Clearing 12,000 acres in Yala National Park: No such plan or proposal: Minister
By Yoshitha PereraDenying claims made by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Wildlife and Forest Conservation Minister C.B. Ratnayake said there is no proposal to conduct any construction activity over 12,000 acres at the Yala National Park. He said: “So far, I have not been sent any project proposal or document requesting to conduct construction activities. “However, we have received reports of several wildlife officers assisting other illegal activities in the forest. Meanwhile, a letter issued by the DWC to the Archaeology Department approving certain renovation activities in the area was also circulated in the media last week.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 18:33 UTC
Delta variant of Covid-19: Hunt continues for community spread
BY YOSHITHA PERERAHealth authorities are conducting tests to obtain information as to whether the B.1.617.2 Delta variant of Covid-19 has spread across the country which would mean that it is spreading within the community, The Sunday Morning learnt. However, according to the health records released during the course of last week, it was revealed that a total number of 43 patients have been infected with the Delta variant. “What is required now is to prevent the spread of the virus within the community.”He said that since the Delta variant was first detected, the Sri Jayewardenepura University had commenced the process of detecting the variant in the country. On Thursday (15), the Unit confirmed that 19 patients were infected with the new Delta variant. She added: “There are two methods called variant PCR testing and gene sequencing and the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) health authorities revealed the spread of the new Delta variant earlier by conducting variant PCR tests.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 18:00 UTC
Probe on urea shipment at Colombo Port
BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWAInvestigations are underway to ascertain whether the controversial urea shipment weighing 9,795 MT, which arrived at the Colombo Port last week, long after the Government banned agrochemical imports, had been loaded prior to the imposition of the ban on importing chemical fertiliser, The Sunday Morning learnt. Speaking to us, Sri Lanka Customs Spokesman Deputy Director (Legal) Sudattha Silva said that during the initial inquiries, it was revealed that the shipment had been loaded on 6 March 2021 from Malaysia. “We are investigating as to whether those documents are true and whether the shipment had been loaded on the said date,” he said. “We have referred the relevant documents to the Fertiliser Secretariat to ascertain whether they have actually issued the letters in March. Even if the shipment is cleared, it would only be released with written approval from the NFS, he added.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 18:00 UTC
Arsenal fans fear Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has lost his scoring touch
Moments later, Leon Balogun opened the scoring for Steven Gerrard's side before new signing Nuno Tavares levelled the scores. The Gunners talisman failed to find the net having been provided three chances in the first halfThen, just before half time, Aubameyang completed his hat trick of misses with the worst of the lot. Emile Smith-Rowe cut Rangers' defence open and forced a save from McGregor, with the ball falling into the path of the striker. And Arsenal fans have expressed concern that the miss could be indicative of a continuation of Aubameyang's poor form from last season. Arsenal fans have expressed concern for their striker's uncharacteristic performances'Auba carrying on from last season’s form.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 18:00 UTC
Europe flooding: 'Disaster tourists' hampering rescue efforts
Police in Germany and Belgium have told 'disaster tourists' coming to take pictures of devastating floods that has killed more than 160 people to stay away because they are hampering rescue efforts. Days of heavy rain turned normally minor rivers and streets into raging torrents this week and caused the disastrous flooding that swept away cars, engulfed homes and trapped residents. In Erftstadt, a town southwest of Cologne, a harrowing rescue effort unfolded on Friday when the ground in a neighborhood gave way. Parts of the southern Netherlands also experienced heavy flooding, though thousands of residents were allowed to return home Saturday morning after being evacuated on Thursday and Friday. His government has declared the flooding a state of emergency, opening up national funds for those affected.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 18:00 UTC
Daily coronavirus case tally at 1,447
July 17, 2021 09:03 pmThe Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry reports that another 467 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in Sri Lanka, moving the daily total of new cases to 1,447. This brings the total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus reported in the country to 283,507. As many as 255,833 recoveries and 3,733 deaths have been confirmed in Sri Lanka since the outbreak of the pandemic. The Epidemiology Unit’s data showed that 23,972 active cases are currently under medical care.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 15:33 UTC
Metropolitan Tube line SUSPENDED and two others partially closed after staff 'pinged' by Covid app
By Laurence Dollimore For MailonlinePublished: 09:38 EDT, 17 July 2021 | Updated: 09:59 EDT, 17 July 2021A London Tube line has been suspended and two others partially closed due to a staff shortage triggered by workers being told to self-isolate by the NHS Covid-19 app. The Metropolitan Line was not running on Saturday after control room staff received an alert from the app in the morning telling them to stay at home. Services on the Piccadilly and District line were also affected, with partial closures to last until at least 9pm. 'This will also impact the Piccadilly line with no service between South Harrow and Uxbridge and no service on the District line between High Street Kensington and Edgware. The station is also serviced by the Jubilee line which was still running, while Wembley Stadium and Wembley Central stations are also near the ground.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 14:03 UTC
31 new COVID victims take death toll to 3,733
July 17, 2021 07:24 pmSri Lanka has registered 31 more COVID-19 related fatalities confirmed by the Director General of Health Services on Saturday (July 17). The new development has pushed the official death toll from the virus outbreak in Sri Lanka to 3,733. According to the data released by the Department of Government Information, the latest victims confirmed today include 17 males and 14 females. Among the victims are 06 males and 02 females aged between 30-59 years and 11 males and 12 females aged 60 and above.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 13:52 UTC
COVID- 980 new infections reported so far today
July 17, 2021 06:28 pmThe Ministry of Health says 980 more persons were tested positive for the novel coronavirus so far today (July 17). All new cases have been associated with the New Year COVID-19 cluster. This brings the total number of COVID-19 cases confirmed in the country thus far 283,040. According to official data, 23,505 virus-infected people are currently being treated at designated hospitals and treatment centres across the island. The recoveries count climbed to 255,833 today with 962 more patients who were under medical care for novel coronavirus returning to health.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 12:56 UTC
Bathiudeen admitted to National Hospital’s ETU
Parliamentarian and Leader of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) Rishad Bathiudeen, who is currently being detained by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) has been admitted to the National Hospital in the Colombo District. Police Spokesman Senior DIG Ajith Rohana stated that Bathiudeen informed CID officers that he was unwell before he was taken to the outpatient department of the Colombo National Hospital. Further medical examinations resulted in Bathiudeen being admitted to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the Hospital. Earlier, Bathiudeen’s lawyer Rushdie Habeeb told The Morning that his client is having a “difficult” time in detention. The cells are infested with rats which has resulted in an inability to get proper sleep.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 12:56 UTC
Rishad Bathiudeen hospitalized
July 17, 2021 06:08 pmMP Rishad Bathiudeen, who is currently in the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), has been hospitalized. According to Police Spokesman Senior DIG Ajith Rohana, the parliamentarian had informed the CID officers that he is indisposed. Thereby, MP Bathiudeen has been taken to the outpatient department of the Colombo National Hospital. Upon being examined by the doctors, the parliamentarian was admitted to the ETU of the hospital, the police spokesman said further.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 12:33 UTC
German football team leave the pitch after Jordan Torunarigha 'suffers alleged racist abuse'
By Cian Cheesbrough For MailonlinePublished: 08:14 EDT, 17 July 2021 | Updated: 08:53 EDT, 17 July 2021Germany's Olympic football team have walked off the pitch during a friendly against Honduras after alleged racial abuse directed at their player Jordan Torunarigha. German football journalist Kerry Hau has indicated the insult came from a Honduras player. The Germany players left the pitch after Jordan Torunarigha was racially abused.' It is not the first time Torunarigha has been the subject of racial abuse after the Hertha Berlin player was targeted by Schalke fans during a German Cup encounter in February last year. Saka, a 19-year-old who missed the decisive penalty, issued a powerful statement against the horrific abuse he suffered online.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 12:22 UTC
Met. Dept. warns of severe lightning, gusty winds rough seas
Thundershowers accompanied by lightning are likely to occur at several places in Mannar, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, Anuradhapura and Trincomalee districts, the Meteorology Department cautioned in its advisory issued this evening (July 17). Department advised the public to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity. The wind speed can increase up to 50 kmph at times in the other sea areas around the island. The sea areas extending from Puttalam to Pottuvil via Colombo and Hambantota will be rough at times. The other sea areas around the island can be fairly rough at times.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 12:22 UTC
Law and Crime in Sri Lanka
The following article is based on the discussion on “Crime and Law”, with Attorneys-at-Law: Mr. Nalinda Indatissa PC (Practicing Criminal Lawyer and Advisor at Colombo School of Business and Management), Mr. Prasantha Lal De Alwis PC (Consul General for Seychelles in Sri Lanka and a Visiting Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo) and Mr. Kanagasabai Shanmugaratnam Ratnavel (practising in the fields of Public and International Law, Criminal Law and Human Rights Law. He was the President of Colombo Law Society in 2005)What is a crime? The basic accepted school of thought is that a crime can be divided into personal crimes, property crimes, inchoate crimes, statutory crimes and financial crimes. It is a criminal offence and they will be sent to prison. Zeenath ZakirPro bono Secretary 2020-2021The complete discussion is available on the YouTube channel ‘Law Students Association of Sri Lanka’, in all three languages.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 12:00 UTC
Leadership training for all above 18 at military camps – A proposal from Public Security Minister
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (Retd) Dr. Sarath Weerasekara on Friday (16) proposed for leadership training to be provided to all above the age of 18 in Sri Lanka. ‘Leadership training will be given at military camps, which is the best place for such training,’ he said. He said by providing such training it would pave the way for the creation of a disciplined society. Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (Retd) Dr. Sarath Weerasekara also on Friday (16) deffended the conduct of Sri Lanka Police on the recent protests in the Colombo. ‘The protestors were not taken into quarantine by force, it was done so at the request of the Public Health Inspectors,’ he said.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 09:56 UTC