News

JVP tells people to ensure their own protection instead of waiting for lockdowns

Published

5 years ago

2021/08/16

By Saman Indrajith

The JVP yesterday called on people to adopt all possible measures to ensure their protection without waiting till the government to impose lockdowns.

Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Pelawatte, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the government continued to keep the country open against the advice of doctors and health experts, and people should take action necessary for their protection.

“The government is adamant to keep the country open while people die in their hundreds. We call on people to stay at home. We call on public servants not to report to work even if their institutions threaten to sack them. We tell people that they can find jobs if they live and there is no purpose of having a job but dying because of the virus. We saw people in several towns, including Ambalantota, move themselves for self -lockdowns. Minister Sudarshini Fernandopulle and the PHIs’ Union too have asked the people to do the same,” Dissanayake said.

“We urge public servants to stay at home. We know that you need to respond to calls from your offices, but remember that your job or profession is not your life. None of you deserve to be in the list of the COVID-19 deaths. We are a nation that lost around 45,000 lives because of the tsunami which was a natural disaster. This time our people are losing lives because of the decisions of a stupid ruler. You should move in for self-lockdown. Give priority to your life and health safety. Even if you face inconveniences later on we will stand by you. We must act collectively to adhere individually to precautions of doctors since the government has no regard for our lives.

“We are passing through a most dangerous situation. As per the records, one person dies every nine minutes. The number of deaths increases by five percent every single day. The number of infected per day is now around 3,000. Fifty percent of hospital capacities are now used for COVID-19 patients only. Even if we use the 100 percent capacity of our hospital system we cannot cater to the increasing number of patients. The PHIS’ Union has warned that even if we shut down the country now we would not be able to control the number of deaths for 10 to 12 coming days. Minister Dr. Fernandopulle has called for people to take measures for their own safety. It is reported that Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi has not been allowed to speak of the situation prevailing at the Cabinet meeting. Doctors and WHO experts have called for lockdowns. But the top leaders of the government do not take these warnings seriously. They want to keep the country open. We know that the Prime Minister too has expressed the need to go for lockdowns. The President does not rely on expert opinions but only on information from the intelligence services. He makes decisions such as bringing down the number of participants at a wedding from 150 to 50. They have announced a ban on public places for those who do not get all doses of the vaccine. People do not reject vaccine. They will go for anything for their safety. For example, people in their thousands gathered to get the Dhammika Peniya (syrup) when the government approved it. Same happened when a state TV channel introduced the Ravana Peniya and when Minister Channa Jayasumana promoted Sudarshana Peniya. This shows that the people will go for anything that the government recommends as the medicine for COVID-19 virus. They will take the vaccine but it was the government that started the vaccination after delaying for months. The government should have purchased the vaccines early,” Dissanayake said.

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News

Sun directly overhead Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon today (07)

Published

11 hours ago

2026/09/7

Priyan

The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.

The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (07) are Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon.

News

‘Choka Malli’ slips out of country before travel ban

Published

13 hours ago

2026/09/7

Thilina Walpola

Premalal

By Norman Palihawadane

The CID recently found that former SLPP Deputy Minister Premalal Jayasekara, better known as ‘Choka Malli’, had left for Thailand when the Supreme Court imposed an overseas travel ban on him last Friday.

The CID discovered that Jayasekara had left Sri Lanka on August 31, while authorities were taking steps to enforce the travel restriction imposed by the Supreme Court. The Department has subsequently informed the Attorney General’s Department of the development.

The Supreme Court last Friday ordered Jayasekara, and two other men, to appear before court on October 21, and imposed a ban on their overseas travel.

The orders were made as the Supreme Court considered an appeal challenging the acquittal of the three men in connection with the 2015 murder of Shantha Dodangoda, also known as D.G. Sunil Perera.

The appeal was filed by Dodangoda’s wife against a decision of the Court of Appeal to acquit and release Jayasekara and the two other accused, who had previously been convicted and sentenced to death by the Ratnapura High Court.

Dodangoda was killed in a shooting in Kahawatta town, in the early hours of January 5, 2015, while a group of people were putting up decorations for an election rally in support of then common Opposition presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena.

Two others, Karunadasa Weerasinghe and Mohamed Ilfan, were seriously injured in the shooting.

Following the incident, the Ratnapura High Court convicted Jayasekara, former Chairman of the Kahawatta Pradeshiya Sabha Wajira Darshana de Silva, and former Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council member Nilanta Jayakody, sentencing all three to death.

The Court of Appeal subsequently acquitted the three men and ordered their release.

The victim’s wife later challenged the acquittal before the Supreme Court.

The appeal was taken up before a Supreme Court bench, comprising Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justices Achala Wengappuli and Gihan Kulatunga.

During the proceedings, Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara requested that the court impose overseas travel restrictions on Jayasekara and the other respondents.

The Supreme Court subsequently ordered all three to appear before the court on October 21 and imposed travel bans on them.

President’s Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetty, President’s Counsel U.R. de Silva and President’s Counsel Anuja Premaratne appeared for the respondents. President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris represented the aggrieved party.

Police sources said that the discovery that Jayasekara had already left for Thailand, on August 31, has raised concerns over the timing and enforcement of the travel ban.

Sources said that the CID had notified the Attorney General’s Department and was taking further action in relation to the development.

News

Dengue death toll rises to 73

Published

13 hours ago

2026/09/7

Thilina Walpola

By Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon

The number of deaths from dengue fever in Sri Lanka has risen to 73 this year, with 96,228 cases reported across the country so far, according to the Dengue Control Unit.

The latest figures indicate that dengue continues to pose a significant public health concern, with 737 new cases recorded during the first four days of September alone.

Dengue infections peaked in July, when 29,964 cases were reported, according to the latest data. June recorded the second-highest monthly total, with 21,533 cases, while 10,155 cases were reported in August.

Earlier in the year, 8,590 cases were recorded in May and 7,866 cases in January.The Western Province remains the worst-affected area, accounting for more than half of all dengue cases reported nationwide. A total of 50,851 cases have been recorded in the province, representing 52.84% of the country’s total.

The Southern Province has recorded 13,950 cases, followed by the Central Province with 8,818 cases and Sabaragamuwa Province with 7,925 cases.