Government is in a deal with Badurdheen , it is clear – Archbishop

Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith says the current government is in two deals with former minister Rishad Badurdheen. Him points out that this situation became clearer while making 20th Amendment in the constitution. He said that it was clearer after only the party leader did not vote in favor of the amendment, the rest of the parliamentarians voted in favor. The cardinal said he had mentioned about this deal few days earlier to release of the former minister ‘s brother and that had been confirmed later in the 20th amendment vote. He expressed these ideas at a media briefing in Colombo.
Watch:Oxygen will not be lost even if all the trees are lost – Central Environmental Authority Chairman

The loss of oxygen will not be due to the loss of trees; Chairman of the Central Environmental Authority S. Samarasinghe stated He points out that all the rumors about environmental destruction these days are false and that those who claim to be environmentalists are talking for dollars. He also alleges that Devani Jayatilake and Bhagya Abeyratne are being led by Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake. He said these while joining to a speak in a youtube channel
Sri Lanka is facing a big corona wave like India – Keeping the country open is risky

The corona infections in Sri Lanka will be as serious as they are in India in next few weeks; the Association of Public Health Inspectors stated. Districts including Colombo,Jaffna,Trincomalee and Puttalam are already at a high risk, Upul Rohana President of the association pointed out. Even the daily test number is reduced now the number of PCR tests and random tests should be increased at least to 10,000. He added that a high level of corona can be expected in the coming weeks as public behavior during the New Year season has been disregarded for health and safety practices. Meanwhile, Army Commander Shavendra Silva states that wearing masks is mandatory in the coming months
Importing of crude oil and refined oil are Restricted

The Ministry of Finance has decided to restrict the import of crude oil and refined fuel from this year to prevent a decline in foreign exchange reserves. Instead of the credit limit of 180-270 days for fuel imports to Sri Lanka, it is expected to purchase fuel in small volumes from fuel producing countries in the Gulf region with one year credit facilities. The cost of importing fuel for 2021 is estimated to be $ 2.5 million, assuming that the price of a barrel of crude oil will average $ 59.
According to Laboratory Service official data COVID infections in Sri Lanka aready passed 100,000 : Ravi Kumudesh

Sri Lanka had surpassed the 100,000 mark of the COVID 19 infected patients by April 3 according to the official data of the Laboratory Service; Head of the Association of Government Medical Laboratory Technologists Ravi Kumudesh said. According to him the actual number of COVID-19 patients was reported as1003640 by April 3. But the total number of COVID patients reported according to the official data issued by the Epidemiology Unit was 96000 by April 3. “The failure for establishing an ‘information management system’ by the Epidemiology Unit to regulate data relevant to the epidemic had taken even more than a year after the outbreak and it is a serious omission,” Ravi Kumudesh added further. Daily mirror
Special protection for services in churches

Special steps taken to provide special security services that marks the second anniversary of the April 21 attack;DIG Ajith Rohana said. All senior police officers islandwide have been informed about this. featured image by – travel
The Easter Feast is not an extremist attack It is a ploy by a group to strengthen their political power – a serious accusation from the Archbishop

Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith Cardinal stated the bombing of Easter Sunday was carried out by a group trying to consolidate their political power. He further added that the attack was not carried out by religious extremists but by a group of people using religious extremists to consolidate their political power. The Archbishop said these while speaking to the media after a ceremony to commemorate the victims of the Easter Sunday attack.
Cabraal’s son works in the port city

State Minister of Finance Ajith Nivard Cabraal states that his son has been working in the Colombo Port City since 2016. He said his son was well educated and could work anywhere and questioned what is the issue of him working there. He said these while speaking to media after meeting the Asgiriya and Malwathu Mahanayake Theras in Kandy yesterday (April 18)
Protests against Minister Jeevan Thondaman: he has insulted women

Several women’s organizations in the plantation sector staged a protest at Malliappuwa Junction in Hatton on yesterday (April 18) against a statement made by the State Minister of Estate Infrastructure and Community Empowerment, Jeevan Thondaman, alleging that he had insulted women. State Minister Jeevan Thondaman recently had uttered an obscene word insulting women at a meeting to raise awareness among party members about the wage increase in Rs 1000at the Ceylon Workers’ Congress office in Kotagala. Minister of State Jeevan Thondaman was involved in the protest on social media, claiming that he had intervened to pay the plantation workers a salary of Rs. The women said. He had claimed that he was intervened to pay the plantation workers a salary of Rs.1000 and none of others involved in the process. But the protesting women claimed that a statement is circulating on social media alleging that he had insulted woman. The protesting women said that the statement made by Minister of State Jeevan Thondaman should be withdrawn and that all women in this country should unite and protest against that statement. The protest was supported by several youth organisations in the plantation areas and was heavily guarded by the police.
Muttiah Muralitharan undergoes a heart surgery

Former Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan has undergone a heart surgery in Chennai, India ;foreign media reports. He has been admitted to hospital yesterday (April 18) for heart surgery. Muralidharan was the spin bowling coach for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the ongoing IPL series in India.
