State Vesak festival cancelled
May 8, 2021 by Aazam Ameen No CommentsThe Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs has decided to cancel the state Vesak festival which was scheduled to be held at Nagadeepa, Jaffna. According to the ministry, this decision was made in light of the prevailing health situation.
Source:The Nation
May 08, 2021 05:48 UTC
SL begins administering Sinopharm vaccine from today
May 8, 2021 by Aazam Ameen No CommentsFollowing the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) announcement last night (7) stating that it has approved China’s Sinopharm vaccine for emergency use, Sri Lanka will begin administering the vaccine from today (8). According to Prof. Channa Jayasumana, State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals, the inoculation process will begin at 2.30 pm today at the Panadura MOH office. Previously, the Sinopharm vaccine was only administered to Chinese nationals living in Sri Lanka.
Source:The Nation
May 08, 2021 04:41 UTC
Heavy rains of about 100 mm possible in four provinces
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times over Eastern and Uva provinces and in Hambantota and Mullaitivu districts, says the Department of Meteorology. Heavy rains of about 100 mm can be expected at some places in Sabaragamuwa, Central, Western and Uva provinces and in Galle and Matara districts. The general public is urged to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers. Sea areas:Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the sea areas around the island. Heavy rainfall can be expected at some places in the Eastern, South-eastern and Southern sea areas of the island.
Source:The Nation
May 08, 2021 03:45 UTC
Expedite COVID vaccine import inoculation drive, President directs officials
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed the relevant officials to expedite the COVID-19 vaccine import procedure and the inoculation drive, says the President’s Media Division (PMD). In the meantime, the country’s health sector has 600,000 Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines received from China. Sinopharm vaccines have been successfully administered to more than 55 million people in 51 countries, the PMD added. Accordingly, the President has further directed the officials to hold discussions with the health authorities of those countries to explore the possibility of administering the vaccine expeditiously. Negotiations are already underway to obtain vaccines from countries where there is an excess of AstraZeneca vaccine, the PMD continued.
Source:The Nation
May 08, 2021 02:48 UTC
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Russia Prof. M.D. Lamawansa meets Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Russia Prof. M.D. Lamawansa met Foreign Minister Hon. Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Russia Prof. M.D. Lamawansa pointed out that many countries, including Russia, are interested in cooperating with Sri Lanka, due to Sri Lanka's non-aligned foreign policy. The Ambassador further stated that agreements have been reached with Russia and related countries to assist in many development and service activities in Sri Lanka in the future.
Source:The Nation
May 08, 2021 02:03 UTC
Ministers say Boris could rule longer than Thatcher
Ministers have predicted that Boris Johnson could rule longer than Margaret Thatcher as results showed the Tories could take 36 more Westminster seats from Labour at the next General Election. Cabinet ministers believe there has been a permanent shift in the nation's political identity and claimed Mr Johnson could outlast Margaret Thatcher's 11 years in Downing Street, The Times reports. In a sign of the town's remarkable political transformation, well-wishers erected a 30ft inflatable of Mr Johnson outside the counting centre. Mr Johnson sought to dampen expectations ahead of polling day as he said the contest looked like it would be a 'very tough fight'. 'I take full responsibility for everything the Labour Party does, including the elections whatever they are tomorrow,' he said.
Source:The Nation
May 08, 2021 01:03 UTC
Britons should work from home indefinitely, say Government officials
They say there is no need to rush back to offices because that drastically increases their contact with others. Figures from the Office for National Statistics showed a further fall week on week in the level of infections. This is the lowest rate since the week to September 5, when it was one in 1,400. Britons should continue to work from home indefinitely even though the infection rate is at its lowest since early September, government officials believe. However, officials say workers should not return to the office 'in full' until the pandemic is brought under tighter control – not just in the UK but around the world.
Source:The Nation
May 07, 2021 22:52 UTC
MARTIN SAMUEL: See sense and move the Champions League final!
By Martin Samuel - Sport for the Daily MailPublished: 16:14 EDT, 7 May 2021 | Updated: 16:39 EDT, 7 May 2021We keep hearing these are extraordinary, exceptional times. Move the Champions League final to a country where the greatest number of fans can be admitted. Manchester City and Chelsea have both made the Champions League final later this monthNo, this is not about convenience. Istanbul had the final and there was no serious pushback against that — until Friday afternoon when Turkey was placed on the Government’s red list. And if not here, what of Gdansk, which will host the Europa League final three days earlier?
Source:The Nation
May 07, 2021 21:00 UTC
Why You Shouldn't Use PayPal to Send Twitter 'Tips'
G/O Media may get a commissionAs more people started to dig into PayPal-based tips, a few more privacy peculiarities emerged. For example, if you set up a tip jar and link it to PayPal, but don’t have a PayPal nickname, everyone initiating a tip will be able to see the email address you’ve linked to PayPal. If you take a closer look at Rachel’s tweet from above, you’ll notice that PayPal is taking a fee as part of the tip transaction:That shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who has used PayPal to send money, well, ever. Don’t use PayPal for these transactions at all. Don’t give random Twitter users access to that information, not at any cost.
Source:The Nation
May 07, 2021 20:01 UTC
Tharanga to join Dilshan in Australia
May 8, 2021 by Revatha No CommentsMulgrave CC in Victoria, Australia has announced the signing of TharangaFormer Sri Lanka cricketer Upul Tharanga has joined Tillakaratne Dilshan in Australia to play domestic cricket there. The Mulgrave Cricket Club in Victoria, Australia announced the signing of Tharanga. The club plays in Division 3 of Victoria’s Eastern Cricket Association. Tharanga played 31 Tests, 235 ODIs, and 125 T20s and may play under Dilshan who is reportedly leading the Mulgrave CC this season after helping them to reach the final in last season’s T20 league.
Source:The Nation
May 07, 2021 19:52 UTC
Sri Lanka “support member” in Japan Olympics tests positive
By Chathura RanasingheWorld Rowing confirmed yesterday (6) that a Sri Lankan team “support member” tested positive for Covid-19 at the Sea Forest Waterway venueWorld Rowing confirmed yesterday (6) a Sri Lankan team “support member” tested positive for Covid-19 at the Sea Forest Waterway venue. World Rowing said a member of the Sri Lankan contingent has tested positive for coronavirus at the Asia and Oceania Olympic and Paralympic qualifier in Japanese capital Tokyo. Geoff Berkeley in the famed the Inside the Games reported on Wednesday (5) that a Sri Lanka team “support member” was found to have contracted Covid-19 after producing positive antigen and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. World Rowing also said the rest of the Sri Lankan team returned negative results after follow-up antigen and PCR tests. World Rowing insisted they had all tested negative prior to Wednesday’s positive case.
Source:The Nation
May 07, 2021 19:30 UTC
Pakistan eye series clean sweep
Pakistan won the first Test comprehensively beating Zimbabwe by an innings and 116 runs. Hasan Ali’s nine wickets coupled with Fawad Alam’s knock of 140 helped Pakistan cruise to a comfortable victory. Babar is yet to face defeat as Test Captain of Pakistan. In the first Test, Zimbabwe won the toss and opted to bat. The visitors wrapped the Zimbabwe second innings for 134 with a sensational bowling display led by Hasan Ali who took a five-for in the second innings.
Source:The Nation
May 07, 2021 19:07 UTC
NZ reveal plans for IPL Test quartet’s passage to England
However, fast bowler Trent Boult and Black Caps trainer Chris Donaldson will return home briefly to see their families before reconnecting with the Test squad in early June. Boult will consequentially miss the first Test against England but will possibly be available for the second Test, and certainly the ICC WTC final. Along with the remainder of New Zealand’s IPL players, support staff and commentators, Boult is scheduled to depart New Delhi on Friday on one of two charter flights, arriving in Auckland on Saturday before undergoing managed isolation. Boult will miss the first Test against England but will possibly be available for the second Test, and the WTC final.Boult will miss the first Test against England but will possibly be available for the second Test, and the WTC final. The New Zealand-based Test squad members will depart for England on 16 and 17 May.
Source:The Nation
May 07, 2021 19:07 UTC
Parks, campsites bungalows under Wildlife Dept. closed until further notice
May 7, 2021 11:58 pmTourist attractions including parks, campsites and tourist bungalows operated by the Department of Wildlife Conservation have been closed off for the general public until further notice. The decision was reached taking into account the risks of COVID-19 infection, the Department said in a statement issued today (May 07). On May 04, the Wildlife Conservation Department announced that all wildlife circuit bungalows, guest houses and camping sites under its purview will be temporarily closed to the public.
Source:The Nation
May 07, 2021 18:45 UTC
Sri Lanka records 19 new COVID deaths in highest single-day toll
May 7, 2021 11:37 pmSri Lanka on Friday (May 07) registered 19 more victims of COVID-19, marking the highest number of deaths recorded in a single day. The latest victims have moved the country’s death toll to 764, the, the Department of Government Information stated. According to official data, 06 of the victims were in their sixties while another 06 were in seventies. Meanwhile, the remaining four had been in their forties and fifties, reports revealed. Further, COVID pneumonia has been identified as one of the causes of death of 16 victims.
Source:The Nation
May 07, 2021 18:45 UTC