Sinopharm approval was through assessment by experts: WHO
By Aazam AmeenThe World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Emergency Use Listing (EUL) of the Sinopharm vaccine came as a result of a rigorous and painstaking review and assessment process by independent experts from the Technical Advisory Group for Emergency Use Listing (TAG-EUL) and WHO teams, according to the WHO. This comes after a statement made by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Spokesman Kingsley Rathnayaka on Monday (10). In the statement, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Spokesman Kingsley Rathnayaka said that the WHO’s EUL of the Sinopharm vaccine was a result of the President’s online discussion with the Director General of the WHO. “Sri Lanka received a donation of 600,000 doses of Chinese Sinopharm vaccine, which was not earlier approved by the World Health Organisation. However, as a result of a discussion President Gotabaya Rajapaksa held with the Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) via Zoom last Friday (7), the WHO on the same evening approved the emergency use of the Sinopharm vaccine,” Rathnayaka stated.
Source:The Nation
May 11, 2021 20:07 UTC
UK help for research on river microplastics
By Pamodi WaravitaThe Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has partnered with the Government of the UK to carry out research into the level of microplastics in rivers and other sources of water in the country, The Morning learnt. “Through our current analyses, we have understood that there is a certain level of microplastics in our water sources. However, these analyses are based on research conducted without the use of proper scientific equipment. Therefore, we hope to confirm this through new research,” Jayasekara further said. He has claimed that the west coast of Sri Lanka is estimated to be the most affected due to microplastics-based pollution.
Source:The Nation
May 11, 2021 20:02 UTC
Construction projects at BIA to be expedited
By Dinitha RathnayakeThe construction work on large-scale projects at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake is to be expedited, The Morning learnt. According to Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga, two large-scale projects are currently underway at the BIA. One project concerns the construction of a second passenger terminal at the airport. Although the project was launched in 2014, construction work resumed in 2020 after the current Government came to power. The Minister also instructed the airport authorities to report to him on the progress of the construction, every two weeks.
Source:The Nation
May 11, 2021 20:02 UTC
Was Catch Me If You Can based on a complete lie?
THE VERDICT: FALSE Public records, newspaper archives and interviews with witnesses show Abagnale was in prison between the ages of 17 and 20. CLAIM: Abagnale stole money from Logan Airport dressed as a security guard. THE VERDICT: FALSE Journalist Stephen Hall debunked this claim in 1978 CLAIM: He stole $1.2 million by signing blank checks. THE VERDICT: FALSE In reality, he was arrested in the summer of 1974 in Friendswood, Texas, for theft at a kids' camp, Camp Manison. However despite the work of the reporters, Abagnale's star was rising and he soon wrote the best-selling book, which was later adapted into both the Spielberg film and a Broadway play.
Source:The Nation
May 11, 2021 19:52 UTC
No confirmation on vaccine ‘mix-match’: Sudarshini
“No experiments on vaccine mixing and matching are being conducted in Sri Lanka. “Specialists on the subject have said that there is no problem in administering the first dose of the vaccine from one kind and the second dose from another. It was reported that the Ministry of Health is still awaiting the results of the vaccine mix-and-match research conducted internationally. In February, the UK launched a trial to test the results of mixing the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Trials are also being carried out to look at the combination of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and the Sputnik V vaccine manufactured by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology in Russia.
Source:The Nation
May 11, 2021 18:56 UTC
The 7 Most Popular Hobbies During Lockdown
In the past year or so, being in lockdown is something almost everyone around the world has gone through. Anything from individual sports and binge-watching to arts and crafts was popular, and this led to many people discovering new interests. Below are the seven most popular lockdown hobbies people partook in. 1 Embracing Your Inner Baker Baking was a huge part of hobbies during the lockdown this past year. However, books and e-readers saw a jump as a popular hobby during the lockdown.
Source:The Nation
May 11, 2021 17:37 UTC
Uru Juwa shot dead by police
The notorious underworld figure Melon Mabula alias ‘Uru Juwa’ has been shot dead by the police today (May 11). The incident took place in the area of Nawagamuwa, according to the police. The 27-year-old had been wanted by the investigators over several cases of extortions and criminal activities.
Source:The Nation
May 11, 2021 17:37 UTC
Sri Lanka registers 2,530 COVID cases within the day
May 11, 2021 10:58 pmThe Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry reports that another 1,305 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in Sri Lanka, moving the daily total of new cases to 2,530. Disclaimer: All the comments will be moderated by the AD editorial. Please avoid outside hyperlinks inside the comment and avoid typing all capitalized comments. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by flagging them(mouse over a comment and click the flag icon on the right side). Do use these forums to voice your opinions and create healthy discourse.
Source:The Nation
May 11, 2021 16:41 UTC
Ruling Party Leaders meeting underway at Temple Trees
May 11, 2021 by Aazam Ameen No CommentsPrime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa headed a Ruling Party Leaders meeting in the Temple Trees premises today (11). Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Tiran Alles and Udaya Gammanpila who were absent in meetings held previously were in attendance today. However, Wimal Weerawansa was once again not present for this meeting.
Source:The Nation
May 11, 2021 15:04 UTC
MarCom Collective Appoints Board of Directors and Advisory Council
Colombo, May 11th 2021: The MarCom Collective announced the appointment of its Board of Directors and the establishment of the Advisory Council at its inaugural meeting held recently. The role of the MarCom Collective Board will be to assist in formulating policy matters related to the marketing communications industry in Sri Lanka with the objective of developing the industry. Further, to engage with the government on policy related matters and to coordinate with industry associations to ensure that the respective industries abide by mutually acceptable norms and with a framework for accountability. To assist the Board, which primarily is constituted by the Heads of respective professional associations, a Special Committee was also formed to enhance the working of the Board of Directors. The Advisory Council consists of Hemaka Amarasuriya, Thirukumar Nadarasa, Deepal Sooriyarachchi, Arjuna Herath, Imal Fonseka, Nilushi Jayatilleke, Kasturi Chellaraja, Shamindra Kulamanage, and Makshoodh Meerasaibu.
Source:The Nation
May 11, 2021 15:04 UTC
Ban on online junk food ads WILL go ahead
The proposed ban on junk food adverts online will target food and drink products are high in fat, sugar and salt. The Health and Care Bill will also 'include measures to ban junk food adverts pre-9pm watershed on TV and for a total ban online'. Last summer the PM unveiled a wide-ranging drive to improve public health, including a ban on buy-one-get-one-free deals for junk food, as well as the ban on online junk food adverts. The Food and Drink Federation, which represents manufacturers, slammed the plans to ban online junk food ads. He added the plan to ban junk food adverts before the watershed and scrap 'BOGOF' deals on junk food was not meant to be 'excessively bossy' but a gentle nudge.
Source:The Nation
May 11, 2021 15:04 UTC
Switzerland called upon to conduct impartial investigation into illegal adoptions from Sri Lanka
The UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) has called on Switzerland to conduct an impartial investigation into past illegal adoptions from Sri Lanka and pay reparations to victims. CED raised the issue of illegal adoptions of Sri Lankan children that happened a few decades ago. While acknowledging that the Alpine nation had accepted its failure to prevent the illegal adoptions, the committee said that a rich country like Switzerland “should do more” for these children who are now adults. The committee also recommended that Switzerland should “guarantee the right to reparation to any person who has suffered from such acts”. Last December, the government finally admitted to oversights in adoption regulations that led to some 900 Sri Lankan children being illegally sold to Swiss parents from the 1970s to the 1990s.
Source:The Nation
May 11, 2021 14:02 UTC
Labour Dept s EPF claim section temporarily closed
The Department of Labour announced that the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) claim section of the Head Office and the Divisional Offices of the Labour Department will be closed on May 12 and 13 with the objective of containing the spread of Covid–19. The Commissioner General of Labour further informed that only the Employee’s Provident Fund sections for general claims of the Head Office and Divisional Offices will be open from May 17 and that only the customers who visit the offices after obtaining a date and time, as per the press release issued by the Department of Labour on 03.05.2021, will be accommodated. Furthermore, the general public is also informed that the services rendered by the Employees’ Provident Fund Prior Benefit Claim (30%) sections of the Head Office and the Divisional Offices will be temporary suspended until further notice.
Source:The Nation
May 11, 2021 14:02 UTC
The Big Bad Wolf Book Announces Extension of Online Book Sale!
The World’s Biggest Book Sale is set to captivate Sri Lankas for an additional four days with the extension of the Book Sale till May 16th 2021! Book fans can continue to hunt and shop for affordable books from the comfort of their own homes – or wherever they are – with discounts of up to 90% off recommended retail price at the Big Bad Wolf Online Book Sale. The Online Sale’s digital shelves will also delight younger readers with its spectrum of children’s books, featuring storybooks, activity books, board books, coloring books, picture books and featured interactive books. 10,000.00 during the Online Sale can now convert their payment transactions into a 3, 6 or 12-month instalment plan [contact the bank to activate the scheme]. For more information about the Big Bad Wolf Online Book Sale, kindly follow:Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/bbwbookssrilanka/ Instagram page at https://instagram.com/bigbadwolfbooks_lkPost Views: 3
Source:The Nation
May 11, 2021 13:06 UTC
South Africa’s Largest Fund Administrator Goes Live with Temenos
Temenos (SIX: TEMN), the banking software company, today announced that Curo Fund Services www.CuroFund.com , South Africa’s largest third-party administrator, has gone live with Temenos Multifonds Global Accounting platform, completing the first phase migration of funds from its five legacy systems to a single instance of Temenos’ award-winning funds administration platform. With Temenos’ platform, Curo is able to deliver a seamless back office service with a higher degree of automation and straight through processing. Having successfully completed a first phase migration of funds, Curo expects to transition all 3,000 funds to the Temenos platform during 2021. Temenos’ platform has proved it can easily scale to meet the needs of Curo’s large multi-client fund base. Barri Maggott, Chief Executive Officer, Curo Fund Services, commented: “We are delighted to complete the first migration of funds to the Temenos platform.
Source:The Nation
May 11, 2021 13:03 UTC