State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle said today (20) that there may be three times as many cases of Covid-19 infected persons in society versus the numbers that are reported daily. The State Minister highlighted that there is a risk of the disease spreading further from those infected. “Three thousand five hundred patients were reported in a single day yesterday but there may be more patients in society. I urge the people of the country not to go out except for a matter of urgency,” she said. However, people get confused when different officials in the Ministry of Health make different statements,” she added.

The Attorney General has issued fresh guidelines to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for bail in respect of several offences, to immediately reduce the prison remand population and overcrowding during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Attorney General has issued these new set of guidelines for the police on the request of the Secretary to the Ministry of Justice as well as the Commissioner General of Prisons, according to the AG’s coordinating officer. In April last year, the Attorney General had formulated guidelines for Sri Lanka Police to take steps to grant bail to minor drug offenders in order to reduce overcrowding at prisons in the light of COVID-19. Meanwhile in November, at the request of Minister of Justice Ali Sabry, the Attorney General had issued instructions to grant bail to suspects under remand custody and file charges against them. The decision had been taken to reduce the overcrowding within prisons, following the COVID-19 outbreak within the remand prisons in the country.

The Select Committee of Parliament to Identify Appropriate Reforms of Election Laws and the Electoral System has requested the General Public and interested Organizations to send in their proposals for the purpose of reforming the Electoral System and Election Laws before the 19th of June 2021. Accordingly, the Select Committee of Parliament chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Leader of the House of Parliament Dinesh Gunawardena, decided to identify the appropriate reforms to the Election laws and the Electoral system so that necessary amendments may be made. The Secretary to the Committee and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament and Chief of Staff Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera, on behalf of the Committee, has requested the proposals to be submitted to the Committee in writing or by email to [email protected] . “Written proposals and ideas should be sent addressed to the Secretary to the Select Committee of Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka, Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte. If the Committee intends to obtain oral evidence from the delegates, the relevant parties will be summoned to appear before the Committee in due course,” Kushani Rohanadeera said.

Xiaomi has announced a very impressive milestone today - the company has sold 200 million Redmi Note phones across the world. The series has been the maker’s bestseller since the arrival of the first Redmi Note in March 2014 and has been the driving force that pushed Xiaomi up to third place in the world. While it might look like the regular Redmi Note 10 5G, the dual-LED flash is actually positioned slightly higher, suggesting a different internal design and likely more changes. While Redmi is preparing for the local launch of the Note 10, its CEO revealed another milestone - 45.2 million Note 9 phones were sold all over the globe, which is over 20% of the total amount of 200 million sold since 2014. Source 1 • Source 2 • Source 3 | Via 1 • Via 2

Sri [email protected], a platform which focuses on supporting mid-market firms that are bringing income to areas outside Colombo​ hosted a public webinar with support from the United States. “With initiatives like Sri [email protected], the United States is helping Sri Lankan firms to effectively navigate current challenges, become more resilient, and increase profits and employment,” she further stated. [email protected] co-founder and Stax Managing Director Ruwindhu Peiris emphasized the vital importance of programs such as this to help build Sri Lanka’s future. [email protected] is helping to put ideas into action to create the next generation of high-income Sri Lankan businesses,” he said. Sri [email protected] is a private sector-led business development platform that was launched in 2020 with support from USAID.

~ Climbs from 10th place to 7th in overall ‘Most Loved Brands’ leaderboard ~Colombo, May 20, 2021: Sampath Bank PLC has once again ranked amongst the top 10 ‘Most Loved Brands’ in the country, according to LMD’s Brands Annual Publication for 2021, the Bank announced. Published by Media Services together with Brand Finance, the LMD Brands Annual profiles Sri Lanka’s top brands through a comprehensive analysis of its performance and achievements. The Bank was also ranked among the Top 10 ‘Most Valuable Consumer Brands’ for 2021. It has introduced many firsts to the Sri Lankan banking sector including introducing ATMs to Sri Lanka, extended banking hours, slip-less banking and adaptation of block chain technology to name a few. As part of its visionary 2020 approach, the bank is steadily transforming itself into a ‘tech company engaged in banking,’ from the traditional approach of a bank engaged in technology.

Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Minister of Health has appointed a Medical expert Committee to look into the international production of drugs and treatments for the control of the Covid-19 virus and to obtain and order a report expeditiously. Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama, Dr. Hasitha Tissera and Dr. Prasanna Gunasena have been included in the committee. Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Minister of Health emphasizes that the Ministry of Health will soon order medicines, new therapies and vaccines to be manufactured to control Covid disease as per the recommendations given by this committee. “It has been about a year and six months since the Covid-19 virus entered the world. Research into new drugs, new treatments, and new vaccines is nearing completion,” she stated.

In addition, the smartphone and its Reno6 Pro+ sibling have been listed on JD.com, one of China’s largest retailers, ahead of the phone’s announcement. The device in the video above allegedly shows the Oppo Reno6 Pro which has curved sides. Oppo Reno6 and Oppo Reno6 ProThe name of this finish may be Crystal Blue, as reported by Digital Chat Station via Weibo. Oppo Reno6 on JD.comSo far, we’re expecting three Reno6 models to be announced. A Reno6, Reno6 Pro, and Reno6 Pro+.

Though plenty of songs make their ugliness their beauty and proudly show it off (looking at you, “Polly”), here are ten songs that hide something dark behind an innocent exterior. 9 MMMBop by HansonHanson – MMMBop (Official Music Video)Few songs are as hated as this one. “I saw an angel” …something… She smiled at me on the subway…” …something something… “You’re beautiful / You’re beautiful / You’re beautiful, it’s true.”James Blunt actually hates this half-listened misinterpretation, saying in an interview with the Huffington Post, “’You’re Beautiful’ is not this soft romantic f—g song. Heck, it’s so catchy that even when you do discover the darker lyrics, you’re probably still too enamored to care. 5 Slide by Goo Goo DollsGoo Goo Dolls – Slide [Official Music Video]Have you ever heard the chorus to this song?

A stock of essential medical equipment including oxygen cylinders was presented to the Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi yesterday (19) under the auspices of UNICEF with the financial assistance of the Government of Australia to strengthen the Covid control programme in the country. Emma Brigham, UNICEF Resident Representative in Sri Lanka, donated the equipment to the Minister of Health, Pavithra Wanniarachchi at the UNICEF Headquarters in Colombo. 291 oxygen cylinders, 342 oxygen regulators, 2,490 oxygen masks and 20 fire extinguishers worth Rs. These equipment are to be provided to the hospitals and treatment centers in the Western Province. Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Minister of Health said that the donation would help strengthen the Covid-19 treatment services in Sri Lanka and thanked the Government of Australia for their donation.

Two individuals have been arrested for operating an illegal online store which sells Apple products in Colpetty. Police Spokesperson, Deputy Inspector General Ajith Rohana stated that the suspects have defrauded close to Rs. He said the men had operated an Office on Galle Road in Colpetty, requiring customers to make online payments for the purchase of products, promising delivery within 15-days. The suspects had received online payments from various people and had not delivered the products as promised and further investigations have revealed that the business is not linked to the Apple Service Provider network. The suspects who are residents of Modara and Moratuwa will be produced before the Fort Magistrate’s Court today (20).

By Revatha S. Silva and Gayashan WithanarachchiShammi Silva was elected uncontested as the President of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for 2021/23 during the SLC Elections held this morning – SLC. “I am thankful for the membership for electing me uncontested as the President of Sri Lanka Cricket,’ said Mr. Shammi Silva, President-Elect, Sri Lanka Cricket. Shammi Silva will take over as Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) administration from today onwards for another two-year term (May 2021 to May 2023). There were four main parties who had given nominations for this year’s much talked-about SLC election. The votersThe total number of valid votes in today’s SLC election will be 142.

Queensland will not set up a mass vaccination hub to administer the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine to over 50s, the state government has announced. Instead the state will wait until more Pfizer doses are delivered towards the end of the year before considering hubs similar to those in New South Wales and Victoria. AstraZeneca doses are still being administered in Queensland via GPs to people over 50. 'My mum's had AstraZeneca, (wife) Jenny's had AstraZeneca, my mother-in-law's had AstraZeneca, (health minister) Greg Hunt's had AstraZeneca, and so have so many across the country,' he said. 'If you received the AstraZeneca vaccine and experience symptoms of persistent headaches or other worrying symptoms four to 20 days after the vaccine, you should seek medical advice.

Leather handbags, jewellery, watches and briefcases from designers including Montblanc and Lancel will be sold off by online auctioneers Hilco Global from their Sydney warehouse. These include a Nicolas Rieussec Montblanc watch worth $21,300 and 18kt rose gold cufflinks retailed at $3400. Jewellery like a cabochon ring worth $1295 and beaded bracelets valued at $480 could also be snagged for cheap. The external boutique operator for German luxury brand Montblanc and distributor for French leather goods company Lancel - LMDM - suffered under the pandemic. Goods have to be picked up from a warehouse in Milperra in south-west Sydney by the buyer or someone registered on their behalf.

Ms Dhayanathan underwent surgery to remove 162 tumours in 2019 and after speaking with the ABC earlier this year she received a message from one of her former tormenters that left her speechless. I realise what a tough time you must have gone through and kids like me probably made it tougher.' After reading her story Ramal, with whom she went to Homebush Public School, decided he had to reach out. She is the face of Neurofibromatosis Awareness Month, of which she is one of the faces and leading spokespeople. But through a series of critical and somewhat life-changing moments, it is a role I have now embraced.'