Programme to bring in food for prisoners through relatives
Prisons Spokesman Chandana Ekanayake said that steps have been taken to temporarily suspend visitors to prisons due to the Covid 19 pandemic in the country. Due to this, a system is being implemented in the Prisons Department to enable inmates to obtain the required food and hygiene items subject to a limit of Rs. 2,000 per week through relatives. On the occasion of the Vesak festival, inmates on the 26th and 27th will be given the opportunity to obtain a parcel of cooked rice and snacks and hygiene items in accordance with proper hygiene procedures from the prisons. Relatives of inmates have been given the opportunity to pay money to the restaurant from the 19th to the 25th of this month.
Source:The Nation
May 21, 2021 06:00 UTC
No passenger trains operated from tomorrow to 28th May
May 21, 2021 by Mihi Perera No CommentsThe Railway Department states that no passenger trains will be operated from tomorrow (22) until midnight on May 27. The decision was taken in view of the prevailing Covid-19 epidemic in the country. Travel restrictions will be imposed on the entire island from 11.00 pm today (21) until 4.00 am on Tuesday the 25th. They will also be imposed on Tuesday, May 25 from 11.00 pm to 4.00 am on the 28th.
Source:The Nation
May 21, 2021 04:52 UTC
Passenger train operations halted temporarily
May 21, 2021 10:07 amPassenger trains will not be operated from Saturday (May 22) until midnight on May 27, Sri Lanka Railways announced. The decision was taken due to the travel restrictions to be imposed across the country from 11.00 pm today in a bid to arrest the spread of COVID-19. Travel restrictions will be lifted at 4.00 a.m. on Tuesday (May 25). However, the orders will come into effect once again from 11.00 p.m. on May 25 until 4.00 a.m. on May 28 (Friday).
Source:The Nation
May 21, 2021 04:41 UTC
25 Freight containers of imported rice unsuitable for consumption
COLOMBO (News1st): The Food Control Unit of the Ministry of Health has recommended that 25 freight containers of rice imported from a foreign country are unsuitable for human consumption. The specific containers of rice were deemed unsuitable for human consumptions based on recommendations of an analyst report, the Health Ministry said on Friday (May 21). According to the authorities, the said stock of rice was imported to the country two years ago. The Food Control Unit of the Ministry of Health had inspected the rice following a request made to permit the sale of the rice stocks through Sathosa outlets, a senior spokesperson at the Health Ministry said.
Source:The Nation
May 21, 2021 04:18 UTC
Countrywide travel restrictions imposed from tonight
Travel restrictions are expected to come into effect across Sri Lanka from 11.00 p.m. today (May 21). These orders will be in effect until 4.00 a.m. on Tuesday (May 25), Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana stated. Countrywide travel restrictions will be imposed once again from 11.00 p.m. on Tuesday (May 25) to 4.00 a.m. on May 28 (Friday). When travel restrictions are not in force, people will be allowed to move out for daily activities, based on the last digit of their National Identity Card (NIC) number. However, the essential services will not be affected by the upcoming island-wide travel restrictions, Police Spokesperson noted.
Source:The Nation
May 21, 2021 04:06 UTC
Showers expected in Western Province today
May 21, 2021 by Mihi Perera No CommentsShowers or thundershowers at times in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in some places in the Galle, Matara and Puttalam districts. The Meteorological Department stated that showers and strong winds are expected in the Southwestern part of the country in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Southern Provinces in the next few days. Thundershowers at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Northwestern provinces and in the Galle and Matara districts. Showers or thundershowers during the evening or night in a few places in the Eastern and Uva provinces.
Source:The Nation
May 21, 2021 04:06 UTC
One more arrested for conducting classes promoting extremism
Another person has been arrested by the Terrorism Investigation Division for conducting classes promoting extremism in Murtur and Oluvil areas. Police Media Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana stated that the suspect had conducted extremist classes in those areas in 2018 under the direction of Zaharan Hashim, who is believed to be the mastermind of the Easter attack. The suspect is identified as 29 year old Mohamed Sahim, a resident of Hemmatagama, Mawanella. The arrested suspect has been taken to the Terrorism Investigation Division and a detention order will be obtained after he is produced in court today (21), the media spokesman said. The Terrorism Investigations Division (TID), which is investigating the Easter attack, has arrested seven persons who had organized extremist classes, DIG Ajith Rohana said.
Source:The Nation
May 21, 2021 03:56 UTC
Sri Lanka records 38 new COVID deaths
Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 death toll went up again as 38 more victims were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services on Thursday (May 20). The deaths were reported from udukinda, Lunugala, Balangoda, Katunayake, Bandurugoda, Kochchikade, Negombo, Thalathuoya, Bandarakoswatta, Borella, Padeniya, Thorayaya, Polgahawela, Galgamuwa, Siyambalape, Mathugama. Ethenawatta, Nawalapitiya, Kurunegala, Yatiyanthota, Polgahawela, Belihuloya, Nebada, Kekunugolla, Nikaweratiya, Warakapola, Ampitiya, Marassana, Rajawella, Udispattuwa and Habaraduwa areas. Ten of them were aged between 61-70 years, while the remaining victims were aged 31-60. COVID pneumonia, diabetes, heart diseases and other chronic diseases have been identified as causes of death, the Government Information Department stated.
Source:The Nation
May 21, 2021 03:56 UTC
Updated announcement on isolation orders
Nine Grama Niladhari Divisions in three districts have been isolated with immediate effect, says the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO). Newly-isolated Grama Niladhari Divisions are as follows:Jaffna DistrictPalaly police area• Palaly North GN DivisionBatticaloa DistrictKalkudah police area• Kalmadu GN Division• Kiriwewa GN Division• Sevanagala GN Division• Bahirawa GN DivisionMonaragala DistrictSevanagala police area• Habaraththawela GN Division• Habarugala GN Division• Mahagama GN Division• Indikolapelessa GN DivisionMeanwhile, the isolation orders imposed on all Grama Niladhari Divisions in Puthukkudiyiruppu, Mulliyavalai and Mullaitivu police areas – except the following – have been lifted from 6.30 am this morning. Mullaitivu DistrictPuthukkudiyiruppu police area• Thevipuram GN Division• Puthukkudiyiruppu West GN Division• Puthukkudiyiruppu East GN Division• Manthuvil GN Division• Maliyathivu GN Division• Kombavil GN Division• Udayyakattu North GN Division• Udayyakattu South GN Division• Vallipuram GN DivisionMulliyavalai police area• Mulliyavalai West GN Division• Mulliyavalai North GN DivisionThe NOCPCO further announced that the following areas have been released from isolation effective from this morning. Gampaha DistrictMahabage police area• Magul Pokuna VillageWattala police area• Palliyawatta South GN DivisionKalutara DistrictMeegahathenna police area• Walallawita South GN Division• Makalandawa GN DivisionKegalle DistrictBulathkohupitiya police area• Udapotha GN Division• Kendawa GN DivisionPuttalam DistrictKoswatta police area• Medakirimetiyana GN DivisionAmpara DistrictDehiattakandiya police area• Nawamedagama area in Nawamedagama GN DivisionGalle DistrictElpitiya police area• Batuwanhena GN DivisionJaffna DistrictKodikamam police area• Kodikamama NorthColombo DistrictPiliyandala police area• Kesbewa South GN Division• Makandana East GN Division• Dampe Batakeththara North GN Division• Madapatha GN Division• Halpita GN Division• Kesbewa East GN Division• Makandana West GN Division• Nivungama GN Division• Polhena GN Division• Honnaththara North GN Division• Dalthara East GN Division• Nivanthidiya GN Division• Mampe East GN DivisionMaharagama police area• Arawwala West GN Division
Source:The Nation
May 21, 2021 03:06 UTC
Chaos in Sydney's CBD as students stage climate change protest
By Brett Lackey For Daily Mail AustraliaPublished: 22:44 EDT, 20 May 2021 | Updated: 22:56 EDT, 20 May 2021Motorists and commuters are being warned about possible delays after thousands of people have swarmed the Sydney CBD protesting for action on climate change. The School Strike for Climate protests are being held across the country on Friday and are expected to attract crowds flooding roads and causing congestion well into the afternoon. The crowd gathered out the front of Sydney's Town Hall about midday were holding signs reading: 'Scomo is a climate criminal' and chanting: 'We shouldn't be here, we should be in school'. More to follow. Protesters demanding action on climate change have flooded the Sydney CBD (pictured is Pitt Street) on FridayThe School Strike for Climate protests are being held on Friday across the country (pictured is the protest in Sydney)
Source:The Nation
May 21, 2021 03:04 UTC
BAZ BAMIGBOYE: Rafe casts a magic Spall on screen
There's a mirrored cocktail cabinet on the wall behind Rafe Spall as he chats to me from his home in the Cotswolds. 'I make jokes; and I try to find comedy in every difficult situation I'm in,' he says. Spall told me he went to London recently, and happened across a band playing live. But Pride And Prejudice* (*Sort Of) was still gamely carrying on at the Oxford Playhouse, just before it had to halt its tour. But I'm pleased to say that the producer, David Pugh, is bringing Pride And Prejudice* (*Sort Of) to the Criterion Theatre for an open-ended run from October 1.
Source:The Nation
May 21, 2021 02:03 UTC
BAZ BAMIGBOYE: New Bowles please - Cabaret gets a revamp!
The doors are set to open on a show that will be dusted off, shaken vigorously, and explored anew. The Oscar-winning star has wanted to return to the decadent dive ever since he played the master of ceremonies in Cabaret at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2001. Speers, Bartlam, Wood — and Redmayne — resolved to explore ways to present Cabaret to contemporary audiences. Their efforts have been rewarded with a West End run of the show — with performances from early November, this column can reveal. It's all to celebrate the show's 1,000th performance 'a year late', producer Nica Burns told me, laughing down the phone.
Source:The Nation
May 21, 2021 02:03 UTC
I fight for my Mexican blood brothers! Jose Ramirez
He makes that pledge not just for himself but to the thousands of Mexican immigrants toiling in the heat and fields of America’s agricultural heartland. Jose Ramirez is vowing ‘to fight not only my heart out but beyond human limits’‘This is for them,’ says the California-born son of Mexican parents who worked as an American picker himself. ‘There is virtually no investment from government in the infrastructure needed to store water,’ says Ramirez. But it is still the fight for farmers rights which comes first in the Ramirez priorities. As he says: ‘No water, no life.’TV: streaming on FITE TV for £9.99, fight approx 4am (Sunday)
Source:The Nation
May 20, 2021 21:56 UTC
A digital service to obtain and certify the Covid-19 vaccine
This service is expected to be made available to the public in near future. The nearest place and time to get the vaccine will be automatically available with the registration deadline. The Ministry of Health issues an immunization certificate with a QR code certifying the details of the person who received both vaccines. It contains essential information, includingthe type of vaccine received. According to the Information and Communication Agency, this digitalprogram will reduce congestion at vaccination centers.
Source:The Nation
May 20, 2021 21:45 UTC
Covid-19 at the National Eye Hospital Controlling the spread of the virus
The National Eye Hospital of Sri Lanka is located in a high risk area for the spread of the COVID-19 virus. People coming to the National Eye Hospital from all districts of Sri Lanka for eye treatment are at high risk in the face of the spread of Covid 19 new virus. However, asgovernment eye clinics are run in all districts of Sri Lanka, it is not necessary to visit the National Eye Hospital for eye treatment. Therefore, it isadvisable to go to the nearest government hospital eye clinic for treatment of your eye disease. The National Eye Hospital has introduced a number of specialized telephone numbers to provide treatment, services and advice to clinical patients.
Source:The Nation
May 20, 2021 21:45 UTC