Category: Special Reports
Facebook partners with Health Ministry to support vaccine rollout in Sri Lanka
Facebook has partnered with the Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) of the Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka to announce a campaign to help people get vaccinated and increase vaccination intent as access to the COVID-19 vaccine expands in the country. Through this initiative, Facebook is taking several steps to support the nationwide vaccine campaign in […]
World Bank approves USD 80.5mn additional financing for fair deployment of COVID-19 vaccines
The World Bank has approved $80.5 million additional financing to help Sri Lanka access and distribute fairly COVID-19 vaccines and to strengthen the country’s vaccination system and pandemic response. This additional finance builds on the $217.56 million Sri Lanka COVID-19 Emergency Response and Pandemic Preparedness Project, which was approved in April 2020. This new financing […]
Manik Sooriyaarachchi Scholarship for Female Entrepreneurs
The Australian High Commission would like to announce the launch of the Manik Sooriyaarachchi Scholarship for Female Entrepreneurs. This Scholarship has been established to commemorate Manik Sooriyaarachchi, who tragically died, along with her daughter Alexandria, in the 2019 Easter bombings. Manik was an Australian citizen and an alumna from the University of Swinburne in Melbourne. […]
MoU signed between ICTA & enpact e.V, Germany to collaborate between startup ecosystems
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Germany initiated and facilitated the signing of a MOU between the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) of Sri Lanka and ENPACT e.V. in Berlin, Germany, which represents the Berlin Senate’s startup initiative “AsiaBerlin”, on 08 April 2021, with a view to fostering a strong bridge between Berlin, the […]
SriLankan Airlines transports first batch of Sinopharm vaccines; President receives stock
A consignment of Sinopharm (BBIBP-CorV) vaccines manufactured by China to fight against the Coronavirus pandemic was brought to the island this morning (31). The vaccines were transported from Beijing on SriLankan Airlines flight UL809, arriving at Bandaranaike International Airport. The vaccine was stored in the aircraft’s special cold storage compartment and will be stored in […]
United States partners with Sri Lanka Life Saving to promote water safety
The Sri Lanka Life Saving (SLLS) organization recently held a graduation ceremony for trainees who recently completed an intensive training conducted in partnership with the United States. The Beach Bronze Medallion workshop, which provided first-responder training and education for civilians at the SLS headquarters in Mount Lavinia Beach, was part of an effort by the […]
India temporarily halts AstraZeneca vaccine exports
India has reportedly halted exporting Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine as domestic demand for the vaccine is picking up, foreign media reported. Accordingly, over 190 countries under the Covax scheme are likely to be affected. India has exported more than 60 million vaccine doses to 76 countries so far. India is starting vaccinations for those over the […]
Sri Lanka to establish new institution to maximize utilization of government lands
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal submitted by the President for the establishment of an institution under the name Assets Utilization Reformation Commission with powers to take necessary measures for productively utilize the identified underutilized assets. “It has become a pioneer requirement to introduce an appropriate methodology for utilizing state ventures with assets […]
Sri Lanka is not renegotiating Hambantota port lease deal with China: report
Sri Lanka’s ambassador to China Palitha Kohona has dismissed suggestions that the country is planning to extend a 99-year lease it granted to Beijing to run Hambantota port. Palitha Kohona said in an interview with the South China Morning Post that his country would “never be an unsinkable aircraft carrier posing a threat to anyone […]
Facebook partners with VTA to launch digital skills training program in Sri Lanka
In partnership with the Vocational Training Authority of Sri Lanka (VTA), Facebook has launched a series of training sessions to help Sri Lankans upskill their digital capabilities. The initiative is a part of Facebook’s flagship We Think Digital program, and has been designed with the objective to help the vocational sector understand the digital landscape […]
UN launches new campaign, Only Together, to support global vaccine equity call
The United Nations today launched a new global campaign, Only Together to support its call for fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines around the world. The campaign stresses the need for coordinated global action to ensure vaccines are accessible in all countries, starting with health-care workers and the most vulnerable. “Over the past year, we’ve all missed […]
COVID vaccination can prevent death and reduce severe disease: Prof. Asita de Silva
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce had the privilege of having Professor Asita de Silva, Chairman of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority as the guest speaker at its monthly Committee Meeting recently. According to Professor de Silva, the primary objective of vaccination is to prevent death and to reduce severe disease. Healthcare workers, elderly and those with other […]