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Pavitra says extraordinary measures adopted to keep country safe, offers to be sacrificed to the sea

Published

5 years ago

2020/11/5

by Saman Indrajith

Health Minister Pavitra Wanniarachchi told Parliament on Tuesday (3) that Sri Lanka followed guidelines and imposed some precautions to ensure that the nation would be safe from the COVID-19 pandemic even if such precautionary measures had not been taken in other countries.

The Minister said that nowhere in the world a person without symptoms was directed to undergo self-quarantine after 12 days of monitoring period, but it was done in Sri Lanka to contain the pandemic.

SJB Kurunegala District MP Ashok Abeysinghe:

Is it true that even if a person shows COVID-19 symptoms, he or she would be asked to undergo self-quarantine at home?

Minister Wanniarachchi:

If a person shows COVID-19 symptoms he will be taken to hospital by an ambulance. We follow health guidelines formulated by world renowned virologists including Dr Malik Peiris. Their advice is to monitor a person suspected to have contracted the virus for 12 days. We are told that if the person does not show any symptom within 12 days, that person is neither infected nor possesses a threat to spread the disease to others. We will refer such persons for 14 more days of self-quarantine. Such precautions are not taken anywhere in the world. But we ensure that our nation is safe from the virus.

MP Abeysinghe:

Then how come there are people in Anamaduwa who have been infected twice and thrice?

Minister Wanniarachchi:

This is a new virus.

Ratnapura District SJB MP Hesha Withange:

Over a private TV channel, a doctor said that if one got COVID-19 symptoms, he or she should go to hospital. Basil Rajapaksa says those who have symptoms should not go out but stay wherever they are to undergo quarantine. What should people follow?

Minister Wanniarachchi:

Both said that they should not spread the virus and an ambulance would come to the house of the infected and take that person to hospital.

MP Abeysinghe: Now we hear of the 23rd death. The 21st, 22nd and 23rd deaths were reported from their homes. It was only after their deaths, it was found that they were infected.

Minister Wanniarachchi: They were in a quarantine process under observation. We identified them as second and first level contacts of the infected and prescribed them quarantine.

MP Abeysinghe:

I just checked now. One person died in a hospital in a normal ward among other patients. If that person is infected he should have been in a separate special ward isn’t it?

Minister Wanniarachchi:

I do not know of the deaths that occurred while I am here in this House. I did not have time to ask from the Director General of Health. I will ask him and let you know.

Earlier in the day, the minister assured Parliament that she was even ready to be sacrificed to the sea if that act would ensure the end of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

Starting the debate on two Regulations of the Medical Ordinance, she said that many people sling mud at her using images of her engaging in a religious activity to get blessings to curb the pandemic.

“The Opposition slings mud at me and puts up Facebook posts stating that the country would be safe if I would sacrifice myself to the sea. According to the legends deities watch over this country. I do my best these days to prevent this pandemic as the responsible minister. Apart from that, I have received many invitations to participate in religious activities to bless the country in this difficult situation. I am even ready to sacrifice myself to the sea if that will help protect the country from COVID-19.”

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Navy seize an Indian fishing boat poaching in northern waters

Published

13 hours ago

2026/01/3

Priyan

During an operation conducted in the dark hours of 01 Jan 26, the Sri Lanka Navy seized an Indian fishing boat and apprehended 11 Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, off Kovilan of Kareinagar, Jaffna.

The Northern Naval Command spotted a group of Indian fishing boats engaging in illegal fishing, trespassing into Sri Lankan waters. In response, naval craft of the Northern Naval Command were deployed to drive away those Indian fishing boats from island waters off Kovilan.

Meanwhile, compliant boarding made by naval personnel resulted in the seizure of one Indian fishing boat and apprehension of 11 Indian fishermen who continued to engage in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

The seized boat (01) and Indian fishermen (11) were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Myliddy, Jaffna for onward legal proceedings.

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Tri-Forces donate LKR. 372 million, a day’s pay of all ranks to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund

Published

19 hours ago

2026/01/3

Priyan

Members of all ranks from the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force have collectively donated a day’s basic salary to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, which was established to restore livelihoods and rebuild the country following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

Accordingly, the total contribution made by the Tri-Forces amounts to LKR. 372,776,918.28.

The cheques representing the financial contributions were handed over on Wednesday (31 December) at the Presidential Secretariat to the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

The donations comprised LKR. 250 million from the Commander of the Army, Major General Lasantha Rodrigo; LKR. 73,963,879.71 from the Commander of the Navy, Rear Admiral Kanchana Banagoda and LKR. 48,813,038.97 from the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Vasu Bandu Edirisinghe.

Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha, was also present on the occasion.

News

CEB demands 11.57 percent power tariff hike in first quarter

Published

21 hours ago

2026/01/3

Thilina Walpola

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has submitted a proposal to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) seeking an 11.57 percent increase in electricity tariffs for the first quarter of 2026, citing an estimated revenue shortfall and additional financial pressures, including cyclone-related damages.

According to documents issued by the PUCSL, the proposed tariff revision would apply to electricity consumption from January to March 2026 and includes changes to both energy charges and fixed monthly charges across all consumer categories, including domestic, religious, industrial, commercial and other users.

Under the proposal, domestic electricity consumers would face increases in unit rates as well as fixed monthly charges across all consumption blocks.

The CEB has estimated a deficit of Rs. 13,094 million for the first quarter of 2026, which it says necessitates the proposed 11.57 per cent tariff hike. The utility has noted that any deviation from this estimate whether a surplus or a shortfall will be adjusted through the Bulk Supply Tariff Adjustment (BSTA) mechanism and taken into account in the next tariff revision.

In its submission, the CEB said the proposed revision is aimed at ensuring the financial and operational stability of the power sector and mitigating potential risks to the reliability of electricity supply. The board-approved tariff structure for the first quarter of 2026 has been submitted to the PUCSL for approval and subsequent implementation, as outlined in Annex II of the proposal.

The CEB has also highlighted the financial impact of Cyclone Ditwah, which it said caused extensive damage to electricity infrastructure, with total losses estimated at around Rs. 20 billion. Of this amount, Rs. 7,016.52 million has been attributed to the first quarter of 2026, which the utility said has a direct bearing on electricity tariffs.

The CEB warned that if external funding is not secured to cover the cyclone-related expenditure, the costs incurred would need to be recovered through electricity tariffs in the second-quarter revision of 2026.

Meanwhile, the PUCSL has said that a decision on whether to approve the proposed tariff increase will be made only after following due regulatory procedures and holding discussions on the matter.

By Sujeewa Thathsara ✍️