News

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.

Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has arrived at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to lodge a complaint, says Ada Derana correspondent.

The complaint is filed over an accusation leveled by MP Patali Champika Ranawaka with regard to the Nano Nitrogen fertilizer shipment imported from India.

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.

Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa has agreed to settle one-third of the salary anomalies of teachers and principals in one full payment, instead of in three instalments as proposed previously.

This agreement was reached at a discussion attended by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Minister Basil Rajapaksa and representatives of teacher trade unions today (10).

It came several months after teacher and principal TUs launched a struggle to win their demands.

Responding, General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers’ Union, Joseph Stalin said they expect to issue a joint statement on the said decision.

He said that their trade union action will not end until the full implementation of the Subodhini Committee recommendations.

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 Director-General of Health Services has confirmed 17 more coronavirus-related deaths for November 08, pushing the death toll in the country due to the virus to 13,892.

This includes 10 males and 07 female patients, according to the Department of Government Information.

Two of the victims are aged between 30-59 years, and 14 others are aged 60 years and above. The remaining victim is a male aged below 30 years.

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

Sri Lanka’s Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamamge told exclusively to News 1st that the Sri Lankan Government’s position on the Chinese Organic Fertilizer consignment was conveyed to the Chinese Ambassador.

A delegation from Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd, led by the Chinese Embassy personnel visited the Agriculture Ministry on Monday (8) to discuss the matter, he told News 1st.

However, the Minister declined to comment further citing that legal case is pending with courts over the matter.

The meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture took place with relevant stakeholders as per a request made by the Chinese Ambassador.

The General Manager of Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd and its Chief Technical Officer Anna Song was present at the meeting.

It was reported that though she attempted to make comments to the media, Chinese Embassy personnel prevented her from doing so.

The delegation was taken away when News 1st questioned on what grounds the Chinese Company will file an action against local institutions.

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.

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) today informed the Supreme Court that Rev. Father Cyril Gamini Fernando will not be arrested at this moment.

The CID informed the court of this through the Attorney General’s Department, when the fundamental rights (FR) petition filed by Fr. Cyril Gamini seeking an injunction order preventing him from being arrested, was taken up today (08).

Appearing on behalf of the CID’s Director, Additional Solicitor General Rohantha Abeysuriya pledged before the court that there were no plans to arrest Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini at this moment.

He stated that following the conclusion of investigations, a decision on this is expected to be taken based on the advice of the Attorney General.

President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsakularatne, who was appearing on behalf of Fr. Cyril Gamini, informed the court that his client is ready to appear before the CID and make a statement at the appropriate time of notification.

Justice Vijith Malalgoda, chair of the three-member judge bench, notified the Additional Solicitor General to give sufficient time and summon the petitioner to the CID to record a statement.

On October 25, the Director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), Major General Suresh Sallay had filed a complaint with the CID pertaining to the allegations made by Fr. Gamini and several other individuals during an online forum held on October 23 to brief Sri Lankan community living overseas on the Easter Sunday attacks.

The complaint referred to comments made by Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini, who is a member of the National Catholic Committee for Justice to Easter Sunday Attack Victims, during the online forum alleging that the country’s intelligence units had provided financial and other assistance to Zahran Hashim, the leader of the National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ) who was behind the suicide bombings.

The complaint states that it was also alleged, during the webinar, that the then-Brigadier Suresh Sallay had played an active role in nurturing Zahran Hashim and his followers.

Major General Sallay had strongly denied the allegations leveled by Father Cyril Gamini and others during the webinar while also charging that the allegations were “made with the intention of discrediting him” and are completely false.

Fr. Cyril Gamini, who was summoned by the CID the following day to record a statement in connection with the complaint filed by the SIS chief, had requested for one week’s time to provide the statement.

The Director-General of Health Services has confirmed 16 more coronavirus-related deaths for November 09, pushing the death toll in the country due to the virus to 13,908.

This includes 08 males and 08 female patients, according to the Department of Government Information.

Two of the victims are aged between 30-59 years, and 14 others are aged 60 years and above.

The Director General of Health Services has confirmed another 15 coronavirus related deaths for November 06, increasing the death toll in the country due to virus to 13,856.

According to the figures released today, the deaths include 08 males and 07 females.

Three of the patients are between the ages of 30-59 years while the rest are aged 60 years and above.

Daily count on new coronavirus cases climbs to 626

The Health Ministry says that 168 more persons have tested positive for Covid-19, increasing the daily count of new cases to 626.

This is the third consecutive day that the daily count of new cases has exceeded 600.

The total number of coronavirus cases reported in the country thus far has risen to 545,256 with this.