The Nation
July 14, 2021 14:03 UTC
Standard Chartered Sri Lanka hosts first-of-its-kind Environmental & Social Risk Assessment Workshop
Highlights environmental & social risk due diligence in the country’s financial sector14 July, 2021, Colombo, Sri Lanka – Standard Chartered Sri Lanka held a virtual workshop on the 13th of July to discuss how local financial institutions could establish a robust framework for Environment and Social Risk Assessment (ESRA), prior to proceeding with a lending decision. The webinar, conducted by Roger Charles, Executive Director for Environmental and Social Risk Management, Standard Chartered PLC, focused on the current challenges as well as the future aspects of Environment and Social Risk Management. He pointed out that through the integration of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) in financing decisions, financial institutions can help minimise the negative impact that its business activities can have on the communities as well as on the environment. Commenting on the timeliness of the workshop was Tamani Dias, Executive Director and Head, Local & International Corporates, Standard Chartered Sri Lanka. His areas of expertise include technical environmental and safety engineering, impact assessment, and corporate sustainability strategy, climate change and energy transition.
Source:The Nation
July 14, 2021 12:00 UTC
Daily Authority: The upcoming year of UTG foldables, and more
Vivo is reportedly developing a foldable for Q4 2021 with an 8-inch internal display and a 6.5-inch external display. Google’s rumored folding device is still largely unknown, but it will reportedly at least have a 7.6-inch internal display. Now, Samsung Display and China’s BOE will provide UTG tech to all of the companies mentioned above, which should significantly increase the quality of the devices. Most are reportedly working with Samsung Display, with Honor rumored to use a competing UTG tech from China’s BOE Display. For reference, the best folding device currently, the Galaxy Z Fold 2, costs $2,000.
Source:The Nation
July 14, 2021 12:00 UTC
ComBank declared ‘Best Bank in Sri Lanka’ by Euromoney for 7th time
“This is an award that any bank would be proud to have in its collection,” Commercial Bank Managing Director Mr S. Renganathan commented. Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC is the largest private sector commercial bank, and the third largest bank overall in Sri Lanka in terms of total assets, which stood at Rs 1.736 trillion (USD 9.285 billion) as at the end of 2020. It is the only private sector bank that has been designated by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka as a higher-tier Domestic Systemically Important Bank (D-SIB). Notably, six of these products were groundbreaking firsts of their kind in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s first wholly carbon neutral bank, the first Sri Lankan bank to be listed among the Top 1000 Banks of the World and the only Sri Lankan bank to be so listed for 11 years consecutively, Commercial Bank operates a network of 268 branches and 931 automated machines in Sri Lanka.
Source:The Nation
July 14, 2021 11:37 UTC
Brandix Delivers Inspired Solutions to National Olympians as Presenting Partner
Colombo, July 14, 2021 – Brandix Apparel Limited, a leading apparel manufacturer in Sri Lanka, has committed its support for the Sri Lanka Olympic Team as a Presenting Partner for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. As part of the support extended to the Sri Lanka Olympic team, Brandix created specialized t-shirts as an inspired solution in gearing them for the international sporting arena. “Brandix is honoured to partner the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka as a Presenting Partner, supporting the journey of our accomplished athletes representing our nation at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Suresh Subramaniam, President of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka also commented on what the sponsorship means for the national body and the Sri Lanka contingent of athletes. “With the past year and a half being challenging for everyone, we are immensely proud of the attitude and commitment demonstrated by every Team Sri Lanka athlete and everyone involved in the process.
Source:The Nation
July 14, 2021 11:03 UTC
President’s meeting with SLC officials postponed
July 14, 2021 by Mihi Perera No CommentsIt is reported that the discussion scheduled to be held today (14) between President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and the cricket authorities in Sri Lanka has been postponed. Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa made the announcement in a Twitter message. Officers of Sri Lanka Cricket and members of the Cricket Committee were scheduled to attend the meeting.
Source:The Nation
July 14, 2021 10:41 UTC
CEA launches programme to reduce and eliminate air pollution
The Central Environmental Authority today (14) released a statement saying that a National Programme has been launched to reduce and ultimately eliminate air pollution in Sri Lanka. The CEA stated that the project focuses on harmful gases and greenhouse gases that are affecting the atmosphere and that they are working to reduce such emissions. The long term plan of the programme is to make sure that air pollution in Sri Lanka has reached the Net Zero Emissions level. They said that their main focus is on the manufacturing sector, in which factories release harmful gases into the atmosphere, and the emissions of vehicles. The CEA stated that their ultimate goal was to create a healthier atmosphere for Sri Lanka.
Source:The Nation
July 14, 2021 10:41 UTC
No dollars in our commercial banks: Wickremesinghe
In a statement addressing the current economic situation of the country, former Prime Minister and Leader of the United National Party (UNP) Ranil Wickremesinghe alleged that Sri Lanka’s commercial banks do not have any US dollars. “There are no dollars in our commercial banks today. Wickremesinghe highlighted that Sri Lanka is mired in an economic crisis centered on a foreign exchange deficit and added that present foreign exchange reserves stand at $ 4 billion. “We don’t have the US dollars to pay for an oil tanker that has docked at the Colombo Port. If you don’t pay dollars, this ship will take the oil that is due here,” he said.
Source:The Nation
July 14, 2021 09:22 UTC
Germany ready to support SL: Envoy
July 14, 2021 by Aazam Ameen No CommentsGermany’s ambassador to Sri Lanka Holger Seubert met with the Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa today (14). Seubert noted on his Twitter handle that Germany stands ready to support Sri Lanka, wherever possible and reasonable. Accordingly, Seubert further mentioned that the fruitful meeting touched on a number issues of bilateral interest.
Source:The Nation
July 14, 2021 08:37 UTC
Over 1,400 Covid patients identified yesterday
The number of infected persons reported from the Colombo district is 156. The total number of Covid infections in the country has risen to 277,519, according to the Epidemiology Unit. Out of the total number of Covid infections, 247,569 have been cured so far. The total number of deaths due to Covid-19 infection in the country has risen to 3,574. Meanwhile, investigations are underway into 14 Covid samples suspected to be of the Delta variant, said Deputy Director General of Health Services, Dr. Hemantha Herath.
Source:The Nation
July 14, 2021 07:30 UTC
Limited inter-provincial transport services from today
Limited bus and train services will be operated between the provinces from today (July 14) for essential services. These transport services will operate under the recommendations of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO). The Ministry of Transport stated that steps have been taken to deploy a limited number of trains and buses only for essential services as the travel restrictions between the provinces are still in effect. The General Manager of the Railway Department Dhammika Jayasundara said that these services prioritize those who come to Colombo for essential services. These trains will return to their destination in the evening as office train services.
Source:The Nation
July 14, 2021 07:30 UTC
Top 10 Lesser-Known Terrible Traitors
Treason alert: this list intentionally omits some of history’s most infamous traitors, because a search for “history’s most infamous traitors” delivers page after page of pretty much the same list. Arnold’s price was 20,000 pounds and a British military post. 6 Alfred Redl: A Very Compromising PositionOberst Redl [Colonel Redl] (1985) Trailer – István SzabóAlfred Redl was the chief counterintelligence officer in the Austro-Hungarian Army from 1900-12. 5 Patrick Heenan: Code-bloodedDespite being among history’s most black-and-white, good vs. evil struggles, World War II had its share of Allied traitors. 3 Lee Harvey Oswald: Traitor Turned TriggermanThe only reason Lee Harvey Oswald isn’t more associated with treason is his culpability in a far more serious crime.
Source:The Nation
July 14, 2021 06:56 UTC