Protect health of environment, animals, humans to prevent future pandemics Source:Island Former Senior Scientist Central Pollution Control Board, India The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that the veneer of civilization is very thin. we did not have knowledge, resources and technologies to deal with such a devastating pandemic. More than 3.1 million people worldwide have died from Covid-19 and more than 146 million cases have been recorded till date. This pandemic is a crisis not today, this is only the beginning. The other viruses of animal origin are just around the corner. A future pandemic could be worse than the ongoing crisis because we are pushing nature to its limit by destroying and degrading amazingly diverse ecosystems, like tropical forests, rivers, lakes, mountains, coral reefs and many more and ultimately removing natural buffers and expanding the interface, the touch points, between wildlife and people where pandemics emerge. This unsustainable exploitation of ...
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Rotary Sri Lanka and SLSI launch Covid-19 prevention certification program for SL businesses-by By Hiran H.Senewiratne Source:Island Rotary Sri Lanka has initiated a certification program, along with the Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI), for businesses to introduce into their institutions new health protocols required to combat the Covid 19 pandemic. Micro, small, medium and large scale businesses in the country are included in the program, Rtn. Ajith Weerasinghe, District Governor 2020-21, RI District:3220, Sri Lanka & Maldives said. ‘SLSI got the best brains to develop the standards that led to the first-ever certification protocols for COVID protection being launched in the country to create a “Covid Control Environment” in keeping with the theme “Stop The Spread”, Weerasinghe told The Island Financial Review. ...
Govt. revenue nosedives 27.7% in 2020 Source:FT Declines to Rs. 1.36 t from Rs. 1.89 t in 2019 Tax earnings drop 29.9% to Rs. 1.2 t from Rs. 1.7 t Revenue from direct taxes also declined to 22.1% Revenue from corporate and non-corporate income tax decline by 16.2% to Rs. 228.3 b Excise duty earnings from cigarettes rise 8% to Rs. 94.3 b, alcohol 4.8% to Rs. 121 b Government revenue took a nosedive in 2020, recording a decline of 27.7% to Rs. 1.36 trillion from Rs. 1.89 trillion with tax earnings also dropping 29.9% to Rs. 1.2 trillion from Rs. 1.7 trillion the previous year, the Central Bank said yesterday. The Annual Report said revenue declined both in nominal terms and as a percentage of GDP, reflecting the combined impact of subdued economic performance due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tax revisions implemented from late 2019, and the tax ...
May the New Year bring Peace, Joy & Good Health – EDITORIAL Source:Dailymirror Sri Lankans – mainly Sinhalese and Tamils celebrated New Year on Wednesday in a more relaxed manner this year when compared with last year, with the COVID-19 pandemic compelling the authorities to place restrictions on travelling from one Province to another, gathering in large numbers at shopping centres, temples and Kovils and the need to strictly adhere to health guidelines. Not that these restrictions have been removed or diluted but that over a period of time people tend to take things for granted and drop their guard, come what may. The National New Year is also deeply linked to the ancient system of astrology, on this occasion not so much to help predict good times and bad but to determine the Auspicious times or Nekath for performing the various rituals which are an important or integral part ...
Giving everyone a fair shot-by David Amaglobeli Source:Dailynews The COVID-19 pandemic is intensifying the vicious circle of inequality. To break this pattern and give everyone a fair shot at prosperity, governments need to improve access to basic public services—such as health care (including vaccination) and education—and strengthen redistributive policies. For most countries, this would require raising additional revenue and improving the efficiency of spending. These reforms must be complemented by greater transparency and accountability, which can help increase overall trust in government and contribute to more cohesive societies. ...
So What is Christmas ?-by J. Godwin Perera Source:Island This year it was a quiet, subdued, Christmas. The restrictions imposed to control the Covid 19 pandemic made sure of that. We were confined, constrained and constricted. Such controls were absolutely necessary and no one but the pitifully ignorant or stubbornly indifferent would have protested. Even the Church endorsed such steps and rigidly enforced the Covid -19 Safety Protocols. But there was a time not so long ago when Christmas was more than just a date on the calendar. It was a season. It was one long season of celebrations, revelries, festivities. The season was ushered in during the very first week of December as the airwaves replayed the Golden Oldies of Christmas. ‘White Christmas’, ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,’ ‘ I saw Mummy kissing Santa Clause,’ ‘Jingle Bells.,’ ‘Little Drummer Boy’ etc…etc…. Then came the shops announcing a ‘Pre- Christmas ...
The Masterpieces of Royal – Part 2 A Royal Tribute-by J. Godwin Perera Remembered Yesterdays Source:Island Note: The Covid 19 pandemic has changed our lives. There is now the ‘new normal.’ Just two examples are -working from home and online teaching and learning. Will we ever get back to the pre- Covid days specially where schooling is concerned? I fear not and I hope I am wrong. Because teaching can never be done through the remoteness of technology. There has to be that personal touch. That eye to eye contact. That combination of both heart and mind. And so it is with a deep feeling of nostalgia that I write this article. It’s a tribute to two great teachers – Vijitha (Viji ) Weerasinghe and B. St. E. de Bruin ( Bruno ). Despite the numerous tributes paid during the past years to these two Great Teachers, why it may it ...
Dec 26, 2020
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Tagged Oliver Goldsmith, the Covid-19 pandemic, The Masterpieces of Royal, Thomas Gray, William Wordsworth
Sri Lanka set to play two-Test series in South Africa Source:Sportshome CSA has confirmed that Sri Lanka will visit South Africa for a two-match Test series, which falls under the World Test Championship cycle, in December-January 2020-21. The two Tests, at Centurion (December 26-30) and Johannesburg (January 3-7), will fill the traditional Boxing Day and New Years’ slots. The series against Sri Lanka will follow a limited-overs visit from England (three T20Is, three ODIs) in November-December, which has already received a go-ahead from the South African government. Australia are also set to visit South Africa in February 2021 for a three-Test series that will complete a packed home summer. ...
