Sri Lanka to implement program to attract digital tourists
The Cabinet of Ministers has given the approval to implement an action plan to promote Sri Lanka as a favorable destination for digital tourists and to introduce a long-term visa category for them. The program is expected to be kicked off by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau. “People who use digital technology for their livelihood and travel around the world as tourists are called digital tourists. Sri Lanka will be able to earn more foreign exchange by attracting digital tourists into the country and providing them with facilities required to stay longer, the Govt. Information Department pointed out.
Source:The Nation
July 13, 2021 15:56 UTC
Deaths among hospitalized COVID-19 patients almost halved during 2020
COVID-19 deaths among hospitalized patients nearly halved after surging in the early months of the pandemic, a new study finds. In March and April 2020, nearly one in five patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in the U.S. died of the disease. Researchers developed models that can predict a Covid patient's clinical outcomes based on measurements taken the day they arrive at the hospital. About 6,600 patients - 20.2 percent of the hospitalized group - had a severe clinical outcome. Other common conditions among the more severe patients included older age, male sex, liver disease, dementia, and obesity.
Source:The Nation
July 13, 2021 15:33 UTC
Sri Lanka’s Ageing Population and The Challenges it Presents
Demographic experts have explained that a contributor towards economic growth comes from dividends gained by a country’s government when its working population exceeds dependents (elderly and children). As Sri Lanka’s working population ages, its productivity also shows a decline due to physical and cognitive hindrances caused by ageing. By encouraging greater participation of women in the country’s labour force, the percentage of dependents of the population can be reduced. Prior to changes in the working age, a new set of population necessities such as visual and hearing aids and mobility equipment for an efficient working senior population, also needs to be addressed. Thus, areas such as palliative care and senior citizen psychology will have to develop with the ageing population of Sri Lanka.
Source:The Nation
July 13, 2021 15:00 UTC
How To Engage Your Community Via Facebook Groups
Facebook groups are one marketing strategy that everyone underestimates when they’re trying to think of ways to generate leads and engagement. However, while most use Facebook groups to simply gain referral traffic, it isn’t necessarily the best way to leverage the power of these groups. The following Facebook group tips can help you do so for free. Posting one of these items lets your group members share their thoughts or opinions, interact with you, and interact with each other. Bottom LineThese seven quick Facebook group tips can help you engage with and grow a lively audience all centered around your products, services, or brand.
Source:The Nation
July 13, 2021 14:37 UTC
Use an Iron to Easily Remove Vinyl Flooring
Removing tile or wood flooring probably requires a professional, but vinyl floors aren’t worth that much effort or money. The issue with removing vinyl floors, however, is the adhesive used to secure it to the floor underneath. Here’s how to remove vinyl tile from concrete floors without all the heavy scraping. When should you remove vinyl tile? G/O Media may get a commissionHow to remove vinyl tile from concrete floorsHeavy adhesives and glues can be loosened and removed with an appropriate amount of heat.
Source:The Nation
July 13, 2021 13:30 UTC
6 Basic Principles Of Designing An Educational Logo
In this article, we’ll discuss some basic principles of creating an educational logo. Principles Of Creating A Decent Educational LogoHere are some of the key tips you need to keep in mind while designing a logo for an educational institution. Define A Strong MottoWhen designing an educational logo, you must need to understand the importance of using the right slogan. For an educational logo, this is an understandable thing, but sometimes it becomes too obvious and boring. This blog has defined some of the core principles with which you can create a stunning educational logo.
Source:The Nation
July 13, 2021 13:07 UTC
WHO cautions against people mixing and matching COVID vaccines
The World Health Organization’s chief scientist on Monday advised against people mixing and matching COVID-19 vaccines from different manufacturers, calling it a “dangerous trend” since more data is needed about the health impact. “It’s a little bit of a dangerous trend here,” Soumya Swaminathan told an online briefing. Its Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on vaccines in June said the Pfizer vaccine could be used as a second dose after an initial dose of AstraZeneca, if the latter is not available. The results of a further clinical trial led by the University of Oxford that will look at mixing AstraZeneca and Pfizer as well as Moderna and Novovax vaccines is underway. “Data from mix and match studies of different vaccines are awaited - immunogenicity and safety both need to be evaluated,” the WHO said in emailed comments.
Source:The Nation
July 13, 2021 12:45 UTC
COVID- 882 new cases confirmed today
The Ministry of Health says 882 more persons were tested positive for the novel coronavirus today (July 13). All new cases have been associated with the New Year COVID-19 cluster. This brings the total number of COVID-19 cases confirmed in the country thus far 276,988. The recoveries count climbed to 247,569 today with 1,328 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 3,574 as the Director-General of Health Services confirmed 41 new fatalities today.
Source:The Nation
July 13, 2021 12:33 UTC
Japan to donate AstraZeneca vaccines to SL
Japan will make additional donations of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to Sri Lanka and other Asian neighbours, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Tuesday, as reported by Reuters. Accordingly, Japan will donate 1 million doses each to Indonesia, Taiwan and Vietnam on Thursday as part of bilateral deals with those governments, Motegi told reporters. An additional 11 million doses donated through the COVAX sharing scheme will be sent this month to Bangladesh, Cambodia, Iran, Laos, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, as well as various Pacific Island states, he said. Japan has pledged $1 billion and 30 million doses to COVAX. Motegi said on Tuesday the AstraZeneca doses made in Japan were approved by the World Health Organization on July 9 for use in COVAX.
Source:The Nation
July 13, 2021 12:11 UTC
Did London's super-basements trigger flash floods
Sprawling super-basements dug beneath London's homes were today blamed for 'biblical' flash flooding that caused millions of pounds of damage to properties. You can do things to make flooding more likely and one of those things is using more land for super-basements.' Flash floods have affected boroughs across London after sudden and torrential rainfall. He moaned: ‘There was torrential rain and then water started coming out of the drains. He said: ‘There was water flooding out of her toilet and shower and her whole flat has been ruined.
Source:The Nation
July 13, 2021 12:00 UTC
ICTA introduces SMS system to obtain doses of Sinopharm vaccine
The Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), with the National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), the Telecom Regulatory Commission (TRC), announced an online and SMS-based appointment system for the second dose of Sinopharm vaccine administration in the Western Province. The vaccination drive targets those eligible to obtain the second dose of the Sinopharm vaccine in Colombo, Gampaha, and Kaluthara Districts. The vaccination drive was initiated to ensure streamlined delivery of the first and second dose of the sputnik and Sinopharm vaccine and targets those above 30 years residing in the Colombo, Gampaha, and Kaluthara Districts. The program was initiated to ensure streamlined delivery of the second dose of the Sinopharm vaccine and targets those who have obtained the 1st dose of the Sinopharm vaccine in the month of May in Colombo, Gampaha and Kaluthara districts. Elaborating on this, Hiranya Samarasekara said, “Information obtained from the public at the Covid-19 vaccination centers are referred to an information system maintained by the Ministry of Health.
Source:The Nation
July 13, 2021 11:37 UTC
Still waiting for a response says Hirunika
By Aazam AmeenFormer Parliamentarian Hirunika Premachandra is yet to receive a response from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa with regard to the open letter she sent to him on the long speculated Presidential pardon granted to former MP and murder convict Duminda Silva, The Morning learnt. The Colombo High Court gave Silva the death sentence in 2016, over the murder of former MP Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, father of Hirunika Premachandra. “While I am yet to receive a response from the President, my extended family including the brothers and sisters of my late father have sent letters to numerous international authorities,” she told The Morning. Premachandra hopes that international pressure exerted on the Government of Sri Lanka will result in some form of a response. His goons and those around him will obviously act the way they acted before he was arrested,” she stated.
Source:The Nation
July 13, 2021 10:30 UTC
1,328 more recover from coronavirus
July 13, 2021 03:37 pmThe Ministry of Health says that another 1,328 patients who were being treated for COVID-19 have been discharged after completing their recovery. This increases the country’s coronavirus recoveries to 247,569. Sri Lanka has thus far confirmed a total of 276,106 positive cases of Covid-19 while 25,004 patients infected with the virus are currently under medical care. The death toll due to the virus currently stands at 3,533.
Source:The Nation
July 13, 2021 10:07 UTC
(VIDEO) Cardinal flays Easter Bombing investigations
COLOMBO (News 1st); The Head of Sri Lanka’s Catholic Church His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has vowed to continue his call for justice for the victims of the 2019 April 21st Attacks. There are certain mysteries surrounding the 2019 April 21st Attacks that need to be investigated immediately, he said. ‘Questions arise with respect to the investigations when there is political intervention in the police, criminal investigations departments as well as the legal system,’ he said. ‘The government of Sri Lanka and the relevant authorities would only be deceiving themselves if they assume they can please the people by filing multiple cases, without investigating the important factors that we mentioned,’ said His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith. He said the people have a right to know the ‘Grand Conspiracy’ surrounding the 2019 April 21st Attacks, as mentioned by the Former Attorney General of Sri Lanka.
Source:The Nation
July 13, 2021 10:07 UTC
SL, China and seven other nations concerned over UK’s human rights
By Aazam AmeenSri Lanka is on the list of signatories of a joint statement sponsored by China which raised concerns on the human rights situation in the United Kingdom (UK). This joint statement which was delivered during the 47th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva was also signed by Belarus, Bolivia, North Korea (DPRK), Iran, Russia, Syria and Venezuela. The UK was also accused of spreading disinformation which provoked confrontation out of political purposes, using human rights as a pretext to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs. “Politicized acts as such have seriously undermined international human rights cooperation and are deeply concerning,” the delegation stated. “We call on the Human Rights Council to look into human rights violations in the UK and take necessary steps to monitor actions of the UK government to correct its mistakes,” the Chinese delegation concluded.
Source:The Nation
July 13, 2021 09:45 UTC