Gazette reversed : No more High Security Zones in Colombo

Also Read: COVID-19 lockdown, mass testing in China despite minor cases - here’s why On October 20, the 21 million-people city reported 18 additional locally-transmitted cases for the day before, bringing the total for the preceding 10 days to 197. The 49 infections found in the prior 10-day period were outnumbered by that number by a factor of four.

Covid-19: The cumulative caseload of India has gone up to 4,46,36,517, while the active cases declined to 25,510. India again witnessed an increase in daily Covid-19 cases with the country reporting 2,141 coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday. The country had logged around 1,500 cases on Tuesday.  With this, the cumulative caseload of India has gone up to 4,46,36,517, while the active cases declined to 25,510.

COLOMBO (News 1st)- Sri Lanka's Supreme Court has determined that the 'Bureau of Rehabilitation' bill as a whole is inconsistent with Article 12(1) of the Constitution and as such may be enacted only by the special majority required by Article 84(2) of the Constitution.However, However, this inconsistency shall cease if:(i) All references to “ex-combatants,” “violent extreme groups” and “any other group of persons” are deleted from the Bill;(ii) The Bill is limited to the rehabilitation of drug dependent persons and such other persons as may be identified by law. Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena announced the Supreme Court's determination on Thursday (20) to parliament.The complete determination is as follows: I wish to announce to Parliament that I have received the Determination of the Supreme Court in respect of the Bill titled “BUREAU OF REHABILITATION” which was challenged in the Supreme Court in terms of Article 121(1)of the Constitution.On an overall consideration of the provisions of the Bill, the Supreme Court has made the following Determination:—A. The Bill as a whole is inconsistent with Article 12(1) of the Constitution and as such may be enacted only by the special majority required by Article 84(2) of the Constitution. However, this inconsistency shall cease if:(i) All references to “ex-combatants,” “violent extreme groups” and “any other group of persons” are deleted from the Bill;(ii) The Bill is limited to the rehabilitation of drug dependent persons and such other persons as may be identified by law.B.

The Independent Investigation’s Office of B.C. says the Burnaby RCMP officer killed in the line of duty Tuesday was able to shoot their assailant.

In a newly released 911 call, popular Miami-based OnlyFans model Courtney Clenney pleaded frantically with police to save her boyfriend as he bled from a stab wound to the chest.

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. - It's an historic time in Bucks County as a recent announcement left LGBTQ youth with resources and support in a time of need. The Rainbow Room is a keystone Planned Parenthood youth program that provides a supportive environment for LGBTQ youth, ages 14-21. Originally only located in Doylestown, the program just announced its expansion into Lower Bucks County.Ry Ogden, a non-binary 18-year-old, says they love being a part of The Rainbow Room because they say it's a space that empowers them and lets them be their authentic self."I think it's very important for all queer youth everywhere to have a place where they can go and be themselves and not be judged in any way," said Ogden. For 17-year-old Carson Delany, The Rainbow Room has helped him overcome some of his fears after coming out and identifying as non-binary three years ago. "Just being in a super supportive place with such supportive and beautiful people has helped me really come out of my shell in the past 3 years and learn to love myself despite what people say about who I am and how I present," said Delany.RELATED: First trans-focused LGBTQ plus safe haven coming to PhiladelphiaOn Wednesday, The Rainbow Room had their weekly meeting, which had a self-care theme.

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA - Streeteries are here to stay. After first popping up during the pandemic, Philadelphia is making them permanent. The city is unveiling its new outdoor dining program, meant to address concerns about allowing streeteries to take up public space.Good Dog Bar, on South 15th Street in Center City, has an expansive streetery.

PHILADELPHIA - Authorities say a man is fighting for his life after being shot during a fight with his next door neighbor Wednesday night in Philadelphia's Port Richmond section. Officers from the Philadelphia Police Department were called to the 2100 block of East Lippincot Street around 9 p.m.

ANI, he said, “I would suggest to everyone that if they are going out and especially in crowded places then they must wear a mask." Dr Guleria also warned that high-risk patients can get serious infection. "High-risk groups, elderly people should avoid going out because there are high chances of spreading infection and some can also get a serious infection," he said.

Kylie Jenner showed off her incredible curves as she posed in a black string bikini for her latest round of social media snaps on Tuesday.The reality star, 25, showcased her ample cleavage, trim waist and curvaceous hips in the skimpy number as she frolicked in a scenic pool.The star struck a series of sexy poses as she wore her tresses in soft waves and sported a glowing palette of make-up while plugging healthy drink, Glow. Wow: Kylie Jenner showed off her incredible curves as she posed in a black string bikini for her latest round of social media snaps on TuesdayKylie also showed off her toned and tanned legs as she posed up a storm.The star shares two children -  daughter Stormi, 4, and a baby boy, 8 months - whose name has not been revealed, with Travis Scott.

HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) announces the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted emergency use authorization for the COVID-19 booster by Novavax and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and DOH are allowing use of the COVID-19 booster by Novavax.Novavax monovalent COVID-19 boosters are recommended for adults 18 and older for whom a bivalent booster by Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna is not clinically appropriate and adults who would otherwise not get a COVID-19 booster.Adults who completed their primary series of Novavax, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines at least six months ago can receive a Novavax booster if they have not already received a different booster by another manufacturer.“We encourage people to get the new bivalent boosters from Pfizer or Moderna because those are the only boosters specially designed to protect against Omicron subvariants.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 19: Juan Soto #22 of the San Diego Padres celebrates at second base after hitting a one-run RBI double during the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies in game two of the National League Championship Series at SAN DIEGO - A five-run 5th inning propelled the San Diego Padres to a 8-5 win over the Phillies in game two of the National League Championship Series. Pitching with a 4-2 lead, Phillies starter Aaron Nola began to allowed four of the first five batters to reach in the bottom of the 5th, capped by a two-run game-tying double by Juan Soto. Brad Hand entered the game and hit the first batter he faced, and allowed three runs to score on three hits, pushing the Padres lead to 7-4. Manny Machado slugged a home run to left field in the 7th inning off reliever David Robertson, increasing San Diego's lead to four runs. After allowing six unanswered runs, the Phillies finally struck back in the top of the 8th with a no-doubt solo home run by Rhys Hoskins. Padres relief pitcher Nick Martinez tossed two scoreless innings of relief, striking out three batters. San Diego closer Josh Hader put the finishing touches on Padres game 2 win. The series will shift back to Philadelphia tied a 1 game each.

Consumers sharing their Netflix account with family or friends outside their household will have to pay extra starting early next year."We’ve landed on a thoughtful approach to monetize account sharing and we’ll begin rolling this out more broadly starting in early 2023,"the world's largest streaming service wrote in its quarterly shareholder letter on Tuesday. "After listening to consumer feedback, we are going to offer the ability for borrowers to transfer their Netflix profile into their own account, and for sharers to manage their devices more easily and to create sub-accounts ('extra member'), if they want to pay for family or friends."Netflix expects the profile transfer feature will be "especially popular" in the U.S. and 11 other countries where its new $6.99 per month ad-supported plan will be available starting Nov.

12 Years a Slave. This led to the start of her remarkable film and theater career playing memorable roles. But after Nyong’o won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, she experienced “panic” and serious health issues.

COVID-19 remains a global health emergency, WHO says On Oct. 17, 2021, there were 218 COVID patients in ICU and 772 in non-ICU spaces, a total of 990.

WASHINGTON - An 80-year-old Georgia man was arrested Wednesday after U.S. Capitol Police found a suspicious van parked illegally minutes away from the Supreme Court Building.According to FOX News Senior Congressional Correspondent Chad Pergham, the Capitol Police K-9 Unit picked up something in question within the vehicle located on the 100 block of East Capitol Street. U.S.

WAUKESHA, Wis. - Prosecutors called more witnesses Wednesday, Oct. 19 in the Darrell Brooks trial, charged in the November 2021 Waukesha Christmas parade attack. Mid-afternoon, the jury was taken out of the courtroom to view the red SUV.

reported vehicle sales that rose 35% for the July-September period compared to the second quarter as the company’s huge factory in China got past supply chain issues and pandemic restrictions.The company sold 343,830 cars and SUVs in the third quarter compared with 254,695 deliveries made from April through June. Tesla said it produced 365,923 vehicles in the July-September period.Analysts have questioned whether Tesla is experiencing waning demand for its vehicles, which in the U.S.

WASHINGTON - COVID-19 drove a dramatic increase in the number of women who died from pregnancy or childbirth complications in the U.S. last year, a crisis that has disproportionately claimed Black and Hispanic women as victims, according to a government report released Wednesday.The report lays out grim trends across the country for expectant mothers and their newborn babies.It finds that pregnancy-related deaths have spiked nearly 80% since 2018, with COVID-19 being a factor in a quarter of the 1,178 deaths reported last year.

TRENTON, N.J. - In Trenton, deadly shootings are 62 percent lower this year compared to last year. There were also no deadly shootings for a 90-day period over the summer. Meanwhile, Philadelphia saw a record year of homicides and shootings in 2021.

Burnaby RCMP officer on Tuesday.The B.C. Prosecution Service announced Wednesday that Jongwon Ham has been charged in the death of Const.

A woman detailed on Twitter how employees at an Oakland ramen shop stopped an alleged assaults. The photo is courtesy of Noka Ramen.

AUSTIN, Texas - A 14-foot Halloween skeleton was stolen from the front yard of a home in Northwest Austin.The skeleton was stolen on Saturday, Oct. 15 around 4:45 p.m. Grazia Ruskin, the president of the HOA for the Austin condominium community, said her neighbor was the victim of the stolen skeleton and does not want to be identified.The security footage belongs to the victim, and the victim shared it in hopes of identifying the thief.Security footage captured the thief in action stealing a 14-foot skeleton from a Northwest Austin neighborhood.

SCRANTON - Federal prosecutors have accused a Pennsylvania prison escapee of sending a letter with threats to kill President Biden and the chairman of the Jan. 6 committee, among others, and containing a white powder with an allusion to anthrax.Robert Maverick Vargo, 25, of Berwick is charged with making threats against the president and a federal official and with interstate communications with a threat.The U.S. attorney's office in Scranton said the Washington office of U.S.

WASHINGTON - U.S. regulators on Wednesday authorized a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Novavax.The Food and Drug Administration said the new booster option is for people 18 and older who can’t get the updated omicron-targeting Pfizer or Moderna boosters for medical or accessibility reasons -- or who otherwise would not receive a COVID-19 booster shot at all.The FDA specified the additional Novavax shot was to be used as a first booster -- not for people who've already had one or more booster doses already — at least six months after completing their primary shots.FILE - In this photo illustration a COVID-19 vaccine is seen with the Novavax logo in the background.

NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA - The leader of the Fraternal Order of Police is sharply criticizing the City Controller’s audit of the police department claiming it makes the leadership of the department appear as if, "…they can’t do anything right."The bombshell audit released yesterday by City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart found there are 640 fewer cops than five years ago. It revealed in a department of 6,000 officers, only 2,500 are on patrol and, stretched over 21 police districts, sometimes as few as 11 to 22 officers are on the street at any one time.In a late morning press conference, FOP President John McNesby said, "A lot of the stuff that’s in here, we’ve already been working to solve.

  SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - When sheriff’s deputies showed up to the Hadley, Massachusetts home of 55-year-old Rorie Susan Woods for an eviction call, they were met with resistance from Woods — who is accused of unleashing a swarm of bees on authorities. On Oct. 12, deputies say, Woods had arrived at her home to find she was being evicted.

MOORESTOWN, N.J. - Moorestown Police Department is seeking the public's help in identifying two people wanted in connection with an invasion of privacy offense at a Marshalls store last month.On Sunday, September 25, at around 3 p.m., police say a man was captured on surveillance video sneaking into the women's restroom inside the Marshalls on Route 38 in Moorestown. Authorities say the man recorded a woman from underneath the stall door."It’s very disturbing," said Eileen Falvey of Cherry Hill. The victim, who authorities say is a woman in her 20s, gasped loudly as she noticed she was being recorded. MORE HEADLINES Fire Marshal: Man arrested, charged after igniting a Delaware hotel roomAfter realizing he had been caught, police say the suspect walked out to the parking lot for a short period of time before he re-entered the store.

BUCKS COUNTY, Pa. - Police have released surveillance footage of man they say robbed at least two different Wawa locations in Bucks County this week and Wawa is offering a reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.The same man is accused of stealing $175 from a Wawa on Holland Road early Wednesday morning, a day after robbing another Wawa on Bustleton Pike on Monday.Man wanted for robbing Wawas in Bucks County. Surveillance footage captured the suspect wearing a skull mask that covered most of his face and a black hoodie.MORE HEADLINES:Police say he was armed with a chrome revolver, and demanded cash from the registers.Wawa announced they are partnering with Northampton and Lower Southampton Police to offer a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the suspect.Anyone with information is asked to contact Northampton Township Police or Detective Stephen Brookes, with Lower Southampton Police, at 215-357-1235, extension 339 or email [email protected], anyone with information can submit tips to Pa.

Ontario has quietly changed masking rules for long-term care homes, no longer requiring visitors or caregivers to wear them when alone with a resident in their room.Long-term care homes are one of the only places where provincial mask mandates remain, after Ontario lifted most such requirements in June.But the rules were changed as of Friday, though no public announcement was made. Operators were notified and the COVID-19 guidance document for long-term care homes was updated on an Ontario government website, said a spokesperson for Long-Term Care Minister Paul Calandra.

She first won the hearts of the nation while appearing on Love Island back in 2020, but in the two years since leaving the villa, Shaughna Phillips has quickly become a household name with her impeccable sense of style and cheeky personality. Whether it’s been turning her hand to entrepreneurial pursuits and launching her own business, or even teaming up with OK! as our resident Love Island columnist, Shaughna has continued to go from strength to strength as she pursues new and exciting projects to dominate her life.

Overall COVID-19 cases declined again last week, down 6% compared to the week before, but some Western Asian nations such as Singapore are experiencing a steady surge in cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today in its latest update on the pandemic.

Two new studies uncover the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global life expectancy (LE), one showing substantial and sustained LE losses in the United States and Eastern Europe, and the other finding a link between LE at 60 years of age before the pandemic and excess deaths amid COVID-19 only in countries with older populations.

Cameramen film the scene as Charles Manson is brought into the Los Angeles city jail under suspicion of having masterminded the Tate-LaBianca murders of August 1969. LOS ANGELES - Before Charles Manson became infamous as a disturbed cult leader who dispatched young followers on a killing rampage, his life in Los Angeles and failed musical aspirations led him to encounter many well-known celebrities. Manson was a petty criminal who had been in and out of jail since childhood.

BURLINGTON CITY, N.J. - School officials at Burlington City High School say there was a heavy police presence at the school due to a threat that was made on Wednesday. Authorities say there was a threat of an act of violence from inside the school prior to dismissal. Students were briefly held at the school to give police time to secure the surrounding area, officials say. School was dismissed a short time after and officials say all students were released safely. The Criminal Investigation Division and school officials are actively investigating this situation. 

return to work, and companies stand ready to hire them, according to the AARP.AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins said the reasons for early retirement varied in 2020: some people retired to avoid COVID-19 exposure, while others were laid off because of massive job cuts. Others may have retired early because the pandemic was a reminder of our own mortality — leaving the workforce was a way to "seize the day," financial planner Liz Weston said in 2021.More than two years later, many of those early retirees "are bored to death and looking to do something that has meaning and purpose," Jenkins said at a recent event hosted by the social impact nonprofit Concordia.The pace of retirements among baby boomers, those born from 1946 to 1964, accelerated during the pandemic, a Pew Research Center analysis of monthly labor force data found.

MOSCOW - Brittney Griner spent her 32nd birthday in a Russian prison, awaiting an appeal to her nine-year sentence for drug possession that’s set for next week.The WNBA star has been especially down lately, according to her lawyers. They were with her for part of her birthday on Oct. 18.Maria Blagovolina, a partner at Rybalkin, Gortsunyan, Dyakin, said it wasn’t much of a celebration, but that Griner’s attorneys passed along well wishes from family and friends."She did smile, it was really good to see her smiling," Blagovolina wrote in an email to The Associated Press.Griner later released a statement through her agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas."Thank you everyone for fighting so hard to get me home.

PHILADELPHIA - Video and an eyewitness report may have captured the moment a woman used a stun gun a child. The disturbing allegations have led to an investigation by the Philadelphia Police Department’s Special Victims Unit.A Northern Liberties homeowner, who asked FOX 29 to keep him anonymous, says he was working in his office, with the windows open, when he heard unusually loud music coming from a parked car.He looked outside and saw a woman opening a backseat passenger door on North Third Street, near Liberty Lands Park, around 5 p.m.

Among a group of vaccinated college athletes who tested positive for COVID-19 and underwent rapid antigen testing 7 days later, 27% were still positive—a proportion that climbed to 35% in symptomatic athletes and 40% in those infected with the Omicron BA.2 subvariant.The findings, published yesterday in JAMA Network Open, suggest that

Canada is facing some “difficult days ahead,” but whether or not the government expects the economy to tip into recession will be reflected in the feds’ upcoming fall forecast, Chrystia Freeland says.

ORLANDO, Fla. - An 83-year-old Florida man died on a ride at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando after likely suffering from a heart attack, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said in an incident report.On Sept. 25, deputies said the Palm Coast man and his wife were riding on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover – one of the slower-paced attractions at Magic Kingdom – when he reportedly fainted.Authorities said his wife began to panic as she asked for help and attempted to call other family members who were at the theme park.The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover attraction at Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, July 11, 2022, in Florida.

Health insurance policies have become the need of the hour, especially in view of the rise in lifestyle diseases. These policies, which help meet any planned or unforeseen expenditure on hospitalization and medicines, have tax benefits as well. As per section 80D of the income tax (I-T) act, you can avail deductions on payments of up to ₹50,000 for premium on policies for senior citizens and ₹25,000 for others in your family in a year.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – International slavery continues to be a modern day curse that plagues our world.News 1st has for many years battled against international slavery, with a particular focus on Sri Lankan Domestic Workers who are all too often held captive in the Middle East.In the recent past, News 1st has warned that Sri Lanka's current economic crisis would result in increasing numbers of Sri Lankan women being trapped into slavery as thousands more venture overseas to escape poverty.  Now our worst fears have been realised.News 1st brings to you the shocking revelation that more than 50 women have been sent into slavery in Dubai by two job agencies in the central cities of Anuradhapura and Kurunegala, in a report filed by News 1st's Nisal Sooriyarachchi, and Naveksha Gunasekera.A foreign employment agency in Anuradhapura has trafficked more than 50 women to work as virtual slave labour in the state of Dubai where most of them are currently been held against their will in atrocious conditions. Several women who who fell victim to this scam have revealed that the agency headed by 3 women living in Dubai. Thushara Nilmini, a resident of Anuradhapura, who finally made her way back to Sri Lanka after falling victim to the scam, said that between 50 and 60 women who went abroad for domestic work are being held captive in various areas of Dubai. Chandrika, who asked that her full name not be revealed, has gone to work as a domestic worker in Dubai and is currently in a destitute state there. News 1st managed to obtain a telephone interview while she is in Dubai.She said that they stayed at the agency for about a month, and barely got anything to eat. "Then they stationed us at this safe house.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has issued an Extraordinary Gazette placing several state institutions under the Ministry of Public Security.According to the Gazette, the Department of Registration of Persons, the Department of Immigration and Emigration, and the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board have been placed under the purview of the Public Security Ministry.Read Gazette here: 

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Samagi Jana Balavegaya filed Fundamental Rights applications with the Supreme Court challenging the gazette issued by President Ranil Wickremesinghe declaring High-Security Zones in Colombo.The applications were filed by SJB MPs Harshana Rajakaruna, and Mujibur Rahuman on Wednesday (28).The FR applications name the Attorney General as the respondent and note that the President has no right to declare High-Security Zones, and no law allows the President to do so.The petitioners request the Supreme Court to rule that the conduct of the President had violated the Fundamental Rights of the people of Sri Lanka, and thereby issue an order to invalidate the said gazette.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka is due to meet on Monday (26) to discuss the gazette notification issued designating several areas in Colombo as High Security Zones.Several parties, including the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) and the Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA) have already expressed concern in this regard, in relation to its legitimacy.On Friday (23), Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe declared multiple areas in Colombo as High Security Zones.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA) says that it is gravely concerned with regard to the Gazette published by President Ranil Wickremesinghe designating several areas in Colombo as High Security Zones.The CPA points out that a close examination of the Official Secrets Act No.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) emphasizes that the section 2 of the Official Secrets Act enables to declare any land, building, ship, or aircraft as a prohibited place, and does not empower the Minister to declare large areas as High Security Zones.On Friday (23), Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe declared multiple areas in Colombo as High Security Zones.  Accordingly, unless the prior written permission of the Inspector General of Police or Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Western Province is obtained, no person shall conduct or hold a public gathering or procession whatsoever on a road, ground, shore or other open area situated within the High Security Zones.The BASL states that it is deeply concerned with regard to the e declaration of certain areas in Colombo as High Security Zones, and whether the purported order of the President also seeks to create offences under the said order which are not found in the Principal Act.The statement reads; " It is also of utmost concern that the purported order imposes stringent provisions in respect of bail by stating that a person taken into custody in connection with an offence under the said orders shall not be granted bail except by a High Court.