The World Health Organization (WHO) has requested to extend the ban on booster shots until the end of 2021.
Its head, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, says that while rich countries are passing their vaccination targets, some poor countries are not even close to achieving those goals.
Therefore, in order to prevent a shortage of vaccines and to reduce the vaccine imbalance, the third dose should be postponed, he said.
90% of high-income countries have exceeded the 10% target for Covid-19 vaccination.
And more than 70% of countries have reached the 40% target.
He says not a single low-income country has achieved that goal.
It is reported that the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Prof. W. D. Mr. Lakshman is due to resign from the post in the near future.
A spokesman for the Central Bank of Sri Lanka said that all arrangements had been made to send the resignation letter of Prof. Lakshman to the President.
Following the resignation of Prof. Lakshman as the Governor of the Central Bank, will be elevated to a higher post in the International Monetary Fund (IMF), according to Central Bank sources.
The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) says that the Ministry of Health has agreed to provide Pfizer vaccine to children between the ages of 12 and 18.
The Secretary to the Government Medical Officers’ Association, Chenal Fernando, said that the Minister of Health had agreed to a proposal made by the Government Medical Officers’ Association during a meeting between representatives of the Government Medical Officers’ Association and the Minister of Health yesterday.
Dr. Chenal said that the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) had proposed to give the Pfizer vaccine to children between the ages of 12 and 18 and to provide readily available vaccines such as Sinopharm, to youth groups above 18 and under 30.
He also said that the (GMOA) had submitted to the Minister of Health an analytical report by WHO based on the recommendations of vaccine manufacturers and vaccines used in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom.
SriLankan Airlines, the National Carrier of Sri Lanka and a member of the Oneworld alliance, continuing to reaffirm the universal appeal of its marketing communication content, won a Gold award for its campaign ‘#SriLankanPromises’ in the category ‘Marketing-Carrier’ at the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Awards 2021, yesterday, a statement from it said.
This year’s virtual Award ceremony crowned 20 Gold Award winners and two Grand Title winners out of 113 entries submitted by travel and tourism organizations and individuals worldwide, adjudged by a panel of 18 industry experts. This is the third consecutive PATA Gold Award won by the Airline out of the overall count of four awards that it has managed to win so far.
SriLankan Promises is the brand retention campaign steered by the Airline during the first global wave of the COVID 19 pandemic where all activities across the world, including air travel, came to an indefinite standstill. Therefore, in the absence of an actual opportunity to serve its valued customers, and openings where the customers and supporters could actively engage with the Airline brand, the campaign was aimed at spreading positivity, advocating the importance of staying home and retaining the enthusiasm and anticipation for future travel, all the while emphasizing the underlying message of safety and wellbeing. The campaign was well-received by the social media community with over 2 million impressions.
SriLankan Airlines Chairman Mr. Ashok Pathirage
SriLankan Airlines Chairman Mr. Ashok Pathirage said, “We are honoured to receive this award, especially at a time that we are resuming our global connectivity and inviting the world to experience our warmth and hospitality once again. As we look ahead for better days, an award is a validation that we are on the right track, and an inspiration to undertake more of such rewarding projects. I take this opportunity to thank PATA for this recognition, our supporters, well-wishers, and our valued customers across the globe for their support, goodwill and loyalty over the years.
The Government of India offers scholarships for Postgraduate and Doctoral degrees in Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy, according to the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka.
The scholarships will be awarded for the academic year 2021-2022 and the Government of India will provide accommodation, medicine and food allowances to selected Sri Lankans during the study period.
Further information can be obtained from the Ministry of Education or the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka.
Police Narcotics Bureau officers have arrested a man named Bob Marley who was wanted in connection with a large scale drug smuggling operation in the South Seas.
He was arrested while hiding in a house in Elpitiya this morning.
Even then, he cut his long hair and changed his appearance. He has changed his appearance after the police headquarters released his photographs to the media yesterday seeking public support to arrest him in hiding.
Bob Marley has been identified as the head of Wanakosgoda Sujee’s drug network in Sri Lanka. According to information received by the State Intelligence Service on the 31st, the suspect Bob Marley had acted as the agent for Sri Lanka in the 288kg heroin deal seized by the Police Narcotics Bureau with the assistance of the Navy.
Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando says that a national programme was underway covering the entire country to develop its road network under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour.
Plans have been completed under that national project to solve the traffic congestion problem in the Gampaha city and its suburbs and 15 roads in the district have been earmarked for the development, the minister said speaking to the media after a progress review meeting held at his ministry yesterday.
Among the 15 roads that have been identified to be upgraded and developed immediately in order to address the traffic congestion in the Gampaha and its suburbs is Gampaha-Miriswatta Road which would be developed to a four lane road, the minister said. The Gampaha-Yakkala road and Veyangoda-Nittambuwa road would also be widened to have four lanes. Pasyala junction too would be widened under the same project. Other roads to be developed are as follows: Ekala –Koadeniyawa Road, Weyangoda-Kal Eliya road, Kalagedihena-Veyangoda road, Nittambuwa- Urapola road, Negombo- Aluthapola road, Pasyala to Giriulla via Meerigama, Minuwangoda-Divulapitiya Road in Ja-Ela, Negombo- Giriulla Road and Urapola-Hanwella road. In the Negombo-Giriulla road the stretch upto Y Junction would be widened to be a four-lane road. In addition alternative routes in and around Warakapola would be developed, the minister said.
A suspect has been arrested in Kotuwila, Matara for the murder of ‘Sunshine Sudda’, who is said to be a close associate of Makandure Madush, who was a godfather of the underworld.
This man has been identified as a follower of ‘Harak Kata’, a powerful drug dealer and underworld criminal currently based in Dubai.
Police have identified the suspect as Ganesh, who is working at the Matara Medawatta office of the Road Development Authority.
According to a senior police official, investigations have revealed that the suspect, Ganesh had masterminded the assassination plot of ‘Sunshine Sudda’ on instructions from Dubai.
The CID has revealed that the data of the National Drug Regulatory Authority has been deliberately deleted due to economic gains.
The CID has revealed that they have been involved in this activity continuously.
The company that runs the database owned by the National Drug Regulatory Authority, has committed the crime. Investigations have revealed that they even have changed the data from time to time of some of the registered pharmaceutical companies to show that the history of those companies is very good. The senior police officials said that the CEO of the company was arrested because it appeared that he had the knowledge to do so. According to the CID, several more members of the company are to be arrested for illegally changing the data and adding new data.
Shashindra Rajapaksa, Minister of State for Cereals, Crops, Organic Crops, Foods, Fruits and Cereals said that the Manning Market in Colombo will be open today (09) and tomorrow (10) at all economic centers islandwide.
The Minister of State also said that although the economic centers and the Manning Market throughout the island were kept open on those days, only wholesale trade would be allowed.
The Minister of State also said that retail activities in economic centers and Manning markets have been banned.
Today (08), the Government seized stocks of rice owned by the large-scale mill owners in the Polonnaruwa area.
Accordingly, the rice stocks owned by Nipuna, Lathpandura, Araliya, Hiru, New Rathna and Suriya were seized under the direct supervision of the Commissioner General of Essential Services Major General Senarath Niwunhella and the Chairman of the Consumer Affairs Authority.
The process of expeditiously transporting these rice stocks to Sathosa outlets commenced at the same time after the rice stocks which were not released to the market and possessed by all large-scale rice mills in the Polonnaruwa area were taken over under the Government’s controlled price. The Government’s aim is to speedily provide these rice stocks to the consumers.
When the relevant authorities took steps to seize the rice stocks owned by the New Rathna rice mill, the owners of the Mill took steps to raise objections and obstructed the duties of the officials.
A technical team at the University of Moratuwa is reportedly recovering deleted data on drugs from the National Drug Regulatory Authority.
Sources from the National Drug Regulatory Authority say that 5623 files belonging to the National Drug Regulatory Authority have been lost in the database.
However, a spokesman for the authority said that the files were not the main files.
The database of the National Drug Regulatory Authority was digitized in 2018 and it is suspected that the database may have been erased due to a technical error, the spokesman said.
The Pettah Wholesale Traders Association states that the importation of big onions has been temporarily suspended.
A spokesman for the Pettah Wholesale Traders Association said that the decision was taken due to the government imposing a tax of Rs. 40 on imported big onions.
He also said that the price of big onions will come down as they are expected to hit the local market by next week.
The spokesman said that due to the imposition of a tax of Rs. 40 on imported big onions, it was difficult to sell them at a higher price.
The wholesale price of a kilo of imported big onions today was between 140-160 rupees, the spokesman said.
The Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister will shortly make a visit to Bologna, Italy, to participate in an international event which is to be graced by the Prime Minister of Italy and other dignitaries from Italy and other European countries, a statement from the Foreign Ministry said.
The Foreign Minister, at his briefing conducted on Monday 6 September, clearly described the purpose of the scheduled visit. The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the opening session of the international symposium which will be held in one of Europe’s oldest seats of learning, the University of Bologna.
At no stage has the Prime Minister requested nor has he received an invitation to visit the Vatican for an audience with His Holiness, the Pope.
The Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister will be leaving Italy, at the conclusion of the events in Bologna.
The Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Vienna in collaboration with the Vienna Chamber of Commerce (WKO) organized a hybrid webinar to promote investment from Austria in Sri Lanka.
The hybrid webinar was attended by Regional Manager for Asia & Pacific Region Johannes Brunner, Commercial Attaché of the Austrian Embassy in India Bernd Andersson together with Austrian companies while Chairman of the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation of Sri Lanka Prasanna Gunasena, Executive Director of Investment Promotion Prasanjith Wijayatilake, Director of Investment Promotion Nilupul de Silva, Head of Ecosystem of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka Darshan Maralanda, Deputy Director of Export Development Board of Sri Lanka Udeni Wijekoon, and officials from the Foreign Ministry took part in the event virtually.
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Thailand and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) C.A. Chaminda I. Colonne paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the Kingdom Thailand General Prayut Chan-o-cha at the Government House in Bangkok on 06 September 2021.
Ambassador Colonne extended warm greetings to the Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha from the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka.
Both recalled longstanding excellent bonds of friendship and cooperation between two countries for many centuries and deeply rooted in the Theravada Buddhist traditions. Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha conveyed great affection towards the Government and People of Sri Lanka.
Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Minister of State for Finance and Capital Trade and Public Enterprise Reforms says that he has not taken advantage of a duty-free vehicle provided or a pension by the government.
He said this as a response to media reports on social media these days regarding the pensions of Central Bank governors.
“I have not received a single cent as a pension. Even after serving as the Governor of the Central Bank for nearly nine years, I have not taken advantage of the duty free vehicles provided by the government. Beware of false news.” He has stated.
Mr. Cabraal is responding to reports that he will resign as a Member of Parliament and a Minister of State and will be re-appointed as the Governor of the Central Bank.
Mr. Cabraal mentions this in a background where news is reported saying that he has resigned from the post of Member of Parliament and Minister of State and will be re-appointed as the Governor of the Central Bank.
Although three specialists and doctors have left the Covid Prevention Technical Committee, they will continue to contribute to the health sector, said Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle, Minister of State for Primary Health and Corona Suppression.
Prof. Neelika Malavige, Specialist Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama and Anesthesiologist of Colombo South General Hospital Dr. Ashoka Gunaratne are those 3 doctors.
Even if one variety is controlled by imposing travel restrictions in the country, new varieties may emerge from time to time.
Therefore, she says, it is important to understand the situation and get used to living with Covid.
Ms. Fernandopulle said that many countries in the world seem to be trying to carry out their daily activities without locking down the country.
Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila said the new bill on oil exploration, once enacted, would provide for the establishment of a new authority and empowerment of it to deal with oil and gas exploration, a power held by the subject minister.
He said the bill had been presented to Parliament for Second Reading. He said the bill would be taken up in the House as a priority business of the government. He said Sri Lanka had US $ 267 billion oil and gas deposits worth three times the country’s total debt.
Another member of the technical committee on Covid repression has resigned from duties.
The resignation has been made by the President of the Anesthesiologists Association, Dr. Ashoka Gunaratne of the Colombo South General Hospital.
Dr. Ashoka Gunaratne, who has been a member of this committee for about a year and a half, states that he resigned thinking that it would benefit the committee.
The Ministry of Health has not made any official statement in this regard. Specialist Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama, who was a member of this committee also resigned a few days ago.
The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned people not to travel to three countries, including Sri Lanka, due to the rising number of COVID-19 patients.
Other countries with such warnings are Jamaica and Brunei.
The CDC has extended its travel advice to these countries to ‘Level 4: Very High’, urging Americans to refrain from traveling there.
Also, the ratings for the Netherlands, Malta, Guinea-Bissau and the United Arab Emirates have been relaxed from ‘Level 4: Very High’ to ‘Level 3: Up’.
It also urges Americans who have not been vaccinated to avoid going to those destinations.
CDC raises Australia from ‘Level 1: Low’ to ‘Level 2: Moderate’.
The Department of Examinations of Sri Lanka says that the results of the GCE Advanced Level and GCE Ordinary Level examinations held after 2001 have been facilitated to be obtained online.
The Department of Examinations states that these results can be downloaded by visiting https://certificate.doenets.lk/ – a website of the Department of Examinations.
The Department of Examinations also states that the documents can be downloaded free of charge.
The Indian High Commission tweeted that High Commissioner Gopal Baglay received the delegation visiting Sri Lanka to discuss with their Sri Lankan counterparts the roadmap for bilateral defense cooperation, including Mitra Shakthi – the biggest bilateral military exercise in the region.
The National Education Broadcasting Center was opened yesterday (07) at the Isurupaya Education Ministry premises in Battaramulla with facilities to broadcast school education on television.
The Ministry of Education says that this will enable students to carry out their studies properly due to the prevailing Covid situation.
Equipped with state-of-the-art high-speed internet connectivity, the center will be able to broadcast all thematic programs and lessons prepared by the National Institute of Education on television and web channels in a timely manner.
The Ministry of Education states that children without facilities will be able to study at home through television and that these educational programs will be implemented in the future covering the entire island.
