Few train services stopped due to bad weather
Train services between several stations have been suspended until further notice.
These measures have been taken due to the prevailing inclement weather.
Accordingly,
🚆 – Between Bangadeniya and Puttalam railway stations,
🚆 – Between Polgahawela and Badulla railway stations,
🚆 – Between Peradeniya and Matale railway stations,
Thus, the train service has been suspended.
Enjoining order on payments for Chinese Fertilizer Company further extended
The controversial enjoining order on the People’s Bank preventing the payment to Chinese Fertilizer Company and its local agent has been extended until the 19th of this month.
The Colombo Commercial High Court issued the order after reconsidering a petition filed by the Colombo Commercial Fertilizer Company today (09).
When the case was taken up, the lawyers representing the respondent Chinese Fertilizer Company stated that they had opened the letters of credit of the People’s Bank by submitting legal standards reports.
However, the lawyers pointed out that in such a background, suspension of payment was an illegal act and asked for a date to file objections to the case.
Additional Solicitor General Susantha Balapatabendi, appearing for the Fertilizer Company, earlier presented to the court that the respondent, a Chinese company called ‘Quindao Seawin Biotech Group of Companies’ who won the tender for import of sterilized organic fertilizer worth over Rs. 1 billion to Sri Lanka, took steps to send a consignment of fertilizer to Sri Lanka by activating the tender.
Accordingly, the Additional Solicitor General stated in court that although the company needed to ship the sterilized organic fertilizer to Sri Lanka, the relevant company had accepted in the ship’s instruction leaflet that there were microorganisms in the organic fertilizer.
The Additional Solicitor General further stated that the fertilizer sample sent by the respondent Chinese company to the National Plant Quarantine Service confirmed the presence of harmful bacteria and other organisms in some of its fertilizers.
In this situation, the petitioning party alleged that the respondent, the Chinese company had not fulfilled the conditions accepted in the tender.
Therefore, according to the letter of credit issued to the relevant Chinese company, the Additional Solicitor General requested the court to issue an injunction restraining from making or receiving payments to the company, its local agency or People’s Bank.
Rainfall exceeding 300 mm was recorded within the last 24H
Nochiyagama received the heaviest rainfall of 300.4 mm in the last 24 hours, the Meteorological Department said.
The highest temperature recorded during that period was in Vavuniya. It was 31.8 degrees Celsius. The lowest temperature was recorded in Nuwara Eliya. It is 13.5 degrees Celsius.
President convenes a special cabinet meeting on Friday
A special Cabinet meeting chaired by President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is scheduled to be held on Friday (12) from 10.00 am to 12 noon at the Presidential Secretariat.
It is reported that the Ministers will be briefed on the budget to be presented to Parliament on that day.
Due to this special cabinet meeting, the cabinet meeting scheduled to be held yesterday was also not held.
All Cabinet Ministers have been informed in this regard.
Another flood warning – Many rivers are overflowing
The Irrigation Department states that there is a risk of rivers and streams of Kelani, Nilwala and Kalu overflowing due to heavy rains.
The Department of Irrigation states that there is a risk of minor floods in the low lying areas of Dehiowita, Ruwanwella, Seethawaka, Dompe, Kaduwela, Biyagama, Kolonnawa, Colombo and Wattala Divisional Secretariats as the water level in the upper reaches of the Kelani River Basin has increased significantly.
The Nilwala and Kalu rivers are also rising and there is a risk of flooding in some low lying areas, the Irrigation Department said in a statement today.
Due to the rising water level of the Maha Oya, there is a risk of flooding in the Grama Niladhari areas of Waradagolla, Naula, Divuldeniya and Welihi as well as the low lying areas of Alawwa, Mirigama, Wennappuwa, Negombo and Katana Divisional Secretariats.
The Irrigation Department states that the Seethawaka river is also overflowing.
Delay in coastal railway trains
It has been informed that all trains scheduled to run on the coastal railway line may run with delays.
This is due to a road block between Wellawatte and Bambalapitiya railway stations.
Four people gone missing due to a landslide
Four persons have gone missing due to a landslide in the Rabukkana Divisional Secretariat Division in the Dambulla Grama Niladhari Division in the Kegalle District.
The house was reportedly completely damaged.
Get Vaccinated from one of the 111 Vaccination Centers open today (09) in 15 Districts
The list of Vaccination Centers open/operating today is attached herewith.
Please recheck with PHI in the area before going to the centers as there could be slight changes (additions / Reductions).
Mawanella teachers go on strike demanding the arrest of Deputy chairman of Mawanella Pradeshiya Sabha
Teachers of the Mawanella Education Zonal Office will go on a token strike tomorrow demanding the arrest of the Deputy Chairman of the Mawanella Pradeshiya Sabha.
Accordingly, teachers and principals of 137 schools in the Mawanella Education Zone will not report for duty tomorrow, say the teachers’ union leaders of the Teachers’ Principals’ Trade Union Alliance.
Meanwhile, a group of teachers staged a protest in Mawanella yesterday demanding the arrest of the Deputy Chairman of the Mawanella Pradeshiya Sabha.
The teachers’ union leaders said that several senior police officers who had arrived at the scene during the protest had promised the teachers that they would enforce the law against the vice president.
They also said that tomorrow’s strike is being carried out due to the non-fulfillment of promises made by the police.
The vaccination card is now mandatory – Attorney General approved
The Attorney General’s approval has been obtained to make the Covid vaccination card compulsory when entering public places.
Accordingly, individuals who have not taken both doses of the covid vaccine will be stopped from entering public places.
The Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella stated this in Parliament today.
Ministry of Health is also hoping to build a mobile app for this in the future.
Maldivian President arrives SL
Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih arrived with the first lady on Monday Nov,8 to attend the opening ceremony of the “Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa Trophy 2021” or the Four Nations International Tournament.
President Solih who was invited by Lankan President Gotabaya Rajpaksa, was received by Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa.
Spokesperson of the Maldives President’s Office, Mohamed Mabrook Azeez, said President Solih would be traveling to Sri Lanka and is scheduled to hold official talks with the Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa during his visit.
Flood threat looms
It is observed that considerable rainfall has occurred at Kuda Ganga Sub Basin in Kalu Ganga Basin during the last 24 hours.
In addition, the water level of the river at upstream has risen to a considerable level. The water level at Millakanda River Gauging Station situated closed to Kalawellawa has risen up to 7.25 m at 2:00 PM today.
Owing to this situation, there is a possibility of occurring a minor flood situation in low-lying areas of Kalu River Basin in Bulathsinhala, Baduraliya, Parinda Nuwara, Millaniya, Horana, Dodangoda and Kaluthara DS division areas within the next few hours.
Therefore, public living in those areas and drivers running through roads in those low-lying areas are requested to be highly vigilant in this regard. Disaster Management Authorities are requested to take suitable actions in this regard.
68,000 roads identified for development
As many as 68,000 roads have been identified for development on instructions by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and works on 14,000 of them are already in progress in various stages, Chief Government Whip Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said.
Delivering his remarks to the press, the Minister said 1500 of them had already been repaired and vested with people. He said another 2500 would be developed completely within the next three months.
“These roads were selected under the program for the development of 100,000 kilometers of the road network of the country. In this instance, our ministry developed 329 roads in the western province, 150 in the central province, 271 in the southern province, 120 in the Uva province, 145 in the Sabaragamuwa province, 53 in the north-central province 156 in the north-western province, 240 in the eastern province and 36 in the northern province,” he said.
The Minister said the government proceeded with the road development projects in accordance with health guidelines despite the quarantine curfew imposed intermittently.
“Therefore, we were able to achieve this task,” he said.
Newly appointed Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram receives the Commission of Appointment
Newly appointed Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram in the State of Kerala Bijumon Karnan received his Commission of Appointment from High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India Milinda Moragoda on 03 November 2021 in New Delhi. The Commission of Appointment, signed by the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, was handed over to newly appointed Honorary Consul Karnan by the High Commissioner at a simple ceremony held at the High Commission of Sri Lanka this morning.
Eminent author and Member of Lok Sabha for Thiruvananthapuram Dr. Shashi Tharoor and the senior diplomatic staff of the Sri Lanka High Commission were also present on this occasion.
The Government of India had issued the Gazette notification confirming the appointment of the Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram on 13 October 2021. The post of Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram has been vacant since October 2018 with the demise of the former Honorary Consul.
A leading businessman in Kerala, Honorary Consul Bijumon Karnan is a post-graduate in Business Management from ENPC Paris University and holds a law degree from the State University of Karnataka.
High Commissioner of Sri Lanka India Moragoda seeks enhanced economic cooperation with India
High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India Milinda Moragoda sought ways and means of further enhancing economic cooperation with India, when he met the Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister of India Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on 02 November, 2021.
Minister Sitharaman, recalling her visits to Sri Lanka, extended a warm welcome to High Commissioner Moragoda. The Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister of India and the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka discussed a range of issues pertaining to bilateral economic cooperation.
High Commissioner Moragoda thanked the Finance Minister for the support that India has provided to Sri Lanka in many different spheres through her economic cooperation programmes. They discussed ways and means by which the existing bilateral economic cooperation programmes between the two countries could be further developed and enhanced.
High Commissioner Moragoda also presented a copy of his policy road map “Integrated Country Strategy for Sri Lanka Diplomatic Missions in India 2021/2023” to the Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister.
An economist by profession, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman has been the Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister of India since May 2019. Prior to that she was the Minister of Defence from 2017 to 2019. Smt. Sitharaman has also served as the State Minister of Finance and the State Minister (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Gampaha police’s attempt to deceive IGP has failed
There have been many job losses so far in the face of the Covid epidemic. The impact of losing a job is not limited to a family. Even the country’s economy will be severely affected.
For a country like ours that is not economically strong, it feels overwhelming.
This post is not about job losses due to industry and institutional collapse in the face of the Covid epidemic. It is about losing the job they get due to the evil nature of the police, in such a difficult time.
Many workplaces in our country today require police certification when recruiting new employees. Police certification is mandatory especially for jobs in telecom, ports, hotels etc.
A resident of Gampaha is requesting a police certificate for a job he got at the Bandaranaike International Airport from the Gampaha Police Station along with a letter issued by the relevant company and a Grama Seva certificate. The man even provided the way to his house to the officers at the police certificate issuance counter.
The applicant usually receives the police certificate from the police headquarters for employment abroad within two weeks. Issuing those certificates is a complex task. However, the Police Headquarters has informed that no more than two or three days should be allowed to issue a police certificate from the village police station for local employments.
However, a week passed and the police officers did not come to the house or the area where he was staying, looking for him. Now he was in danger of losing his job. Because he did not have a police certificate.
Because of this, he went to the police station last Saturday morning. He met the officers at the Police Reporting Counter and expressed his interest and requested that the police report be released as soon as possible. The answer he gets there is to come the next day. During the few minutes he was there, many people came to ask for police reports. Among them were those who had been waiting for police reports for more than a week or two. Most are young people. Some were shouting at the police, others were whispering to themselves, blaming police officers’ parents, while two others were left empty-handed with tears streaming down their faces.
This person comes to the police station the next day ready to take the police report. The officers who were there the day before were not there the next day. There was a new officer. After presenting the application number, he turned over a book and said in a loud voice, “The record has not been made yet.”
“Sir, if I don’t take the police report on Monday, I won’t get the job,” he humbly told the police officer.
“We can’t say a date. We have to come to the houses and check them.” The police officer said a little harshly as if he was talking about the power of the police.
All this happened when a relative of this person had a very close relationship with the police. He hoped that the relative would inform a senior police officer about the situation and get the police report soon. He told the relative everything about the people who came to the police reporting unit and left empty-handed.
The relative of this person is thinking of informing the IGP, the highest ranking police officer, about this. It is to create an environment not only in Gampaha but in the whole country to stop this ugly act of the police when people are losing their jobs at a time where they do not even get a job.
That’s when the situation ignites. There was a great deal of interest in police reporting. One by one the officers began to run here and there as if a whip had been blown. “Sir, wait two minutes. I will give your report now,” said the police officers.
The story is not that. The Gampaha Police had tried to deceive the IGP at that time. “Sir, we release every report within two or three days. In fact, only the mentioned report and two others are left.” This is how they were going to trick IGP even though there are three large piles of documents in the police station that have not been handed over at that time.
The Gampaha police may not have known that C. D. Wickramaratne was not an easy person to trick as other IGPs in the Sri Lanka Police. SSP Indika de Silva in charge of the Gampaha Division immediately sent by the IGP to the Gampaha Police Station and instructed to inspect files relating to police records. By then, more than a week had passed since the end of October, but only about 10 percent of the police reports submitted in October revealed that they had been released. This is how the Gampaha Police went to deceive the IGP and dragged themselves away.
Rains will continue until tomorrow (09) – Met Department
Showers will continue in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, North Western, Northern Provinces and in the Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Galle and Matara districts today (08) and tomorrow (09), the Met Department said.
In the Western and Sabaragamuwa Provinces and in some places in the Kandy and Nuwara Eliya Districts, extreme levels of rainfall over 150mm are expected.
Also in the North Western and Northern Provinces and in some places in the Matale, Galle and Matara Districts there may be showers over 100mm.
Meteorologists are urging people to take necessary measures to reduce the risk of temporary strong winds and thunderstorms.
They say that the increase in rainfall is due to the influence of the wind converging zone which is currently near the island.
Risk of spreading a dengue epidemic
The National Dengue Control Unit states that there is a high risk of spreading a dengue epidemic throughout the country.
Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, Director of the National Dengue Control Unit said that 2021 dengue patients were seen in October and more than 500 patients were recorded in the first four days of November.
Therefore, a six day dengue eradication program will be implemented in the Western and Eastern Provinces from today (08) to Saturday (13), said Mr. Samaraweera.
He said that the special dengue control program will be implemented in 59 selected high risk medical officer divisions in the Western and Eastern Provinces.
Mr. Samaraweera further said that the dengue eradication program is being implemented with the participation of health workers, the Armed Forces, the police and volunteers.
Get Vaccinated from one of the 128 Vaccination Centers open today (08) in 16 Districts
The list of Vaccination Centers open/operating today is attached herewith.
Please recheck with PHI in the area before going to the centers as there could be slight changes (additions / Reductions).
Supplementary Medicine and Paramedical Services unions launch a one day Strike
Members of 15 health unions affiliated to Supplementary Medicine and Paramedical Services will go on a one-day strike on Tuesday (09).
The token strike will be carried out by 15 health professionals, including doctors, laboratory scientists, nurses, pharmacists, ophthalmologists, family health workers and public health inspectors, said Ravi Kumudesh, chairman of the Joint Federation of Supplementary Medicine and Paramedical services.
The strike will begin at 8 am on Tuesday and end at 8 am the next day, Ravi Kumudesh said.
He said that the token strike will be implemented based on a number of demands including non-elimination of salary anomalies, non-establishment of professional degree posts and non-establishment of a health administration service.
Mr. Kumudesh said that health professionals who have obtained a four-year Bachelor of Arts degree have been limited to a salary of diploma holders.
Unveiling ceremony of the new stupa held under the patronage of the Prime Minister
The unveiling ceremony of the new stupa of the Kadurupokuna Jayasundara Purana Viharaya – Tangalle was held with the participation of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday afternoon (06th November).
The tower of the new stupa was unveiled by the Most Ven. Vitharandeniye Gnanaratana Thero- Chief Incumbent of the Jayasundara Purana Viharaya and first offering of flowers were offered by the Hon. Prime Minister.
Most Ven. Omare Kassapa Thero- Anunayake of the Rohana Chapter of the Syamapali Maha Nikaya, Mr. Somawansa Kodagoda- Chairman of the Southern Provincial Council and a large number of devotees were present at the occasion.
54th D. A. Rajapaksa Commemoration was held under the patronage of President and Prime Minister
The 54th Commemoration Ceremony of the late D. A. Rajapaksa was held under the patronage of President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Mahawela Road, Tangalle this morning (07).
Students of Puwakdandawa Girls’ College sang the D. A. Rajapaksa Commemoration Song followed by President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, First Lady Shiranthi Wickramasinghe Rajapaksa, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Ministers Namal Rajapaksa, SM Chandrasena and Ministers of State. Chanaka, Janaka Wakkumbura, Thenuka Vidanagamage, Governor of the Southern Province Willie Gamage and others first paid floral tributes to the statue of D. A. Rajapaksa.
Former Member of the Southern Provincial Council Kapila Dissanayake, Chief Deputy Secretary Upul Dissanayake and Chairman of the Southern Provincial Council Somawansa Kodagoda laid wreaths at the statue of D. A. Rajapaksa on behalf of the D. A. Rajapaksa Memorial Committee.
Many theros were also present and engaged in religious activities.
Meanwhile, the President, the Prime Minister, Minister Basil Rajapaksa and their wives lit lamps yesterday (06) to pay their respects to the memorial of Mr. D. A. Rajapaksa and his wife Dona Dandina Samarasinghe Dissanayake at Weeraketiya Medamulana.
President and Prime Minister pay last respects to Ven. Murungasyaye Gnanissara Nayaka Thero
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa paid their last respects to late Chief Incumbent of Jethawanarama in France, Chief Judicial Prelate in France and Malwathu Chapter of the Shyamopali Maha Nikaya, former Senior lecturer at Vidyodaya Pirivena, Maligakanda, Rajakeeya Panditha, Shashrapathi, Venerable Dr. Murungasyaye Gnanissara Nayaka Thero.
The President and the Prime Minister paid their last respects to the remains of the Venerable Thera at the Sri Sudassanananda Vihara at Kuda Bedigama, Vitharandeniya in Weeraketiya this afternoon (07) and expressed their deepest condolences to the resident monks, members of the Dhayaka Sabha and the residents of the area.
Minister S.M. Chandrasena was also present.
Landslide warnings for 8 districts
Landslide warning has been issued for several parts of the island due to heavy rains.
Accordingly, landslide warnings have been issued for Kegalle, Kurunegala, Ratnapura, Matale, Badulla, Galle, Kalutara and Kandy districts.
Landslide warnings have been issued for Ella, Passara Areas in Badulla District, Nagoda, Baddegama, Elpitiya, Neluwa in Galle District, Agalawatta, Bulathsinhala in Kalutara District and Ganga Ihala Korale, Yatinuwara, Pasbage Korale, Gangawata Korale, Udunuwara, Doluwa, Harispathuwa, Pathahewaheta, Udapalatha in the Kandy District.
Meanwhile, Yatiyantota, Aranayake, Bulathkohupitiya, Kegalle, Ruwanwella, Rambukkana and Mawanella in the Kegalle District, Mallawapitiya Mawathagama in the Kurunegala District, Kalawana in the Ratnapura District, Kuruwita in the Ratnapura District and the Rattota in the Matale District are also at risk and warnings have been issued.
President has ordered all ministers and state ministers to stay in SL till Dec 10
The President has ordered all ministers and state ministers to refrain from official or private foreign visits from November 12 to December 10.
According to Circular No. PS/CSA/Circular/9/2021, secretary to the President Mr. P. B. Jayasundera has ordered all Ministries and Secretaries of State Ministries to refrain from traveling abroad and all government officials to contribute directly to the preparation of the budget during this period.
The President has pointed out that the direct contribution of all Ministers, Ministers of State, Secretaries to Ministries, Heads of Departments and relevant officials should be given to the Ministry of Finance for the budget.
As the work related to the 2022 Budget is being carried out, the Ministry of Finance is conducting technical evaluations with the relevant Ministries, Public Ministries, Government Institutions, Private Sector, Diplomatic Services and International Development Fund Institutions.
According to the budget schedule approved by the Cabinet, the Minister of Finance is scheduled to present the Budget Speech to Parliament on 12 November 2021, followed by the Second Reading Debate as well as to the Committee Debate on 10 December.
The Secretary to the President also informed that the Ministry of External Affairs can provide relevant representation to embassies for special occasions if necessary.
SriLankan Airlines brings the excitement of Raid Amazones 2022 adventure trail to Sri Lanka
SriLankan Airlines, the National Carrier of Sri Lanka and a member of the Oneworld alliance, in the wake of its relaunch of operations between Paris and Colombo, became the official airline partner of the renowned adventure trail, Raid Amazones 2022, an annual sporting event that features a large number of French female athletes competing for their way to victory through multiple sports events/activities in the backdrop of an iconic tourist destination.
The upcoming edition will feature a range of Sri Lanka’s iconic venues-Sigiriya, Habarana, Kaudulla and Moragahakanda, rich in ecological beauty, cultural heritage and attributes of authentic village life which will provide uniquely vibrant backdrops to the event. The first leg will take place from March 13-23, 2022 and the second leg, from March 27- April 6, 2022 respectively, with an overall estimated participation of over 550, including athletes and officials.
One of the most sought-after sporting events among the French, the format of the event is that a large number of teams in smaller groups take part in a range of adventure challenges, such as orienteering, canoeing, riding, running, archery etc., which test their endurance, team spirit, and resilience.
Every year, the event features an attractive tourist destination whereby its inherent features, such as citizen’s way of life, ecological beauty and culture are prominently showcased to the world through global media that follow the athletes in their trail. Connaissance de Ceylan will be the official ground handling partner of the 2022 edition.
SriLankan Airlines, having been a forerunner in the country’s tourism promotion endeavors expects this to inspire many discerning travelers from France to explore Sri Lanka in the future.
Raid Amazones Film Sri Lanka 2018/2019 from Raid Amazones on Vimeo.
If people are not careful restrictions have to be imposed again
Dr. Asela Gunawardena, Director General of Health Services, reported on the number of festivals, parties and weddings held during the Covid epidemic without proper health guidelines.
He said that if the number of infected people increased, restrictions would have to be imposed again.
The Director General said that if people behave irresponsibly, they will have to re-impose restrictions, albeit reluctantly.
Get Vaccinated from one of the 91 Vaccination Centers open today (07) in 13 Districts
The list of Vaccination Centers open/operating today is attached herewith.
Please recheck with PHI in the area before going to the centers as there could be slight changes (additions / Reductions).
