Study: Long-COVID symptoms burdened 29% of survivors

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Samagi Jana Balawegaya achieved a major victory at the Kolonna Cooperative Office Election in the Ratnapura District, which was held on Friday (21).The Samagi Jana Balawegaya won 115 out of 119 candidates, which is a 5/6 majority, which comes 35 years after the party last held the power at the cooperative election in the Kolonna Constituency, which is known as a stronghold of Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the SLPP.The SJB has won the vast majority of cooperative elections nationwide, which is more than 98%. 

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Indian Navy on Friday (21) intercepted a 'suspicious' boat on Palk Bay, reports PTI.According to the report, the boat was observed by the Indian Navy ship on patrol in Palk Bay near the India-Sri Lanka International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) in the early hours of Friday."Despite repeated warnings, the boat did not stop. The (Navy) ship, as per standard operating procedures, fired warning shots to stop the boat.

The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was passed in Parliament with amendments by majority vote.It will be added to the constitution of Sri Lanka as the 21st Amendment.   174 votes were cast in favor of the amendment during the third reading in Parliament, while no one voted against it.However, during the second reading of the amendment 179 votes were cast in favor, and Dr.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Criminal Investigation Department has been requested to conduct an investigation into the case of an illegally imported Hummer vehicle being given to the same person who imported it at an auction held after it was impounded.This investigstion is being conducted based on a notification by the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance to the Inspector General of Police on the advice of the State Minister of Finance, Ranjith Siambalapitiya.The vehicle in question was illegally imported to Sri Lanka on February 22nd, 2021.The State Minister of Finance, Ranjith Siambalapitiya had previously called for a report from the Director General of Customs regarding the incident, and the Ministry of Finance announced that this step was taken based on the recommendations of the report.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's Education Ministry had announced the days when schools will commence for the second, and third terms for 2022.Sinhala and Tamil Schools – Second Term: 13th September 2022 to 1st December 2022Second Term Holiday:2nd December 2022 to 4th December 2022Third Term (Phase 1):5th December 2022 to 22nd December 2022Third Term (Phase 1) Holidays:23rd December 2022 to 1st January 2023Third Term (Phase 2):2nd January 2023 to 20th January 2023Third Term (Phase 2) Holidays:21st January 2023 to 19th February 2023Third Term (Phase 3):20th February 2023 to 24th March 2023Muslim Schools – Second Term: 13th September 2022 to 1st December 2022Second Term Holiday:2nd December 2022 to 4th December 2022Third Term (Phase 1):5th December 2022 to 22nd December 2022Third Term (Phase 1) Holidays:23rd December 2022 to 1st January 2023Third Term (Phase 2):2nd January 2023 to 15th January 2023Third Term (Phase 2) Holidays:16th January 2023 to 28th February 2023Third Term (Phase 3):1st March 2023 to 21st March 2023

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The cooperation between Sri Lanka and India in the sphere of Defense was hailed by State Minister of Defence, Pramitha Banadara Tennakoon at the biennial global defence exhibition DefExpo2022.The exhibition was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 19 October 2022 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat, and a three-member official delegation from Sri Lanka, led by State Minister of Defense Premitha Bandara Tennakoon and comprising Army and Navy officers, is currently on a visit to India for attending the exhibition. State Minister of Defense Tennakoon highlighted the importance of defense industrial base in augmenting Security policy and noted that DefExpo 2022 provided a great avenue for a deeper understanding of the nature of transformation in modern warfare across five dimensions.The Sri Lankan dignitary met the Minister of State for Defense and Tourism of India Shri Ajay Bhatt on 17 October 2022 along the sidelines of DefExpo2022.During the meeting, India’s readiness to continue to support Sri Lanka in the defence sphere was reiterated. The Sri Lankan delegation also had cordial interactions with Defense Minister, Defense Secretary, Chief of Defense Staff and all three Service Chiefs of India during the visit.Experience sharing and capacity building has been a key pillar of India-Sri Lanka defense cooperation, which is marked by camaraderie and mutual benefit in enhancing our shared security. Indian military establishments including NDC have been the preferred choice of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces for decades and have produced leaders of Sri Lankan Armed forces.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A proposal to cut down on the number of representatives elected to local government bodies will be presented to Parliament, said Janaka Wakkumbura, Sri Lanka's State Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government on Friday (21).He said Sri Lanka currently has 8,719 local government members and measures would be taken to drop that figure to around 4,000.However, the State Minister stressed these reforms would not be used to delay the local government elections.The State Minister also added that the current local government system does not represent the true mandate of the people

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Political parties in the opposition met in Parliament on Thursday (20) to sign a joint declaration opposing the governmets' decision to delay the local government elections.The Samagi Jana Balawegaya, Sri Lanka Freedom Party, National Freedom Front, Democratic Left Front, 43rd Brigade, Tamil National Alliance, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, Sri Lanka Mahajana Party, Lanka Sama Samaja Party, Sri Lanka Communist Party, All Ceylon Muslim Congress, Nawa Lanka Freedom Party, the Democratic People's Front, the Vijayadharani Janata Sabha, the Frontline Socialist Party, and the Uttara Sabha, signed the declaration.However, the Janata Vimukthi Peramuna led National People's Power did not sign it.A unanimous decision was reached to strongly oppose individuall or collectively, any move made by the government to delay the polls, under the guise of electoral reforms.Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa stated that the participants agreed that timely changes in respect of electoral laws, should be addressed, in a continuing time frame but insisted that this should not in any manner be used as a pretext for the postponement of elections.Any departure from the democratic and the electoral process would constitute an intolerable onslaught on the franchise of the people, he emphasized.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's pverall rate of inflation as measured by NCPI for the month of September 2022 has risen to 73.7%, the Department of Census and Statistics reports. The NCPI for all items for the month of September 2022 is 256.2 and it records an increase of 5.8 in index points compared to August 2022.For the September 2022, Month-on-Month change recorded as 2.3% compared to August 2022.The overall rate of inflation as measured by NCPI on Year-on-Year basis is 73.7% in September 2022 and inflation calculated for the August 2022 was 70.2%.With respect to September 2021, the reported inflation for the month of September 2022 was mainly due to the higher price levels prevailed in both food and non-food groups.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A coal shipment will reach Sri Lanka on the 25th of October, said Lanka Coal Company (Private) Limited on Friday (21).General Manager of Lanka Coal Company (Private) Limited Namal Hewage speaking to News 1st said that the coal shipment will be delivered by the company that it had agreed with earlier.He said with the arrival of this coal shipment, there will be no issue in operating the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant.At present Sri Lanka has coal stocks sufficient for a period of 30-days to operate the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant.Namal Hewage said that the supplier is expected to deliver 4 more coal shipments until December 2022.Sri Lanka already called for tenders to appoint a new coal supplier, and the deadline to place bids is on the 25th of October 2022.The supplier who will be selected following the tender process will be allowed to deliver coal to Sri Lanka from December 2022. 

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lankan fishermen had refrained from setting out to sea on Friday (21) after the Met Department warned of heavy rain and strong winds, especially for the coastal areas.Multi-day boats in the Bay of Bengal and North Andaman sea are advised to return to shore or move to safer areas immediately due to strong winds and rough seas.The Met Department warned that a Low-Pressure Area formed over the North Andaman Sea and adjoining areas of the south Andaman Sea & Southeast Bay of Bengal on 20th October 2022.It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a Depression over the same region around 22nd October.Fishermen from multiple coastal areas in Sri Lanka refrained from setting out to sea following the warning issued by the Met Department.News 1st correspondents said that the seas in Hikkaduwa were rough, while Galle was experiencing heavy rainfall since Thursday (20) night.Multi-day boats and other smaller boats did not set out to sea from Matara due to bad weather.News 1st correspondents said that Whale Watching Tour operators also suspended operations on Friday (21) due to bad weather.

(Bloomberg) – Sri Lanka’s 70% inflation is hitting its peak as crippling shortages ease and bailout funds look within reach, yet it’s far from putting the central bank governor at ease.“We think we are seeing the peak of inflation,” central bank governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said in an interview in Colombo on Thursday. “There’s still some way to go,” he said on fixing the island nation’s economy and its finances.The governor, a career central banker who six months ago raised the policy rate by a staggering 700 basis points as among his first acts to stabilize a nation rocked by a debt crisis, said the monetary authority’s rate decisions will remain data driven and forward looking.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's Finance Ministry said that the import restrictions on a number of products including cosmetics, and vehicle spare parts will be lifted within two weeks.State Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya on Friday (21) said that the Department of Economic Research will work on lifting the restrictions after considering the appeals forwarded by those involved in the relevant sectors.On the 23rd of August 2022, Sri Lanka restricted the imports of 1,465 products due to the forex crisis.Thereafter, 708 products were removed from that list after considering multiple appeals.The State Minister said the restrictions will be gradually lifted in the future based on the reasonable requests made by importers.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Chairperson of the National Council Sub-Committee on Identifying Priorities in Formulating Short-, Medium- and Long- Term Policies Namal Rajapaksa, Member of Parliament instructed Anusha Gokula, Director General – Department of Manpower and Employment, to organize a preliminary discussion within two weeks in coordination with all relevant institutions in order to remove the existing barriers for entrepreneurship in Sri Lanka and quickly prepare a new policy framework.It was emphasized at the sub-committee that starting an enterprise in Sri Lanka has become a complex process, so a policy framework should be prepared to make it a very simple and easy task like in developed countries. The sub-committee also agreed to discuss and decide the necessary legal and policy changes to make this process easier and more efficient in coordination with the Divisional Secretary and District Secretariat offices and related institutions at the next committee meeting.These recommendations were given as the officials representing the Department of Manpower and Employment and the Attorney Generals Department were called before the National Council Sub-Committee on Identifying Priorities in Formulating Short-, Medium- and Long- Term Policies to discuss formulation of national policies related to encouraging entrepreneurship and investment.Anusha Gokula, Director General of the Department of Manpower and Employment, pointed out that since entrepreneurship and career guidance is a right that should be given to the students of Sri Lanka, the educational policies should be changed to include it in the school education system of Sri Lanka.According to a recent survey, there are nearly 800,000 youth who do not have education,

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation on Friday (21) said that it has not been able to make payments for a Crude Oil shipment of 100,000 MT anchored in the Port of Colombo.This particular shipment reached Sri Lanka over 40 days ago, and the shortage of Crude Oil has also forced the closure of the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery.However, the Ministry of Power and Energy announced that it made a payment for a Diesel shipment that reached Sri Lankan shores.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka is planning to attract over 5,000 Russian visitors a month, said Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation, Prof. Janita A.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A Chinese vessel has reached Sri Lankan shores to assist in the salvage operations of the X-Press Pearl vessel that sand in Sri Lankan waters.The X-Press Pearl burnt and sank off the coast of Sri Lanka in May 2021, reportedly after two ports had refused to off-load a container leaking nitric acid – typically used in fertilizers and explosives – because they lacked the expertise and facilities to tend to the leak. This produced an ecological catastrophe.Sri Lanka's Marine Environment Protection Authority told News 1st that the Chinese salvage team will cut the vessel in half, and move the two parts of the vessel away from Sri Lanka.This operation will commence once favourable weather conditions prevail, and salvage operation will also include the removal of debris from the Sri Lankan ocean floor in an area of one square kilometer around the shipwreck.Incident Overview:On May 20, 2021, the Singapore -flagged Containership, ‘X-Press Pearl’ reported smoke from the cargo hold while at Colombo anchorage, Sri Lanka.On May 21, the vessel reported fire on deck.

Civil servants have been given top roles on Scotland’s troubled Covid-19 Public Inquiry - despite claims the probe is “independent”.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Many coastal areas in Sri Lanka have been experiencing heavy rainfall since Thursday (20) night.Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-Western and Northern provinces and in Galle and Matara districts, said the Met Department.Fairly heavy showers about 75 mm may be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-Western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.Showers or thundershowers will occur elsewhere over the Island during the afternoon or night.General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.Condition of Rain:Showers or thundershowers will occur at times over the sea areas around the Island. Winds:Winds will be Westerly and wind speed will be (30-40) kmph.

Jenna Ortega had to "shower in cold water" during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 20-year-old actress was shooting the title role in Netflix series 'Wednesday' in Romania when the pandemic broke out and explained that the entire cast was left without hot water in their accommodation because there were no repair workers available to fix a faulty boiler. She said: " I mean, we were out there for seven, eight months in Romania.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka Life Saving marked its 75 anniversary with an art competition on Wednesday (19).Sri Lanka Life Saving successfully concluded the special program organized in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of Sri Lanka Life Saving, the 75-year partnership between Sri Lanka Life Saving and Australia, and the 10-year partnership between Life Saving Victoria, Australia.The Certificate Awarding Ceremony of the We Are Water Wise art competition for school children that was organized by SLLS to celebrate its 75th anniversary was also held in conjunction with this program.The event was graced by Paul Stephens, the High Commissioner of Australia, as well as other dignitaries from the Australian High Commission, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives .

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka has been ranked 48 among 100 countries in the Freedom on the Net 2022 Index.While the Government of Sri Lanka announced plans to implement strict control plans on social media, Sri Lanka has been given a very bad rating at  the in the newest Freedom of the Net report for 2022. China has been ranked worst, while Myanmar, Iran, Cuba and Vietnam occupy the top five positions, while Sri Lanka has been ranked at 48. Iceland had the best ranking. Sri Lanka's rank has reduced, according to the report, due to social media platforms being blocked, political, social or religious content being blocked and pro-Government commentators manipulating online discussions.However, other factors which contributed to the ranking also are; new law or directive increasing censorship or punishment being passed, Blogger or ICT user arrested, imprisoned, or in prolonged detention for political or social content, a blogger or an ICT user being physically attacked or killed (including in custody), and technical attacks against news outlets, government critics, or civil society.

Also Read: Do you have COVID cough? Here’s how to find out Everyone should use a mask when going outside, especially in crowded areas, Guleria advises. Although it is expected that new variants may emerge and that existing types will continue to mutate, the current circumstance is different.

A rapidly spreading Covid strain has been dubbed the Nightmare Variant after it was found to double infections in a matter of days.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A decision has been taken to wind up operations of the “Covid 19 Health and Social Security Fund”, which was established to provide relief to those affected by the Covid 19 epidemic, and Cabinet approval has been obtained for it.The Secretary of the Covid-19 Health and Social Security Fund, Dr Tharaka Liyanapathirana notified the public that the “Covid-19 Health and Social Security Fund” at the Bank of Ceylon, account number 85737373 has been closed down effective from October 18th and requested the public not to donate to this fund from now on.He also notified donors not to send cheques or money towards this fund, to the Presidential Secretariat.The secretary of the Covid-19 Health and Social Security Fund extended his appreciation to the donors who contributed to this fund to make this program implemented throughout the country during the Covid-19 epidemic, a success.The Covid-19 Health and Social Security Fund had received a total of Rs. 2,207,164,785.58 (Rs.

Hong Kong is unlikely to make any major changes to Covid restrictions for inbound travelers before a banking summit next month, but is considering concessions including allowing attendees to leave the city via private jet should they test positive for the virus. The health bureau is in discussions with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority to finalize details for the two-day summit set for early November, including what to do if a participant is infected, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified because they’re not authorized to speak publicly.

pregnancy-related deaths last year, according to a government report released on Wednesday. It says that it is a crisis that has disproportionately claimed Black and Hispanic women as victims. The report lays out trends across the country for expectant mothers and their newborn babies, the news agency AP reported.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne symbolically handed over 400 thalassemia infusion systems to the Deputy Director General (Non-Communicable Diseases) of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Champika Wickramasinghe at the Navy Headquarters on 19th October 2022. The infusion systems were produced by the Research and Development Unit of the Navy, under Naval Social Responsibility (NSR) initiatives.The infusion system is very much essential for thalassemia patients for the removal of excessive iron deposits in blood gathered in vital organs.Since the unit price of an infusion system in the market is generally not affordable, in 2011 the Navy set its mind to manufacture a low-cost thalassemia infusion system. So far, the Sri Lanka Navy has handed over 2774 thalassemia infusion systems to main hospitals and selected children down with the disease, in several phases. The Navy Research and Development Unit received the CDDA – (Cosmetics Devices & Drugs Regulatory Authority) for production of thalassemia infusion pumps in 2011.

COLOMBO (News 1st) –  Sri Lanka Navy conducted a special operation to chase away Indian poaching trawlers from Sri Lanka’s waters on the night of 19th October 2022. The operation led to the seizure of an Indian trawler with 03 Indian nationals poaching in the island's waters off the Kovilan Lighthouse, Kareinagar.Sri Lanka Navy has stepped up its patrols and operations in Sri Lanka’s waters to curb illegal fishing practices of foreign fishing trawlers.In a similar operation conducted in the dark hours of 19th October, the Northern Naval Command deployed a Fast Attack Craft of the 04th Fast Attack Flotilla to chase away a cluster of Indian poaching trawlers, after having spotted them engaged in illegal fishing in Sri Lanka’s waters off the Kovilan Lighthouse, through the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).

Meanwhile, states have been asked to continue monitoring incoming international travelers, undertake constant genome sequencing and step-up vaccination. NEW DELHI: India reported 2,141 new covid infections in the last 24 hours, the Union health ministry said in an update on Thursday. Active cases now stand at 25,510, with total reported cases since the pandemic hit in early 2020 at more than 4.46 crore.

China's capital, Beijing, has dialled up measures to stop Covid, strengthening public checks and locking down some residential compounds after a quadrupling of its case load in recent weeks, just as a key Communist Party congress entered full swing.

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.

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.

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.

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 - 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.

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.

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.

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.

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) – Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu has assured to support Sri Lanka during this difficult period. He is currently on an official visit to Sri Lanka, and met with President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday (19). While appreciating the President’s efforts in rebuilding Sri Lanka’s economy he said that President Ranil Wickremesinghe is the right person to get the country out of the present crisis and assured him that he has a force backing him.He also stated that the U.S.

Ontario hospitals are coming up with alternative solutions, including the use of unconventional patient spaces and new staffing models, to deal with high patient volumes and long wait times as cases of COVID-19 and other illnesses rise.The Ottawa Hospital says recent high patient volumes have been straining its capacity, while staff pressures, as well as ongoing COVID-19 cases, have made it difficult to manage the issue.The hospital says it has prepared several “temporary unconventional spaces” that could be used to care for patients if needed.

Delhi EV Policy released in 2019 set a target of accelerated EV penetration across all vehicle segments so that 25% of all new vehicle registrations are EVs by 2024. The policy also aims to take the share of electric buses in the public transport bus fleet to 70% by 2025.

FILE-A driver sits in his vehicle as he waits for a health care professional to swab his nose for a COVID-19 PCR test at a Nomi Health testing center inside Tropical Park in Miami on May 24, 2022. (Daniel A.

Novavax's vaccine is based on an older technology that has been used for decades to combat diseases including hepatitis B and influenza. Wednesday's decision is in addition to the earlier clearance for the protein-based vaccine as a primary two-shot regimen for those 12 years and above.