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Sri Lanka awaiting foreign expert to fix Coronavirus PCR machine

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Sri Lanka is awaiting an expert from abroad to fix a high capacity Coronavirus testing machine which is out of order and is delaying test results the island’s anti-Covid task force chief General Shavendra Silva said.

“Our technicians tried very hard to fix it but could not,” he said, speaking to Sri Lanka’s privately-run Derana Television.

“We have worked at a diplomatic level to get down the technical officer. Most likely he will arrive tomorrow.”

He said the machine had been running without a break for almost a month since the outbreak.

As a result some test results were delayed, creating difficulties in making real time decisions, he said.

This was partly the reason for putting Coronavirus curfews in Maharagama and Panadura when a higher number of cases were found in Moratuwa he said.

However, there is a fall in the numbers in North Gampaha areas which are now under curfew, he said.

Sri Lanka found 335 new Coronavirus cases on October 28 taking the total in new clusters to 5,731, health ministry data showed as authorities continued to trace contacts and do targeted sample tests and new curfews.

The total went up to 9,205 on October 28.

Despite this on October 27, Sri Lanka labs had conducted 8,831 Coronavirus tests and 457 cases were found Deputy Health Director in charge of Laboratory Services Ananda Jayalal said.

The numbers in North Gampaha was starting to fall, General Silva said. Gampaha had been under curfew for almost a month.

Sri Lanka’s public health inspectors have said there is a two to three day delay in results coming out in some areas.

Researchers in Vietnam has said that there is on average a 06 day window to stop a confirmed person from infecting the next level.

Sri Lanka is placing the entire Western province under curfews.

Officials have asked the public not to cross district borders and stay in their own districts.

Deputy Inspector General Ajith Rohana said they had information that some people were planning to leave Colombo before the curfews.

He said the curfews were announced before hand so that people will not leave and hotels in Ella and other areas would not have to buy food and prepare.

“We have placed roadblocks already,” he said. “We have information that people are planning to leave before the curfew

“The curfews were placed to stop the spread of the disease from the Western province.”

Curfew is to lifted for the areas which will come under curfew tonight on Monday at 0500 hours.

Other areas will be under curfews and will open as scheduled for people to buy goods. (ECONOMYNEXT)

 

 



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188 complaints received in the 24 hours ending 4.30pm on 11th November

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Saman Sri Rathnayake, Commissioner General of Elections (pic by Priyan de Silva)

The Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Rathnayake said that the EC  received 188 complaints during the 24 hours that ended at 4.30pm on Monday 11th November. Of the 188, 187 were of incidents related to the violation of election laws while one was an incident of election related violence.

The EC has received a total of 2999 complaints from 26th September to 11th November 2024 and have investigated and resolved 2353.

 

 

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Navy detain Indian fishing boat poaching in Sri Lankan waters

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The Sri Lanka Navy seized an Indian fishing boat and apprehend 12 Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, during a special operation conducted off Chundikulam, Jaffna today (12th November 2024).

The Navy continues to conduct regular patrols and operations in Sri Lankan waters to curb illegal fishing practices of foreign fishing boats, taking into account the impact of those practices on the livelihood of local fishermen.

Including this apprehension, the Navy has held 66 Indian fishing boats and 497 Indian fishermen this year, and handed them over to authorities for legal action.

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Showers above 50 mm are likely at some places in Eastern, Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, and Southern provinces.

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Weather forecast issued at 05.30 a.m. on 12 November 2024 by the Department of Meteorology

A low-pressure area is likely to form over the south west Bay of Bengal today (12). Under its influence, atmospheric conditions will be favorable for afternoon thundershowers in most parts of the island from 13th November.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Galle and Matara districts during the morning.

Several spells of showers will occur in Northern Province. Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places elsewhere during the evening or night.  Fairly heavy showers above 50 mm are likely at some places in Eastern, Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, and Southern provinces.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

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