Ex-BBC boss Lord Hall QUITS as chair of the National Gallery amid Martin Bashir scandal
In his report, Lord Dyson rebuked both Lord Hall and Mr Suter for concluding that Martin Bashir's dealings with Princess Diana were 'straight and fair'. On Thursday, Lord Dyson said in his report that the probe carried out by Lord Hall and other senior executives had been 'woefully ineffective'. I am speaking of Tony Hall — Lord Hall — who was Managing Director of BBC News at the time of the interview. In particular, Lord Hall did not interview Lord Spencer, which Lord Dyson calls 'a big mistake'. Whatever his motivations for safeguarding Bashir, Lord Hall threw a cloak over a scandal that has lasted 25 years.
Source:The Nation
May 22, 2021 13:07 UTC
Coronavirus- 1,635 more patients discharged upon recovery
The Ministry of Health reported that 1,635 more patients who were being treated for COVID-19 have recovered and were discharged from medical care within the last 24 hours. This brings the total number of coronavirus recoveries in the country to 126,995. Majority of the latest recoveries were reported from Bingiriya Treatment Centre (95), Punanai Treatment Centre (94), Dambadeniya Treatment Centre (73) and Kopay Treatment Centre (72). Sri Lanka has so far reported 158,333 positive cases of COVID-19 and a total of 30,206 infected patients are still being treated at designated hospitals and treatment centres.
Source:The Nation
May 22, 2021 12:00 UTC
Social media users reveal the weirdest items they've seen for sale online
Diply has rounded up a selection of the weirdest items from around the world that have been advertised for sale online - including damaged furniture, homemade artwork and even used coffins. Among the images is a man from Idaho who took to Twitter with a snap of a sofa covered in snow that was advertised on Facebook Marketplace. Elsewhere, is another man from the U.S, who went viral after he offered to sell eggs topped with peanut butter and jam for $20. Diply has rounded up a selection of the weirdest items from around the world that have been advertised for sale online - including a Facebook Marketplace user from the U.S, offering a leather sofa covered in snowEgg-cellent! A seller in the U.S left shoppers speechless after asking for $6,500 for a crushed carA seller who lives in Florida, shared a snap of a baby high chair covered in dirt and mould with an asking price of $50
Source:The Nation
May 22, 2021 12:00 UTC
Fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continues into second day
A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants held in the Gaza Strip today following a devastating 11-day conflict which claimed the lives of 270 people. Meanwhile, celebrations in the West Bank also turned into violent protests with Israeli security forces firing teargas at Palestinians near Bethlehem. He added that Israeli forces had caused 'maximum damage to Hamas with a minimum of casualties in Israel.' Earlier, Israel had unleashed a new wave of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip as Hamas fired more rockets into Israel. Osama Hamdan, a top Hamas official based in Lebanon, also said he expected a cease-fire within the coming day.
Source:The Nation
May 22, 2021 12:00 UTC
Grace period to pay traffic fines due to COVID situation
May 22, 2021 05:19 pmThe Finance Ministry has approved a concessionary period for those who could not pay off traffic fines due to the recent outbreak of Covid-19 in the country, Sri Lanka Post announced. Postmaster General Ranjith Ariyaratne said traffic fines issued from April 05 will be given a grace period until further notice. Thereby, overdue charges will not be levies for payments of fines that have exceeded 14 days, the postmaster general added.
Source:The Nation
May 22, 2021 11:48 UTC
Multi-talented Chenuli
Chenuli, tell us about yourself. I am Chenuli Shenaya Fernando, living in Moratuwa. I went to Little Oaks British Nursery, UAE and Gems Winchester School, UAE, before coming to Sri Lanka. My favourite TV show is Nickelodeon’s Spongebob Square Pants, and my favourite movie is Dr. Dolittle. Dr. Dolittle is your favourite movie.
Source:The Nation
May 22, 2021 11:03 UTC
What a Carrie on!
However, it has been claimed the proposed revamp was abandoned in April after a furious row emerged over the makeover of Boris Johnson's Downing Street flat. The lavish refurbishment of 11 Downing Street, which featured gold wallpaper by interior designer Lytle, reportedly cost a six-figure sum. It comes as it was claimed parts of the 'hand-crafted' wallpaper installed in Mr Johnson's 11 Downing Street flat have repeatedly fallen down. Meanwhile, some of the fabrics Lytle's Soane Britain company used in the refit of Mr Johnson and fiancee Carrie Symonds's 11 Downing Street apartment were revealed. Miss Lytle says it is 'based on a 19th century Syrian original pattern woven from cotton and silk'.
Source:The Nation
May 22, 2021 11:02 UTC
Suwa Seriya driver and nurse assaulted in Hatton
A driver and nurse working for 1990 Suwa Seriya ambulance service have been assaulted in the area of Hatton. At around 2.00 am this morning (May 22), the Suwa Seriya ambulance service had received a report claiming that a worker of a resort under construction in Kudagama area had fallen off a balcony. The relevant driver and the nurse, who arrived at the scene responding to the emergency call, have learned that the worker who allegedly fell down has not sustained any injuries. Further, they have found no evidence pointing to such incident taking place at the construction site. After it was determined that the worker in question does not require hospitalization, a group of drunk individuals at the scene had then started to assault the Suwa Seriya driver and the nurse.
Source:The Nation
May 22, 2021 10:00 UTC
Woman who married herself insists it has benefited her relationships
'I’m a big advocate of self love but that doesn’t mean I’m against romantic love. Sophie, who doesn't wear a wedding ring, said she wore a costume ring for her wedding ceremony as a symbolic gesture. Pictured: Sophie at her vow renewalShe said: 'It’s actually impacted my relationships in a really positive way. Pictured: Sophie nowSophie said she hasn't received the criticism and challenges from loved ones that are explored in her fictional book about self marriage. Pictured: Sophie nowThe self-declared 'sologamist' said self-love has never been more important than in the last year.
Source:The Nation
May 22, 2021 09:56 UTC
Controversial plaque at AG’s Department removed
In response to the uproar caused after the unveiling of a plaque to declare open the Smart Library of the Attorney General’s Department which did not display the Tamil language, the AG’s co-ordinating Officer Nishara Jayaratne stated today (22) that it has been removed. Jayaratne stated that the plaque “inadvertently” did not contain the script in Tamil and therefore, it is being replaced with one that does. The plaque which was used to commemorate the opening of the AG’s Department Smart Library contained scripts in Sinhala, English and Mandarin. Tamil, one of the two official languages of Sri Lanka, was ignored.
Source:The Nation
May 22, 2021 09:22 UTC
One arrested for spreading fake news on deforestation
COLOMBO (News 1st): The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Friday (May 21) arrested a 42-year-old individual in Geli-Oya, for an offence related to fake news, Sri Lanka Police said. “The person was arrested in connection with an offence related to section 120 of the Penal Code. Accordingly, if a person is publishing fake news that creates disharmony or annoyance among the general public, it is an offence,” Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana told News 1st on Saturday (May 22). The Computer Unit at the Criminal Investigation Department had analysed the Facebook page maintained by the individual and accordingly, it was revealed that he had posted fake news in respect of deforestation, DIG Ajith Rohana noted. The person has been brought to Colombo by the CID and he will be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today (May 22).
Source:The Nation
May 22, 2021 06:56 UTC
Travel restrictions may be extended: Army Commander
Discussions will take place with President Gotabaya Rajapkasa on May 25, 26 or 27 to decide on extending travel restrictions, Army Commander General Shavendra Silva stated. He made these statements during the Derana Aruna programme this morning (22). Accordingly, discussions are expected to be held with the President to decide on enforcing travel restrictions next weekend. The Army Chief said certain issues raised by the health sector will be taken into account when the COVID-19 Task Force convenes. This comes after four medical associations including Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) and Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA), called a media briefing on Friday (21), urging the government to enforce stringent travel restrictions for 14 consecutive days.
Source:The Nation
May 22, 2021 06:09 UTC
Port City Bill: Two inquiries into voting process
COLOMBO (News 1st): A decision has been reached to conduct two special inquiries into the allegations that votes were not counted properly during the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill report on the instructions of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena. Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) requested that an inquiry be conducted with regard to the Port City Bill vote in Parliament, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena told News 1st on Saturday (May 22). Instructions have been issued to submit the inquiry reports expeditiously, the Speaker added. *Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna in an announcement issued on Friday (May 21) noted that during the second reading of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill, the special majority vote in favour was mentioned incorrectly. *Thereby, the Speaker was requested to conduct a full inquiry into the matter.
Source:The Nation
May 22, 2021 06:00 UTC
100mm of rainfall today: Meteorology Dept.
Heavy rainfall of about 100 mm can be expected at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts, the Department of Meteorology said today (22). Accordingly, showers or thunderstorms will ensue at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western and Southern provinces. Several spells of showers will occur in Northern and North-central provinces. Showers or thunderstorms can be expected in Eastern and Uva provinces during the evening or night. The Western slope of the Central hills, Northern, North-central, North-western and Uva provinces and the Hambantota district can expect wind speeds of 50-55 kmph at times.
Source:The Nation
May 22, 2021 05:05 UTC
Navy launches apiculture project in Trincomalee
Sri Lanka Navy introduced the 50th bee colony to the ‘Project Navy Bees’ run by Naval Dockyard Trincomalee on 20 May, with the objective of popularizing beekeeping. Accordingly, the 50th brood box was mounted in Chapel Hill, as an extension of the “Project Navy Bees” launched in January 2021 at the Trincomalee Naval Dockyard, in parallel with the World Bee Day. As part of this project, brood boxes have been established at various locations in the Naval Dockyard and Sober Island, Trincomalee. In addition, an awareness programme on beekeeping was also held in Chapel Hill on 20th May. By the end of 2021, the project is expected to expand in a bid to establish 100 brood boxes within the Naval Dockyard in Trincomalee.
Source:The Nation
May 22, 2021 05:03 UTC