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North gets serious about tackling covid threat because of contacts with Indians

Published

5 years ago

2021/04/30

CCTV cameras have been installed in Kilinochchi to identify those who do not follow health guidelines.

Chairman of the Kilinochchi Pradeshiya Sabha, Arunachalam Welamakithan said that Covid-19 was becoming a serious problem there as people were not adhering to health guidelines.

With the support of the CCTV evidence, those who violated the health guidelines could be arrested, he said.

Welamakithan said that vendors at the Kilinochchi wholesale market worked closely with commercial hubs in Dambulla, Vavuniya, Jaffna and Tambuttegama. Those were areas with high coronavirus prevalence, he said.

“Our fishermen associate with their Indian counterparts. They also deal with smugglers operating between the two countries. This is a dangerous situation.”

The Mannar District COVID-19 eradication committee has decided to prevent residents of the district leaving the district. District Secretary Nandani Stanley de Mel said that the decision had been taken as residents of the district had close relationships with fishermen and businessmen of India.

“We have established checkpoints in Mannar. Those who leave the district will be checked. they won’t be allowed to leave unless they have a valid reason. We have also advised people not to take pillion riders on their motorcycles. Only one family member should do the shopping twice a week. Navy officers have told us that they won’t allow Indian fishermen to come into Sri Lankan waters.”

Eighty four people who took part in a certificate awarding ceremony at Karaveddi, Jaffna have been quarantined as six of the participants were found to be Covid-19 positive.

The certificates were awarded to people who had passed a Sinhala language proficiency test. One participant, a woman initially tested positive and health officials later found that all three family members were infected. Her husband works at the Irrigation Office – Anuradhapura. Health officers also took steps to quarantine a day care centre that her child was attending. Twenty three children and four attendants in the day care centre too have quarantined.

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Cabinet nod to accept Japanese government grant of 08 used low floorboard buses

Published

6 hours ago

2026/03/4

Priyan

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to accept 08 used low floorboard buses offered as a grant by the Government of Japan.

News

Payment of the financial subsidy for fertilizer to farmers cultivating paddy lands for the Yala season 2026.

Published

6 hours ago

2026/03/4

Priyan

While approval has been granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 18.08.2025 to pay the financial subsidy for fertilizer to farmers cultivating paddy lands for the Maha season 2025/26, the programme is planned to be continued for the Yala season 2026 as well.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to pay a financial subsidy of Rupees 25,000/- per hectare and for a maximum of 02 hectares per farmer for paddy cultivation and to pay Rupees 15,000/- per hectare for field crops cultivated in paddy lands[maximum of 02 hectares per farmer]

News

Ministerial Committee appointed to submit recommendations on proposed program to mitigate loss of crops to wild animals

Published

6 hours ago

2026/03/4

Priyan

The rural agricultural livelihood and food security have been severely impacted due to the damage caused by wild animals such as elephants, wild boars, monkeys, toque macaque, squirrels, and peacocks roaming around human habitats and cultivated lands.

Animal-human conflicts and property destruction have mostly been reported around these areas, and serious social and economic issues have also arisen.

Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation has prepared a comprehensive program based on the opinions of all stakeholders, including the public, university community, farmers’ organizations, environmentalists, non-governmental organizations which work for environmental issues, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agrarian Development, and other relevant organizations.

Taking into consideration the report submitted by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to appoint a ministerial committee with the participation of other relevant ministers, chaired by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation, to submit appropriate recommendations on how the aforementioned program should be implemented by further reviewing the proposals included in the said program and incorporating new proposals.