News
Korea donates Anti Covid-19 items worth US$ 500,000 to Sri Lanka
The government of the Republic of Korea will donate humanitarian assistance worth of $ 500,000 to the government of Sri Lanka to combat COVID-19 cases in the country, Korean Ambassador Santhush Woonjin JEONG said.
With the aim of strengthening public health cooperation between the two countries, Korea will provide emergency medical items such as PCR test kits and PCR test machines.
As the government of the Republic of Korea recognises Sri Lanka as a key partner in South Asia, the Korean government will continue to closely cooperate with Sri Lanka to contain COVID-19.
Under the “Stay Strong” campaign between Korea and Sri Lanka initiated by the Korean embassy last year, Korea has stood with Sri Lanka in the hour of need to provide support to the public health system.
On December 8, 2020, PCR Test Kits worth of USD 300,000 were donated to Sri Lanka as a gesture of goodwill. Also, the Korean Embassy in Sri Lanka has provided re-usable fabric masks to the Sri Lanka Army and Police who have dedicated themselves to protect people in Sri Lanka including the Korean residents amid covid-19.
These re-usable masks were manufactured by a Sri Lankan social enterprise which empowers women. Furthermore, the Seoul Metropolitan Government provided Anti-COVID face masks to their sister-municipality Colombo Municipal Council deter COVID-19 in Sri Lanka.
Ambassador JEONG is confident that Sri Lanka will show resilience and strength as in previous instances to overcome the threat of the virus.
The Ambassador assured his unwavering commitment to Sri Lanka as a true friend for the benefit of the peoples in both countries. “I firmly believe that Sri Lanka can use the pandemic as a stepping stone to make a wider leap. Our public health cooperation in these tough times is symbolic of the true friendship between our two countries. The Korean government wishes to extend its fullest support and cooperation in coordinating the response to the COVID-19 pandemic”.
The battle against COVID-19 should not be fought by countries single-handedly as the virus spread has transcended all borders and nations. A united global effort is required to create a robust response to defeat the pandemic. It is a mandate for all humankind to cooperate globally to overcome this unprecedented challenge. The Republic Korea stands in solidarity and friendship with Sri Lanka to control the spread of COVID-19, he stressed.
The official appointment letters for the members of the newly established “Cricket Transformation Committee” (CTC) were handed over on Monday (04) by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.
The following members received their letters of appointment at the Ministry premises:
Sidath Wettimuny
Thushira Radella
Prakash Schaffter
Ms. Avanthi Colombage
The Ministry also noted that veteran cricketers Roshan Mahanama and Kumar Sangakkara, who are key members of the committee, are currently overseas. Their official appointments will be formalised immediately upon their arrival in Sri Lanka.
The Cricket Transformation Committee has been mandated to oversee the administration and drive structural reforms within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in accordance with the powers vested in the Minister under the Sports Act No. 25 of 1973.
Three prison guards attached to the Welikada Prison have been arrested by Borella Police following the death of an inmate on Monday (04).
‘Bar Association must reveal its stand’
Civil society group ‘Free Lawyers’ has requested Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena to probe whether political pressure was brought on a Magistrate, or a High Court Judge, in respect of an ongoing high profile case.
Speaking to The Island on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers,’ Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon said that they felt the urgent need to seek the CJ’s intervention, following the May Day declaration by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake that the verdict of a case that was heard on 30 April would be given on 25 May. Tennakoon said that addressing the NPP’s main May Day rally at Maharagama, the President asked the people to be ready to celebrate that verdict. The President couldn’t have said so if he hadn’t been aware of the impending verdict, Tennakoon said, while emphasising the responsibility on the part of the Bar Association to state its position on the issue.
‘Free Lawyers’ recently captured pubic attention following its exposure of the theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury.
Responding to a query, Tennakoon said that on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers,’ Maithri Gunaratne, PC, on Monday, 4 April, wrote to both CJ Surasena and President of the Bar Association Rajeev Amarasuriya.
Alleging that President Dissanayake’s declaration caused immense harm to the independence of the judiciary and raised controversy over the judgement that would be given on 25 May, ‘Free Lawyers’ organisation also asked the CJ to inquire into whether the entire judicial process was under political pressure.
Tennakoon said that they expect the Bar Association to reveal its position on President Dissanayake’s statement. Tennakoon pointed out that during the May Day address, President Dissanayake made reference to 15 cases that were to be taken up during this month, whereas Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister, as well as Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake, mentioned nearly 10 names of politicians, both sitting and former lawmakers, to be summoned beginning, May.
Tennakoon said that the NPP appeared to have used May Day to counter growing accusations over the Colombo port container controversy, coal scam, Rs 13.2 bn NDB fraud and theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury and USD 625,000 from the Sri Lanka Postal Service.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
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