Category: Special Reports
Covid- 19 &’s: 5 important areas to focus on during tough times
Dr. Nirmal De Silva It is evident that the Covid-19 pandemic would create a significant economic impact globally. Whilst it is rather premature to predict the overall impact, one can safely conclude that the impact will last for a number of months (best case scenario) post Covid-19. In Sri Lanka too we can expect our […]
Special request by Government to Sri Lankan expats
Mar 27, 2020 (LBO) – The Government urges Sri Lankan expatriates who wish to return to their Motherland to safely remain where they are now until the risk of COVID – 19 virus minimized. The Government has taken several effective initiatives to prevent the spread of the pathogen. In order to stop the virus coming […]
Foreign Ministry statement on death of Sri Lankan National in Switzerland
Mar 27, 2020 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka Embassy in Berlin has informed the Ministry that the Swiss authorities have confirmed that the Sri Lankan aged 59 years who died in Switzerland on 25 March had tested positive for COVID-19. The deceased was from Punkuduthivu in Northern Province and held residence permit in Switzerland
Work from home period extended
Mar 26, 2020 (LBO) – In order to strengthen the efforts of the Government to prevent the spread of COVID – 19 virus in the country, the duration from March 30th to April 03rd had been declared as a work from home period. This will apply to all State, semi-government and private sector entities except […]
WB, IMF call on bilateral creditors to suspend debt payments from IDA countries
Mar 25, 2020 (LBO) – World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund call on all official bilateral creditors to suspend debt payments from IDA countries that request forbearance. 76 countries are currently eligible to receive IDA resources.Bolivia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam graduated from IDA at the end of FY17, but will receive transitional support […]
Colombo, Gampaha, Kaluthara identified as high-risk zones
Mar 24, 2020 (LBO) – Districts of Colombo, Gampaha, and Kaluthara have been identified as high-risk zones in view of the spread of COVID-19. Large crowds in shops had been observed after curfew was lifted this morning in three districts. Health officials fear that this, in turn, could lead to a wider and faster spread […]
Curfew in North extended till Tuesday morning
Mar 22, 2020 (LBO) – The ongoing curfew in the districts of Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and Jaffna in the Northern Province has been extended till 6.00 am on Tuesday (24). President’s Media Division said the curfew in these districts will be re-imposed at 2.00 pm on the same day. People living in the 5 […]
Government indefinitely extends closure of Airport arrival terminal
Mar 22, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Government has decided to indefinitely extend the closure of the arrival terminal at the Airport in order to prevent new cases of the Corona virus into the country. Issuing a statement, the President’s Media Division, however, said that the departure terminal will continue to be operational and flights […]
Ongoing curfew in Colombo & Gampaha districts extended till 6 am on Tuesday
Mar 21, 2020 (LBO) – The ongoing curfew in districts of Colombo, Gampaha, and Puttalam has been extended till 6.00 am on Tuesday (24). In these districts, curfew will be re-imposed at 2.00 pm on the same day (24), President’s Media Division said in a statement. Curfew in other districts will be lifted at 6.00 […]
Sri Lanka urges foreign states to extend visas of visiting Sri Lankans
Mar 18, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka requests foreign governments to facilitate the appropriate extension of visas for Sri Lankans currently visiting their countries and facing difficulty to return to Sri Lanka on account of the travel bans that have and will become applicable as part of the control measures on COVID- 19. Full statement […]
Imported masks & disinfectants exempted from taxes
Mar 18, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government has decided to exempt imported face masks and disinfectants from taxes with effect from midnight today. Accordingly, these items have now been subjected to the Special Commodity Levy Act. The Finance Minister has taken this decision in view of the high demand for the products due to […]
WHO officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic
Mar 10, 2020 (LBO) – The World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic. As cases of the coronavirus surge in Italy, Iran, South Korea, the U.S. and elsewhere, many scientists say it’s plain that the world is in the grips of a pandemic — a serious global outbreak. Until now, the World Health Organization […]