Second highest number of COVID-19 reported from Sri Lanka

The number of COVID-19 cases diagnosed in Sri Lanka yesterday is the second-highest number of cases reported in Sri Lanka within a single day. 

The number of cases of COVID-19 recorded on 15 November 2020 was 704 (Health Promotion Bureau COVID-19 dashboard). 

However, 866 cases were reported on October 24 (WHO statistics)

Five deaths were reported on 15 November. All of them were from Colombo city.

Let the Sri Lankan expatriate workers return and quarantine at home - Ethera Api

Janaka Adhikari, Attorney-at-Law, Financial Secretary of Ethera Api organization said that the government was not attending the burning problems of the Sri Lankan expatriate workers. "Many Sri Lankan workers in the Middle East cannot return home because the government has no proper plan for repatriation," he charged.  

Ethera Api organization pointed out that contracts of some of these expatriate workers have ended. They have no social security and even food and lodging in some situations. They will be fined for overstaying because of the fault of the government of Sri Lanka. 

"Some housemaids have to work in homes under dire conditions without legal contracts. They are subjected to exploitation as a result of the situation. Some have no place to live and they sleep in public parks and roadsides," Adhikari said. "In Dubai, there are over 7,000 Sri Lankan workers waiting to return to Sri Lanka. There are thousands of similar Sri Lankans in countries like Saudi Arbia, Qatar and Kuwait." 

The representative of the Ethera Api organization said that some Sri Lankans had worked illegally, but they sent much needed foreign exchange to the home country. The workers who have no work visa face the utmost difficulties. Ethera Api organization demanded the government to attend to the problems of these Sri Lankans also.

"Let them come and quarantine at home. Don't delay their return citing the lack of space for quarantine," Janaka Adhikari demanded. He pointed out that there was business behind repatriation of Sri Lankans. "Srilankan increased airfare unfairly and the workers cannot bear it. They have to pay for quarantine in hotels which belong to government cronies." 

Meanwhile, the government claims they have repatriated more than 40,000 Sri Lankans and the operation which was held due to the second outbreak of COVID-19 will resume next week.  

Photo: Foreign workers in Dubai via UCA News)

 

Neoliberal tax concessions boomeranged on Sri Lankan economy; minus growth now - Champika Ranawaka

Sri Lanka Opposition Samagi Jana Balavegaya MP Champika Ranawaka said that the government of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had failed to deliver the promise of making a prosperous economy.

"On December 1st 2019, the government introduced a neoliberal tax concession to the wealthy businessmen. They expected fast economic growth through this action. But the stimulus boomeranged and economy recorded minus growth even before COVID-19," MP Ranawaka said.  

"Deposits declined while fiscal state collapsed and economic statistics are contradictory. Census and Statistics Department announced the growth rate in the first quarter by 31 March as minus 1.6. They have failed to present the growth rates in the second and third quarters. Central Bank of Sri Lanka anticipates a minus 1.7 growth. But Ministry of Finance tries to show growth," the former Minister added. 

"Fraudulent statistics cannot cover the fiscal and debt crisis and the economic crisis. All sectors of the economy including agriculture, industry and services record minus growth. COVID-19 is not the reason," Champika Ranawaka said.

 

Present government connected to culprits of Central Bank fraud and Easter Sunday attack - Champika Ranawaka

Sri Lanka Opposition Samagi Jana Balavegaya MP Champika Ranawaka said that the government of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had failed to bring the culprits of financial fraud of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and to investigate the forces behind the Easter Sunday attack.

He alleged the government was not taking action to bring former Governor of Central Bank Arjun Mahendran from Singapore because the fraudsters who had engaged in this kind of theft since 2008 are now partners of the present government.

The opposition MP made these allegations at a press conference held by the People's Opposition today in Colombo 

Ranawaka thanked former President Maithripala Sirisena for investigating the incident, arresting the suspects, freezing the accounts of the fraudsters, conducting forensic audit and discussing with Singapore government to bring back Mahendran. 

Champika Ranawaka said that the political coup on October 26, 2018 affected the country's security and other sectors due to the disunity created by the coup between President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. 

He accused that the present government is investigating only the negligence of the former President, Secretary to the Ministry of Defense and the Inspector General of Police etc. ignoring the other crucial nodes of the attack.

"But the most important thing is that two leading politicians of the present government reportedly supported Zahran Hashim to escape Kattankudy as police were after him following the violence there in 2017. Such matters are not investigated," Ranawaka accused. 

He also demanded the government to investigate the allegations that state intelligence wings had supported National Thawheed Jamaath and intelligence officers going to meet the suicide bomber who conducted the blast at Dehiwala.  

Ranawaka said that the government was not investigating the elements who were behind Zahran Hashim because the powerful elements of the present government had personal relationships with them, as reported. 

"The government has not done justice to the promises they delivered during election on these two issues and COVID-19 is not relevant to the failure," Champika Ranawaka stressed.  

(See the press conference here>>)

Cypress Social Security Fund benefits of 150,000 Sri Lankan workers unpaid

The secretary of Ethera Api organization of Sri Lanka, Lakshman Nipunaarachchi said that about 150,000 Sri Lankans had not received the benefits of Cypress Social Security Fund. 

He pointed out that 7.5% of the workers' salary and 7.5% from the employer are contributed to this fund. Thus, 15% of the workers' monthly salary was deposited in this fund but the employees have not received any benefit. 

"No Sri Lankan employee has received the benefits of this fund when they left the job. Some employees had worked about 15 years in Cypress. For example, one employee has calculated that she must receive three million rupees. This is big money for them who mostly live in poverty after returning from service abroad. Some people struggled many years to get this money and died in desperation," Nipunaarachchi said. 

No government has attended the issue of Cypress Social Security Fund of the Sri Lankan expatriate workers. The issue was cited by Sri Lankan workers in Cypress to the present Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa also when he toured in Cypress as the Minister of Labour.  

Lakshman Nipunaarachchi

Ethera Api organization pointed out that states like Philippine had discussed with Cypress diplomatically and obtained this money belonged to their nationals. 

About 150,000 Sri Lankans have either worked in the past or working now in Cypress for a number of years. 

On October 02, over 2,000 people agitated in Colombo to focus the attention of the government on this issue. Two coordinating officers discussed with the representatives of the protesting people and promised a discussion with the relevant authorities within two weeks but did not deliver the promise, Ethera Api organization pointed out.  

(Cover photo: Consulate General Of Sri Lanka, Cyprus)

New areas under isolation; many areas relieved; travel restrictions removed in Sri Lanka

Chief of Sri Lanka National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) Army Commander Shavendra Silva said that Maradana, Fort, Pettah, Slave Island and Dam Street police divisions in Colombo city would be isolated since 5 a.m. Monday, 16 November. 

Seventeen police areas in Colombo district are now isolated. The other areas are Mattakkuliya, Modara, Bloemandahl, Kotahena, Grandpass, Coastal, Aduruppu Weediya, Maligawatta, Dematogoda, Wellampitiya, Borella and Keselwatta.

Seven police areas in Colombo, Kalutara, Kegalle and Kurunegala districts were withdrawn since tomorrow, the Army Commander said. 

Kelaniya police area will be under isolation since 5.a.m. on Monday, November 16.

Ja-ela, Negambo, Ragama, Wattala, Peliyagoda and Kadawatha areas of Gampaha district will remain isolated.   

Peliyagoda, Pamunuwa and Sapugaskanda police areas in Gampaha district which are isolated now will be freed since 5 a.m. Monday, 16 November. 

Horana, Ingiriya (police divisions) and Wekada West Grama Niladhari Division in Kalutara district also will be freed since 5 a.m. tomorrow. 

Mawanella, Ruwanwella police divisions in Kegalle district and Kurunegala Municipal Council area and Kuliyapitiya police division in Kurunegala district will also be relieved from isolation since tomorrow. 

All areas under isolation will remain in that state until further notice. 

Meanwhile, travel restrictions out of the Western Province will be withdrawn since midnight November 15. The travel restriction was in force since midnight November 11.

Sri Lankan arrested for fake news on roadside deaths due to COVID-19

Sri Lanka police say that a 35 years old man has been remanded until 18th November after producing before the Kandy Magistrate for posting fake content that says the Sri Lankans are dying on roadsides due to COVID-19.

The person has been arrested from Egodawatta in Kadugannawa in Kandy district and police media spokesman Deputy Inspector General of Police Ajith Rohana says that four more persons who shared this post are to be arrested.

The police media spokesman said that only one person had died on a roadside due to COVID-19 and he was a homeless person.  

The investigations are carried out by the Cyber Crime Unit of Criminal Investigation Department.