Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando centre-closed the new extradosed bridge over the Kelani River on Saturday (10). The new Kelani Bridge employs the extradosed engineering design, which uses stay-cables to connect two main pylons with the bridge deck, and to share weight of the loads from the bridge deck. Addressing the ceremony, Minister Fernando said: “It was in 2014 that then-President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his capacity as Minister of Highways, initiated the New Kelani Bridge project and signed the plans and the approval. “We are going to complete the work of this new Kelani Bridge within three months and hope that it could be commissioned in the first week of September. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, and Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa await the speedy completion of this project.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa inaugurated the “Dorin Dorata Kapruka” National Programme to plant 4 million coconut saplings at the Weliketiya Estate, Bujjampola, Dankotuwa on Saturday (10). “It is expected to achieve the target of planting 4 million coconut saplings within the next year, and in view of that, one million coconut saplings will be given to Samurdhi recipients and another two million will be distributed under a subsidiary scheme. In parallel to the national programme, coconut seedlings were planted and distributed throughout the island by all the Ministries. The President then visited the Coconut Research Institute, Lunuwila, and inspected the coconut products and coconut milk-based new products promotion advisory unit. The President also symbolically distributed Coconut Seedlings and Agriculture Equipment to 15 beneficiaries at a ceremony organised at the Coconut Research Institute premises in parallel to the programme.

Internationally recognised certificate for fully vaccinated Sri LankansBy Buddhika SamaraweeraA system launched by the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) to facilitate the public to register online for the Covid-19 vaccine will be operational from today (12), according to ICTA. In addition, the system also facilitates the acquisition of an internationally recognised certificate for those who have received both doses of Covid-19 vaccine. Elaborating on this Samarasekara said: “Information obtained from the public at the Covid-19 vaccination centres are referred to an information system maintained by the Ministry of Health. Thereafter, those who have received both doses of the vaccine are able to download a certificate through this system. “This will make it easier to find the person’s name, age, National Identity Card (NIC) number, date of vaccination, type of vaccine and batch number.

As the economy reopens, business activity boomsOne and a half years from the commencement of the Covid-19 pandemic, 2021 is on the brink of a solid recovery from the global economy after the recession. The pandemic will shape the direction for global economic activity as the pandemic proceeds. Our neighboring country’s giant economy remains restrained by increasing new daily Covid infections on the Subcontinent. Inflation mattersGlobal inflation and the economic recovery will continue to rise for the remainder of the year. Watch out about food pricesIf there’s one thing that can derail Sri Lanka’s economic recovery, it is inflation.

Singer Rita, 30, posed naked in new snaps shared to her Instagram and covered her modesty with just an England shirt as she wished the team good look. Meanwhile Amanda, 50, donned a white England shirt in a leggy snap as she made preparations to watch with her family. Rita posed seductively on a chair with her England shirt strewn over her and wore her hair up in, before taking to her Instagram Story to show her makeup being done which featured a patriotic red lip. The Spice Girls' Mel C also took to Instagram ahead of the match as she posed in her white shirt and captioned the snap: 'COME ON ENGLAND!!!!'. Boxer Anthony Joshua, 31, expressed his admiration for the effort of the England team.

Vaccine effectivenessElaborating on the effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccine against the Lambda variant of SARS-CoV-2, Prof. Seneviratne said that two laboratory studies have so far been conducted on the efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccine against this strain. He said this study suggested the Lambda variant was better able to escape antibodies produced by the Sinovac vaccine. He said the study also found the Lambda variant to show a twofold increase in infectivity (that was attributed to the L452Q mutation). Some experts have proposed giving a third vaccine dose as a booster to improve the effectiveness, and this is currently being done in some Middle Eastern countries. He added that the Lambda variant has spread from South America to North America and Europe.

Fears of Lambda variantIn a new development, Sri Lanka’s health authorities last week announced that they were taking steps to ascertain the presence of highly contagious and aggressive Lambda variant (C.37), which has not been reported from Sri Lanka so far, as fears are rising that it may already be in the country. Sri Lanka started the discourse on the Lambda variant in a context where Alpha and Delta variants, which are also known as the UK variant and the Indian variants, respectively, are spreading rapidly. In addition, the Lambda variant had been reported from European countries including Germany, UK, Italy and France. “Authorities in Peru reported that 81% of Covid-19 cases sequenced since April 2021 were associated with the Lambda variant. Some researchers have claimed that the available vaccines are effective against the Lambda variant as well.

While there are many differences between the UK and Sri Lanka, two significant events took place in the two countries over the course of last week which served to restrict freedom of expression and specifically the right to protest, thereby placing both nations in a similar light. Firstly the UK’s House of Commons, the lower house of Parliament, passed the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill on Monday (5). Usually in the UK, to place restrictions on a protest, Police generally have to prove the protest may result in “serious public disorder, serious damage to property or serious disruption to the life of the community”. However, if the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill becomes an Act, Police will be able to place tougher conditions on protests. In the weeks leading up to this Bill being tabled in Parliament, there were ‘Kill the Bill’ protests around the UK, demanding that the Government shelve the Bill which restricts the freedom to protest.

Payment of the compensation to fishermen who lost their means of income due to the fire on the ‘X-Press Pearl’ cargo vessel will commence tomorrow (July 12). This is the amount of interim compensation requested by the government before the total compensation is received by the fishermen due to the shipwreck. 420 million is to be distributed to 16,000 fishermen, State Minister of Fisheries Kanchana Wijesekera said. He further stated that the compensation money will be deposited into bank accounts and not distributed as cheques. The money will be credited within this week and those who do not will be able to file appeals in this regard next week, the State Minister said.

plan to restore Donald J. Trump in days, not years,' readers are prompted to visit a webpage for Patriots SOAR. A so-called 'Trump card' was handed out by a conservative group at CPAC detailing a '7-PT. The group Patriots SOAR does not appear to be affiliated with the event organizersThe plan includes making Trump the House Speaker – and third-in-line in presidential succession – and then impeaching and removing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. The Patriots SOAR card prompts readers to visit a 13-page document online, where a letter from Robert J. Antonellis (pictured) details the plan. Then the scenario gets even more improbable in describing the speaker would place Trump in the third place in the line of succession to the presidency, which is the House Speaker position.

July 11, 2021 06:53 pmThe Ministry of Health reports that another 986 persons have tested positive for coronavirus today (July 11). All new cases are associated with the New Year Covid-19 cluster. This brings the total number of COVID-19 cases confirmed in the country thus far to 274,017. Presently 26,113 infected patients are being treated at hospitals and treatment centers across the island. Meanwhile, the number of total recoveries has reached 244,437.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Navy was pressed into service to clear debris clogged under Agaliya and Dodangoda bridges over the Gin Ganga in Baddegama area, on 10th July 2021. Due to the heavy rains, the water level in the Gin River rises and the debris and tree remains get trapped under the Agaliya and Dodangoda bridges hampering the downstream of river water. Responding to this eventuality Sri Lanka Navy has been regularly engaging in clearing these woody debris collected under the bridges, to avert possible flood risk in respective areas. Accordingly, the Navy sent out a team of Navy divers attached to the Southern Naval Command to clear the blockages underside of above bridges and restored the free flow of water, averting a possible flood threat in low-lying areas.

It shows a little boy on his scooter passing an American flag flying in a lawn. He stops, goes back, then pulls up the flag and throws it onto the sidewalk. A woman on a bicycle, possibly his mother, stops and looks on, then the pair ride off. It was then picked up by journalist Marie Oakes, senior editor of Canadian and U.S. news site Westphalian Times. A video clip, originally shared by a Trump-supporting Twitter user named Ricky Lee, was posted online on July 8A child is seen passing an American flag on a scooter.

By Spencer Morgan For MailonlinePublished: 07:32 EDT, 11 July 2021 | Updated: 07:41 EDT, 11 July 2021Football fans have taken to social media to label Lionel Messi the greatest footballer of all time after he finally won a trophy with his country. Angel Di Maria scored the only goal of the game as Argentina beat Brazil 1-0 in the Copa America final on Saturday night. The victory saw Messi claim his first piece of silverware with his nation, ending a drought he has often been criticised for. Everton forward Richarlison had Brazil's best chance when he forced the Aston Villa keeper into a save. It mattered not and, 16 years after making his debut for Argentina, Messi finally got his hands on an international title.

July 11, 2021 04:56 pmA local research has revealed that the China-manufactured Sinopharm vaccine offers special immunity towards the Delta variant of the virus. State Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana stated that the relevant reports of the study would be released by mid this week. It is gratifying to note that those who received the Sinopharm vaccine have a special immunity towards the Delta variant, the State Minister said.