Delta COVID variant is spreading fast, warns SLMA
COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lanka Medical Association has warned that the Delta COVID variant is spreading fast in the country. Dr. Padma Gunaratne, the President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association speaking to reporters on Tuesday (20) said according to available data it can be assumed that 30% of COVID cases within the Colombo municipality are infected with the Delta COVID variant. ‘There could a higher number of cases because of the Delta COVID variant and a higher number could be seriously ill,’ she warned adding it could lead to a higher number of deaths as well. She said if the general public continues about their usual routine by ignoring the health guidelines the Delta COVID variant could easily spread across the country within two weeks.
Source:The Nation
July 20, 2021 13:52 UTC
I'm Begging You to Use a VPN at Hotels
Most of us follow basic security precautions at hotels, but I’m begging you to add one more to the list: Don’t use hotel wifi without protection from a VPN. Why is hotel wifi so sketchy? Connecting to a public network is a risk anywhere—coffee shops, libraries, and airports—but hotels are one of the worst since hackers have so many possible targets using the same connection. However, you should employ other data security measures even if you’re using a secure VPN at all times, such as enabling DNS over HTTPS (DoH). As we’ve previously explained, the safest strategy is to forego hotel wifi entirely and use your cellular connection wherever possible.
Source:The Nation
July 20, 2021 13:30 UTC
'Ping'-demonium: Fears over Summer of Discontent
Instead there are only exemptions for very limited groups of key workers, including some frontline NHS staff and parts of the food chain. One in five NHS Covid app users have contact tracing turned OFF New YouGov research today threw light on the changing ways Britons are using the NHS Covid app. One in ten online Brits (10%) have deleted the app, having previously installed it. 'App deserters' are more likely to be in the younger age group, with 17% of those aged 18-24 deleting the app having previously installing it. 'App deserters' are more likely to be in the younger age group, with 17% of those aged 18-24 deleting the app having previously installing it.
Source:The Nation
July 20, 2021 12:45 UTC
No-confidence motion against Minister Udaya Gammanpila defeated
The Motion of No Confidence brought against Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila by the opposition has been defeated by a majority of 91 votes. The no-confidence motion against Minister Gammanpila was handed over to the Speaker of the Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on June 22. Meanwhile former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s proposed amendment to the no-confidence motion was deemed not acceptable by the Speaker today. The no-confidence motion filed by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) against Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila over the recent hike of fuel prices commenced in the parliament yesterday (July 19). When the case of no-confidence motion was tabled at the parliament yesterday, former Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe proposed to amend the motion against all ministers of the government instead of just the Energy Minister.
Source:The Nation
July 20, 2021 12:33 UTC
Gammanpila survives No Confidence Motion by a majority vote
COLOMBO (News 1st); The No-Confidence Motion against Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila was defeated in Parliament on Tuesday (20). Against: 152In Favor: 61The two-day debate on the no-confidence motion against Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila commenced on Monday (19) morning. 43 SJB MPs signed the motion in which they alleged that Gammanpila has failed in his responsibilities as Energy Minister and had not obtained Cabinet approval for the recent fuel price hike. Ten allegations were levelled at Gammanpila, including failing in his duty of obtaining Cabinet approval for the fuel price hike and failure to pass on the benefit of global oil price reductions to the public last year. The motion stated that while world oil prices have been falling since March last year, fuel prices in the country have remained the same with consumers not given the benefit of falling prices.
Source:The Nation
July 20, 2021 12:33 UTC
CA Sri Lanka’s UAE Chapter donates urgent medical supplies to help fight COVID
The UAE Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) recently donated urgent medical supplies to help Sri Lanka’s fight against COVID. The urgent medical supplies consisted of Oxygen Pulse meters and 10 litre Oxygen Concentrator for the use of health authorities in Sri Lanka. The Consul General expressed his appreciation for the efforts taken by the members of the CA Sri Lanka UAE Chapter towards this worthy cause. The medical supplies were airlifted to Colombo on a gratis basis by SriLankan airlines. The UAE Chapter was inaugurated in 2015 to cater to the professional needs of CA Sri Lanka’s overseas membership based in the United Arab Emirates including Dubai.
Source:The Nation
July 20, 2021 12:22 UTC
Ideal First Choice introduces the unbeatable and versatile Schwing Stetter Self Loading Mixer to the local market
Sri Lanka’s premier automotive solutions provider, Ideal Motors (Pvt) Ltd’s subsidiary Ideal First Choice has broken new ground introducing the Schwing Stetter Self Loading Mixer to the local market recently. Ideal First Choice is the sole representative for the equipment, manufactured and distributed by Schwing Stetter India (Pvt) Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the acclaimed German group, Schwing Stetter. Schwing Stetter India (Pvt) Ltd also manages five plants across Chennai, manufacturing a wide range of concrete construction equipment. As both our organizations are attuned to support customers, Ideal Motors is the best suited local authorized dealer for the Schwing Stetter Self Loading Mixer.”Top construction firms such as ELS Construction, NEM Construction, Tokyo Super Mix (Pvt) Ltd use the Schwing Stetter Self Loading Mixer. Our decision to obtain authorized dealership status from Schwing Stetter India (Pvt) Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the renowned German group, Schwing Stetter, is due to these reasons,” Tennekoon added.
Source:The Nation
July 20, 2021 12:00 UTC
980 more COVID patients discharged upon recovery
July 20, 2021 04:07 pmAs many as 980 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from hospitals and treatment centres as they have recovered from the virus infection, says the Ministry of Health. This brings the total number of recoveries in the country to 262,828. Sri Lanka has so far confirmed 286,419 cases of COVID-19 in total and more than 19,000 virus-infected patients are currently under medical care. Meanwhile, the death toll now stands at 3,827.
Source:The Nation
July 20, 2021 11:03 UTC
CDB Supports Agricultural Sector from the Frontline
COLOMBO, July XX, 2021- Citizens Development Business Finance PLC (CDB), lauded as one of the Top Ten Corporate Citizens for Sustainability in Sri Lanka, has come forward to support and enhance the agriculture sector in Sri Lanka. CDB will be at the forefront in supporting the government policies to enhance the sector with tailor-made finance facilities for the growth and sustenance of agriculture. Commenting on the initiative, Director Sales and Development, CDB, SasindraMunasinghe said: “Rice production is one of the main resources of our country. With this in mind, CDB initiated these facilities which will empower all farmers’ aspirations and create a better livelihood for them”. CDB has special payment plans for those in the agricultural sector, where seasonal payment methods are tailor-made as per the different harvesting periods and yields in the area.
Source:The Nation
July 20, 2021 10:07 UTC
Opposition Leader questions decision on exams, when syllabus not covered
On Monday (19), Sri Lanka’s Education Minister announced the dates of two key examinations in Sri Lanka for 2021. The GCE Advanced level examination will be held from the 15th of November to the 10th of December. However, the opposition questioned if it is possible for teachers to complete the Advanced Level syllabus within a few months, given that practical examinations and term examinations have not taken place in a proper manner. The Opposition Leader said it is wise to decide on examinations after completing the syllabus for Grade 05 and Advanced Level. He said there will be no practical examinations for Advanced Level and only practical learning will take place.
Source:The Nation
July 20, 2021 10:01 UTC
SLAF represented at Tokyo Olympics in Judo and Athletics
COLOMBO (News 1st); Two personnel from the Sri Lanka Air Force are heading to the Tokyo Olympics with the aim of bringing a big win for the country. The SLAF Judo Player, Corporal Chamara Dharmawardhane who was selected to represent Sri Lanka at the forthcoming Tokyo was earlier selected to represent Sri Lanka at the Rio Olympics in 2016 where he was able to secure 9th place. Corporal Dharmawardhane who hails from Gampola is a Judoka full of national and international level experience and will be competing in the 73 Kg weight class at this year’s Olympics. The other Sri Lanka Air Force personnel is Corporal Nimali Liyanarachchi who will compete in the 800m Women’s event at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Liyanarachchi had secured the Bronze Medal in the Women’s 800 meters event at the 60th Inter-State Athletics Championship, recently held in Patiala, IndiaShe had also won the gold medal in women’s 800 meters finals at the 12th South Asian Games in India in 2016.
Source:The Nation
July 20, 2021 09:56 UTC
Maldives President arrives in Sri Lanka for official visit
July 20, 2021 02:54 pmThe President of the Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has arrived in Sri Lanka for a three-day official visit. Reportedly, a contingent of 15 top-level Maldivian Foreign Ministry has accompanied Mr Solih to the island nation. A special flight chartered by SriLankan Airlines with the Maldivian delegates aboard touched down at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) at around 11.30 am this morning (July 20). They are expected to stay in the country until Friday (July 23).
Source:The Nation
July 20, 2021 09:22 UTC
Sri Lanka rolled out over 7 million COVID vaccinations so far
Sri Lanka has boosted the national inoculation drive with 10,172,800 COVID-19 vaccines received since arrivals of the first consignment in January this year, says the State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals. As per the Epidemiology Unit’s progress reports on COVID immunization, more than 7.57 million vaccinations have been rolled out across the island so far. Sri Lanka has also received China’s 7.1 million Sinopharm vaccines, Russia-made 180,000 Sputnik V jabs, 128,700 Pfizer-BioNTech and 1.5 million Moderna shots from the United States. More than 3.3 million of these vaccines were delivered as donations, the state minister said adding that over 6.8 million were purchased by the government, the state minister added. The country is also expecting a donation of 1.47 million AstraZeneca shots from Japan and 5.6 million more Sinopharm vaccines from China.
Source:The Nation
July 20, 2021 08:03 UTC
Talks with Education Minister fail; teachers unions to continue strike
The discussion held between the teachers’ trade unions and Education Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris this morning has ended without reaching an agreement. Accordingly, the teachers’ trade unions have decided to carry on the strike action, the General Secretary of Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU), Mahinda Jayasinghe said. They withdrew from conducting online lessons on July 12, demanding solutions for anomalies in salaries, ‘forced quarantining’ protesters, and several other issues. A total of 17 trade unions representing school principals and teachers including the Ceylon Independent Teachers’ Services Union (ITSU) had joined the said strike action.
Source:The Nation
July 20, 2021 07:52 UTC
Redmi’s new affordable 5G smartphone hits India for under $200
Xiaomi has officially launched the Redmi Note 10T 5G in India, bolstering its mid-range offerings in the region and giving users a new affordable 5G option. The Redmi Note 10T 5G is effectively a rebadged version of that device. Internally, the Redmi Note 10T 5G sports a Dimensity 700 SoC (with dual-SIM 5G support) mated to UFS 2.2 storage. Redmi Note 10T 5G: Price and availability So how much will the Redmi Note 10T 5G cost in India? Overall, this pricing structure places the Redmi Note 10T 5G right up against the Realme 8 5G, which starts at Rs 14,999 (~$200).
Source:The Nation
July 20, 2021 07:30 UTC