Sri Lanka planning to remove curfew

Sri Lanka government sources say that plans are underway to remove the curfew imposed in parts of the island and to reopen the country with strict quarantine regulations.

Meanwhile, government sources said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had been against the quarantine curfews imposed in parts of the country. However, the curfew had been approved by him because of the pressure mainly from the health officials. Sources say that the health officials are still pressurising the President to impose a countrywide curfew. The powerful Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) that represents the needs of the doctors is also pressurising the government to impose a curfew.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa tweeted, "Everyone including President, ministers, health staff and people must understand the status of economy of the people who lives on daily wages and businesses. We cannot afford to close down the country anticipating a cure for COVID-19 would be discovered."

At the meeting of the Task for Prevention of COVID-19 yesterday President Gotabaya Rajapaksa spoke against curfews and his speech was released to media. The President highlighted that the public and private sector employees who had regular salaries could bear the brunt of the lockdowns until a cure is discovered but the daily wage earners were in extreme difficulty.

Sources say that the government is now considering the regulations to be imposed while the country will remain open. 

Develop a national mechanism to engage all sectors in COVID-19 prevention - NPP

"Develop a national mechanism to engage all sectors with knowledge and scattered in the society to face the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka", demanded epidemiologist Dr. Nihal Abesinghe, secretary of National Professional's Organization of National People's Power (NPP). 

"There is the possibility of the creation of similar clusters within a coming couple of years. Therefore, we must maintain measures like social distancing, working from home, online education and home delivery of goods and services for a long time," the epidemiologist said.

Further speaking, he said, "We need behavioural change regarding COVID-19 and the responsibility is on people. About one-third of the population are educated less than GCE Ordinary Level. Low level of education and poverty can aggravate the crisis. Some people have no access to essential equipment like face masks and hand sanitizers. Their problems might push them to deviate from social distancing. Therefore the less educated and low-income groups must be educated, engaged and empowered in the COVID-19 prevention measures." 

Hospital, public health and security personnel must be protected and helped by the society, Dr. Nihal Abesinghe pointed out.

Speaking about a probability of a community spread, Dr. Abesinghe said, "90-95% source of the COVID-19 cases is found thanks to the strength of the health sector. However, some sources may not be found. Community spread is a situation the source cannot be found. Therefore, it is good for us to be prepared for such a situation." 

The PCR tests conducted by the health authorities now are mostly targeted tests. It is the most successful method to identify patients, he said. 

National Professional's Organization is a partner of National People's Power (NPP) that is led by the People's Liberation Front (JVP). NPP parliamentarian Dr. Harini Amarasuriya is addressing the press conference when this news is published. 

 

One in 5 women experience intimate partner violence in Sri Lanka; half of them do not seek support

In Sri Lanka, one in five (20.4%) ever-partnered women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime, a study conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics revealed. 

In analyzing women’s coping strategies when living with violence by a partner, the study found that nearly half (49.3%) of the women who experienced sexual violence by a partner did not seek formal help anywhere due to reasons such as shame, embarrassment and fear of being blamed or not being believed, and/or thinking the violence was normal or not serious enough to seek help.

In 2019, the Department of Census and Statistics conducted the first dedicated national prevalence survey on violence against women. Known as the Women’s Wellbeing Survey (WWS) it covered all 25 districts in Sri Lanka and interviewed more than 2,200 women aged 15 and above. 

This Women’s Wellbeing Study was technically supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) with financial assistance from the Government of Canada.

Violence by partners in any form can have a significant impact on women’s health and wellbeing and is also interconnected with the socio-economic recovery from crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, said UNFPA in a communique.

A series of consultative workshops are scheduled to be held with key government stakeholders and other development partners over the next few months to better inform decision-making to ensure no one is left behind, the press release further said.

To access the full report, please visit http://www.statistics.gov.lk/

Sri Lanka Navy attempt to clean sea bed in Trincomalee

A diving team attached to the Eastern Naval Command of Sri Lanka Navy conducted a programme to clear plastic and polythene collected on the sea bed, covering the Trincomalee sea area on 02nd November 2020. The photo released by Navy shows a diver collecting plastic and polythene waste. 

Sri Lanka was ranked among the top five marine plastic polluters of the world by earthday.org in 2019 with a mismanaged plastic waste of 1.59 million metric tons per year.

Sri Lanka to offer East Terminal development of Colombo Port to India

Sri Lanka has decided to vest in the development of the East Terminal of Colombo Port to India's Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd., a company of Adani Group belonged to billionaire Gautam Adani, reported Bloomberg website.

"Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. and a local partner received an in-principle approval to sign a deal with Sri Lanka Ports Authority, which will hold majority stake in the project," the report said.

The preliminary agreement in regard to this deal was signed in 2019 with the involvement of Japan as well. India, Japan, Australia and the United States have joined together to deal power in the Indo-Pacific region and Sri Lanka is under pressure to select either to partner with them or to select China's Belt and Road strategy. 

"India extended a $400 million currency swap facility to Colombo to assist with post-pandemic economic recovery. The two countries also discussed deferring of debt repayment during Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s first high-level virtual meeting since his re-election with India’s Narendra Modi in September," Bloomberg reported.

Before the parliamentary election in early August, the trade unions of Sri Lanka Ports Authority staged a protest demanding President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to deliver a written promise not to hand over East Terminal to any foreign country. The President promised to review the agreement but did not deliver the promise demanded by trade unions. 

The trade union leaders suspended the trade union action and went to a stressful silence after a visit to meet the government leaders. 

(Photo: Thanks to Bloomberg)

Steady spread of COVID-19 cases despite quarantine curfew in Sri Lanka

Despite lockdowns, the spread of COVID-19 seemed steady in Sri Lanka. The number of new cases reported yesterday was 409. The highest number of cases were reported from Gampaha district which is under a month-long curfew. 

146 cases were reported from Gampaha district. The majority of the cases were reported from Negambo, Kadawatha, Kelaniya and Kandana areas in Gampaha district. A number of cases were reported from Kaduwelaand Colombo city areas. 

Meanwhile, 47 cases were reported from Kalutara district. 

Minuwangoda and Peliyagoda cluster increased to 8,266 by yesterday. The total number of cases diagnosed in Sri Lanka is 11,744 now.

One person from Kilinochchi was diagnosed COVID-19 positive yesterday and all districts of Sri Lanka have COVID-19 cases now. 

23rd death was also reported yesterday as a 51-year-old woman from Colombo 15 was the victim.

The number of persons discharged from hospitals was 340 yesterday. The total number of recovered and discharged cases so far is 5,581. The number of active cases is 6,140.

Meanwhile, Rajagiriya, Kalubowila and Kelaniya camps of police Special Task Force (STF) were isolated yesterday as 56 STF officials were diagnosed positive for COVID-19. 

183 police personnel are also infected with COVID-19 by now. 

Source: National Operation Center for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak, Health Promotion Bureau

Prisoner killed in Sri Lanka's Monaragala prison

A prisoner has been killed in Monaragala Prison of Sri Lanka's Uva Province by prison officials. 

The officials have assaulted the prisoner as a retaliation to an attack by the prisoner against an official on duty.

The deceased was identified as Ulupitiya Gamage Nilantha. He is a 42-year old man from Ampara. (Updated)