WEATHER ALERT: Warnings issued for landslides and heavy rainfall
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s National Building Research Organization issued a Level 02 Landslide Early Warning for multiple areas in Galle and Kalutara Districts. The Level 02 Alert was issued for the Yakkalamulla, Elpitiya, Nagoda, Neluwa, Baddegama, Niyagama, and Thawalama Divisional Secretariat Divisions in the Galle Districts. The Level 02 Alert was also issued for the Bulathsinhala, Mathugama, Ingiriya, Walallawita, Agalawatta, Dodangoda, Palindanuwara, and Horana Divisional Secretariat Divisions in the Kalutara District. The NBRO issues a Level 02 Amber Alert when the rainfall within the past 24 hours has exceeded 100mm and if the rain continues. Flood warnings were issued for multiple areas including Bulathsinhala, Palindanuwara, Millaniya, and Horana, said the Irrigation Department.
Source:The Nation
May 13, 2021 14:03 UTC
Persons over 60 to receive Sinopharm vaccine: Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle
May 13, 2021 by Aazam Ameen No CommentsState Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle stated today (13) that a decision has been made to inoculate citizens over the age of 60 with the first dose of the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine. However, the State Minister noted that such persons will be vaccinated only if they do not have any underlying health conditions. According to the State Minister, this decision was made following a meeting with the Presidential Task Force assigned to matters relating to Covid-19.
Source:The Nation
May 13, 2021 14:03 UTC
Sri Lanka registers 1,075 new COVID infections
Sri Lanka has confirmed as many as 1,075 fresh coronavirus infections so far within the day, says the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO). Following the latest surge, the country’s caseload now stands at 134,602. Meanwhile, the recoveries count climbed to 108,802 after 1,145 more individuals who were infected with the virus were discharged from medical care earlier today. According to statistics, 24,932 active cases are still under medical care at designated hospitals and treatment centres. Sri Lanka has also witnessed 868 deaths due to the outbreak of the pandemic.
Source:The Nation
May 13, 2021 13:30 UTC
Food delivery allowed during travel restrictions - Police
Delivery of food, ordered via phone or online, will be allowed despite the 03-day island-wide travel restrictions, Police Media Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana said addressing a press conference held today (May 13). Accordingly, cooked food deliveries, restaurants, supermarkets, or shops that provide dry food items are allowed to make deliveries using their own delivery methods, the DIG said. However, no customers are allowed to visit any of these establishments during the 3-day travel restrictions. Nearly 20,000 police officers will be deployed to overlook the travel restrictions and other regulations from 10.00 pm tonight, according to DIG Rohana. Once 03-day travel restrictions are lifted at 04.00 am on Monday, the island-wide travel restrictions will be reinstated from 11.00 pm on the same night and conclude at 04.00 am the next day.
Source:The Nation
May 13, 2021 12:45 UTC
Visas of all categories of foreigners in Sri Lanka extended
Visas of all categories obtained by foreign tourists who are already in Sri Lanka have been extended by 60 days, says the Department of Immigration and Emigration. Accordingly, the extension will be in effect from May 11, 2021 until July 09, 2021. For the visas that expire within this period, only the visa fees applicable for the aforesaid period will be charged and they will be exempted from overstay penalty. Issuing a notice today (May 13), the Immigration and Emigration Department said it is continuing to provide services with the minimum number of staff amidst the pandemic situation. Instructions for resident visa holdersExtension of visa with effect from May 11 up to July 09 is applicable to all resident visa holders as well.
Source:The Nation
May 13, 2021 12:45 UTC
Air Force produces Heated Humidified Oxygen Therapy Unit
COLOMBO (News 1st); The Heated Humidified Oxygen Therapy Unit manufactured by the Sri Lanka Air Force for the benefit of the patients with respiratory difficulties was officially handed over to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat. The device is capable of delivering temperature-controlled oxygen with full humidity at high capacity to patients with respiratory complications. The Maintenance Unit of the Air Force Engineering Corps manufactured the unit under the guidance of Air Force Commander Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana and supervision of Group Captain Prasanna Martino. 1.5 million would be spent to manufacture the unit, it was completed at a lower cost of Rs.300,000. The functionality of the device was demonstrated to the President during the meeting with the President.
Source:The Nation
May 13, 2021 12:45 UTC
Validity period of VISAs for all categories extended
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Department of Immigration and Emigration has decided to extend the validity period of VISA for all categories obtained by foreign nationals already in Sri Lanka by 60 days with effect from 11th May 2021 to 09th July 2021. Issuing a statement, the Department of Immigration and Emigration said only VISA fee applicable for that period will be charged for the VISA that expires during the daid period and is exempted from being charged the overstay penalty. More details in the below statement issued by the Department of Immigration and Emigration.
Source:The Nation
May 13, 2021 12:00 UTC
Foreign nationals to get visa extensions
May 13, 2021 by Aazam Ameen No CommentsThe Department of Immigration & Emigration stated today (13) that visas of foreign nationals who are already in Sri Lanka will be extended. Accordingly, all categories of visas will be extended from 11 May to 09 July 2021. This decision comes after a series of travel restrictions were imposed by numerous countries due to the Covid-19 situation.
Source:The Nation
May 13, 2021 11:37 UTC
1,145 more COVID patients discharges from medical care
As many as 1,145 more patients who were being treated for COVID-19 have been discharged from medical care within the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health reported today (May 12). This brings the total number of coronavirus recoveries in the country to 108,802. Majority of recoveries were reported from Kopay Treatment Centre (172), Punanai Treatment Centre (95), Dambadeniya Treatment Centre (84) and Hikkaduwa Treatment Centre (78). Sri Lanka has reported 133,527 positive cases of COVID-19 following the outbreak of the virus infection. However, up to 23,857 virus-infected patients are currently receiving treatment at designated hospitals and treatment centres.
Source:The Nation
May 13, 2021 11:26 UTC
Xiaomi patents a smartphone, smart speaker hybrid with rollable screen
But a new Xiaomi design patent suggests a future smartphone could literally double as a smart speaker. The design imagines a cylindrical device at its core reminiscent of a smart speaker. Smartphone or smart speaker? Presumably, it’s Xiaomi’s twisty take on a smart display similar to the Google Nest Home Max or Amazon Echo Show. If it packs smart speaker hardware, it could be exceptionally weighty, too.
Source:The Nation
May 13, 2021 10:52 UTC
License To Poach: Fishing For Trouble In Sri Lanka's Northern Waters
Efforts to end poaching by Indian fishermen in northern Sri Lankan coastal waters have continually failed, despite two decades of talks between the two neighbours, the latest move being reviving a proposal to license Indian fishermen. "If the Navy arrests all the poachers, the problem can be solved.”Poaching by Indian trawlers has been getting worse," he added. Harmonious FishingFishermen from Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu on a trawler heading to the Palk Strait, where they frequently cross into Sri Lankan waters to get a better catch. And, he added, neither the Sri Lanka Coastguard nor the Sri Lanka Navy has the capacity to check each and every boat to ensure whether they have a licence or not. "Sri Lankan fishermen poach into Indian and Maldivian waters; Indian fishermen enter Pakistani and Bangladeshi waters, and Japanese and Taiwanese trawlers roam around the world."
Source:The Nation
May 13, 2021 10:30 UTC
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro arrive with ANC, dedicated audio chip
They are the first audio accessory of the company with actual Active Noise Cancellation, and bring an 11mm driver and a dedicated flagship audio chip by Qualcomm. Xiaomi FlipBuds ProThe ANC can tone down the surrounding noise to 40dB, which Xiaomi compares to the volume of the noise in a library. Bluetooth 5.2 is available for connectivity and thanks to this chip the FlipBuds Pro also support aptX Adaptive Dynamic Codec Protocol. Xiaomi FlipBuds ProThe FlipBuds Pro have a low-latency feature as long as you have select Xiaomi smartphones - Mi Mix Fold, Mi 11 series, Mi 10 series, Redmi K40 series, Remdi K30 series, Redmi Note 9 Pro. Xiaomi Flipbuds ProXiaomi is already offering the FlipBuds Pro on its website in China.
Source:The Nation
May 13, 2021 09:00 UTC
Football's social media boycott reached 1.7BILLION as leading stars and sports joined in
English football's social media boycott in response to racism and abuse online reached 1.7 billion people after all major sports and leading personalities joined in, the EFL has revealed today. Leading sports stars, clubs and organisations took part in a four-day social media blackout, led by the EFL, to tackle abuse and discrimination from Friday April 30. The campaign was designed to force social media companies to take more effective action against users of their platforms, who are abusive to footballers and sports stars. England cricket captain Eoin Morgan echoed the ECB's demands that social media companies must do more to stamp out online abuse'We know a social media boycott alone is not enough. It is expected to enforce a duty of care on social media companies, establishing financial consequences for them if they fail to adequately protect users.
Source:The Nation
May 13, 2021 08:48 UTC
COVID-19 virus spreading in Sri Lanka is of UK variant - Chief Epidemiologist
Health officials warn that the number of daily reported cases of COVID-19 infection may increase in the next few days. Commenting on this, Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, Chief Epidemiologist of the Ministry of Health, said that a large number of COVID-19 cases have been reported so far. He stated that the virus that has spread in Sri Lanka is of the variant found in the United Kingdom (UK). He says that the UK variant must have entered Sri Lanka from someone who arrived in the country from abroad. The Chief Epidemiologist also added that the Indian variant of the virus entered Sri Lanka through an Indian national.
Source:The Nation
May 13, 2021 08:15 UTC
Showers in south-western, north-western areas likely to enhance
The Department of Meteorology warns that the showery condition over the south-western and north-western parts of the island is likely to enhance during the next 24 hours. Showers or thundershowers can be expected at times in Sabaragamuwa, Central, Western, Southern and North-western provinces. Meanwhile, heavy rains above 100 mm will occur at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts. Showers or thundershowers are expected at several places elsewhere during the evening or night. Wind speed can increase up to (40-50) kmph at times over in Western, Sabaragamuwa,Central, Southern, Northern, North central and North-western provinces.
Source:The Nation
May 13, 2021 08:15 UTC