The government had made great strides in ensuring national security, President Rajapaksa said, noting that it has strengthened the intelligence services weakened under the previous government and restored the morale of the security forces. “Today, the people of this country no longer have a reason to fear for the unity of the country. President Rajapaksa said he inherited an economy that was in ruins, but his government had a plan to revive it. President Rajapaksa also insisted that he would not walk back his decision to ban the import of chemical fertiliser. The government will be able to vaccinate everyone over the age of 30 by that time, President Rajapaksa said.

Rice fine to be raised to boiling point View(s):The fine imposed for selling rice above the stipulated price is to be increased to Rs 50,000 from the existing Rs 2,500 as a fresh measure to keep the rice prices under control, Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena told the Sunday Times. He said a proposal to the Cabinet would be submitted in the coming week. The Government earlier issued a gazette notification requesting traders, wholesellers and millers to register with the Government the available stocks of rice in their possession. However, the Sunday Times learns that the move had not drawn a favourable response and the rice prices were still high. The Government this week approved a proposal to import 100,000 Mt of Ponni samba rice.

Close to home – Appreciation Brendon Gooneratne View(s): View(s):My Father, Brendon Gooneratne, passed away last Monday. He had had a fall, on June 12th, and was recovering in a hospital close to home, with excellent care and medical attention. At the start of lockdown, I was missing travelling and the adventures of traversing physical landscapes in the world. I was fully informed of the need for immediate surgery, and of the probabilities and possibilities which could result. The medical staff you support now, close to home, will be the ones who you turn to when you or your family need urgent admittance at the OPD or ETU.

Fertiliser drama: Is there poison in our food? This is due to the belief that chemical poisons are added in large quantities during food production and processing. It is ridiculous to get food in the wrong amounts with excessive higher calories and put the blame onto the so-called poisons in the food for the diseases we suffer. Food poisoning can be prevented by preserving food properly. However, these days, it is also common to brand as dangerous carcinogen of the ingredients that are used to preserve food and to maintain the quality of the food.

Respect, Understand and Move Forward Olympic day indoors for the second successive year View(s): View(s):For the second year running, the pandemic hit Olympic Day celebrations in Sri Lanka stayed indoors but, the iconic June 23 celebrations went on full steam — virtually on NOC Sri Lanka’s official Facebook Page from 9.00am onwards. Commenting on the event NOC Sri Lanka Secretary General Maxwell de Silva said: “We have overcome this pandemic barrier through the help of modern technology. This time, the theme of the Olympic Day Celebrations 2021 was ‘Respect, Understand and Move Forward’. This is counted as an initiative for the ‘One Million Tree Plantation’ project which will be supposed to commence soon by NOC Sri Lanka. Finally, the Olympic Day 2021 concluded by vote of thanks by Maxwell de Silva, the Secretary General of NOC Sri Lanka.

Experts question move to order 13m doses of Sinovac amidst efficacy concerns By Kumudini Hettiarachchi View(s): View(s):There are growing concerns over Sri Lanka’s moves to order 13 million doses of the Chinese Sinovac vaccine with serious doubts emerging in some other countries of its effectiveness against the Delta (Indian) variant. In a letter signed by its Chairman V. Nadarajah, Kelun Lifesciences states that it’s a “key condition” of Sinovac Lifesciences for a guaranteed purchase quantity, the minimum purchase order being 13mn vaccine doses. On June 13, Kelun Lifesciences writes that payment for the first 3mn doses will have to be made in advance. Documents handed over says company Kelun Lifesciences (Pvt.) The Chairman of Kelun Lifesciences, V. Nadarajah, said on Friday that he met State Minister Dr. Channa Jayasumana and Secretary Dr. R.M.S.K.

Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne (25th June 2021) presided over the opening of High Dependency Unit (HDU) of Colombo South Teaching Hospital Kalubowila, renovated with Navy’s able manpower, as part of its initiatives to strengthen the Government's programme to expand infrastructure required to treat individuals tested positive for COVID-19. The conversion of a ward complex into a High Dependency Unit at Kalubowila Teaching Hospital kicked off utilizing the technical expertise and manpower of Sri Lanka Navy commencing from 20th May 2021, going by the directives of Commander of the Navy. In addition, the Government as well as local and foreign Sri Lankans have provided financial assistance for the project amounting to be around Rs. Accordingly, the Navy was able to complete the construction of this High Dependency Unit in a very short period of 5 weeks, fulfilling an urgent need of the hospital. Director General of Health Services, Dr. Asela Gunawardena, Director Colombo South Teaching Hospital, Kalubowila, Dr. Sagari Kiriwandeniya, former Acting Director Colombo South Teaching Hospital, Kalubowila, Dr. Pradeep Wijesinghe, Acting Director General Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Commodore Kamal Bombugalage, Acting Director General Civil Engineering, Commodore MJRR Medagoda, a cross section of hospital staff and a limited group of officers from the Navy were present on this occasion.

Dollar crisis: CB shuts door for commercial banks; importers badly hit By Bandula Sirimanna View(s): View(s):The Central Bank has told banks not to request dollars from the banking regulator’s depleted foreign currency reserves, and instead find it in the cash-short market as the country faces a major scarcity of dollars in the forex market. This has resulted in several private banks being unable to pen Letters of Credit (LCs) to importers even for essential items such as pharmaceutical products. According to a Central Bank directive, commercial banks dealing in the inter-bank foreign exchange market have been restricted in maintaining foreign currency reserves and managing foreign exchange liquidity within the banking system. He was of the view that gross foreign exchange inflows of over $3 billion from long term foreign loans would strengthen foreign reserves position and make the dollar situation and exchange rate stable soon. The Central Bank has also entered into a currency swap with the Central Bank of China for $ 1.5 billion and a term loan and concessional loan of $ 500 million from the Exim Bank of Korea.

Grease for rusty machines View(s):A few weeks ago, 5.5 million people of Finland were rocked by shocking news. It was about a corruption allegation against Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin. It was precisely for this reason that the alleged corruption claims against the Prime Minister became shocking news. The Prime Minister herself was quick enough to make a correction, saying that “as Prime Minister, I have not asked for this benefit nor been involved in deciding on it…”. The five Nordic countries – Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Iceland – are well-known to be some of the “least-corrupted” nations in the world.

Sri Lanka tourism industry in pandemic muddle By Sunimalee Dias View(s): View(s):The tourism industry is currently fighting hard to ensure that travellers to Sri Lanka are subjected to checks for COVID-19 and holiday in a travel bubble concept that will ensure the country is safe from any importation of the virus. It is interesting to note that despite the claims of carrying out checks the initial batch of tourists were not subject to the proper procedures as stated by Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairperson Kimarli Fernando herself last December where she had insisted that the required protocols were not adhered to. Further he noted that it was essential that tourists obtain a COVID insurance cover prior to arriving in the country. Moreover, service providers were also compelled to obtain the safe and secure certification following audits by internationally reputed auditors KPMG. In the meantime, the industry is concerned about the latest outbreak of the Delta variant that is currently spreading in Europe and UK as this could have an adverse impact on arrivals for the upcoming winter season.

Economic management under attack View(s):Government statistics confirm that the Cost of Living index on food has risen by 10 percent in the 18 months this Administration has been in office. The ill-conceived fertiliser ban-plan; the sugar scam; the spike in rice, vegetable and fruit prices have combined to give a negative image of Government’s economic management. The competence of the Government’s financial wizards is no longer under scrutiny, it is under attack. For an island nation like Sri Lanka, seafarers play a vastly significant role, being responsible for the inflow of medicines, food, fuel and the outflow of our produce; in short, they are a lifeline of the nation. Sri Lanka is not only a port of call, but a ‘port of refuge’ for distressed ships.

‘Believe’ sponsor Sri Lanka Athletics team for India athletics View(s): View(s):National track and field athletes, who left the island on Wednesday to compete in the 65th Inter-State Athletics Championship in Patiala, India, were geared with new competition kits by ‘Believe’ sportswear. The groundbreaking initiative by Ceylon Sports will see international style running gear manufactured in Sri Lanka for the first time. “We are grateful to ‘Believe’ sportswear for providing kits for the national athletic team who will be competing at the 65th Interstate Athletics Championship in Patiala, India. We hope to continue this partnership for all future national team involvements,” said Maj. Gen Palitha Fernando, the President of Sri Lanka Athletics, expressing his admiration. The team comprises of the first five athletes at the last National Athletics Championship.

English feast at Southampton as Sri Lanka suffer series whitewash cricket View(s): View(s):Sri Lankan batsmen crumbled like ninepins as England coasted to a comfortable 89-run win to clean sweep the three-match T20 series at Southampton yesterday. Chasing a formidable target of 181 runs to win, Sri Lanka showed no resilience as they succumbed after a poor display of batting, that was on par an amateur or upcoming side. In the end, the target proved too much for Sri Lanka to chase down and they could were bundled out for 91 in 18.5 overs. Winning the toss for a third consecutive time, Sri Lanka skipper put the Englishmen into bat only to receive a massive target with a run-rate of nine per over. The third outing had no exception as England posted the highest total of the series while Sri Lanka recorded their lowest.

Herath joins BCB as spin consultant cricket View(s): View(s):Left-arm spin legend Rangana Herath will join the Bangladesh national team as their spin bowling consultant until the T20 World Cup, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced yesterday. Herath was keen to join the local coaching setup but Sri Lanka Cricket showed little interest in hiring him. Generous SLC to therescue of OlympiansAt a time when national cricketers are up in arms over reduced pay packets, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has generously approved Rs. But the players’ bargaining power has further diminished following the current sorry state of the national team. Sri Lanka succumbed meekly to the Englishmen in the first two matches of the T20 series, conceding the series.

‘Nice guys’ can also win! By Malcolm Knox cricket View(s): View(s):New Zealand have won the world Test cricket championship; the nice guys finished first. Under McCullum, the Black Caps were liberated to play nice and not be shy about it even when Australian opponents tried to belittle them. That old Australian way, while productive for one clique, was never everyone’s way. How much better is New Zealand?” But what if the Black Caps are showing a new “Australian way”?