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Mayor says Colombo City facing a big humanitarian crisis due to Covid knock-on effects

Published

5 years ago

2020/11/22

Colombo Mayor Mrs. Rosy Senanayake said that her main focus is that the lockdown in some parts of the city can be used to quickly get on top of situation by doing a lot more testing, including much more random testing, identify and isolate pockets and bring normalcy back as soon as possible, so that city life and business can resume as normal as soon as possible.

“We are facing a massive humanitarian crisis in the city due to the knock-on effects of the Covid19 pandemic. I appeal to those who are better off to help some of our fellow residents undergoing untold hardships due to economic impact of COVID-19”, she said in a statement.

There are approximately 100,000 families within the city in need of assistance due to them being in lockdown areas and losing their ability to earn daily wage/revenue. The CMC has made preparations to provide dry ration packs to 70,000 families immediately, she said.

“During the first lockdown the CMC distributed dry rations packs to 50,000 families in the city. This time also we are trying to do so but our finances are also stretched to the limit. We are seeking the generous support of corporates and individuals to make up the balance for 30,000 dry ration packs”, the Mayor noted.

“We are seeking the assistance of corporates and individuals who can contribute directly to those in need or join hands with the CMC and contribute in kind or cash to the Mayors Fund which is used to purchase and distribute dry rations to those in need, she further said.

The resources of the government and the CMC are overstretched in doing testing, identification, contact tracing and quarantining. A city-wide lockdown will enable the authorities to do a systematic, far reaching operation to test and isolate Covid-19 positive persons and their direct contacts so as to stop the spread in the highly congested city and from the city outward as well, Mayor Senanayake further said.

There is a massive constant operation to undertake the testing, isolation, contact tracing in the city, and this is primarily handled by the CMC public health department. This is stretching the public health department to the limit, as they work with very little rest and recuperation to fulfil their national duty, she added.

“We are in need to expand our human resources urgently and therefore Called up all retired PHI’s to report back to provide temporary cover. We are in discussion with the Medical Faculty to bring in medical students as interns to undertake certain tasks in the public health department. We are also establishing a dedicated ambulance service to ferry seriously ill patients in lockdown areas to hospital and to deliver their medications”, the Mayor continued.

“In order to boost immunity and general body health, the CMC Ayurveda Dept manufactures and distributes a special immunity boosting herbal preparation. Residents can obtain same from their local CMC Ayurveda clinic free of charge. We have an established a 24-hour medical advice service hotlines with direct access to the CMC Medical Officers”, she said.

“As Mayor of Colombo, I request every resident of Colombo and everyone who comes into Colombo to exercise all safety measures in place and assist the government to overcome this challenge. The most effective way is assuming that every other person you meet is potentially a Covid-19 positive person and act with the necessary level of safety with safe distancing, face mask wearing, regularly washing hands’, she said.

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Prime Minister on official visit to Manila, Philippines

Published

2 hours ago

2026/03/9

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya departed for Manila, Philippines, at midnight on 8 March on an official visit at the invitation of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), where she will participate in events marking International Women’s Day.

Upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila, the Prime Minister was welcomed by Dr. Chanaka Thalpahewa, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Philippines, along with officials of the Government of the Philippines and representatives of the Asian Development Bank.

During the visit, the Prime Minister is scheduled to deliver a keynote address at the International Women’s Day event hosted at the ADB Headquarters in Manila.

On the sidelines of the event, the Prime Minister will also hold bilateral meetings with several Ministers of the Government of the Philippines to further strengthen cooperation and bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and the Philippines in areas of mutual interest.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

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It is the government’s responsibility to ensure women’s rights are realized in everyday Life, and are not confined merely to Laws – PM

Published

2 hours ago

2026/03/9

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that the political, economic, and social rights of women are not confined merely to laws or written documents, but are realized as a reality in the daily lives of every woman in the country.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while participating as the Chief Guest at the National Celebration of International Women’s Day 2026, held on March 8 at the Rabindranath Tagore Memorial Auditorium of the University of Ruhuna in Matara under the theme “The Pride of a Prosperous Country – She is the Nation’s Path Forward.”

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister further stated:

“The freedoms we enjoy today including the right to education and political rights were won through the struggles carried out by women throughout history. This day is not merely confined to flowers. Our goal is to safeguard those rights and create an environment where every woman in our country can lead her life towards a better future.

The products of women entrepreneurs in this country should not remain confined to their local areas. The government is working to create an environment to ensure that they become active contributors to the national economy.

At the same time, a proposal has recently been presented by the Parliamentary Women’s Caucus to introduce a National Care Policy in order to recognize both the paid and unpaid contributions made by women for their families and for the country’s economy.

The Prime Minister also emphasized that women have a significant responsibility to stand for humanity in the face of the various crises occurring around the world. She called upon the women of the country to unite with compassion and take the lead in raising their voices for peace.

Addressing the event, Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj stated that a new era has dawned in which the tears and sweat shed by women working abroad to strengthen the country’s foreign reserves will receive due recognition. She further noted that a comprehensive mechanism involving all ministries will be implemented to support women entrepreneurs, female heads of households, and women who have experienced violence.

At this national event, the Prime Minister also presented appreciation awards to 25 successful women entrepreneurs from across the island.

The occasion was attended by the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunneththi, Southern Province Governor Prof. Susiripala Manawadu, Deputy Ministers including Dr. Namal Sudarshana, along with ambassadors, public representatives, and a large number of participants.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

Latest News

India offered sanctuary to Iranian ship three days before US sank it

Published

2 hours ago

2026/03/9

Priyan

Iranian warship Iris Dena sank after being hit by a US submarine on 4 March [BBC]

The Iranian warship Iris Dena was given permission by India to dock three days before it was torpedoed by a US submarine, India has said.

Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said Iran had sought permission for three of its ships to dock at Indian ports on 28 February – the day the US and Israel began a war on Iran – and permission was granted by India on 1 March.

The ships’ movements between 1 and 4 March are not clear and nor is why only one of them made it to India.

The sinking of the Iris Dena, with 130 sailors on board, in international waters off Sri Lanka’s southern coast on 4 March marked a dramatic widening of the war – and raised questions about India’s authority in its backyard.

It was the first military strike outside the Middle East since the US and Israel launched their war on Iran. President Donald Trump has said destroying Iran’s navy is one aim of the assault.

The three Iranian ships – Iris Dena, Iris Bushehr and Iris Lavan – had all participated in a military exercise hosted by India between 15 and 25 February in the coastal city of Visakhapatnam.

They left Indian waters on 25 February and were likely to have been in international waters on 28 February – when the US and Israel began attacking Iran.

“The Iranian side had requested permission on 28 February for three ships in the region to dock at our ports. This was accorded on 1 March,” Jaishankar told parliament on Monday. “Iris Lavan actually docked on 4 March in Kochi. The crew is currently in Indian naval facilities. We believe that this was the right thing to do.”