News
Sajith: Lanka’s death rate worse than that of China
Sri Lanka has lost proportionately more than twice the number of people that China had lost due to COVID-19, Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa said yesterday.
Premadasa said that the government’s lack of concern for human life was the main reason why such a large number of people had died.
Premadasa said that over 4,000 new cases were now officially reported by the government on a daily basis and that the number of daily deaths had passed the 200 mark.
“Things are grave but the government is trying to normalise the situation. The Minister of Health said that over 200 people die anyway with or without COVID-19. Another senior government MP said that COVID-19 is not a dangerous disease and compared it to a common cold. All these are indications that the government cares little about our lives,” he said.
The Opposition Leader said that the vaccination process was in disarray and people had started fighting with each other at vaccination centres. The capacity of hospitals had exceeded and the country was facing a shortage of medicine, he said.
“Health professionals are under great stress because politicians are telling them how to do their jobs,” he said.
Premadasa said that the government had increased the prices of essential items at a time when people were suffering economically.
“A farmer can’t buy a kilo of sugar even if he sells five kilos of paddy. By August 26 the price of a kilo of sugar was Rs. 210. A week ago a kilo of sugar was Rs. 160. Two weeks ago it was Rs. 140. Even the Minister of Consumer Affairs is shocked,” he said.
A few months ago the government allowed a close business associate to make billions of rupees through irregular taxation on sugar, the SJB leader said.
“All the promises made by the government have proven to be lies. The government can’t even impose a lockdown. It is now clear that this government could never bring about development,” he said. (RK)
A meeting between UN Resident Coordinator Marc-André Franche and Chief of Staff to the President Prabath Chandrakeerthi was held on Monday (07) morning at the Presidential Secretariat.
Particular attention was given to the Government’s programme to resettle people who lost their homes due to Cyclone Ditwah.
The Government’s programme to address potential disasters that may arise in the future amid El Nino conditions was also discussed. The Chief of Staff to the President briefed the UN Resident Coordinator on the Government’s preparedness and plans to address such challenges.
Mr Franche stated that the United Nations was prepared to provide the necessary assistance to the Government to support the successful implementation of these programmes.
Partnerships and Development Finance Specialist at the United Nations Azam Bakeer Markar and UN Sri Lanka Humanitarian and Resilience Officer Wagisha Perera also participated in the discussion.
[President’s Media Division]
[ Cricbuzz]
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Udaygiri arrived at the Port of Colombo on an official visit today, 8 September 2026, where it was received by the Sri Lanka Navy in accordance with time-
honoured naval traditions.
INS Udaygiri is a 149.02m long Frigate, Commanded by Captain Vikas Sood. Meanwhile, the Commanding Officer of the visiting ship is scheduled to call on Commander Western Naval
Area, Rear Admiral Harsha De Silva at the Western Naval Command Headquarters.
Captain Sood served as the Defence Adviser at the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka from July 2020 to October 2023.
During their stay in the island, the crew of INS Udaygiri will participate in several goodwill events organized by the Sri Lanka Navy to enhance camaraderie between the two forces.
The visiting personnel are also scheduled to visit prominent tourist and cultural locations across the island.
Additionally, Sri Lanka Navy personnel are expected to visit the ship for capability observation and knowledge sharing, and will conduct onboard training during its stay.
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