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

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.
News
Employees’ Trust Fund Act No. 46 of 1980 to be amended

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Hon. President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies to instruct the legal draftsman to prepare a bill to amend the Employees’ Trust Provident Fund Act No. 46 of 1980 enabling to provide health insurance similar to Agrahara health insurance to private sector employees.
News
Cabinet nod for MOU between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Maldives on Cultural Cooperation

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural affairs to sign a cultural cooperation agreement between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Maldives. (The draft agreement has received the clearance of the Attorney General and the approval of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
News
Outgoing Bulgarian Ambassador calls on the President

Mrs. Eleonora Dimitrova, Bulgaria’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka, met President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat on Monday (06), before departing for her home country upon completing her tenure in Sri Lanka.
-
News6 days ago
NPP for implementation of 13A, says Harini
-
News7 days ago
Ex-diplomat alleges Australian aid project sabotaged, points finger at Medical Supplies Division
-
Midweek Review7 days ago
GR’s exit and developing crisis: Different interpretations
-
Breaking News5 days ago
President Ranil Wickremasinghe calls upon chief prelates of Asgiriya and Malwatta chapters
-
News6 days ago
Nuland accuses China of failing to help SL with ‘credible and specific assurances’ acceptable to IMF
-
News7 days ago
Full implementation of 13A: NFF vows to torpedo Ranil’s move, asks Dinesh, Mahinda to disclose their stance
-
Business5 days ago
Dialog Enterprise partners with Fortinet to launch Next-Generation Firewall as a Service in Sri Lanka
-
Editorial6 days ago
When ambition overtakes reality