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25 arrested for spreading fake pandemic stories on social media

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By Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon

Twenty five persons had been arrested for spreading fake news related to COVID-19 pandemic via social media, police spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said yesterday.

He told The Island the suspects would be charged under the Quarantine Rules and Regulations and the Penal Code.

DIG Rohana said the suspects had put up false Facebook posts related to deaths in hospitals on the roadside.

“The Criminal Investigations Department initiated an investigation, following the publication of a report that many deaths had occurred on Sri Lanka on roads due to COVID-19.

 A 35-year-old individual had been arrested on Saturday (14) in Kadugannawa, over the spread of fake news related to COVID-19 deaths via social media, DIG Rohana said.

The arrest was made at Egodawatta, Henawala in Kadugannawa, by a special CID team.

The Police Spokesperson said that out of the 53 COVID-19 deaths reported in the country as of Saturday (14), only one person had collapsed and passed away on the road due to COVID-19. He added that the victim was a homeless person. “That is the only death of that nature. However, the fake news mentioned many such deaths had occurred.”

 Another four people had been traced in connection with the similar crime and they too would be arrested in due course, the DIG said.

Some people in custody had posted that several hospitals had released COVID-19 patients without treating them.

DIG Ajith Rohana advised social media users to refrain from sharing fake news.

“If you realise it is fake news and if you don’t know the truth of that particular news item, don’t forward it and don’t share it. If you are going to forward or share, sometimes you may commit a punishable offence.”



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Members of the National Student Parliament meet PM

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Members of the National Student Parliament met Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Monday [02nd of February] at Temple Trees.

The representatives of the National Student Parliament, representing schools from across the island, visited the Temple Trees following their visit to the Presidential Secretariat and the Parliament.

Expressing her views on the occasion, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated,

“The new education reforms were recently initiated starting from Grade One. Discussions are currently underway to include students entering Grade Six this year into the new education reform process in the future. The education reforms will not be halted, and the government is committed to implementing them in a systematic manner without shortcomings”.

She further noted that the reforms are being carried out under five main pillars, with the government’s key objective being to reduce disparities and provide children with quality education, while also nurturing a socially responsible community enriched with human values such as compassion, love for the environment, and a strong sense of civic responsibility.

The occasion was attended by the Deputy Director of Education Kasun Gunarathne, along with officials from the Ministry of Education and representatives of the National Student Parliament.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

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Mrs. I.J. Aberathne appointed Director General of the Department of Trade and Investment Policy

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The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution presented by the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, to appoint Mrs. I.J. Aberathne to the post of Director General of the Department of Trade and Investment Policy with immediate effect.

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Cabinet gives green light to provide equipment for the promotion of Aesthetic Education in schools

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Although the teaching of art subjects such as music, dance, art, and drama under aesthetic education continues in the Sri Lankan school system, it has been observed that there is a severe shortage of equipment required for this purpose in many schools. Furthermore, a situation concerning the lack of modern equipment suitable for the needs of the children has also arisen, and it has been reported that most equipment available at present is outdated and dilapidated. It has been observed that this condition has an adverse effect on the quality of the aesthetic education and overall personality development of the children.

Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution presented by the Prime Minister in her capacity as the Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education to implement a project for supplying aesthetic equipment for the promotion of aesthetic education in schools under an estimated cost of Rs. 1,215 million during the period of 2026 to 2028.

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