Mustafizur axed for first Pakistan Test
DHAKA AFP Bangladesh on Saturday dropped pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman and recalled Rubel Hossain for the first Test of the two-match series against Pakistan which begins in Rawalpindi next week. Bangladesh are due to depart for Pakistan on Tuesday for the first Test scheduled for February 7-11. Bangladesh visited Pakistan earlier in January amid tight security for a three-match Twenty20 international series in Lahore, which they lost 2-0. Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan last week expressed his satisfaction over the security provided to the visitors during the Twenty20 series. Squad: Mominul Haque (Capt), Tamim Iqbal, Saif Hasan, Najmul Hossain,Mahmudullah Riyad, Mohammad Mithun, Liton Das, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Ebadat Hossain, Abu Jayed, Al-Amin Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Soumya Sarkar.
Source:Sunday Observer
February 01, 2020 19:52 UTC
Victorious Neyara looks ahead with Spanish eyes
Neyara Weerawansa winning her maiden SSC Open ranking tennis tournament a week ago, called on fellow players to focus on their game and more girls to join the circuit. For the victorious Neyara, a student of British School in Colombo, particularly the training in Spain, a heavyweight nation in World of Tennis, had paid off in lifting the SSC Open rank title. This was the first women’s tournament, since I got back from Spain,” the unseeded player said while adding “I was excited, but at the same time, I was really, really nervous. If it’s not Roger- I would probably go for the new-baby or the underdog,” Neyara said of her predictions. I’m all for supporting the Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) in whatever their decisions, may be.
Source:Sunday Observer
February 01, 2020 19:52 UTC
InnovBank International Symposium: Closing date for submissions extended
The closing date for online submissions to be presented at ‘InnovBank International Symposium’ on the theme ‘Innovative Banking in a smart world’ sponsored by the Bank of Ceylon, has been extended to February 4. The symposium will serve as a platform to present ideas and proposals that could assist banking and financial services to be more responsive to customer needs. To ensure transparency and clear assessment throughout the evaluation process, organisers have invited independent external evaluators representing academic and professionals in the field of IT and finance. The evaluation process comprises three main phases in order to recognize the best proposal under each category. Evaluation of proposals submitted under school category will be evaluated under special criteria.
Source:Sunday Observer
February 01, 2020 19:52 UTC
Please be good to our great Chinese friends - out with the fake news!
It’s such a pity, what social media and media in general is doing to our friends the Chinese, these days. But the bottom line is that the media, and social media in particular has created a scare that’s demonizing our friends, the Chinese. A great big slice of social media so called, is in any event taken over by fake news, and even more fake values. It’s hoped that social media lunatics and other irresponsible peripheral media alarmists would take a break under these circumstances. The POFMA was therefore implemented to tackle growing concerns over the scourge of fake news and misinformation, communicated particularly through various online and social media platforms.
Source:Sunday Observer
February 01, 2020 19:52 UTC
Rights and chaos
Various discourses on varied rights, such as human rights, children’s rights, women’ rights and animal rights have been in currency for a considerable period. Sri Lanka is one of those countries which have been treated unfairly on the human rights front. Noticing that human rights was an obscure concept frequently used for political scheming, LTTE proxies hung onto the human rights rope and started to use the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to discredit the Government and criminalise the armed forces. Considering all these treacherous political man oeuvres centering on the rights discourse, discerning people can note that the rights platform is one of the most seemingly sophisticated, but intellectually hollow exercises framed to fulfill sinister agendas of those who could muster enough clout. Human well being is predicated upon the people’s ability to understand the environment and improving life accordingly, not on various rights which hinge on logomachy.
Source:Sunday Observer
February 01, 2020 19:52 UTC
Steps taken by Government satisfactory -Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa MP
The Government has taken a number of steps to prevent the novel coronavirus from spreading in Sri Lanka. A.We can be satisfied with the steps taken by the Ministry of Health at the moment. During a serious health outbreak, any government will take some time to respond to it initially. However, the mechanism was only activated a day after a case was confirmed in Sri Lanka. For example, after facing the SARS virus outbreak they rehauled their economic model with focus on a more scientific outlook on development.
Source:Sunday Observer
February 01, 2020 19:52 UTC
UNP heading towards severe crisis - State Minister Lakshman Yapa
Information and Communication Technology State Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said the UNP will be further split and no solution could be found for their crisis, despite whatever alliance is formed. State Minister Abeywardena said according to the prevailing situation, the UNP would be heading towards a severe crisis. According to the prevailing situation, the UNP would head towards a more crisis situation and it would not revert to normalcy. I don’t think the UNP would be able to resolve their leadership crisis. Normally, when there is a crisis in the UNP, there may be a group who is willing to extend its support to the Government.
Source:Sunday Observer
February 01, 2020 19:52 UTC
Hector Perera; A cricketing giant of yesteryear
Hector Perera must play’.”Hector Solomon Anton Perera (popularly known as Hector Perera) earned a name within the cricketing circle for his breathtaking fielding. In 1939 Hector Perera was called upon to lead the Josephian team. SJC replied with 129 (Hugh Muller 54, Hector Perera 49, HL Spittel 20). ), FC de Saram, FJ de Saram, RJ de Soysa, DS Jayasundera, Ben Navaratne, HS Roberts, George Pereira, Lucien de Zoysa, AH Gooneratne, RB Wijesinghe, Hector Perera, FG Dalpathado and D. Ranasinghe. Playing at the famous Brabourne Stadium in Bombayagainst the Cricket Club of India, Hector Perera was once again at his best with the bat.
Source:Sunday Observer
February 01, 2020 19:52 UTC
Coronavirus: Death toll climbs to 259
The death toll from China's coronavirus outbreak has surpassed 250, the government said on Saturday, as foreign nations tightened restrictions on travellers from China in response to the rapid spread of the illness. At least 259 people have died and 11,791 people have been infected in China by the new coronavirus, according to new figures from China's health officials. Most of the latest fatalities are from Hubei province. The city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak is located in Hubei. (Source: AlJazeera)
Source:Sunday Observer
February 01, 2020 11:15 UTC
UK leaves the European Union
The UK has officially left the European Union after 47 years of membership - and more than three years after it voted to do so in a referendum. The historic moment, which happened at 23:00 GMT, was marked by both celebrations and anti-Brexit protests. Candlelit vigils were held in Scotland, which voted to stay in the EU, while Brexiteers partied in London's Parliament Square. Boris Johnson has vowed to bring the country together and "take us forward". "I understand all those feelings and our job as the government - my job - is to bring this country together now and take us forward."
Source:Sunday Observer
January 31, 2020 22:52 UTC
PM to visit India on Feb.7
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa will visit India from February 7-11 during which he will hold extensive talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. Rajapaksa will arrive in India with a Sri Lankan delegation on February 7 and begin talks on 8 February. “The visit is in continuation of the tradition of high-level exchanges between India and Sri Lanka,” the Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said during a media briefing.
Source:Sunday Observer
January 31, 2020 06:33 UTC
WHO declared Coronavirus outbreak a public-health emergency
The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a public-health emergency of international concern Thursday. The WHO designation, pointing to an increase in the number of cases, indicates that international public-health authorities now consider the respiratory virus a significant threat beyond China, where it originated last month. The agency made the declaration after a meeting of its emergency committee, which declined to do so last week. Representatives of the Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China reported on the current situation and the public health measures being taken. Of the confirmed cases, 1370 are severe and 170 people have died.
Source:Sunday Observer
January 31, 2020 05:26 UTC
Agriculture Ministry relocates at Battaramulla
The Ministry of Agriculture has been relocated to the ‘Govijana Mandiraya’ in Battaramulla. The Ministry officially commenced functions this morning. The event was attended by Minister of Agriculture Chamal Rajapaksa and State Minister of Agriculture Vidura Wickrmanayake.
Source:Sunday Observer
January 30, 2020 21:11 UTC
India's first confirmed case of coronavirus
India on Thursday reported its first case of the Novel Coronavirus in Kerala. The patient, a student of the Wuhan University, is stable and in isolation at a hospital, a statement from the Health Ministry said. "One positive case of Novel Coronavirus -- a student studying in Wuhan University -- has been reported from Kerala," said a statement released by the Health Ministry. "Even before the first confirmed case we were doing our best to ensure diagnosis and then to treat it if any positive cases of Coronavirus arise," Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardha said. He further said that an official release of information related to the first confirmed case of the disease in India will follow soon.
Source:Sunday Observer
January 30, 2020 09:45 UTC