News

The retirement age extension of private sector employees to 60 years is now effective.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena today (17) endorsed two bills relating to this extension.

The Minimum Retirement Age of Workers Bill and the Termination of Employment of Workmen (Special Provisions)(Amendment) Bill were debated and passed in parliament.

Army Troops were successful in rescuing a man who was stuck in the currents of the Kotmale Oya, Sri Lanka Army Spokesperson Brigadier Nilantha Premaratne said.

Accordingly, troops of the 5th Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment of the 581 Brigade rescued a man who was fishing in the Kotmale Oya around 12 noon today (14), and who had been stuck in the currents of the Oya.

On the instructions of the Commanding Officer, 5 VIR, troops jumped into the waters using nylon ropes and rescued the sinking fisherman who had got stuck in swirling water currents before he was brought to the bank.

The Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry says that another 528 persons have tested positive for the novel coronavirus today (November 16).

Meanwhile, the Director-General of Health Services has confirmed 18 new coronavirus-related deaths for November 15, pushing the death toll in the country due to the virus infection to 14,034.

The deaths confirmed today include 09 males and 09 females, according to the Department of Government Information.

Two of the victims are between the ages 30-59 years and the remaining 16 are in the age group of 60 years and above.

The Director General of Health Services has confirmed another 23 coronavirus related deaths for November 13, increasing the death toll in the country due to the virus to 13,995.

According to the figures released by the Govt. Information Department, the deaths reported today includes 10 males and 13 female patients.

Six of the victims are between the ages of 30-59 years while the remaining 17 are in the age group of 60 years and above.

Health authorities have issued revised health guidelines to be followed by the public from 16 to 30 November.

The guidelines further prohibit public gatherings, meetings and events.

Certain other restrictions have been eased, according to the guidelines issued by Director General of Health Services, Dr. Asela Gunawardena.

Accordingly, gyms can function at 50 percent capacity, while tuition classes are allowed with 50 percent of capacity only for GCE O/L and A/L classes.

The capacity at cinemas and theatres has been increased from 25 to 50 percent at a given time.

Also, preschools can function with full capacity.

Only individual worshiping is permitted at places of worship.

The revised guidelines are given below:

A total of 22 more COVID-19 related deaths that occurred yesterday (12) were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today pushing the death toll to 13,972.

According to the Government Information Department, 04 females and 18 males are among the deceased.

A total of 17 people who are above 60 years of age are among the deceased while 05 of them are between 30 and 59 years of age.

Rev. Father Cyril Gamini Fernando left the Criminal Investigation Department this afternoon (15) after giving a statement for seven hours.

He is due to be present at the CID tomorrow to continue with the questioning by the police.

An investigation is under way into a complaint against Fr. Fernando lodged by director of the State Intelligence Major General Suresh Salley.

In his complaint, Sally has accused the priest of having leveled false accusations against him in connection with the Easter Sunday terror attacks in April 2019.

The Director-General of Health Services has confirmed 23 new coronavirus-related deaths for November 11, pushing the death toll in the country due to the virus to 13,950.

The deaths confirmed today include 11 males and 12 females. One of the victims is between the ages 30-59 years while another is aged below 30 years. The remaining 21 are in the age group of 60 years and above.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry reported that another 532 persons have tested positive for the novel coronavirus so far today (November 12).

The death toll from the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka has surpassed the 14,000 mark on Monday.

The official death toll reached 14,016, after 21 more coronavirus related deaths for November 14 were confirmed by the Director General of Health Services.

The deaths confirmed today include 15 males and 06 females while four of the victims are between 30-59 years of age. The other are aged 60 and above.

Meanwhile the Health Ministry has reported another 512 persons have tested positive for the novel coronavirus so far today.

Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero, who is due to be appointed as the Chancellor of the University of Colombo, speaking to ITN said he will not be quitting from the trade union leadership despite being appointed in any post.

Pointing out that the role of a Chancellor has nothing to do but attend the graduation ceremony, the Thera noted that he is not ready to compromise his independence due to the post of Chancellor. The role as the President of the Public Service United Nurses Association will not be an obstacle to the post of Chancellor either, he added.

Responding to a query whether it would not be a matter of morality had a Chancellor been to a strike action, the Thera emphasised that the Public Service United Nurses Association is not a trade union that launches strike actions. He added that it is his trade union’s role to minimise strike actions as much as possible and therefore there is no problem in accepting the post of Chancellor as the Chief of the Public Service United Nurses Association. In any event was a strike action conducted, nurses are the ones to attend it and not him as the Chairman, the Thero pointed out.

Ananda Thera also revealed that he has been trying to retire from his post as this Union President given the period of time he served in the post, but the members do not allow him to do so.

The Thera also suggested that he has no qualification to accept a post such as the post of Chancellor and therefore the matter of qualification should be inquired from the President, who recommended him for the post in the first place.

LNW

The Chinese Embassy says that Sri Lanka agreed to retest the rejected Chinese organic fertilizer via a third party, the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka says.

The Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong made these remarks after a meeting with Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanaratana Thera, Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter today (14).

Speaking further, the Ambassador stated that the issue is merely a commercial dispute, however some parties are attempting to politicize it.

News 1st

Sri Lanka’s Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena on Thursday (11) said the Health Ministry has decided to make it compulsory to obtain prior approval from relevant authorities for gatherings, activities, and events.

“The objective by new regulation is to prevent an event of super-spreading of COVID-19 in the country,” said the Director General of Health Services on the Extraordinary Gazette issued by the Health Minister on Thursday (11), adding serious concern should be given to rising COVID-19 number as it could lead to another wave.

Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella issued a new gazette on COVID-19 amending the Quarantine Ordinance making it compulsory to obtain prior approval from relevant authorities for gatherings, activities, and events.

The amendments relate to a gathering, activity, or event held within or outside a Covid infected locality.