News
Some businesses cashing in on health crisis, says Ranawaka
Former Minister and SJB MP Patali Champika Ranawaka yesterday questioned the rationale behind the government shutting down the Western Province for 11 days.
The former Minister said, in a media statement, that the scientific method of closing down a place for a period of time to prevent the spread of the disease would be either 14 days or 21 days or 28 days. “Those are the accepted number of days to close down countries or specific areas to prevent the spread of the disease scientifically. Shutting down the Western Province for 11 days actually equals no-closure at all in those terms and that action had only an immense impact on the national economy,” MP Ranawaka said.
Ranawaka said that shrewd and opportunistic businessmen working closely with government politicians had commenced importing COVID-19 testing equipment from China to make the most of the health crisis. “Who is worried about the standards of that equipment? What actions have the health authorities taken to prevent these businessmen from fleecing the public?
The former minister stressed the need for a national policy to tackle the pandemic.
“The economy is on the verge of collapse. The government should take steps to salvage the economy before the situation takes a turn for the worse, creating conditions for anarchy. Everybody should keep in mind that COVID-19 affected everyone equally, Ranawaka said.
“It is a problem for everybody and everyone must fully cooperate to beat the virus. That cannot be done successfully if the national health emergency is politicised, and some unscrupulous elements are allowed to cash in on the situation.”
Ranawaka called upon the government to act sensibly and secure the support of everyone to neutralise the COVID-19 threat once and for all.
Members of the South Asian Journalists Forum have gathered at the University of New Delhi for a two day conference themed ‘Peace and Co-operation’.
Journalists from Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India are attending the conference hosted by the University of Delhi in collaboration with the India Chapter of SJF, and will deliberate on how the media can act as a catalyst for regional stability and mutual coexsistence.
A tree plantation campaign was also held at the Ghandi Bhawan premises of the University to mark the event and symbolize growing regional ties.
The Sri Lanka delegation is led by President of SJF’s Sri Lanka Chapter Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi.
The Governor of the of Gujarat, Acharya Devvrat, along with the Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, Harsh Sanghvi, met with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Thursdy [February 05] at the Parliamentary Complex to discuss the arrangements related to the exposition of the Devnimori Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha, which have been brought to Sri Lanka under the patronage of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Government of India.
These sacred relics of Lord Buddha were discovered during archaeological excavations conducted in the 1960s at the historic Devnimori site in Gujarat, the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Until now, these relics had never been taken outside India. As a result of discussions held between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Sri Lanka, the people of Sri Lanka have been granted this rare opportunity to venerate these sacred relics.
The exposition of the relics is being held for a period of seven days, from February 05 to February 11, at the Gangaramaya Temple in Hunupitiya, Colombo. Discussions were held between both parties regarding the arrangements related to this event.
The discussion was attended by Samar Nanda, Joint Secretary of the Indian Ministry of Culture; Dr. Satyanjal Pandey, Acting High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka; Abhijit Halder, Director General of the International Buddhist Confederation; along with several others.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) GHARIAL made a port call in Colombo for operational turnarounds on 04 Feb 26. The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship in compliance with naval traditions.
Commanded by Commander Gaurav Tewari, INS GHARIAL is a vessel with a length of 124.8 meters.
During this visit, ten (10) Bailey Bridges, brought by ship, through the coordination of the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka, will be handed over to the Disaster Management Center. These bridges will provide temporary transportation links while bridges damaged across the island by adverse weather conditions are repaired.
The crew’s itinerary features scheduled goodwill activities with the Sri Lanka Navy, alongside visits to several tourist attractions across the island.
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