Sri Lanka's JVP demands government to reveal the proposals, agreements and rejections arrived at the discussions with Pompeo

Sri Lanka's leftist People's Liberation Front (JVP) leader Anura Kumara Disanayaka demanded the government to reveal the proposals, agreements and rejections arrived at the discussions between the US State Secretary Mike Pompeo, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dinesh Gunawardane. 

Addressing a press conference held in the party headquarters, JVP charged the US was trying to include Sri Lanka in its military strategy of the group of four countries, US, India, Japan and Australia. Meanwhile, the party criticized China also for pushing Sri Lanka into a debt trap through wasteful mega development projects. 

Criticizing the government leaders whose family members are US citizens, the JVP leader demanded the government not to let Sri Lanka become a football of the power games of international superpowers.

JVP criticized both former government led by the United National Party and the present government for proceeding with SOFA, ACSA and MCC agreements with the US. The JVP leader stated that these agreements are related to national security, property and the future. 

Speaking about the COVID-19 crisis, JVP criticized the government's inaction before the second wave of the coronavirus attack. Anura Kumara Disayanaka pointed out that the government had removed key health officials and kept positions like Director-General of Health for a long time vacant until the second wave. He said that the government did not make ready the health infrastructure for a possible second wave of COVID-19.

JVP urged the government to be more responsible about the crisis, to increase the number of PCR tests, to minimize the time taken for the reports, to provide equipment and to protect the vulnerable health and other officials. 

He urged the government to increase the capacity of the health sector to fight the pandemic and to help the affected people using the huge COVID-19 fund, raised recently if it had taken an informed decision not to lock down the country as indicated by the President. 

Sri Lanka major opposition urges government to reveal the motive behind US State Secretary's visit

Sri Lanka's major opposition Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) demanded the government to reveal the motive behind the official tour of US State Secretary Mike Pompeo. 

Addressing a press conference held in the Office of the Opposition Leader, SJB MP Hesha Vithanage said that the other countries like India were aware of the motive of the US official's visit. However, Sri Lankans are unaware of the motive behind this visit. 

MP Vithanage said the statement by Minister of Sports Namal Rajapaksa that hinted it was a routine visit was contradicted by pro-government Buddhist monks like Baddegama Samitha Thero, Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero and Elle Gunawansa Thero.    

Speaking further about the COVID-19 issue, MP Vithanage criticized the government's attitude of sidelining the Opposition Leader and the opposition in the fight against coronavirus and offered to assist the government. 

He accused that the rulers were not concerned about the problems of the people affected by COVID-19 because they had gained power and there is no election close by. 

More than 25% random PCR tests in North Colombo positive

Colombo Chief Medical Officer of Health Ruwan Wijayamuni said to Sinhala daily Lankadeepa that 98 out of 348 random tests of PCR in Colombo city are positive. 

The patients were identified from northern city areas like Mahawatta, Grandpass, Modara and Mattakkuliya. 

He said that reports of about 300 more random tests are to be received.

937 of 5,267 PCR tests of randomly selected persons in Colombo proved positive on 26th October also.   

Sharp increase in salt price in Sri Lanka

Table salt price in Sri Lanka has sharply risen, in addition to the other commodities, the consumers complain.

Market sources say that the price of a 50kg bag crystal salt has gone up from Rs. 675 to Rs. 950.

Ministry of Fisheries sources says that the price has gone up due to the increased use of salt for preserving fish. The price of fish has dropped sharply since the consumers are afraid to eat fish due to the spread of COVID-19 in the country's main fish market, Peliyagoda and several fisheries harbours. 

However, health officials advise the consumers that well-cooked fish cannot spread COVID-19. 

A large number of fish vendors and fishermen have lost livelihood due to the prevailing situation. 

Sri Lanka's salt industry is hit by rains caused by climate change and shortage of labour, industry sources say. The island imports salt and the main supplier is China. 

US State Secretary meets Sri Lanka President today

US State Secretary Mike Pompeo who arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday will hold bilateral discussions with Sri Lanka President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa this morning. The meeting will be held in the President's House in Colombo. 

He will discuss with the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardane also. The duo is expected to hold a press conference later. The visit of the US State Secretary takes place on an invitation of the Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Affairs, the government says. The aim of the tour is for strengthening the multiple bilateral relations. 

The cabinet spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said at the cabinet press briefing that the government will not sign SOFA and ACSA agreements with the US. 

Media reported President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had told to the cabinet that US State Secretary would not discuss the Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement. 

(Photo: US state Secretary Mike Pompeo at Katunayaka airport)

More areas locked down, more COVID-19 deaths and more cases diagnosed in Sri Lanka

Homagama, Moratuwa, Panadura North and Panadura South have been included anew to the police areas of Sri Lanka which are under quarantine curfew. Accordingly, over 60 police areas are under quarantine curfew now. 

The government isolated Hatton town also yesterday due to spread of COVID-19. 

The number of COVID-19 patients diagnosed yesterday was 457 and three deaths occurred during the day. 

Meanwhile, the media reported yesterday the President had told at the cabinet meeting that the country would not be shut down due to COVID-19 spread. Instead, travel restrictions would be imposed in areas the disease is spread more. 

Meanwhile, the people in locked down and isolated areas lament about the loss of livelihoods while the people in other areas complain about paralysed transport services.  

The government says the shops would be open for two days in locked-down areas for people to buy commodities. The public employees in those areas are considered working while the government says that the agreement with the private sector to pay salaries of the workers has been extended by the government until December. 

Sri Lanka Association of Information Technology Professionals urge government to reject MCC in talks with Pompeo

Sri Lanka Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP), issuing a press release urged the government to reject the Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC) pushed forward by the US for Sri Lanka to accept during the talks with the US State Secretary Mike Pompeo. 

AITP said that the report of the committee led by Dr. Lalithasiri Gunaruwan who was appointed to study the MCC had recommended not to sign the agreement. 

AITP highlighted that the recommendation of the committee had been endorsed by people through the landslide victory offered to the government at the election held following the issue of the report.