Sri Lanka has vaccinated a total of 61,882 individuals with Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine on Friday (May 14), says State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa Jayasumana.
The first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine has been given to 276,762 people so far after it was rolled out among Sri Lankan nationals on May 08, according to the Epidemiology Unit’s progress report on COVID-19 immunization program.
The Sinopharm vaccine was first administered to Chinese nationals residing in Sri Lanka after a consignment of 600,000 doses arrived on the island on March 31.
As many as 2,865 Chinese nationals have been vaccinated with the Sinopharm vaccine’s first dose so far while a total of 2,435 among them received the second dose as well.
Meanwhile, a total of 14,673 individuals in the country have received the Russia-made coronavirus vaccine’s first dose so far.
Sri Lanka received the first batch of Sputnik V vaccine containing 15,000 doses on May 04.
Meanwhile, Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi said yesterday the vaccination program will be expanded to Kandy, Kurunegala and Ratnapura districts after the process is concluded in Western Province.
The Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry reports that another 585 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in Sri Lanka, moving the daily total of new cases to 2,371.
This brings the total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus reported in the country to 140,471.
As many as 117,220 recoveries and 921 deaths have been confirmed in Sri Lanka since the outbreak of the pandemic.
The Epidemiology Unit’s data showed that 22,330 active cases are currently under medical care.
China has successfully landed a spacecraft on Mars, state media announced early on Saturday.
The six-wheeled Zhurong robot was targeting Utopia Planitia, a vast terrain in the planet’s northern hemisphere.
The vehicle used a combination of a protective capsule, a parachute and a rocket platform to make the descent.
The successful touchdown is a remarkable achievement, given the difficult nature of the task.
Only the Americans have really mastered landing on Mars until now. All other countries that have tried have either crashed or lost contact soon after reaching the surface.
Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated the mission team on its “outstanding achievement” in a special message.
“You were brave enough for the challenge, pursued excellence and placed our country in the advanced ranks of planetary exploration,” he said.
Thomas Zurbuchen, the head of science at the US space agency (Nasa), was quick also to add his own congratulations.
“Together with the global science community, I look forward to the important contributions this mission will make to humanity’s understanding of the Red Planet,” he said.
image captionThe mission team received a congratulatory message from the president
The robot officially landed at 07:18 on Saturday, Beijing time (Friday 23:18 GMT), according to state media.
It took 17 minutes to unfold its solar panels and send a signal back to Earth.
Zhurong, which means God of Fire, was carried to Mars on the Tianwen-1 orbiter, which arrived above the planet in February.
The probe then spent time surveying Utopia, taking high-resolution images to pinpoint the safest place to put the rover down.
The aim with all such ventures is to pick a spot that is devoid of imposing craters and where the landscape isn’t covered in large boulders.
Chinese engineers would have had to follow the landing effort with a time lag.
The current distance to Mars is 320 million km, which means radio messages take almost 18 minutes to reach Earth.
Every stage of the Zhurong robot’s approach to the surface therefore would have been conducted autonomously.
image captionEngineers follow events at Mars with a time lag of many minutes
The landing architecture was a familiar one.
The rover was encased in an aeroshell for the initial phase of the nine-minute descent. This capsule’s dive to the surface was slowed by pushing up against the Martian air.
The heat this generated was managed by a forward-facing shield.
At a predetermined time, a parachute opened to reduce the velocity still further.
Finally, the Zhurong robot broke away on a rocket-powered bench for the manoeuvres that took it safely to the ground.
Landing on Mars is always a daunting challenge but China would have had confidence going into the procedure, given the great competence it has shown in its space endeavours of late.
This is a nation that has been putting rovers on the Moon, and bringing lunar samples back to Earth. This month it launched the first segment of a space station above our planet.
Now that Zhurong has got down successfully, scientists will try to get at least 90 Martian days of service out of it, studying the local geology. A day, or Sol, on Mars lasts 24 hours and 39 minutes.
The robot looks a lot like Nasa’s Spirit and Opportunity vehicles from the 2000s. It weighs some 240kg and is powered by fold-out solar panels.
A tall mast carries cameras to take pictures and aid navigation; five additional instruments will investigate the mineralogy of local rocks and the general nature of the environment, including the weather.
Like the American rovers, Zhurong has a laser tool to zap rocks to assess their chemistry and a radar to look for sub-surface water-ice.
Utopia Planitia is where Nasa landed its Viking-2 mission in 1976.
It’s a colossal basin – more than 3,000km across – that was formed by an impact early in Mars’ history.
There is some evidence pointing to it having held an ocean long ago.
Remote sensing by satellites indicates there are significant stores of ice at depth.
image captionA model shows Zhurong to have a similar look to Nasa’s Spirit and Opportunity vehicles
A National Physical Plan for 2011-2030, was
prepared under President Mahinda Rajapaksa
and gazetted in 2011. When the Yahapalana puppet government took over in
2015, this plan was discarded. Yahapalana said that the 2011 plan was now
outdated as several key national and international developments have taken
place since then. The Yahapalana government of 2015 produced an updated
National Physical Plan 2017-2050 in 2019.
Yahapalana was a puppet government installed
by the USA. USA was hoping to take
over the island using Yahapalana . USA used the National Physical Plan to prepare
a military plan for USA bases in Sri Lanka .This plan was tucked away at item
5.2.1. of the National Physical Plan (2019).
It has therefore escaped the attention of the public. The intelligentsia
and the public should take a good look at this plan, becausewhen Yahapalana
returns to power, this plan will become a reality. Here is the plan given in Maps no 1 and 2. There is no need for
explanation. The plan says it all.
MAP NO 1
Map no 1 is the original Yahapalana plan. This is shown in the National Physical Plan 2017-2050 as item 5.2.1 with the heading Proposed Spatial Structure”.
HERE
IS THE SAME MAP GIVING ONLY THE AIRPORTS
AND PORTS
MAP
NO 3
Map no 3 shows the position of Sri Lanka and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. Diego Garcia is part of the Chagos islands,. USA has a secretive, strategically vital US military base in Diego Garcia. The base has served as a launch pad for US military operations in the Middle East and as a refueling point for Air Force patrols headed to the South China Sea, and it was even designated an emergency landing spot for space missions by NASA.. USA’s position in Diego Garcia has now become shaky. It may have to leave Diego Garcia. Even if it stays, its autonomy is over. If USA has to leave Diego Garcia, the obvious next location is Sri Lanka .
MAP NO 4
Maps 4 and 5 show the plans of the earlier National Physical Plan (2011)
Sarath Wijeisnghe President’s Counsel, former Ambassador to UAE and Israel and President Ambassador’s Forum
Foreign Policy
(Henry Kissinger – America has no permanent friends or enemies- Only
interests)
Foreign policy is the set of rules or practices followed by a nation as
a member of the global forum linked by the UN today as guidelines to the
international organizations and the member states. This is the simplest
definition in addition to detailed academic definitions. Set of rules could be
written, direct, and indirect or in the form of speeches or declarations of the
head of the state generally the formulator of the policy implemented by the Foreign
Minister or the group of ministers. In any event any state enters into
agreements, conventions and treatises which are part and parcel of foreign
policy which is intact in the system on foreign policy. Some countries give
special attention and emphasises on foreign policy and some are not. USA, UK,
Russian Federation, China, are some giving priority to foreign policy and
sensitive to the foreign policies of other countries may be due to their
interests on other countries and their policies. One of the first duties of the
new USA President to perform was to revamp, reform and reactivate the foreign policy
of USA, in line with his policies of other countries, especially in dealing
with the rest of the world and other nations by taking a complete U-turn from
that of the policies of the predecessor on human rights and war. He put the
foreign policy in order as has been done by his predecessors which has a
bearing on Sri Lanka and the Geneva process. Member nations today are giving
top priority on economy connecting directly to the foreign policy giving full
power and responsibility to the network of Ambassadors who are guided and
trained on promoting economy and financial needs of respective countries,
giving targets and strict guidelines. Unfortunately this trend has no ripple
effect on our network of Ambassadors around the globe enjoying the perks at the
cost of the tax payer, and the cradle of the network of the representatives of
the country expected to showcase the country to the world which is so easy as
Sri Lanka is one of the most beautiful countries in the world with human
resources, water in abundance and excellent climatic conditions unappalled as
an ideal tourist destination. Foreign policy is the strategy and the future
line of action of a nation on other nations and the world at large is a broader
definition in terms of economic, defence, and all other areas which are so
important and sensitive to the world over. This brief explanation shows how
important it is for a country like Sri Lanka desperately in need of good
friends and backers considering the weak economic structure deteriorating
gradually in need of FDIs, and other economic backings including the goodwill
of friends in need when the economy is in bad shape, debt riddled and in need
of foreign reserves when acing the covid 19 crisis, just next to India one of
the most affected. No nation can live in isolation in the new world
interconnected digitally with physical barriers not taken serious when,
interrelations and interconnections are essential for all for existence showing
foreign policy is a necessity for a nation connected to each other through the
network of the United Nations. The
statement of Henry Kissinger above may apply to many countries as the interest
of any nation is their own country giving top priority is a reality all the
other states must remember. This is a classic example and a lesson for those
countries who are aligned to groups or clicks based on various considerations. There
are theories and pronouncements and suggestions on look Asia, India first, Asia
first, and Sri Lanka first etc. from various sources without the direct
attention of the head of the state the formulator and creator of the policy.
Leaders and governance of any country consist of human beings with human
weaknesses when the human qualities are supressed with power, due to greed and
pride. The above quotation indicates how selfish they are as any other human
being vested with power! It is the interests of the respective country is what
matters other than other considerations for a member of the nations in the
world family too.
Foreign Policy and Covid 19 Pandemic
Covid 19 has shown the world the need to be ‘’friendly with all and
angry with none’’ the main motto of Sri Lankan foreign policy. Indian foreign
policy is one of the most professional, advanced and sophisticated- yet has not
been able to attract friends and world in the need of desperate help from
friends. We watch India with utmost sadness helplessly watching the TV footages
which are worrying. We have now forgotten all previous issues and enmities
during pandemic when all are in danger (reminder of the Cobra and Mongoose- arch enemies-
clinging into the same wood during floods until it reaches a land for
protection- a famous village adage ) awaiting for the worst to come. Entire
world including world powers are engulfed in the worst stages of pandemic with
highest number of deaths and disasters expecting the worst not to reach. It may
be that the world may rethink on a new thinking and way forward for foreign
policy formations and applications the way UN was formed in place of League of
Nations after the disastrous Second World War with so many killings and
disasters. It is our wishful prey that the Pandemic will not override the
Second World War but unfortunately the signals that we receive seems to be
unsatisfactory and dangerous. Therefore this is the best era to extend loving
kindness, sympathy and ‘’Mettha’’ to all nations by rich and powerful,
especially those poor and unfortunate who have still not received a single
vaccination when some powerful and rich nations have excess vaccinations about
to be expired! Expecting and wishing a new chapter on foreign policy for a new
world foreign policy order. There is no expectations to see to an end to the
pandemic in the near future and we will have to live with it for a considerable
unknown period. This is the time you will find the friends in need, in this
disaster when everybody is going through the misery. Apart from the WHO it is
only China who came forward to help us followed by financial by Korea and
vaccinations from India. Unfortunately India had her own problems and unable to
give us the promised second vaccination which is understood. Situation on
pandemic is unchanged and escalating worldwide as wildfire. There appear to be
no immediate end to the pandemic and the world is compelled to live with it for
a considerable period.
Foreign Policy, Human Rights and United Nations
Foreign policy and human rights and United Nations are interwoven and
interconnected. Charter of the United Nations was brought in to reaffirm the
fundamental and human rights to save succeeding generations from the scourge of
war which twice in lifetime has brought unfold sorrow to the mankind as the
main human right document followed by Universal Declaration of Human rights. Human
rights are rights human beings enjoy being human which is more fully described
in the two main documents and subsequent jurisprudence, which is protected and
jealously guarded protecting individual and collective human rights equally by
a battery of subsidiary legislation, Geneva process being a by-product of the
legislation and procedure. United Nations Organization is the link and the
centre of the human rights mechanism managed and monitored by number of
conventions and instruments. Human Rights Commission and the committee that are by products of the legislation which has
certain powers and duties in monitoring the human rights of member nations
alleged to be in contravention of violation of human rights in member counters.
It is alleged that there were human rights violation during the last phase of
the thirty year war in Sri Lanka that fortunately ended in May 2009 with relief
to the entire SAARC region and the world in inhalation of the most ruthless and
feared tersest outfit in the world as said by the USA and man international
organizations. At the 47 member Council in the UN 22 voted in favour,
11opposed, 14 abstained for the resolution on deep concern on the human right
situation in Sri Lanka, wanting to accelerate the reconciliation process and
improve human rights situation in Sri Lanka. It is noted with concern that our
immediate neighbour India and close friend Nepal abstained without voting in
favour of Sri Lanka, reminding us of the theories abovementioned on foreign
policies of nations and the impact on world affairs which are so important. It
seems that we have to rethink, reform and readjust our foreign policy with the word
close neighbours and friends for our benefit and safety and foreign policy is
to be considered seriously and to be taken care of. Even though the Human
Rights Council has no power of implementation of suggestions, there impact is
to be considered seriously in making recommendations to the General Assembly
and the Security Council despite sovereignty Sri Lanka maintains under the UN
Convention. United Kingdom initiated the resolution against Sri Lanka and
Canada in the forefront is contemplating a resolution namely Genocide Education
resolution bill no 104, which is worrying and affects the friendly relations between
the two counters. Hon Minister has had a meeting with the Canadian Ambassador
on the issue and it is doubtful the initiators will abandon the moves. Add to
injury Sri Lanka has still not appointed High commissioners for India (one
year) and Canada which are supposed to be crucial stations, and one wonders
whether Sri Lanka lacks top qualified personalities, ambassadors to represent
the Nation. It is time the Human Rights omission in Sri Lanka, takes care of
the matter with the backing and strength of enormous staff and funds available
with all facilities.
Human Rights Commission in Sri Lanka
Human Rights Commission in Sri Lanka well-funded independent body by the
state and international organization which is headed by a powerful highly
connected former Minister who does not seem to be active and inert at this
crucial juncture when it should be in the forefront defending and promoting Sri
Lanka in the Geneva process. The only book that was published on this area is
the Geneva Crisis the way forward by the Ambassadors Forum assisted by world
Sri Lankan bodies including the London initiative based in London. Geneva issue
is brewing and the second and third wave on the way is going to be dangerous,
and it is time for the Minister and Ministry to act fast with the Chairman of
the Human Rights Commission to defend and promote Sri Lanka. Commission should
be proactive and live up to the expectations and the facilities given with
enormous local and foreign funds.
SAARC, ASEAN, BIMSTIC, and regional and international organizations and
foreign policy
Sri Lanka is a member of the above and many other regional, and
international organizations as an active and senior member of the United
Nations playing a pivot role in international affairs that need promotion of
Sri Lanka in areas of national and international interest. Regional groupings
are important and an integral part of the foreign policy making on regional
basis when UM deals with internationally. SAARC the South Asian Association for
regional cooperation was established aiming to be another EU in Asia, had a
natural death due the enormity between India and Pakistan giving birth to
BIMSTEC with another group of Asian countries, whilst ASEAN was active with
another vibrant group with different intentions organizing aria in the world
stage meeting the competition of the west. All the groups are worst hit with
India most effected with no joint and cooperative efforts to meet the main
challenge Covid19 which is a main drawback. International and regional
relations should play more important and active role in these matters.
Historical aspects of foreign policy
Foreign policy is a part of the history and interactions of the rulers
with other nations in the past. We are supposed to have a written history over
2500 years, and unwritten over 5000 or more with legends such as Rama and
‘Ravana’’ substantiated with Asian History which cannot be ruled out and among
the written are the arrival of ‘Arhath Mahinda’ as an Emissary of his father
King Asoka a most powerful King sent son and daughter to propagate Buddhism to
Sri Lanka on 3rd Century BC. Chinese Monk ‘’Fa-Hsian’’ visited Sri
Lanka in 426BC with other monks and developed a close relations with the King
and ‘Sangha’ Monks in Sri Lanka and written extensively on Buddhism and Sri
Lanka. In BC22-7AD during Claudius of Rome Ambassadors exchanged from Sri Lanka
and them are recorded in Rome showing the historical prints on developments of
foreign policy with Sri Lanka and many countries, in Rome, Middle East, China
and India. Pre and post-colonial era’s agreements entered into with foreign
posers and Sri Lankan rulers until in 1815 when the British entered into the ‘’Kandyan
Convention’’ with some Kandyan Leaders and British surrendering the sovereignty to British until
regained in 1948.
Network of Ambassadors in the forefront in showcasing and protecting the
interests of the Nation
Ambassadors are the forerunners of any nation implementing and promoting
the country they represent based on the foreign policy and directives, and are
learned active men of honour promoting trade, investments, and policies of the
country they represent to the word over assisting the leader of the country and
the leader they represent. In Sri Lanka Ambassadors in many countries appear to
be active and at times overdoing and reacting in crucial matters but do not
appear to be active at the times of need such as defending the malicious
propaganda against Sri Lanka especially on Geneva issue. We do not hear of any
documents, webinars or articles by our ambassadors in defending and promoting
the country which is expected of them. Are they promoting the country and the
policies defending the nation are questions raised by the concerned citizens
and student of international relations worldwide. It is agreed that they should
be more proactive and forthwith with other ambassadors worldwide.
Way Forward to Save the Nation and get out of the difficulties
confronted with
We are in a grave danger in all areas, especially the Pandemic front – the
entire world is rounded up with. It is the duty of the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, and the able and energetic state Minister to consider the issue more seriously
and draw up a plan to mobilize the Ambassadors, the able Ministry staff and the
international organizations such as London Initiate and many awaiting and eager
to help mainly on the Geneva Process brewing daily fast reaching the wave two
and three approaching faster than expected and the covid19 the entire country
and the world is engulfed with. It is the duty of the professionals and
likeminded concerned persons worldwide to rally rough the Minister and the
Ministry in fighting against covid 19 and helping Sri Lanka. Economy is in bad
shape and it is time to give priority to economic diplomacy and open a separate
desk in all Embassies for economic promotions including tourism, exports,
agriculture, and learn from success stories of our colleagues and apply it to
us. It is also a good idea for the Ambassador of the host country to be
responsible for all governmental institutions in the country they represent
themselves. Israel has successfully
clamped down the pandemic menace and our relations with Israel are excellent,
when they are awaiting to help us. Current Prime Minister in Israel, and former
President in Sri Lanka met with each other and discussed matters of mutual
benefits and interests given rise to main developments. We have close
diplomatic relations with Israel, and it is a matter of initiatives to go
forward for the benefit of all. There are other success stories and our
representatives by now may have reported to the Minister on the success stories
and methods to learn from others. Other areas we can work in cooperation with
Israel is agriculture where they are the leaders on the subject advising even
world powers, on drip irrigation seeds fertilizer related matters. China is
always a friend helping us over thousands of years, and others need not be
ruled out such as India and even the west in trouble these days will like to
reactivate friendship with us out of sheer necessity including world powers
ailing from beating s form pandemic nobody could escape. A joint effort is
required with the cooperation of the world body UN, all small and major powers,
and international organizations to launch a consolidated joint effort as human
beings and a human community taking our giant neighbour as an example of
mismanaging the situation (including Sri Lanka). It seems we have to give top
priority to fight the Covod19 menace as the indications are it is going to take
a long period for a complete clampdown with dangers of new variants based on
the behaviour of unseen danger Covid 19 growing faster and steadily. Foreign
policy and relations play a pivot role in harnessing the efforts and resources
of the world community in combating the menace as now things are dangerously
escalating with most stringent rules which obviously should have been
implemented before, being the language some Sri Lankans will understand. Even
this period of uncertainty and danger, we must sit and relax to educate
ourselves on a new life line life and a vision on a new roadmap for foreign
policy based on mistakes made and future plans on all aspects of governance. The
Foreign Minister and the State Minister has the responsibility and a pivot roll
in mobilizing the Ambassadors in the fight against Covid19 using the good will and good offices of
Ambassadors to gather assistance from the Sri Lankans in respective countries
obviously in highest positions to fight the Pandemic fast spreading. Sri
Lankans worldwide especially in UK, USA, Europe and powerful countries and
international organizations are eagerly awaiting to help with inviting leadership to the Sri Lankans overseas, and
other groups, and it is time the two Ministers and the Ministry give the
necessary leadership, whilst discussing with the President and Prime Minister
new strategies foundations and
roadmaps for a Sri Lanka Friendly
Foreign Policy as suggested in the five volumes on Foreign Policy Books published
by the Ambassador’s Forum. Sarath7@hotmail.co.uk
Tamil Canadians support bill, while some Sri Lankan Canadians say ‘there is another side to the story’
Anura Ferdinand of the Sri Lankan Canadian Action Coalition, and other members of the community objecting to Ontario’s passage of Bill 104, are shown during a Zoom call on May 10, 2021. – Zoom screenshot
Tamil Canadians hailed its passage as a historic event, but other Ontario residents from Sri Lanka see unfairness in a bill proclaiming a Tamil Genocide Education Week.
Members of the Sinhalese community reacted with dismay after Scarborough MPP Vijay Thanigasalam’s Bill 104 received third reading at Queen’s Park on May 6.
In a May 10 news conference, some said they expected a legislature committee to hear their deputations against the Progressive Conservative MPP’s bill, which declares a decades-long Sri Lankan civil war a genocide that the Sri Lankan state perpetrated against the Tamils,” and proclaims May 11 to 18 an annual week to educate Ontarians about it.
The committee on May 5 heard no debate, sending the bill back for a final reading with a speed Sinhalese community members say was meant to help PC MPPs get re-elected next year in Greater Toronto ridings with large numbers of Tamil voters.
Tamil-Canadian groups lobbied for the bill’s passage, but other Sri Lankans lobbied against it, including Anura Ferdinand of the Sri Lankan Canadian Action Coalition. Ferdinand said that in 2019 his community met 71 MPPs who, he said, had no idea there is another side to the story here.”
Ferdinand said the bill makes no mention of Sinhalese or other ethnic groups harmed in Sri Lanka during the war, which has not been called a genocide by the United Nations or Canada.
Ramila Senanayake, from Maple, said she sent Premier Doug Ford statements from Sinhalese-Canadian schoolchildren in Greater Toronto already unfairly targeted with this false narrative” of genocide.
Proclaiming a genocide education week, Senanayake said, is like a bell you ring. You can’t unring it.”
She doesn’t deny Tamils suffered during the war, but said school boards have allowed the separatist Tamil Tigers, who were defeated in 2009, to be seen as heroes, a view she said passing Bill 104 will support.
To make them into heroes and to make us into villains is a totally inaccurate retelling of our history.”
Sanjee Perera said some children from his community identify themselves as Guyanese or Trinidadian at school to avoid being bullied over events in Sri Lanka.
An Ottawa man on May 10 launched a constitutional challenge against Bill 104 in Ontario Superior Court, arguing that declaring a genocide is up to the federal government, not the province.
Thanigasalam, whose family fled Sri Lanka during the war, could not be reached for comment.
A press release from the Scarborough-Rouge Park MPP, however, said the Conservative government, by passing the bill, demonstrated its commitment to fighting injustices and standing up for the Tamil people who call Canada home.”
Colombo, May 14 (NewsWire) – The coronavirus vaccination programme will be conducted today, despite an islandwide travel restriction being enforced from today till Monday (17).
The vaccination programme will be carried out in 56 vaccination centres in the Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara Districts.
The public will be permitted to travel to their nearest vaccination centre to receive their vaccine, despite the travel restrictions.
Nearly 145,000 people received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine within the last two days.
The vaccination program will be expanded to Kandy, Kurunegala and Ratnapura districts after concluding the process in Western Province, Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi said today.
People in selected MOH areas of the aforesaid three districts will be administered COVID jabs, the she stated delivering a statement on the country’s inoculation drive.
As many as 1.1 million people in the Western Province have been vaccinated against the novel coronavirus so far, the health minister said further. We intend to vaccinate a total of 13 million people in order to prevent this virus from spreading across the country.”
Sri Lanka has an elderly population of 2.3 million, who are above the age of 60, the health minister said adding that the country has a population of 5.3 billion between the age limits of 40-50 and 3.3 million between the age of 30-40.
As you are aware, we are inoculating people above the age of 30,” she explained.
Once the vaccination program in the Western Province concludes, we will start inoculating people living in the districts of Kandy, Kurunegala and Ratnapura. We also intend to extend this program to other districts but it will depend on vaccine supplies,” Minister Wanniarachchi noted.
The Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry reported that 1,380 more persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in Sri Lanka on Friday (May 14), as the daily count of new cases moved to 2,269.
According to the Government Information Department, the new cases reported today are associated with the New Year coronavirus cluster.
This brings the total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus reported in the country to 138,065.
As many as 110,108 recoveries and 923 deaths have been confirmed in Sri Lanka since the outbreak of the pandemic.
Passengers travelling on SriLankan Airlines to Australia are now required to provide a negative Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) prior to check-in for flights.
As per the latest health guidelines issued by the Australian High Commission in Colombo, the prerequisite will come be enforced from tomorrow (May 15), the national carrier said in a notice issued today.
The testing requirements will include:
• A negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test result is required for travellers to or transiting through Australia. Evidence of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken 72 hours or less before the scheduled departure must be produced to the airline.
• In addition, a negative COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) result is required when travelling to Australia. Evidence of a negative Covid-19 RAT taken 8 hours or less before check-in for scheduled departure must be produced to the airline.
Accepted RAT could be performed through Kings Hospital, Asiri Hospitals, and Nawaloka Hospital chains located in Colombo and Negombo, the notice read further.
Accordingly, a prior appointment with the hospital could be scheduled by notifying the purpose of the test.
SriLankan Airlines stressed that an email notification containing test results as well as a printed copy needs to be presented at the time of check-in.
Passengers are advised to contact their travel agent or contact SriLankan Airlines’ global call center on +94117771979.
The Government of Sri Lanka and the World Bank on Thursday (May 13) signed a USD 80.5 million additional financing to help Sri Lanka access and distribute COVID-19 vaccines and to strengthen the country’s vaccination system and pandemic response.
Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Sajith Attygalle signed on behalf of the Government and Faris World Bank Country Director for Sri Lanka Hadad-Zervos signed on behalf of the World Bank.
Solidarity and support of all stakeholders is key to fight this pandemic,” said Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank Country Director for Sri Lanka. The World Bank remains responsive to the health priorities of Sri Lanka as well as emergency needs. Effective deployment of the vaccines will help Sri Lanka protect people, build human capital and facilitate inclusive economic recovery”
The second additional financing to the COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Project is to purchase and deploy safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines that meet the World Bank’s Vaccine Approval Criteria, to strengthen relevant health systems that are necessary for successful deployment, and to prepare for the future.
The Government of Sri Lanka is committed to protecting our population from the impacts of the pandemic, and we have placed high priority on strengthening and expanding the COVID-19 vaccination programme” said Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi. This useful and timely resource will help us to ensure equitable vaccine deployment among the eligible population of Sri Lanka.”
The COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Project with a total of $298.07 million has contributed to Sri Lanka’s pandemic management and prevention efforts.
Project funds have contributed to the provision of essential works, goods, services and consultancies for emergency pandemic management and prevention activities, including the procurement of medical and surgical consumables.
The government has decided to purchase stocks of vegetables the farmers had brought to the Dedicated Economic Centre in Dambulla today (May 14), says Matale District MP Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon.
The decision has been taken during a meeting with Minister of Public Services, Provincial Councils & Local Government Janaka Bandara Tennakoon, Prime Minister’s Office, Finance Ministry, Agriculture Ministry and several other stakeholders.
The trade association of Dambulla Dedicated Economic Centre, Dambulla Divisional Secretariat and Dambulla Municipal Council have also taken part in the said meeting.
Farmers have brought nearly 500,000kg – 700,000kg of vegetables to the Dambulla Dedicated Economic Centre, however, they found themselves in dire straits as vendors did not come to purchase the produce.
Taking into account the situation, the government has decided to purchase produce from farmers.
Thereby, Dambulla Dedicated Economic Centre will remain closed from today until 5.00 am on Monday (May 17).
A total of 30 individuals who are suspected to have attempted to illegally migrate to a foreign country via sea routes have been taken into custody.
The operation was carried out on the 13th and 14th of May by Sri Lanka Navy and the Coast Guard at Samindugama area.
Fourteen of the suspects and a house owner who had provided them with lodging facilities were apprehended on the May 13.
Expanding the operation with the assistance of Chilaw Police today (May 14), the Navy and Coast Guard managed to apprehend 15 more persons in connection with the illegal act.
The 30 males held during these operations were identified as residents of Jaffna, Batticaloa, Mullaitivu and Puttalam areas.
The accused have been handed over to the Chilaw Police for further investigations.
The
norms of society are the sum of our collective values and priorities – as
society shapes us, we shape society. In addition to a sense of right and wrong
for personal action, individuals possess a sense of right and wrong for
collective action – what might be called social conscience. Individual
conscience compels us to act morally in our daily lives, avoiding or helping to
relieve the immediate suffering of others, whereas social conscience compels us
to insist on moral action from the wider institutions of society and to seek
the transformation of social structures that cause suffering. – Myshele Goldberg,
University of Strathclyde and the Centre for Human Ecology
The
wider society’s response and collective behaviour during the COVID pandemic in
Sri Lanka, especially since the New Year period and in the last few weeks has
cast doubts on the values of our society and its lack of a social conscience as
a society.
The
battle against COVID has been left almost entirely to the government and its
many institutions, and hardly any civil society leaders, religious leaders, the
media, and above all, political leaders outside of the government have appealed
to what is left in us as a social conscience to behave responsibly and
rationally to contain the spread of the COVID virus. It appears that the COVID
containment issue has always been someone else’s responsibility and not that of
the society itself.
Much
of the publicity given and criticisms made, have been against the government
and its entities charged with managing the spread. Where there have been
lapses, it is within everyone’s rights to level such criticisms. However, no
government, this government or any other could totally manage the behaviour of
its citizens, and in a democracy this is more so than in authoritarian States.
Societal behaviour is a value based phenomenon and misbehaviour is a reflection
on the worth of its values and a clear sign of a question mark on the social
conscience of a society.
What
is social conscience, and why is it relevant asks Myshele Goldberg. She says conscience
can be described as internalised values: a person’s intuitive ‘moral compass.’
While rational, philosophical, or religious arguments are often used as
justifications, conscience itself is primarily emotional: we associate feelings
of pleasure and pride with right action, and feelings of guilt and shame with
wrong action. These emotions help to motivate choices and behaviour, playing an
important role in the maintenance and transformation of social norms”
While
it is understandable for small traders to have made use of the opportunities
they have to sell their wares and earn a living during Aluth Avurudu, it was an
unconscionable phenomenon to have witnessed the crowds that thronged to Nuwara
Eliya and places like Horton Plains and to have created a breeding ground for
COVID. Conducting Horse races certainly demonstrated that people were living by
the adage Newa Gilunath Band Chune”, (let’s dance even if the ship sinks), symbolic
of the Titanic catastrophe, which has now become a reality in the country. Besides
the Nuwara Eliya revelry, neither did most ordinary folk observe any health
guidelines relating to wearing masks or observing social distancing in this
breeding ground and everywhere else in the country.
When
idiocy overtakes logic and common sense, it says a lot about the state of mind
of the Sri Lankan society during a critical stage of the Pandemic in the
country.
The Opposition political parties and the phoenix that has risen
from the dead, unlike the Phoenix in mythology where a new
phoenix rises from the ashes of its dead predecessor, symbolising rebirth,
hope, renewal, progress, end of oppression, and eternity, the Sri Lankan
phoenix in the form of the defeated UNP leader is attempting to make political
capital out of the plight of the pandemic without offering any hope to the
people in the country. It is ironic that this leader who led his party to the
worst ever election defeat of any major political party in the post-independence
history of the country, polling less than 300,000 votes in the entire country,
and which failed to win enough votes to secure a seat in Parliament, is now set
to enter Parliament from the back door. If it comes to pass, it would be a
macabre reward for ruining his party and it is a reflection of his values, that
of his party and the values of the society in tolerating it. Neither the
government nor or other political parties, nor the media has thought it
appropriate to highlight this moral and ethical degradation of values, assuming
of course that there are any values left.
In
regard to the responsibility of the society to safeguard themselves, their
loved ones and others around them, neither has the Opposition leadership ever
appealed to the people to behave in a more responsible manner and heed the
advice of health authorities in the country. Instead, the focus has been solely
on the government action and inaction, and not once any appeals to the people
of the country to observe the health guidelines and to act with caution and
restraint.
It
is indeed depressing that a country that boasts of the influence of four great
religions and boasts even more loudly of the influence of its Buddhist heritage,
have not been able to develop a social conscience and a moral compass to chart
and manage its behaviour
If
we did have a worthwhile social conscience and then understood that social
conscience, we could have made better choices to help shape society according
to our values. This extends not just in respect of the COVID response but very
broadly to the status of the society as a whole. In the Sri Lankan society
today, one could question its value base and whether the real teachings of the
age old religions are practiced as the teachers intended. Many would argue that
superficial manifestations dominate society although few would be willing or
are able to move away from such superficial manifestations.
The
Sinhala Buddhist heritage is all but cultural and not true to the philosophy of
the teachings. There would be Buddhists who chant the five precepts but hardly
practice them. Ignorance and lip service surrounds the Metta, Karuna, Muditha
and Upeksha tenants. They are either not understood and therefore not practiced
or they have become discussion topics only for academic pursuits. The world of
Islam wishes to go back to what proponents term the real teachings” of the Prophet,
and Sri Lanka too has witnessed a movement in this direction. The Easter
bombing in Sri Lanka, and the very recent massacre of school children in
Afghanistan defy any belief that the Prophet would have endorsed such murderous
activity in His name.
Myshele
Goldberg goes on to say that the words conscience and consciousness are
often used interchangeably, but they are not the same. Consciousness, as used
in expressions such as ‘raising consciousness,’ describes a person’s knowledge
and awareness, and consciousness implies a process of value judgement,
classifying situations broadly into right, wrong, or neutral”.
One
can argue that there cannot be a consciousness without a conscience and that
consciousness is the expression of one’s conscience. In the Sri Lankan context, if the behaviour
of a significant segment of the wider society during the last few weeks,
beginning with the Aluth Avurudu celebrations, and the behaviour of Opposition
politicians, civil society leaders, religious leaders and other opinion makers
including the media could be understood as an expression of their conscience, then,
it does raise a significant question about the values and value judgement of the
Sri Lankan society.
The
COVID Pandemic is a health related issue and it needs to be directed by health
authorities. Politicians of all hues, religious leaders, civil society leaders,
the media, must appeal to the general public to heed the advice of health
authorities, and assist the government of the day to manage the Pandemic on the
basis of health advice while doing the utmost to ensure that the lives and
livelihoods of ordinary people of the country are safeguarded while acting
within health guidelines parameters. Dogs may bark while the Caravan keeps
moving, but, the opinion leaders of the country should not bark like the Dogs
but instead assist to move the Caravan forward for the benefit of the country.
Bill 104, Tamil Genocide Education Week Act has
been carried in the Ontario legislature and received assent by the Lieutenant
Governor of Ontario and it is now a law in Ontario.
We will be convening a meeting on this
Friday evening (14th May) at 8pm, and we invite
all law and pre-law students and lawyers within the Sri
Lankan community or if you have questions on Bill 104 to join us to
discuss the various options and next steps. We believe there is still hope of
defeating this in court.
The Director General of Health Services today confirmed another 24 deaths that had occurred during the period from 08th to 13th May, due to Covid-19 virus infection.
Accordingly, the total number of deaths due to Covid-19 infection in Sri Lanka has now moved to 892.#
The Ministry of Health says that another 1,174 persons have tested positive for coronavirus in the country, increasing today’s tally of Covid-19 cases to 2,249.
All new cases reported today are associated with the New Year Covid-19 cluster.
This brings the Sri Lanka’s total coronavirus cases count to 135,796 while total recoveries stand at 108,802.
26,126 patients infected with the virus are currently under medical treatment.
Sri Lanka has decided to administer the first dose of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine to people who are over the age of 60 years, without any health complications.
State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle said the decision was taken during meeting of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
Next week will see the most significant lifting of restrictions yet in England, with indoor mixing to be allowed. The rest of the UK is making similar steps.
It means the onus is increasingly shifting on to the vaccines, rather than social distancing and restrictions, to keep the virus at bay. How well do they work? And is there now enough immunity in the population to protect us all?
The vaccines are working wonderfully
The UK has benefited from both fast rollout and good uptake. Currently, a third of the adult population is fully vaccinated, with another third having had one dose.
Among those at most risk – the over-50s and younger adults with health conditions, where 99% of Covid deaths have occurred – uptake for the first dose has been 95%.
Some describe that as being only partially vaccinated. But that can underplay the significance of that first dose, which provides most of the protection – the second acts to boost immunity and is important for long-lasting protection.
The latest government data – based on evidence from the rollout – suggests one dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine cuts the risk of infection by as much as 70% and death by even more.
Data on their effectiveness after two doses is only just emerging – but, as expected, it suggests this level of protection is boosted even further. For Pfizer, which was rolled out first, the risk of death is reduced by 97%.
The vaccines are working about as well as could be hoped in the real world – and confirm what the trial results always suggested.
Could we reach herd immunity?
In fact, the impact is so good it raises the prospect of the UK reaching the herd-immunity threshold, meaning the virus is unlikely to spread because so few people can catch it.
Sir John Bell, a member of the government’s vaccine taskforce, believes we may indeed be at a “tipping point”.
But it is a complex equation influenced by other factors. The amount of natural immunity from people who have had Covid already will play a role.
Data from April published by the Office for National Statistics indicated nearly seven out of every 10 adults had Covid antibodies – above what could be explained by vaccination alone.
Another factor is how the public reacts. Even if the government lifts restrictions completely in June, as it has suggested, it is unclear how quickly “normal” behaviour will return.
What is clear is the amount of virus circulating is very low and has continued to fall even as the first steps out of lockdown have been made.
Whether this will be enough to stop infections rising in the coming months remains to be seen.
Scientists had always warned the easing in England, Scotland and Wales on Monday, 17 May, was the one that could push numbers up the most, given the virus is most likely to be passed on indoors.
But there is good reason to hope the vaccines will be enough to stop that pretty much on their own, says Dr Adam Kucharski, an expert in infectious diseases, at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
“It is possible we will get to a situation where [infection rates won’t rise] without the need for many other measures,” he says.
“The vaccines are working that well that domestically we can gradually relax restrictions and enjoy the summer.”
Variants cause some uncertainty
The big unknown, Dr Kucharski says, is the variants. Those identified in Brazil, South Africa and India appear to be able to evade some of the immune response from the vaccines.
But much of this is based on testing in labs rather than evidence from the real world, which makes it hard to interpret, as it largely focuses on one element of the immune response – antibodies.
“The data is very patchy. That makes it difficult knowing with certainty what will happen next.”
The “most likely scenario”, he says, is vaccines lose some ability to stop infections – but provide protection against serious disease.
St AndrewsWe are in a really good position… We are de-risking CovidDr Muge Cevik University of St Andrews
Emerging real-world evidence suggests this is the case. A study in Qatar indicated the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine remained as effective at preventing serious illness and lost only a little of its ability to block infections – and that was against the South Africa variant scientists are most concerned about.
But the lack of certainty makes some uneasy. University College London clinical research director Prof Christina Pagel, a member of the Independent Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, wants the UK to proceed with more caution, not releasing restrictions fully until all adults have received their second dose, which is not expected before the end of September.
She is calling for an Australia-style closure of borders to reduce the risk of variants being imported. “I just don’t think it is worth the risk,” she says.
Worst case – low-level spread
But, as always with Covid, the argument returns to what is proportionate. There is a theoretical risk the virus could mutate enough to undermine the vaccines so there is a surge in serious cases.
But what is the likelihood of that happening all of a sudden as opposed to a gradual shift over years that is more common with coronaviruses and will allow vaccines to be updated to keep up with the virus?
Prof Neil Ferguson, an expert in infectious disease, from Imperial College London, whose modelling led to the first lockdown, says it is the worst-case scenario and unlikely. And the UK is “much more likely to be on a steady course” out of the pandemic.
Dr Muge Cevik, from St Andrews University, agrees. Having researched the variants, she says we should take confidence from the emerging picture, with the evidence “strongly pointing” to the vaccines continuing to work really well, at least in terms of preventing serious illness and death.
At worst, there will be some continued low-level spread – but the vaccine programme’s success means that is now less likely to translate into significant numbers of serious cases.
“We are in a really good position,” Dr Cevik says. “We are de-risking Covid.”
No one, I repeat, no one should die due to lack of medical care. Every death is painful and heart-wrenching, even if the country’s medical system is overburdened and doctors are toiling hard to save the Covid-19 patients amid an unprecedented surge of cases in the second wave. Then, there are journalists and reporters, toxic ones, who rub salt into India’s wounds by manipulating national tragedy to carry out their agenda against the state. They go on to the extent of distorting certain facts of truth to make them look valid and convincing.
They used COVID tragedy as a propagandatool.
It is said whoever controls the media, controls the mind of people, or they try to. Second wave of Covid-19—which is more deadly and devastating than its first wave in India, because of its regional mutant variant in it—came as a golden opportunity for left leaning vulture media men to shame, defame and humiliate India on international platforms. And they grabbed the opportunity to sell the human tragedy for their vested interest.
NEW YORK POST used a photo of a gas leakage incident in May 2020.
To sensationalize the deadly second wave of Covid-19 in India, NEW YORK POST used a heart-wrenching picture—which had an unconscious woman lying on the street, while another woman, appeared to be her daughter, trying to wake her up—to show the tragedy of the second wave of Covid-19. What is shocking is that the picture is of the Gas Leakage incident, which took place at LG Polymer chemical plant in a village in Visakhapatnam on 7 May 2020. NEW YORK POST ran the story with a misleading picture under the headline of COVID surge swallowing people in India, the footage shows people dead in streets” on 26 April 2021. It is to be recalled the unfortunate incident had led to Gas leakage causing breathing problems to people over a radius of 3 KM in the surrounding area.
However, when NY POST was slammed by netizens, they changed the feature image, but the article and headline remained the same. Why did NEW YORK POST go into overdrive to sell tragedy in India by using fake pictures? Do they wait for tragedy in India to manipulate as a propaganda machine?
Tragedy was used as a commodity.
British American Media Company, Getty Images is selling images of grim Hindu Funeral pyres lit ablaze in a crematorium to sensationalize non-Indian readers. Any media group can buy the largest size picture for Rs. 23,000. Be it Indian photojournalists or non-Indian photographers both are clicking; both are making money out of the pandemic by clicking photos at crematorium denying dignity at the tragic death of Covid-19 victims.
There have even aerial shots of the crematorium. Did the photographer fly drones over the crematorium to click pictures? Is flying drones over crematorium permitted? The Guardian used the same aerial shot of the crematorium, which created a huge amount of buzz in international media. (We are not using that picture to say loud and clear pictures of final rites are personal and no one should be allowed to broadcast them.)
Barkha Dutt didn’t spare even her father’s death for her propaganda.
If vultures are assembling at a place, dead bodies are scattered nearby. How can Barkha Dutt be far from the crematorium? She reported from the cremation ground in Surat on 19 April. What can be a better place than a cremation ground to create a ghastly and ghostly picture of death, despair and distress! Who can be better cunning than Barkha Dutt to amplify macabre elements of cremation ground!
Then, Barkha Dutt’s old father succumbed to Covid-19, unfortunately. But, the grieving daughter used every word to describe her father’s death to suit her propaganda. Selection of words is enough to influence readers deeply—My father’s last words, I am choking, treat me.
What Barkha Dutt didn’t remind her audience and the CNN reporter that he was admitted to a premier hospital, Medanta hospital, and he was being treated by a group of best doctors. Even after being treated by the best doctors, the last words of Barkha Dutt’s father was, treat me, I am choking.” Does it sound sane? Also, only Barkha Dutt can tell how she was allowed in ICU, where her father was admitted, to listen to his last words.
Barkha Dutt is a perfect example of vulture media, who can use her father’s death to spin propaganda. Dear Barkha Dutt, your father was being treated by a group of best doctors in the best hospital, Medanta. Nevertheless, his last words were, I am choking, treat me.” Then, who should have treated him? What about those who are struggling even to get a bed in hospital?
There is an unprecedented rise in Covid-19 positive cases in India. Medical facilities and infrastructure are overwhelmed. For a patient, it is a battle to get admitted to the hospital. However, India’s health infrastructures are working day and night to save as many patients as they can. The job of the media is to raise constructive criticism. But, media is creating a wave of panic even among those who are not suffering from Covid-19.
UPDATE from The Australia Today: After the Opinion article made ripples in India and around the world, Ms Barkha Dutt accused us of being trolls” of the right-wing and fake website on social media. We replied to her, We don’t care who you support or oppose in your reports with other media outlets, but calling us right-wing trolls is insane. Looks like you can’t handle criticism well.” In case we get some more details we shall put them here.
Author: Manisha Inamdar This opinion article was first published on www.trunicle.com, We have republished it with kind permission from the author. Disclaimer: The author is solely responsible for the views expressed in this article. The author carries the responsibility for citing and/or licensing images utilized within the text. The opinions, facts and any media content in them are presented solely by the authors, and neither The Australia Today News nor its partners assume any responsibility for them.
By Noor Nizam – Peace and Political Actvist and Political Communications Researcher, May 12th., 2021.
RENOUNCED INDIAN
JOURNALIST M.R. NARAYAN SWAMY SAYS – “IN REALITY IT WAS NOT”.
I fully disagree with the statement – M.R. Narayan
Swamy has made in an article published by the https://www.themorning.lk/were-norway-and-solheim-pro-ltte/
the above dated May 9, 2021, “that Norway was pro-LTTE when in reality it was
not”.
NORWAY WAS
INDEED PRO-LTTE SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MILITANT MOVEMENT IN 1976 BY
VELUPILLAI PRABHARAN AS THE SUCCESSOR TO AN ORGANIZATION HE HAD FORMED IN THE
EARLIER 1970s.
NORWAY WAS PRO-LTTE TILL THE LTTE WAS DEFEATED BY
THE SRI LANKA TRI FORCES ON MAY 17th., 2009. AND FORMALLY ANNOUNCED ON MAY
19th., 2009. Norway is home for some of the frontline lobbying NGO’s of the
LTTE and has provided operational facilities to many of the hardcore LTTEers
who had located themselves as refugees and naturalized now as Norwegian
citizens and still active in propergating their ideology and doctrine.
Norway’s
involvement with Sri Lanka goes back to the meeting between a Norwegian TV
journalist and one Anthony Rajendam, from the fishing community of Gurunagar in
Jaffna peninsular who went in a motorbike in the 1950s with another friend to
reach UK, when they met in London, accidently. This journalist invited him to
Norway, and thus started the relationship with Norway and Sri Lanka.
With the
Norwegian NGO’s supporting the “MUKTI BAHINI” with arms and
ammunitions in the aftermath of the war that began after the Pakistani military
based in West Pakistan launched “Operation Searchlight” against the
people of East Pakistan on the night of 25 March 1971, the violent attacks of
the “MUKTI BAHINI” in East Pakistan against the Pakistani army were
filmed by this journalist and telecasted in Norway. With close relationship
with the Norwegians and India through these incidents, Norway got involved in
the geo-politics of Sri Lanka and India viz-a-viz support to the self
determination of so-called minority Tamil people of the North, according to
them.
Erik Solhiem’s involvement with Sri Lanka begins
in 2002 after he was assigned as the Peace Negotiator and what did he know that
took place between 1970’s and 2000 regarding the type of support that Norway
gave Prabaharan and his groups?
Journalist M R Narayan Swamy is thus challenged
by this writer that ” that Norway was pro-LTTE when in reality it was
not” as a FALSE STATEMENT.
NORWAY INDEED WAS PRO-LTTE, EVEN NOW. This does
not mean that all the Norwegians are pro-LTTE, only those who believed in their
false propaganda.
The
Norwegians do not like violence. They are indeed a “PEACE” loving
Nation.
