Sri Lanka’s National Newspaper i since 1918 saturday april 4, 2020 I Volume - 102 - No 82 I Rs. 30.00 I Registered as a Newspaper in Sri Lanka I special edition Central Bank Banks urged To complement existing preventive strategies in Sri Lanka further reduces to implement policy interest rates The The Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka yesterday CB guidelines decided to reduce the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and Sandasen Marasinghe the Standing Lending Facility Rate Central Bank Governor, World Bank fast tracks (SLFR) of the Central Bank by Professor W D Lakshman 25 basis points to 6.00 per cent yesterday instructed the banks and 7.00 per cent,from the close of and financial institutions to business on April 3. implement all the instructions This decision will complement given by the Central Bank in the measures taken thus far to ease the bid to revive the economy market conditions, and enable the in a post-COVID19 scenario. domestic financial market to pro- He also warned the banks vide further relief to businesses and financial institutions not and individuals affected by the to delay implementing the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic instructions and guidelines, US$ 128.6 million and restrictions placed to contain its which would compel the spread within the country. Central Bank to take action The bank said, there will be no against them in accordance monetary policy announcement with the available rules and on April 9 as scheduled. However, regulations. the Monetary Board may review the In a statement, he said that monetary policy stance of the Central the Central Bank is optimistic Bank and make necessary changes as that country would overcome and when required in consideration the catastrophic virus epidem- to combat COVID-19 of economic and market develop- ic and the country’s endeav- The International Development lishment of Bio-Safety Level (BSL) ments. our to combat COVID 19 is Association (IDA) and the Interna- 3 laboratory facilities at the National internationally commended as tional Bank for Reconstruction and Medical Research Institute (MRI) being far better than those of Development (IBRD) of the World and strengthening laboratory facili- developed nations. Bank Group hav agreed to provide ties and information systems. Udayanga Weerathunga He also said that the politi- financing assistance amounting to A news release from the World cal authority, administration, United States Dollars (USD) 128.6 Bank said its Board of Executive granted bail Police, Tri Forces, health million (approx Rs.25,000 million) to Directors approved the $128.6 mil- sector, Central Bank etc are the Sri Lankan effort to battle against lion Sri Lanka COVID-19 Emergency Lakmal Sooriyagoda playing a pivotal role in this the Covid 19 outbreak. These funds Response and Health Systems Pre- Former Sri Lankan Ambas- endeavour. He added that will be mobilized through the Gov- paredness Project to help the country sador to Russia Udayanga Central Bank has taken many ernment Budget during the period prevent, detect, and respond to the Weeratunga, who was held measures to assist the Govern- from 2020 to 2023. COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen in remand custody over the ment to cope with this situa- The World Bank is working closely its public health preparedness. alleged MiG Aircraft deal, tion, including raising Rs 100 with the Government of Sri Lanka The new fast track package will was yesterday ordered to be billion through Treasury Bills. to contain the spread of COVID-19 benefit the entire Sri Lankan popula- released on bail by Colombo World Bank HQ in Washington, DC He said it is customary for and prepare the country for poten- tion and prioritize stopping or slow- Fort Magistrate. the Central Bank to formulate tial future disease emergencies,” said Lanka and the World Bank, respec- and responding to surge capacity ing the spread of the virus, reducing Udayanga Weerathunga was long term policies in cases Idah Z. Pswarayi-Riddihough, World tively. through trained and well-equipped case numbers, and preventing out- ordered to be released on a such as epidemics. He added Bank Country Director for Maldives, In response to the increasing health workers and medical officers breaks in communities. cash bail of Rs.2.5 million with that in the aftermath of such Nepal, and Sri Lanka. “Sri Lanka COVID 19 incidence in the country, of health and primary health doctors The project includes a $35 million two sureties of Rs.50 million a catastrophe, entrepreneurs, has already taken preventive meas- the Government of Sri Lanka has ini- and equipped facilities, strengthen- loan from the International Bank each by Colombo Fort Magis- businessmen and people must ures to contain this rapidly evolving tiated urgent and effective measures ing Surveillance and Response Sys- for Reconstruction and Development trate Ranga Dissanayake. work with vigour to revive the pandemic and protect its people. to slow the spread of the virus by tems, strengthening health care facili- (IBRD) through the World Bank The value of the alleged economy. Our support will complement these testing and treating patients, contact ties capacity for emergency response, Group’s COVID-19 Fast-Track Facili- deal was estimated at US$14 He also said that this phe- efforts and help reduce future risks.” tracing of those found positive, limit- improving community engagement ty and a $93.6 million credit from the million. This is in connection nomenon is natural with Sri Signing of the agreements of ing travel, mandatory quarantine for and risk communication and provi- International Development Associa- with a financial fraud that is Lankans, as experienced in Sri Lanka COVID-19 Emergency anyone coming from countries affect- sion of social and financial support tion (IDA), the World Bank’s conces- alleged to have taken place the past, and the banks and Response and Health Systems Pre- ed by COVID-19, closing borders to to households. sional credit window for developing in procuring seven MiG-27 financial institutions should paredness Project took place at the prevent transmission from further Further the project will support for countries. ground attack aircraft for the assist them. Ministry of Finance and Mr. S R travellers, cancelling large gatherings the strengthening national and sub- The Ministry of Health and Indig- Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF). He added that the Central Attygalle, Secretary to the Minis- and creating awareness. national institutions for prevention enous Medical Services will imple- The suspect was not present Bank has already formulated try of Finance, Economic and Policy The project will focus on limit- and preparedness through strength- ment the project with support from in court yesterday and court policies and the banks and Development and Ms. Idah Pswarayi- ing local transmission of COVID-19 ening the National Institute of Infec- United Nations agencies and other was informed that he was financial institutions have Riddihough, Country Director of the by strengthening capacities of the tious Diseases (NIID), establishment stakeholders engaged in emergency undergoing treatment at Pris- to implement them without World Bank signed the agreements health system for contact tracing, and strengthening of subnational response, prevention, and readi- on Hospital. Further magiste- delay. on behalf of the Government of Sri case finding, confirmation, reporting, emergency operation centers, estab- ness. rial inquiry fixed for May 5.

Three injured as police fire on speeding car at checkpoint

Three persons were injured Panadura Hospital, one of them had escaped. He was also found ried out regarding these sus- after police opened fire on a has a prior conviction of heroin to be engaged in heroin racket- pects. car that sped past a checkpoint possession in November 2018 eering in July 2018, involved in The other suspect is cur- in Panadura without stopping. and had been arrested by the an assault in December 2018, rently being interrogated by The three injured persons are Panadura South Police. and again in April 2019 he the Egoda Uyana Police and residents of Battaramulla and The other injured suspect had again been arrested by investigations are underway Panadura in the age groups of had been produced in court by the Panadura South Police for to determine if these sus- 18, 20 and 22 years. the Panadura South Police for heroin possession. pects were involved in trans- Of the two injured persons possession of heroin in Novem- These details were revealed porting drugs, the Police receiving treatment at the ber 2018 and remanded, but he during the investigation car- Media said. State Intelligence role in More quarantined curbing Covid-19 commended persons head home Around 312 individu- ly, there are 1,683 persons Camelia Nathaniel SUPPLY LINES CONTINUE UNINTERRUPTED: Essential goods being taken to wholesalers in the Pettah gence Service. After the first patient als who completed the currently at 40 quarantine yesterday. (Picture by Hirantha Gunathilake) With the detection of the first was discovered, more Covid-19 pos- quarantine process were centres. Coronavirus positive patient in Sri itive patients were detected from scheduled to leave for “Arrangements are Lanka, the State Intelligence Ser- Mattegoda, Marawila, Nugegoda, their homes yesterday. also underway as of now vice has made a huge contribution Beruwala, Dehiwala, Colombo-8, Over the past two days to refer some 300 plus to prevent the spread of the virus on Wennappuwa, Ja-Ela, Ratmalana, with the discovery of individuals, believed to the directions of the President and Akurana, Nattandiya, Colombo-4, Covid-19 positive patients have got in contact with Sri Lanka Missions ensure welfare of Overseas Sri Lankans in comparison with other countries Atalugama, Bandaragama, Put- from the Beruwela area the COVID patient who Sri Lanka holds a special place in its talam, Wellampitiya, another from certain actions had to be died on April 01. Another The Ministry of Foreign Rela- COVID -19 pandemic. The focal in their respective stations, social efforts to control the spread of the Beruwala and Jaffna. taken. Accordingly, based batch of 312 quarantined tions, sensitive to the concerns of point of the Foreign Ministry on media platforms are also being Covid-19, said DIG Ajith Rohana. All those 145 detected have had on intelligence informa- individuals is also ready the Overseas Sri Lankans (OSLs) COVID -19 Action and DG/East used to maintain and enhance He said that while the first Covid- some connection with the earlier tion and the advice of the to proceed home today amidst the rapid spread of the Asia Mr. Kandeepan Balasubra- links by which information could 19 patient, a Chinese female was identified patients. Recently there health officials, another (3) morning,” Head of the COVID-19 and the inability to maniam, Additional Secretaries, be shared. The Sri Lanka Missions detected on January 27th and on were 20 patients who tested posi- 226 persons who had NOCPCO told the Media. return to Sri Lanka, has held con- respective territorial DGs and in these regions have assured the March 11th the first Sri Lankan tive and they had direct contact associated with those Lieutenant General sultations over the past two days relevant functional DGs of the community members and students patient was detected. So far the with a person who had arrived in infected were sent to the Shavendra Silva said that with its Heads of Missions based Ministry were associated in the studying overseas that requests data of 147 patients have been ana- the country who had tested posi- Punani quarantine centre a total of 187 quarantined in 67 cities across the world, to discussions. The Acting General for return of Sri Lankans will be lysed and the health authorities, tive, DIG Ajith Rohana stated. This in order to ensure the returnees from Diyatala- facilitate the wellbeing and safety Manager of the Sri Lanka Bureau considered once the spread of the doctors and hospital staff have ren- group was in quarantine by the safety of the other resi- wa, Rantembe and Pom- of Overseas Sri Lankans, while of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), virus is contained in the country. dered a huge service in caring for time they tested positive and those dents in the area. peimadu Quarantine Cen- preparing for any exigencies they W.M.V. Wansekara, also attended Sri Lanka Missions in the Mid- the infected. The Tri-Forces led by detected from Jaffna were those This was stated by tres after the two-week could have to meet in the coming some of the consultations which dle East, as well as South East the Sri Lanka Army have directly who had attended the prayer service Army Commander Lt. long quarantine process, days. focused on Sri Lankan migrant Asia, East Asia, Africa and South- engaged in the quarantine process in Jaffna and were also in quaran- Gen. Shavendra Silva dur- left for their homes on In a series of tele-conferences receiving countries. ern Europe, which host the largest while the Police Department have tine. ing the National Opera- April 2 after receipt of led by Foreign Secretary Ravina- Overall, all Sri Lanka Missions, concentration of Sri Lankan expa- contributed in streamlining the self- He also stated that so far Sri tion Centre for the Pre- Quarantine Certificates. tha Aryasinha with Heads of Mis- even though mostly in ‘work from triate workers, informed of their quarantine process, said DIG Ajith Lanka has not come to the commu- vention of Covid-19 daily With this, a total of 2308 sion/Post in 5 regional clusters home’ mode, have been constantly efforts to constantly network with Rohana. nity spreading stage. media briefing. quarantined individuals (South Asia, Middle East, South interacting with the student com- Sri Lankans overseas and the com- He said it is a collective effort All those detected later had some Further, over the past have so far left those QCs, East Asia & East Asia, Africa & munities and the migrant workers munity representatives, assisting by all the above parties and once connection with the above men- three days while quaran- manned by tri services, Latin America, as well as North in their respective stations and them in matters concerning emer- the infected person is identified he tioned 19 places and it is due to tine operations were being he said. “Similarly, all 31 America & Europe), issues that have established 24-hour emer- gency passports, visa extensions, is isolated or sent for treatment. the contribution of the intelligence carried out at the Put- foreigners from 15 coun- demanded attention in respect of gency hotlines providing easy and employment contracts, by dis- Then the group which had associ- sources that the authorities were talam quarantine centre, tries after completion of Overseas Sri Lankans were dis- access to the Mission staff. While cussing with the respective local ated with this patient is identified, able to quickly identify these cases another 30 persons were the quarantine process cussed, in keeping with the Gov- the Missions are in the process of authorities and intervening and including those they may have had and isolate them to prevent the Cor- sent there for quarantine have left those centres,” ernment’s policy directives, on the updating databases of Sri Lankans seeking clearances, as required. contact with. The DIG said that this onavirus spreading further among on April 01st. According- he added. task is entrusted to the State Intelli- communities. news saturday,april 4, 2020 727 families in Foreign Minister explores practical solutions to assist self-quarantine expatriate communities in Matara Dr A D U Karunarathna Cooperative Societies to help Regional Director Health Ser- suggesting that the maximum vices Matara told the action purchase price of a kilogram committee setup to curtail of Skipjack (Balaya) should be the spread of #COVID19 in Rs 200/= and Tuna should be the district headed by Minis- Rs 350/- per kg. Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha and other officials at ter of Education, Sports and The Police informed the the meeting Youth Affairs Dullas Alahappe- Committee that some people ruma that there were 727 were misusing the permission Foreign Minister, Dinesh Lanka Missions abroad ongoing ing this period. He advised the families under self quarantine given to transport essential Gunawardena met with senior & further measures to ensure officials to take necessary in the district. The action food items and that they had officials of the Ministry of For- the well being and safety of actions to explore new markets committee has been meeting detected a vehicle displaying eign Relations at the Ministry to Overseas Sri Lankans. for Sri Lankan products, espe- regularly at the District Secre- The meeting in progress chaired by Minister Dullas Alahapperuma an essential sevices board discuss about the welfare of the In discussing issues of cially for Tea and to consolidate tariat in Matara after the gov- transporting illicit hooch. Sri Lankan expatriate communi- migrant workers, especially in existing markets for Sri Lankan ernment imposed a curfew to urbs who are unable to return Pradeep Rathnayaka said that Heads of Local Govern- ties, difficulties currently being the Middle Eastern countries, products such as apparel. prevent the spread of the home due to the curfew and administration services in the ment institutions in the faced by these communities and the Minister directed the senior Foreign Minister Guna- deadly Coronavirus. restrictions of travel. He sug- district have been coordinated Matara district, heads or ways to explore practical solu- officials of the Ministry to work wardena appreciated the servic- Dr Karunarathna revealed gested that the government and the Grama Seva Nilad- representatives of Govern- tions to assist expatriate com- closely with the Sri Lanka es of senior officials of the the figures when Minister Ala- should make arrangements to haris have been tasked to ment institutions and for- munities at this time of need. Bureau of Foreign Employment Ministry, including staff of Sri happeruma called for them. bring them back and quaran- check and report on the well- mer law makers Mahinda Earlier this week, taking note (SLBFE) to find appropriate Lankan Overseas Missions, and Former Parlimenterian tine them as they were return- being and welfare of all resi- Yapa Abeywardena, Laksh- of the growing concerns of the solutions to such issues. their dedication during this dif- Sunil Handuneeththi informed ing illegally in vehicles that dents in their areas. man Yapa Abeywardena, Overseas Sri Lankans amidst Foreign Minister Gunawarde- ficult period. Secretary Ravina- the committee that there were were transporting essential On being informed of the Kanchana Wijesekera, Niro- the rapid spread of COVID- 19 na also highlighted the impor- tha Aryasinha, Additional Sec- hundreds of Southerners food items and were putting plight of fishermen unable to shan Premathilake and and their inability to immediate- tance of maintaining economic retaries, Directors General and employed in the construction the community at risk. sell their catch, Minister Ala- Manoj Sirisena attend the ly return to Sri Lanka, the Min- and trade relations between Sri other senior officials attended sector in Colombo and its sub- District Secretary Matara happeruma requested the two hour discussion. istry had discussed with Sri Lanka and other countries dur- the meeting. ICRC in supportive role Second batch leaves Boossa Naval to combat COVID- 19 Base after quarantine The second batch of per- lished at Boossa Naval Base, more Sri Lankans are current- sons who successfully com- proceeded home as the sec- ly undergoing the quarantine pleted their quarantine pro- ond batch, upon receiving process at Boossa quarantine cess at the quarantine centre Quarantine Certificate from centre. Further, Sri Lanka established at Boossa Naval Commanding Officer of SLNS Navy has already taken steps Base, left for their homes yes- ‘Nipuna’. to establish several quarantine terday. As of now, 11 persons have centres at naval premises and Accordingly, six (06) Sri successfully completed the it also continues to disinfect Lankans, on completion of quarantine process at the populous areas in a bid to their quarantine process at quarantine centre established control the spread of COVID- the quarantine centre estab- at Boossa. Meanwhile, 66 19 within the country. A final temperature check before heading to the bus Home gardening web portal The International Committee prisons and five main police of the Red Cross (ICRC) delega- detention facilities. The distribu- The Government has initiated a The public can forward their tion in Sri Lanka is supporting tions include dissemination ses- home gardening web portal to encour- requests for support and assistance the national authorities in their sions with various detention age the public on a self-sufficient food with home gardening via a simple reg- efforts to protect the public and authorities to explain the use of supply. Interested parties can recieve istration process. the detainee population against the material and all necessary the service via saubagya.lk facilitated They will be able to request for the spread of COVID-19. In coor- precautions. by the Ministry of Mahaweli, Agricul- seeds, plants, soil information and dination with the Ministry of “Our teams are working ture, Irrigation and Rural Development. other tips on home gardening. Health, the ICRC proposed a around the clock to procure the response plan that includes rec- supplies needed for the distribu- ommendations shared with the tions in prisons and selected Ministry of Justice, the Depart- police stations. We have support- COVID-19 clouds Sri Lanka’s ment of Prisons and the Inspec- ed over 20,000 beneficiaries tor General of Police and other across the country so far, yet we relevant authorities. are aware that we can neither growth prospects — ADB “In contribution to the ICRC relent nor slow down our efforts,” global response plan, we have said Mr. Petridis. “In the coming adapted our programs in Sri weeks, we will continue to The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) “The projected slowdown is in sharp Lanka to support the efforts of engage with the authorities to flagship annual economic publication, the contrast to earlier signs of a growth the authorities on COVID -19 better understand their needs Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2020, rebound in 2020. COVID-19 and the meas- given our specific technical and priorities and assess how People buy goods from a mobile truck in Colombo yesterday. forecasts significant headwinds for Sri Lan- ures required to contain it have curtailed expertise on public health, foren- best we can contribute in the face (Picture by Sulochana Gamage) ka’s economy as it fights the spread of movement of labor, disrupted livelihoods sics, health in detention, disinfec- of this rapidly evolving threat”. COVID-19, which comes less than 12 months and supply chains, and created cash flow tion and waste management”, The ICRC continues to coordi- after the terror attacks in April 2019. Sri problems for businesses, representing said Loukas Petridis, head of the nate with Movement partners Lanka’s economic growth is projected to fall simultaneous demand and supply shocks,” ICRC delegation in Sri Lanka. including the International Feder- to 2.2% in 2020 and recover moderately to said ADB’s Senior Country Economist for Monitoring treatment and con- ation of Red Cross and Red Cres- 3.5% in 2021. The ADB launched its Flag- Sri Lanka Utsav Kumar. “So, the longer ditions of detention is an utmost cent and also in supporting its India takes action against ship Economic publication “Asian Develop- this disruption lasts the greater the risk to priority for ICRC which has been national partner, the Sri Lanka ment Outlok 2020” in Manila yesterday. Sri Lanka’s growth prospects.” visiting places of detention in Sri Red Cross Society, with material This slowdown comes against the back- Support for public health services and Lanka since 1989. The ICRC assistance and by distributing its drop of a global public health crisis that has financial support for households and busi- began distributions of hygiene posters and leaflets, produced in foreign Jammat members halted economic activities across many econ- nesses will add new spending pressures material (chlorine, soap), and the two local languages, with omies in the region and beyond. Growth in for the government amid lower revenue protective personal equipment on health awareness messages on International media yesterday six Chinese nationals, 77 Kyr- Asia and the Pacific is projected to slow collection in 2020 as economic activity 22 March to twenty-four closed COVID-19. reported that India has blacklisted gyzstan, 75 Malaysian, 65 Thai, 12 sharply to 2.2% in 2020 with a recovery to weakens. This will push the fiscal deficit 960 foreign Tablighi Jamaat activists Vietnamese, 9 Saudi and 3 French 6.2% in 2021, while growth in South Asia is up, amid already high public debt and including 33 Sri Lankans. nationals were also among those who expected to average 4.1% in 2020 and then external refinancing needs. Export and The said activists have been black- got blacklisted. improve to 6.0% in 2021. With the domes- tourism earnings, as well as remittances listed and their tourist visas have Foreign media also reported that tic outbreak of COVID-19, Sri Lanka’s will weaken amid a global slowdown. been cancelled by the Union Home “Action against the foreign Tablighi growth projection comes with significant However, lower imports reflecting the Ministry of India. Jamaat members were taken after downside risks—growth could be lower reduction in global oil prices and energy According to Indian media reports, over 2,300 activists, including 250 by another 1.0 to 1.5 percentage points, demand, subdued domestic demand, the said 33 Sri Lankans along with foreigners of the Islamic organisa- depending on the severity and the dura- and restrictions imposed on imports by 379 Indonesians, 110 Bangladeshi, tion were found to be living at its tion of domestic infection. However, quick the Central Bank of Sri Lanka will help 63 Myanmarese who are foreign Jam- headquarters located at Delhi measures to contain the domestic spread to keep the current account deficit in mat members active in India have despite the 21-day lockdown of the virus and policy action to provide check, which is expected to widen to tested positive for COVID-19. imposed to check the spread of coro- relief to those adversely affected could 2.8% of GDP in 2020 before falling to Four Americans, nine British and navirus.” mitigate the fallout. 2.6% in 2021. Sri Lankan Community in China donate essential medical supplies

On the initiative of the Sri Lanka donors in donating these essential Embassy in Beijing, Sri Lankan com- medical items. munity members living in China and The medical supplies will be sent to the Chinese friends of Sri Lanka donat- Sri Lanka by Sri Lankan Airlines on ed surgical masks, forehead thermome- April 4, 2020 and will be handed over ters, disposable face masks, N95 to the Ministry of Health and other rel- masks, goggles, infrared electronic evant line agencies. thermometers, isolation cloth, protec- The Sri Lanka Consulate in Shang- tion suits, and disposable gloves which hai coordinated with the local agencies could be used to effectively fight to fast-track the customs clearance COVID-19 in Sri Lanka. while Sri Lankan Airlines will air- The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing freight these items free of charge from has appreciated the timely effort of the Shanghai to Colombo. saturday,april 4, 2020 news FEATURE A basic analysis on Covid-19 Data in Sri Lanka Prof. T S G Peiris increasing exponentially up to 17 humidity increase substantially lower tioned that 500 infected individuals OVID-19 is a new ill- March and then has been decaying the virus transmission. are circulating within the popula- ness that can affect the with an exceptional of 20 on 31 An indicator known as, “R naught” tion by 18th March and those lungs of person which March (Fig. 4). These results con- (R0) which is used by epidemiolo- would have had a total of 19,000 has now spread in 205 firm that spread of covid_19 will gists to estimate the individuals that contacts (19531), based on R0 as countries in different die off in few months’ time and the each infected person will transmit. 2.5. However, I also computed the intensities.C The number of total probability of spreading to commu- In other words, R0 tells the average expected number of infected cases cases vary from 215,300 in USA to nity level is almost zero as so far number of people who will catch a for different R0 values assuming one in Papua New Guinea. Sri Lanka we have identified individual level disease from one contagious person. initial value on 18th March as 500. ranks at 105. COVID19 is caused by and extremely few cases on family Recent studies further claimed that This computation can be easily a virus known as coronavirus. There level. in cold dry weather, of coronavirus is done using basic properties on geo- is still no vaccine or cure for it. In between 2 and 3, and for every metric progression in arithmetic this article a few analyses are carried Impact of Climate degree Celsius increase and every (Table 1). out on COVID19 data in Sri Lanka percent relative humidity increase, Though it says, cases of COVID-19 which can be used for some policy on COVID19 R0 reduces by 0.0383 and 0.0224 that fly under the radar without decisions respectively. Thus, it is obvious that being diagnosed which appear to fuel Many studies have shown that the expected value of R0 in Sri the rapid spread of the disease, we Trend of Daily high temperature and high humidity Lanka (300C and 80% RH) can be must get a reasonable value. Almost reduce the transmission of COVID19. between 1.5 to 0.8. However, it is all the cases we used to take for COVID New Cases Transmission of COVID19 was high- better to compute proxy value for quarantine either in hospitals or ly efficient at 5°C but was blocked or R0, based on Sri Lanka data, other places are not positive cases. Based on the data on 01 April, in inefficient at 30°C. Dry conditions Further, those who self-quarantine almost all highly infected countries (20% and 35% RH) were also found Expected Number of are almost not positive cases. Since the daily variability of the new to be more favorable for spread than we have found only 144 cases covid19 cases has been increasing either intermediate (50% RH) or COVID19 Cases by 1 April (and 51 on March exponentially (Figs, 1-3). In con- humid (80% RH) conditions. A very 18), I took liberty to compute trast, the temporal variability of the recant study based on temperature Pattern of Covid19 outbreak is COVID19 contact for different new cases for the same period in and relative humidity using 14 coun- explained by daily by almost all Ro taking the initial value on Sri Lanka is totally different from tries claimed that an increase of one media through the Ministry of 18 March as on 1.5*144 =216 other countries. It has been slowly degree Celsius and 1% relative Health. Recently, it has been men- (table 2).

It is obvious if R0 is less than exposure the corresponding num- who returned to Sri Lanka prior one numbers are decreasing and ber is less than one. These the given date without giving fur- if R0 is greater than one numbers results clearly show the impor- ther extension. are increasing with time. Based tance of non-exposure. •Not allowing travel between on the results in Table 2, the Conclusions districts should be continued for number of infected cases in Sri •The R0 value of 2.5 for some time, but some relaxation Lanka by 17 April would be COVID19 in Sri Lanka is bit can be done within the district. 2460. Based on the values in unrealistic. The vale 1.5 can be Curfew can be released at differ- Table 1, it can be assumed that considered as a good estimator ent AGA Divisions within in a he R0 value of 2.5 is somewhat until a good proxy value is esti- district at different time. unrealistic. mated. •In certain district govern- Relationship between infected •The maximum number of ment department and private sec- cases vs Percentage of Exposures infected cases in Sri Lanka, by 17 tor can be allowed to work by If it is assumed that one per- April would be 2460, if R0 is 1.5. imposing some conditions. son who is asymptomatic for five •People should strictly follow •Universities can be reopened days and doesn’t practice social the guidelines given by doctors. to academic staff and non-anemic distancing, that one infected per- Those are simple measures s to staff as there are any academics son can spread the virus to 2.5 adopt which helps to prevent who would like work in the labs people , the relationship between transmission significantly. and give some significant contri- % exposure and infected person •Covid19 is not viable for Sri bution towards COVID19. after 30 days can be easily found Lanka mainly due to very good •Ministry of Health can upload using the sum of geometric pro- system of mitigation methods we all data related to COVID19 on a gressive series (Fig. 5). The total have been practicing and due to daily basis to a website so that amount of infected person at 30 high temperature and high rela- others can use to do some days is 406, if 100% less expo- tive humidity. That could be the research, particular to estimate sure. Based on the same assump- reason why dry zone and dry- R0. tion if 50% less exposure, the intermediate has less spread. The writer is Senior Professor total amount of infected person •The Government should in Applied Statistics, University at 30 days is = 15. For 75% less immediately have identified those of Moratuwa

cientists at the Uni- spike protein to the skin, which versity of Pitts- elicits the strongest immune burgh School of reaction. Medicine believe The patch contains 400 tiny they have found a “microneedles” made of sugar The race potentialS vaccine for the new and protein pieces. It would be coronavirus. applied like a Band-Aid with the The researchers announced needles dissolving into the skin. their findings Thursday and The vaccine would be “highly believe the vaccine could be scalable” for widespread use, the rolled out quickly enough to “sig- researchers said in a news to perfect a nificantly impact the spread of release. disease,” according to their “For most vaccines, you don’t study published in EBioMedi- need to address scalability to cine. begin with,” Gambotto said. “But The vaccine would be deliv- when you try to develop a vac- ered on a fingertip-size patch. cine quickly against a pandemic, When tested on mice, the vac- that’s the first requirement.” cine produced enough antibodies Meanwhile, the first human believed to successfully counter- trial of a vaccine to prevent the act the virus. coronavirus could advance to the The scientists say they were next step this spring, Moderna able to act fast because they had Chairman Noubar Afeyan said already done research on the Thursday. COVID-19 similar coronaviruses SARS and “It’s difficult to put a specific MERS. date on things just because it’s a “These two viruses, which are very dynamic situation,” Afeyan closely related to SARS-CoV-2, told CNBC’s Meg Tirrell. teach us that a particular protein, “We’ve entered phase 1 trials. ... called a spike protein, is impor- We’ll enter hopefully phase 2 tant for inducing immunity trials, we expect that to happen against the virus,” read a state- in the spring, perhaps early vaccine ment from co-senior author summer.” Andrea Gambotto, M.D., associ- “And success there will hope- ate professor of surgery at the fully lead us to phase 3 trials,” Pitt School of Medicine. Afeyan added on “The “We knew exactly where to Exchange.” have died, according to Johns ing to develop a drug to treat fight this new virus.” Moderna partnered with the Hopkins University data. COVID-19. The vaccine follows the tradi- National Institutes of Health to Afeyan, who is also CEO of Former Food and Drug Admin- tional approach of ordinary flu accelerate the development of venture capital firm Flagship istration Commissioner Scott vaccines, using lab-made pieces the vaccine to prevent COVID- Pioneering, helped co-found Gottlieb told CNBC on Thursday of viral protein to build immuni- 19. Phase 1 human trials of the Cambridge, Massachusetts- that he hoped to see the same ty. potential vaccine began in the based Moderna in 2010. urgency around a vaccine be While the mice have not been Seattle area in mid-March. Afeyan said he expects other applied to a COVID-19 drug. studied over a long period of The trial was launched in companies working on a vac- A vaccine is the long-term time, the vaccine was able to “record speed,” Dr. Anthony cine, such as Johnson & John- solution, but an effective drug deliver enough antibodies Fauci said at the time. Fauci, a son, could also be successful in could be developed more quickly, against the coronavirus within White House health advisor and developing an effective one. contended Gottlieb, a CNBC two weeks, according to the the director of the National “We hope that everybody suc- contributor who sits on the researchers. Institute of Allergy and Infec- ceeds because the worldwide boards of Pfizer and biotech The study’s authors are now tious Diseases, said Wednesday demand for these types of inter- company Illumina. applying for an investigational that the trial was “on track” and ventions is far in excess of what “This virus isn’t going away. new drug approval from the US public distribution was still pro- any one player can deliver,” he It’s going to continue to bounce Food and Drug Administration. jected in 12 to 18 months. said. around the world,” Gottlieb said. They hope to start human clini- The development of a vaccine Johnson & Johnson said Mon- “And it’s going to change our cal trials within the next few to prevent COVID-19 continues day that it hoped to begin lives until we have a therapeutic months. to grow in importance as more human trials of its experimental that can vanquish it or really Researchers said they sided than 981,000 people worldwide COVID-19 vaccine by Septem- take the fear away from this with using a patch, rather than a have been infected by the dis- ber. virus spreading in the back- traditional needle, to deliver the ease. More than 50,000 people Other companies are attempt- ground.” (CNBC) features saturday,april 4, 2020

Cities after coronavirus:

Residents select items on a community table filled with An empty street in Wuhan, Hubei, the province at the groceries for those in need, in Derry, New Hampshire centre of the coronavirus outbreak.

ictoria Embankment, which runs for a even permanent – should be at the forefront of our mile and a quarter along the River minds, says Sennett. “If you go back through his- Thames, is many people’s idea of How Covid-19 tory and look at the regulations brought in to con- quintessential London. Some of the trol cities at times of crisis, from the French revo- earliest postcards sent in Britain lution to 9/11 in the US, many of them took years or depicted its broad promenades and even centuries to unravel,” he says. resplendent gardens. The Metropoli- At a time of heightened ethnonationalism on the global tanV Board of Works, which oversaw its construction, could radically stage, in which rightwing populists have assumed elected hailed it as an “appropriate, and appropriately civi- office in many countries from Brazil to the US, Hungary lised, cityscape for a prosperous commercial socie- and India, one consequence of coronavirus could be an ty”. entrenchment of exclusionary political narratives, calling But the embankment, now hardwired into our urban for new borders to be placed around urban communities consciousness, is entirely the product of pandemic. With- alter urban life – overseen by leaders who have the legal and technologi- out a series of devastating global cholera outbreaks in the Pandemics have always shaped cities – and from cal capacity, and the political will, to build them. 19th century – including one in London in the early increased surveillance to ‘de-densification’ to new In the past, after a widespread medical emer- 1850s that claimed more than 10,000 lives – the need community activism, Covid-19 is doing it already gency, Jewish communities and other socially for a new, modern sewerage system may never have stigmatised groups such as those affected by leprosy been identified. Joseph Bazalgette’s remarkable feat of have borne the brunt of public anger. References to the civil engineering, which was designed to carry waste “China virus” by Donald Trump suggest such grim scape- water safely downriver and away from drinking supplies, steamship on goating is likely to be a feature of this pandemic’s after- would never have materialised. Victoria Embankment, math as well. From the Athens plague in 430BC, which drove pro- circa 1907 found changes in the city’s laws and identity, to the Black Togetherness despite social distancing Death in the Middle Ages, which transformed the bal- On the ground, however, the story of coronavirus in ance of class power in European societies, to the recent many global cities has so far been very different. After spate of Ebola epidemics across sub-Saharan Africa that decades of increasing atomisation, particularly among illuminated the growing interconnectedness of today’s younger urban residents for whom the impossible cost hyper-globalised cities, public health crises rarely fail to of housing has made life both precarious and transient, leave their mark on a metropolis. the sudden proliferation of mutual aid groups – As the world continues to fight the rapid spread of cor- designed to provide community support for the most onavirus, confining many people to their homes and radi- vulnerable during isolation – has brought neighbours cally altering the way we move through, work in and together across age groups and demographic divides. think about our cities, some are wondering which of Social distancing has, ironically, drawn some of us clos- these adjustments will endure beyond the end of the pan- er than ever before. Whether such groups survive demic, and what life might look like on the other side. beyond the end of coronavirus to have a meaningful One of the most pressing questions that urban planners impact on our urban future depends, in part, on what will face is the apparent tension between densification – sort of political lessons we learn from the crisis. the push towards cities becoming more concentrated, The vulnerability of many fellow city dwellers – not which is seen as essential to improving environmental just because of a temporary medical emergency but as sustainability – and disaggregation, the separating out of an ongoing lived reality – has been thrown into sharp populations, which is one of the key tools currently being relief, from elderly people lacking sufficient social care used to hold back infection transmission. to the low-paid and self-employed who have no finan- “At the moment we are reducing density everywhere cial buffer to fall back on, but upon whose work we all we can, and for good reason,” observes Richard Sennett, rely. a professor of urban studies at MIT and senior adviser to A stronger sense of society as a collective whole, the UN on its climate change and cities programme. “But rather than an agglomeration of fragmented individu- on the whole density is a good thing: denser cities are Social distancing has, ironically, drawn some of us closer than als, could lead to a long-term increase in public more energy efficient. So I think in the long term there is demands for more interventionist measures to protect going to be a conflict between the competing demands of ever before. Whether such groups survive beyond the end of citizens – a development that governments may find public health and the climate.” harder to resist given their readiness in the midst of Sennett believes that in the future there will be a coronavirus to override the primacy of markets. renewed focus on finding design solutions for individual coronavirus to have a meaningful impact on our urban Community interests ahead of corporate ones buildings and wider neighbourhoods that enable people Private hospitals are already facing pressure to open to socialise without being packed “sardine-like” into com- up their beds without extra charge for those in need; in pressed restaurants, bars and clubs – although, given the future depends, in part, on what sort of political Los Angeles, homeless citizens have seized vacant incredibly high cost of land in big cities like New York homes, drawing support from some lawmakers. Will and Hong Kong, success here may depend on significant lessons we learn from the crisis. these kinds of sentiments dwindle with the passing of economic reforms as well. coronavirus, or will political support for urban policies that put community interests ahead of corporate ones – Work from home ty to one’s job is no longer a significant factor in deciding firms such as Alibaba and Tencent to track the spread of like a greater imposition of rent controls – endure? In recent years, although cities in the global south are where to live, for example, then the appeal of the suburbs Covid-19 and are using “big data” analysis to anticipate We don’t yet know the answer, but in the new and continuing to grow as a result of inward rural migration, wanes; we could be heading towards a world in which where transmission clusters will emerge next. If one of unpredictable connections swiftly being forged within northern cities are trending in the opposite direction, existing city centres and far-flung “new villages” rise in the government takeaways from coronavirus is that our cities as a result of the pandemic, there is perhaps with more affluent residents taking advantage of remote prominence, while traditional commuter belts fade away. “smart cities” including Songdo or Shenzhen are safer some cause for optimism. “ working capabilities and moving to smaller towns and cities from a public health perspective, then we can You can’t ‘unknow’ people,” observes Harris, “and countryside settlements offering cheaper property and a Intensification of digital infrastructure expect greater efforts to digitally capture and record our usually that’s a good thing.” Sennett thinks we are higher quality of life. Another potential impact of coronavirus may be an behaviour in urban areas – and fiercer debates over the potentially seeing a fundamental shift in urban social The “declining cost of distance”, as Karen Harris, the intensification of digital infrastructure in our cities. power such surveillance hands to corporations and states. relations. “City residents are becoming aware of desires managing director of Bain consultancy’s Macro Trends South Korea, one of the countries worst-affected by the A police security robot drives on the high-speed rail- that they didn’t realise they had before,” he says, Group, calls it, is likely to accelerate as a result of the disease, has also posted some of the lowest mortality way station platform in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. “which is for more human contact, for links to people coronavirus crisis. More companies are establishing sys- rates, an achievement that can be traced in part to a The device, which patrols public places, warns people who are unlike themselves.” Whether that change in tems that enable staff to work from home, and more series of technological innovations – including, controver- when they are not wearing masks, checks their body tem- the nature of city living proves to be as lasting as workers are getting accustomed to it. “These are habits sially, the mapping and publication of infected patients’ perature and identity. Bazalgette’s sewer-pipe embankment remains, for now, that are likely to persist,” Harris says. movements. Indeed, the spectre of creeping authoritarianism – as to be seen. The implications for big cities are immense. If proximi- In China, authorities have enlisted the help of tech emergency disaster measures become normalised, or -Guardian.co.uk I was stupidly overconfident’: a South Korean coronavirus survivor’s tale University professor Park Hyun took pains to ensure his health, but thought the outbreak was ‘not his problem’ University professor Park Hyun being treated for the ark Hyun, a 48-year-old uni- Busan City, where he lives, reported its first However, Park’s symptoms worsened, and move Park up the queue for treat- coronavirus in hospital. “I versity professor, took pains confirmed case of the coronavirus on Febru- on his third call the authorities told him to go ment. Close to midnight, he was some- to ensure his health. He ary 21. The same day, Park said he felt a to a nearby hospital to take a test. warded in a negative-pressure room times went to the gym five days a “very mild sore throat and very mild dry Though it was early in the morning, there in the quarantine section of Kosin Uni- felt very week and maintained his coughing”. was already a very long queue outside the versity Gospel Hospital’s intensive care hungry … I personal hygiene, washing Over the next two days, he felt mild but hospital’s test centre, where he was told he unit. knew I had to eat his hands all the time and growing pressure on the chest and decided to would have to wait in line for four hours. There, he underwent a CAT scan and sev- t o survive but it was very “overusing”P hand sanitiser – but that didn’t stay home and skip his daily gym visit, “not “After about 30 minutes waiting in a queue, eral other tests before he was medicated and difficult to swallow due to my difficulty stop him from being infected with the corona- because of feeling bad but due to coronavirus I had dyspnea [shortness of breath] again and hooked up to an oxygen tank. breathing.”He was discharged nine days after virus. patients being reported near my place”. collapsed, hitting my head on the floor,” Park Park said he was breathing a bit easier by being admitted, and is now in quarantine for Park, who has since recovered, turned to On February 24, he had breathing prob- wrote. He was treated for a head injury and February 26, but his chest pain was still 14 days as he recovers. Facebook to share his experience “to help my lems early in the morning, which Park said tested for the coronavirus. severe. Park said all the people he was in contact friends and loved ones to ward off the highly scared him as the Oncheon Church – where a He then quarantined himself at home, and “I felt a burning pain in my chest and with the week before he was admitted to contagious virus”. cluster of patients was reported in Busan – is the following day received a text message stomach, although I was not sure if it was hospital, including his mother and sister, South Korea has reported more than 8,000 in his neighbourhood. confirming he had tested positive. because of the drugs I took or the virus,” he have tested negative for the virus. cases of the virus, along with 72 deaths. He frantically started placing calls to the Park was told to stay home for another 24 wrote. He expressed thanks to the medical staff “We must be cautious! But no panic and no health authorities, who first said he did not hours before being admitted to a hospital for “I had a slight fever and my condition fluc- who looked after him “as if they were my fear,” Park wrote in a Facebook post on need to take a coronavirus test as there were treatment, but a health official then called him tuated. At first I felt as if some heavy iron family members” and “did their best to avoid March 8. “I was naive and stupid to think that long queues at test centres and there was a to trace his movements and close contacts. plate … was pressing on my chest. The stab- causing any unnecessary pain while treating [the outbreak] is not my problem. Yes, as high risk of catching the virus. Also, his case During the conversation, she realised the bing pain gradually eased to the point it felt patients with injections, bringing meals to usual, I was stupidly overconfident.” did not appear so severe. severity of his condition, prompting her to as if someone was squeezing my chest hard. them and even cleaning their room”. saturday,april 4, 2020 news feature Intuitive digital technologies help minimise water, energy wastage Water - essential for life

With the use of water increasing at times like these, that a person could save up to five litres of to ensure personal hygiene and water a day using smart shower devices. sanitation to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, it is In the event of diseases more critical than ever to reduce wastage and improve and with the need for use of the scarce resource Q:using water more often Chandani Jayatilleke than in usual life, demand for ater pumps used for water goes up obviously. What water supply and treat- are your comments? ment contribute to as much as 10 per cent of A: In the event of disease outbreaks, global electricity con- generally the demand for all critical sumption,W according to Grundfos Regional resources such as water and food goes up. Managing Director for Asia Pacific Kim Especially with the COVID-19 outbreak we Jensen, one of the world’s biggest water are experiencing now, people are using pump manufacturers. “With the use of water more to ensure personal hygiene and water increasing at times like these, to sanitation, which is critical to prevent the ensure personal hygiene and sanitation to One of the production facilities of Grundfos in A water treatment plant spread of the disease. prevent the spread of the coronavirus, it is Denmark As a water solutions provider, we are more critical than ever to reduce wastage Another aspect worth focusing on is pro- looking at how we can support our cus- and improve use of the scarce resource. tor evolve in its sophistication, but also in cessing used water for reuse, which will tomers to have the necessary systems in Digital technologies developed by Grund- the complexity of its needs and challenges help minimise the total amount of water place to meet this demand. For example, fos that are intuitive and responsive to fluc- it is faced with. The situation has never used in construction and holds big poten- we donated a Selcoperm Electrolysis sys- tuating consumer demand, help minimise been more dire than it is today as climate tial for sustainability. Additionally, having tem to a local hospital in Huanggang, water and energy wastage,” he said in an change, economic realities, and population efficient water reuse systems can ensure one of the hardest hit cities in Hubei interview with the Daily News. growth have made water management that after construction, the water used by province, China. By using common salt Jensen who is based in Singapore also extremely complex. consumers can be reused with this circular and water to produce hypochlorite solu- referred to the World Water Day which was For us at Grundfos, these challenges have approach, minimising wastage. To enable tion onsite, our system allows the hospi- marked on March 22 and said, “The theme shaped the way we think about and create this, construction companies must put the tal to tackle the challenge of a sudden for this year’s World Water Day is ‘Water new products for evolving needs. We are required treatment processes in place to surge in medical wastewater in a safe and Climate Change – this reminds us that committed to staying at the forefront of make water reusable depending on the type and efficient manner. while the interconnected nature of the cli- innovation, inventing high quality pump of site, be it domestic buildings, hospitals, mate and water crisis presents a complex solutions that meet these needs and set factories, hotels, or commercial buildings. challenge, managing these global issues is new standards in the industry. Today, we Kim Jensen Give us a few examples achievable through collective action. As a are focusing on harnessing the power of on how your company global leader in water solutions, we will digitalisation, automation technologies and globally, and we will continue this invest- How could technology continue developing and providing high- big data to drive greater efficiency in water ment in R&D and innovation in the coming help cope with water helped organisations/ quality, cutting-edge water technology, and systems and tackle the complex issues in years. We will also continue to strengthen Q: work closely with government and business water management. and expand our partnerships with govern- shortages in countries/ hospitals to cut down water stakeholders to resolve issues in energy- ment stakeholders to tailor solutions for Q: use or increase efficiency in the efficiency and sustainability.” their water utilities and distribution net- regions? Excerpts; Over the next few years, works. A: As water scarcity across the world system over the years. how do you plan to help gets more severe amid soaring tempera- tures and population growth, it is crucial A: Water is used for a range of applica- Tell us about the key address at least some of What advice can we are smarter in our use of water resourc- tions beyond drinking water supply, such Q: es to meet everyone’s needs. Technology is as heating, cooling and air-conditioning in global water issues you you give for the the issues? a key enabler of driving these efficiencies buildings, or wastewater and chemical are concerned about at A: At Grundfos, we are constantly inno- construction industry, in water processes and consumption. treatment in industrial processes. Grund- Q: vating to stay ahead of the curve and Q: For instance, on the supply side, one fos recognises the need to optimise our present? address the water issues we face today. A which needs a lot of water for way technology can drive water savings is limited water resources across sectors and A: One of the biggest water issues we key focus for us continues to be driving construction purposes? Secondly by enabling pre-emptive and predictive applications, be it through driving greater face today is ensuring our water security greater energy efficiency in water usage, maintenance in water infrastructure, efficiency, enabling water reuse, improving amid the rapidly changing socio-enviro-eco- especially as we look to reduce our carbon what measures should the which helps to prevent water losses. water quality or providing greater water nomic landscape. Population growth and footprint to combat climate change. construction industry take to Through the Internet of Things, advanced access. economic development of nations is leading Water processes consume large amounts real-time data collection and sensors, Since pumps that enable these water to an increase in demand of water, putting of energy, from supplying drinking water, minimise consumer water usage water networks can access information processes typically consume a lot of ener- pressure on our scarce water resources. At to irrigation, to industrial processes, to that allows them to operate in a more pre- gy, Grundfos offers energy checks and the same time, rapid industralisation and building amenities such as heating and in their sites once completed? dictive manner, reducing downtime and pump audit services to help organisations urbanisation is causing landscape degrada- cooling. In fact, pumps – which underpin A: With the onset of climate change and avoiding serious business and environ- identify problems and provide energy and tion, reducing nature’s capacity to replenish water movement and treatment throughout our natural resources dwindling, it has mental consequences. water saving solutions. A recent example our natural water resources. these processes – contribute to as much as become imperative for us to examine how For example, Grundfos’ Wastewater is our work with Ngee Ann Polytechnic in The resulting water crisis is exacerbated 10 per cent of the global electricity con- we can reduce the impact of our built envi- Network Connect application, a cloud- Singapore. By performing a pump audit, by climate change, which often manifests sumption. ronment, especially in the face of rapid based platform that allows water and Grundfos found that the building’s cooling itself through extreme changes in the water At Grundfos, we are leveraging digitalisa- urbanisation. wastewater utilities to connect their operations were not optimum. To meet the cycle. On one hand, we are seeing floods, tion to achieve considerable efficiencies in My advice to the construction industry pumping solutions to Grundfos cloud, can building’s sustainable cooling needs, melting glaciers, rising sea levels and these water processes. We call this iSOLU- would be to invest in technologies that can help attain 10-25 per cent energy optimi- Grundfos installed its Distributed Pump- intense storms, affecting development of TIONS – a range of products with a focus enable them to be energy efficient and sus- sation in the water and wastewater net- ing System in one of the polytechnic entire nations and livelihood of millions. on connectivity, intelligent monitoring and tainable in their water usage. What compa- work. By leveraging advanced analytics and blocks. The solution is a novel system On the other, climate change is also caus- advanced features to optimise water and nies need to realise is that, while advanced algorithms to predict leaks, the application capable of operating in optimised condi- ing rising temperatures and decreased rain- energy efficiency. We recently opened our technologies can cost more upfront, the helps fix problems in the water network tions at any time, by intuitively regulating fall, leading to severe water shortages in first iSOLUTIONS lab in the region in Sin- benefits in the long run will outweigh the before they happen, preventing wastage of the water flow based on feedback from many regions. gapore to encourage the adoption of these upfront investment. Understanding the resources and energy. temperature sensors to meet the exact The inextricable link between the climate digital solutions among our customers that benefits of efficient systems is important as Another example of how technology can requirements of different building zones, and water crisis means that we can no lon- range from utilities to building services to OPEX (operating expenses) constitutes a help cope with water shortages is by equip- intelligently delivering just the right flow ger look at these two issues in silos. It is industries. large portion of the total life cycle cost. ping us with capabilities to reuse water. at all times. With the solution, Ngee Ann important that we adopt a holistic We are also constantly exploring ways to It is also important for the construction Water treatment technologies can today Polytechnic achieved 55 per cent pump approach that considers how water and cli- help regions plagued by water shortages, industry to adopt a balanced and holistic help us process used water for reusing, system kWh energy savings. mate as two entities play into each other – especially as droughts are becoming more approach, looking further into the hard- extending the lifecycle of water and allow- Grundfos continues to supply high-quali- be it building our resilience to water-related frequent and intense due to climate change. ware of buildings and infrastructure to cre- ing us to achieve more with less. Such ty pump solutions to help its customers in disasters or tackling water scarcity aggra- To help drought-stricken cities tackle peri- ate greater efficiency in all aspects. While technologies are of value to industries, Sri Lanka meet their sustainability and vated by climate change. ods of water scarcity, Grundfos has pio- they cannot control how consumers use municipal and commercial buildings alike, efficiency needs. One of Grundfos’ biggest neered solar-powered water solutions such water, they now have at their disposal digi- which consume large amounts of water for projects in Sri Lanka is the supplying of as the SQFlex submersible pumping system tal technologies that are intuitive and a range of applications and can drive signif- pump solutions for Shangri-La Colombo How do these that are able to utilise abundant solar ener- responsive to fluctuating consumer icant water savings. under its commercial building services issues affect gy to power water supply. The pump sys- demand, adjusting water supply through On the demand side, smart technology arm, upgrading works for Lion Brewery tem is especially useful for remote or rural real-time monitoring. Incorporating such can enable consumers to monitor their as part of industry, as well as supporting business? areas where water is scarce and power sup- technologies in the infrastructure during water usage in real-time, empowering them the construction of a water treatment Q: ply is non-existent or unreliable. the construction process will ensure that to save more. For instance, a study by Sin- plant for the Vavuniya General Hospital, A: Since being established in 1945, Currently, we devote 4 to 6 per cent of pumps operate at optimum pressure, mini- gapore’s national water agency, PUB, and the second largest hospital in the North- Grundfos has not only seen the water sec- our revenues to research and development mising water and energy wastage. the National University of Singapore found ern Province. Global effort to tackle water security and accessibility

A new UN global report calls, among oth- water crisis that we all face.” “Water is the she declared. The 2020 Report, she said, sets drinking water and sanitation must be guar- ers, for concrete efforts to address rising primary medium through which we perceive out “concrete solutions for ensuring access to anteed for all within 10 years. water stress and improve the efficiency of the effects of climate disruption, from water for all: improved water resources man- This will be a considerable challenge: 2.2­ water use in agriculture and industry, and it extreme weather events, such as droughts agement, the mitigation of water-related haz- billion people currently do not have access to outlines actions in three areas: first, enabling and floods, to glacial melting, saltwater intru- ards, easier and more sustainable access to safely managed drinking water, and 4.2 bil- people to adapt to the impacts of climate sion and sea level rise,” he said. sanitation.”; Action to save the planet and its lion, or 55 per cent of the world’s population, change; second, improving the resilience of This will negatively affect health and pro- water will only be useful if future generations are without safely managed sanitation. livelihoods; and, third, reducing the drivers ductivity and act as a threat multiplier for were fully involved, including through UNES- UNESCO has also said that the critical of climate change. instability and conflict. The solution is clear, CO member States incorporating issues relat- need to substantially improve access to clean Tackling water (in)security and climate said the UN chief.“We must urgently scale up ed to environmental education in their school water for drinking and hygiene for billions of change, two of the most critical crises the investments in healthy watersheds and water curricula. The report, launched in Paris and the world’s people has been further thrown world will continue facing over the next sev- infrastructure, with dramatic improvements Geneva, echoed the UN officials’ call on into stark relief by the current deadly out- eral decades, the­ 2020 UN in the efficiency of water use, said Guterres, States to make more concrete commitments break of COVID-19. The 2020 World Water World Water Development Report, com- adding that the world must anticipate and to address the challenge, and warned that cli- Development Reports reveals that water use piled by the UN Educational, Scientific and and poverty reduction,” said UNESCO Direc- respond to climate risks at every level of mate change will affect the availability, quali- has increased six-fold over the past century Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in collabo- tor-General, Audrey Azoulay. water management. ty and quantity of water needed for basic and is rising by about one per cent a year. ration with UN-Water, provides decision-mak- UN Secretary-General António Guterres UNESCO chief Azoulay said that with four human needs, thus undermining enjoyment However, it is estimated that climate ers with knowledge and tools to craft sustain- said, “everyone has a role to play,” and called billion people worldwide forced to contend of the basic rights to safe drinking water and change, along with the increasing frequency able water policies, and calls for scaling up on all stakeholders to increase climate action with water scarcity, “without sustainable sanitation for billions of people. and intensity of extreme events – storms, investment to put them into practice. and invest in robust adaptation measures for access to water, we will be unable to achieve Such a deterioration of the situation would floods and droughts, will aggravate the situa- “The word ‘water’ rarely appears in inter- water sustainability. goals such as quality education or the devel- only hinder achievement of Sustainable tion in countries already currently experienc- national climate agreements, even though it By limiting global heating to 1.5 degrees opment of more prosperous, fairer societies.” Development Goal 6 (SDG6), which is part ing ‘water stress’ and generate similar prob- plays a key role in issues such as food securi- Celsius, he said, “the world will be in a much “Given the urgency of the situation, the of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Develop- lems in areas that have not been severely ty, energy production, economic development better position to manage and solve the coming decade needs to be one of action,” ment, according to which access to safe affected. EDITORIAL

Saturday, April 4, 2020

Curfew violaters: Fooled by an invisible enemy

n the 24 hours ending yesterday morning, the Police have arrested a total of 1,264 persons for I violating the curfew that all of Sri Lanka has been observing these past two weeks. This is the highest number of curfew violations in a single 24-hour period. It brought the total number of arrested cur- few violators since this curfew was initiated on March 20 to a shocking 10,730! Readers will remember the war-time curfews during the thirty plus years of insurgencies, both Northern and Southern, imposed under dire conditions of counter insurgency operations. ‘Emergency’ rule became so normal in that era that people some- times forgot that they lived under a state of Emer- gency. President Donald Trump holds a press conference on the Coronavirus outbreak But, very few dared step out during the curfew in those violent years. How could they dare? Even when there was no cur- few, in broad daylight, civilians would occasionally get shot at by nervous security personnel for failing to stop at checkpoints. At least one showbiz per- sonality died in such an incident of firing at a major US faces horrific city junction. Ordinary civilians, too, have died similarly. Once the curfew was clamped down in those war- time years, no one dared move on to the roads. In some embattled areas or, during periods of height- toll in weeks ahead ened insurgency, the curfew enforcement was explicitly ‘shoot-on-sight’. The only people who would defy curfew in war-time patients and health workers, let alone meet its ambition Sri Lanka were the armed insurgents seeking to MY WATCH to reach 100,000 a day, to include other key workers. engage with the State forces. ON What we have today is not a militarily imposed cur- BY LUCIEN RAJAKARUNANAYAKE India -mixed issues few that bolsters a visibly fierce counter-insurgen- he United States is now the epicentre in the India reported a record increase of cases in 24 hours cy. Ferocity cannot be seen on any side today spread of the coronavirus COVID - 19 and midweek, pushing the total number to 2,032, and the because it is not ‘war’ of that kind. is facing a death toll more than 100,000, as death toll to 58. There are doubts over claims that it has Neither the ‘enemy’ today, nor the State defenders, T President Donald Trump warned of ‘horrif- no community transmission of the disease in the coun- are of the visible combatant kind. The ‘enemy’ is an ic’ weeks to come as the UN reported its highest one- try. obscure, previously unidentified, microscopic virus. day coronavirus death toll of 884 on Thursday. There is much concern that Coronavirus would The ‘defenders’ are our medical workers and health President Trump who had initially played down the spread rapidly in many parts of the country and several administrators with the security forces providing severity of the virus said “We’re going to have a couple thousand Indians have been forced to leave the capital of weeks, starting pretty much now, but especially a few New Delhi and other key cities, and walk to their homes logistics and enforcement. days from now, that are going to be horrific.” White in distant villages, as they have no homes in cities, We cannot see this enemy, nor immediately notice House medical experts now forecast that even following where they are daily wage earners, and have no food the effects of its attacks – no shattered buildings the strict stay-at-home orders some 100,000 to a possi- and civic facilities. nor bullet-riddled bodies. The symptoms of COVID- ble 240,000 people could die from the disease. For a densely populated country of 1.3 billion people, 19 disease come slowly in the form of coughs (and The global case count has reached 1 million and the the number of cases is still relatively low compared with virus-laden breath) and fever that can worsen and death toll 50,000. Healthcare workers in the US Europe and the US, and believed to be linked to both kill all humans vulnerable due to age or illness or The coronavirus has killed 884 people in 24 hours in low levels of testing and poor access to an already over- the US this week at the time of writing, a new one-day should use medical masks, but the matter is reportedly stretched healthcare system with people not reporting both. record for the country with by far the highest number under consideration to possibly widen its use. their symptoms. The symptoms, easily mistaken for influenza, wors- of reported cases anywhere in the world, Johns Hopkins The rise in number of cases was linked to an annual en as, unknown to the afflicted person, COVID-19 University said, when the death toll rose to 4,475. The European toll two-day convention of the Muslim sect Tablighi Jamaat tightens its grip on her or his fate. The virus, now grim record for deaths in one day was held by Italy with on 13 March, for which about 3,500 people gathered thriving in its new human host, progressively 969 on March 27, and the US Vice President Mike Italy has extended its lockdown until April 13 but from all over the country and abroad in the south Delhi moves on to others the host interacts with, in the Pence said the US trend on the coronavirus is similar to recorded its lowest death toll in more than a week, neighbourhood of Nizamuddin. Almost 2,000 stayed in Italy. reinforcing indications that the coronavirus epidemic the area for days afterwards, and the area has become household, in the bus, train or car, in the work- New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday both there and in Spain may be reaching a plateau. the coronavirus hotspot of India. place, in the supermarket, shop or club (or, phar- clamped down harder on public gatherings in the face of “Experts say we are on the right track and the drastic The outbreak from the Nizamuddin mosque gather- macy). the coronavirus, calling residents “selfish” for refusing measures we have taken are starting to yield results,” ing has inflamed religious tensions in a city still reeling Frighteningly, the carrier of the virus may not experi- to stay home, as California’s governor warned his state said the health minister, Roberto Speranza. He warned, from communal riots last month that took 50 lives, with ence symptoms herself or himself. A carrier not may run out of intensive care beds and ventilators next though, that it would be “unforgivable to assume this Hindu mobs rampaging through the streets attacking constrained by any symptoms may even more vig- month. New York is the US state with the highest infec- was a definitive defeat” of Covid-19 and it would be “a Muslims in their homes. orously interact with people in larger numbers, for tions and death toll with nearly 2000 dead midweek. long battle”. Across Indian media and social networks, Muslims The US has a major issue of the marked lack of Per- Italy’s civil protection authority announced on were blamed for spreading the virus while “Corona a longer period and, for greater distances, enabling sonal Protection Equipment (PPE) for medical and Wednesday that the country’s tally – already the highest Jihad” began to trend on Twitter. an even more rapid ‘community transmission’. The nursing personnel who head the fight against coronavi- in the world – had climbed by 727 deaths to 13,155, and The gathering also appeared to trigger a spread of the invisible enemy then multiplies itself in rapidly rus, and also the ventilators required for those seriously that the number of confirmed infections, including virus across numerous states from Kashmir to West growing numbers of people and in different places ill from the disease. deaths, recovered and current cases, had risen by 4,782, Bengal by those who returned home afterwards. So far, as the new carriers themselves interact with others. taking the total to 110,574. 10 people who attended the event have died while 1,800 This is happening now, in Sri Lanka. WHO concerns But the daily rise in the number of deaths was sharp- people have been sent to nine hospitals and quarantine It is when vulnerable people begin to be afflicted by ly down on Tuesday’s figure of 837, and the 2,937 new centres across the country. The World Health Organization has said it was active cases confirmed a declining trend. Two weeks Raman R Gangakhedkar, the head of epidemiology the symptoms and, weaker or older humans are deeply concerned about the near-exponential escalation ago, infections were rising at between three and four and communicable diseases at the Indian Council of actually struck down, that families, human society of the coronavirus pandemic, with the number of deaths times that rate. Medical Research (ICMR), said there was “no reason to and, the economy, are finally devastated. What is doubling in a week. Spain, which crossed the threshold of 100,000 con- panic at the moment”. Nonetheless, the ICMR conced- visible to us is the suddenly growing numbers of WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged citi- firmed cases midweek and reported another record ed last month that community transmission was “inevi- sick people, the dying and the grieving; the sud- zens around the globe to stand together to fight single-day death toll of 864, is now following a similar table” in India. denly collapsed livelihoods, the collapsing produc- COVID-19, as he braced for the millionth confirmed pattern to Italy, with officials starting to see a “trend There are growing fears that the spread of coronavi- case. “As we enter the fourth month since the start of change”. The two countries have the highest global rus would lead to violent political and religious confron- tion and services and, the scarcity of supplies. the COVID-19 pandemic, I am deeply concerned about death tolls in the pandemic. tations. In Sri Lanka, thanks to the early stringent measures the rapid escalation and global spread of infection,”... Between 15 and 25 March, new cases in Spain were taken, the number of dead for the weeks of the “Over the past five weeks, we have witnessed a near growing at a rate of 20% a day. From 25 March, that rate UN SecGen epidemic here, is four so far. In Italy and in Spain exponential growth in the number of new cases, reach- dropped to 12% and lower. María José Sierra of Spain’s the death toll has been over a thousand in a single ing almost every country...”The number of deaths has centre for health emergencies said the latest figures The current coronavirus outbreak is the biggest chal- day. Fatalities are in the hundreds per day on some more than doubled in the past week. In the next few indicated the increase in new cases was continuing to lenge for the world since World War Two, UN Secretary in all countries in which the governments delayed days we will reach one million confirmed cases and level out. General António Guterres has warned. He said it could 50,000 deaths.” “Generally speaking, we can say that yesterday’s rise bring a recession “that probably has no parallel in the imposing health safety practices. Since emerging in China in December, COVID-19 in cases, which was around 8%, tells us that we’re car- recent past”. His warning comes amid dire predictions When these governments finally began advising has spread across the globe, claiming more than rying on in the stabilisation phase of the pandemic,” she about the possible economic impact of measures citizens, the populations were slow to comply, 47,000 lives, and infecting more than 860,000 people, said. imposed to fight the virus. cocooned in their affluent lifestyles with no experi- according to officially confirmed cases. United Kingdom is facing growing pressure to ramp Speaking at the UN headquarters in New York at the ence of large scale crises and disasters. The coronavirus pandemic has killed more than up Coronavirus testing, with its biggest daily increase launch of a report on the potential socioeconomic Simply because COVID-19 is invisible and its impact, 30,000 people in Europe alone. Italy and Spain in deaths. The UK has 29,865 infections and 2,357 impact of the outbreak, Mr Guterres said: “The new too, is not immediately visible, many Sri Lankans account for three in every four deaths on the conti- deaths at the time of writing. There are fears it would coronavirus disease is attacking societies at their core, nent. move to a situation like Italy. claiming lives and people’s livelihoods”. are not persuaded to comply with the prescribed However, the virus is expected to gain a greater Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is self-isolating in The UN report estimates that up to 25 million jobs precautionary measures. In our insensitivity to the foothold in parts of the world that have not, so far, Downing Street after contracting the virus, reiterated could be lost around the world as the result of the out- threat, in our ignorance of its creeping effects, we seen such large numbers of cases and deaths. “While the government’s commitment to “ramp up” testing, a break. It also projects an up to 40% “downward pres- happily drive around, stroll in our secluded neigh- relatively lower numbers of confirmed cases have been major issue facing the UK on the spread of COVID-19. sure” on global foreign direct investment flows. bourhoods or rural hamlets, sneak along to local reported from Africa, and from Central and South The government has been under pressure to increase He said: “Covid-19 is the greatest test that we have groceries, with little awareness of the virus lurking America, we realise that COVID-19 could have serious the screening of medics, so that those who are self-iso- faced together since the formation of the United social, economic and political consequences for these lating unnecessarily can return to work. Nations,” he said, calling for “an immediate coordinated among our fellow citizens, even our neighbours, regions,” Tedros warned. “It is critical that we ensure There is considerable criticism about the delay in health response to suppress transmission and end the and even our own households. these countries are well equipped to detect, test, iso- testing, social distancing and quarantine that has led to pandemic”, and urged “the industrialised nations to Arrest for curfew violation in a pandemic seems late and treat COVID-19 cases, and identify contacts.” the sharp rise in infections and deaths in the UK. There help those less developed, or potentially “face the night- nothing like the risk of bullets, bombs or aggressive He urged governments to implement social welfare were efforts to build up herd immunity with an increase mare of the disease spreading like wildfire”. human combatants. Selfishly, we even hesitate to measures to ensure that vulnerable people have access in infections, to protect the people. Sports Similar to the cancellation of many key sport- report possible infection hoping to dodge the to food during the crisis -- and called for debt relief for After the lockdown that Johnson announced on 23 ing events in the world this year, the Wimbledon, Ten- ‘inconvenience’ of quarantine. poorer states. “Many developing countries will strug- March, it is seen that the UK has been much delayed in nis tournament has been cancelled, due to the coronavi- gle to implement social welfare programs of this the testing, especially of NHS staff, leading to the rising rus pandemic. This marks the first time the oldest Do we have to wait to be convicted with seven-year nature. For those countries, debt relief is essential to infections and deaths. tennis major won’t be played since World War II. It was jail sentences (as in Russia) or be subject to shoot- enable them to take care of their people and avoid eco- As the ‘Guardian’ reported, what has emerged is a scheduled to be held from June 29 to July 12 in London. on-sight orders (as in Philippines) before we take nomic collapse,” said Tedros. picture of confusion and uncertainty at the top, with The tournament began in 1877 and has been played the COVID-19 pandemic seriously enough to strict- A safe vaccine is thought to be 12 to 18 months away, ministers making promises they cannot keep and appar- every year aside from two periods: 1915-18 (World War ly adhere to the curfew and other safety measures? while WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan ently with little comprehension of the global tussle for I) and 1940-45 (World War II). Are we not aware that we face a threat to our very stressed: “There is no therapy that has been proven to tests that may make it impossible for the UK to buy its The French Open Tennis tournament has been civilisation? be effective in the treatment of COVID-19.” As regards way belatedly out of the problem. pushed back, from May 24-June 6 to Sept. 20-Oct. 4, but the use of face masks, WHO recommends that people No wonder, perhaps, the UK now finds itself strug- the US Open is still scheduled from Aug. 24 through who are infected and health workers who care for them gling to increase testing to 25,000 a day for hospital Sept. 13 in Queens, New York. saturday,april 4, 2020 OPINION

Dr. Farhath Fayiz Saleem mucus and cilia cells which have hairs on them paying much attention to it considering he Coronavirus disease - 2019 ( and normally prevents lungs from filling up the seriousness of this disease. COVID -19) is spreading across with debris and fluid such as virus and bacte- Sri Lanka is a good example for taking the world increasing the death rate ria and particles of dust and pollen. The virus measures by approaching strategies in Tat an alarming rate challenging attacks these cells and starts to kill them – so advance to prevent the spred of this more than 180 countries. The virus has prolif- the lungs begin to fill with fluid making it hard virus with the contribution of experts, erated in the countries in Asian region, Europe to breathe. This phase of the disease is healthcare sectors, Government institu- and the countries in the Middle East in recent thought to last about a week. tions, community and religious leaders days with the death toll rising in Iran. Power- At this point the immune system will start and the defence sectors including the ful countries like the United States, the United to kick in and fight off the invaders. And then, Police force under the leadership of Kingdom, France and Germany also on the it will develop a fever and high body tempera- President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to estab- top of the list along with Italy and Spain show- ture to create a hostile environment for the lish edequate medication centres in sev- ing higher death rates. According to a research virus. Then it will start to get rid of the eral parts of the country with the lowest by Johns Hopkins University, the number of mucus in the form of coughing and a runny death rate. confirmed deaths has reached 52,863 with nose. But, in some people – particularly the Countries has approached coronavirus 1,013, 157 confirmed cases worldwide. Italy elderly and those with other health conditions testing in different ways, and in some remains the country worst affected by the – the immune system can go into overdrive. places there was far earlier recognition outbreak, with 13,195 deaths followed by As well as killing the virus it also starts to kill of the need to develop tests and kits and Spain, with 10,348 deaths. The United States Coronavirus healthy cells. This heightened immune to have sufficient numbers stockpiled. is now the third worst affected country, with response can lead to organ failure and death. Sri Lanka as a developing country has 6075 deaths. Now the virus has reached the It was a common cause of mortality in the been able to manage the situation so far Scandinavian countries showing the number Spanish Flu of 1918. Some people who recov- with early recognition of the need to of deaths in Sweden with 308 deaths, Den- ered from severe acute respiratory syndrome devlop tests and kits and also quarantin- mark with 123 deaths and Norway with 50 Disease – A (SARS) which swept the world in 2002 to ing arrivals from countries experiencing deaths. 2003 had long term repiratory problems as major outbreakes of the Coronavirus. their lungs were permanently damaged. Passenger cruise ships have been stopped What is Corona ? COVID -19 is similar to SARS virus in some from entering and those arriving from aspects, although it is much less lethal, but Italy, South Korea and Iran will be quar- Corona is a type of virus which can cause those who have recovered from the more seri- antined for 14 days as a precautionary diseases in animals and humans. The virus has ous symptoms may also suffer some long measures. As the result, so far only four been named after the Latin word ‘Corona’ term effects. deaths have been reported out of nearly which means crown, because of the spiked While people with weakened immune sys- 150 infected people. shell of this virus looks like a crown. Corona Global tems and the elderly are more likely to The Sri Lankan government is taking viruses have extraordinarily large single- become critically ill the younger and healthy measures to prevent the spread of the stranded RNA genomes – approximately in China and elswhere have also succumbed virus putting screening measures in 26,000 to 32,000 bases or RNA “letters” in to the virus- this is because none of us has any place by the authorities. Flights to Sri length. Coronavirus particles are surrounded immunity to this new disease. However, one lanka have been suspended. A nation- by a fatty outer layer called an envelope and ineresting factor is that children do not seem wide curfew is in place. The authorities usually appear spherical, as seen under an to be falling victim to Covid – 19 – just 24 per have quarantined a number of towns electron microscope, with a crown or “corona” cent of all those who have contracted the dis- where they have judged an immediate of club-shaped spikes on their surface. Threat ease are 18 and under and the vast majority risk. Check points have been introduced There are several types of viruses in corona have mild symptoms. In other respiratory dis- in a number of places. family. SARS – Severe Acute Respiratory eases such as flu children are key disease Syndrome and MERS - Middle East Respira- transmitters. Challenges of experts tory Syndrome are commonly known viruses in corona family. The SARS virus first How to stay safe Medical experts and scientists still face the emerged in 2002 -2003 in Guangdong in challenges of finding an appropriate vaccine or China as an unusual pneumonia, which devel- The single best thing need to do to stop the drugs for this virus. Scientists in China have oped into life-threatening respiratory failure in virus is to wash the hands frequently and recorded the genetic sequences of around 19 certain cases. This virus rapidly spread across throughly – particularly befor you eat because strains of the virus and released them to 29 countries, infecting nearly 9000 people and the virus is most likely to enter your body experts working around the world. causing nearly 900 deaths. The MERS virus from your own contaminated hands when The COVID-19 disease cannot be cured and appeared in Saudi Arabia in 2012, with people touching your nose, eyes and mouth. We it is proving difficult to contain. Antibiotics do experiencing similar symptoms to SARS virus touch our face around 23 times an hour not work against viruses, so they are out of the – but with a 34 per cent higher death rate. according to a study. This is the prime route question. Antiviral drugs can work, but the COVID -19 or Corona Virus Disease -2019 is a of infection. process of understanding a virus, then devel- new illness which comes from corona virus much faster through the population than expert at Toho University in Tokyo says that oping and producing drugs to treat it would family identified in Wuhan city of China that viruses which circulate all the time because we Covid -19 virus transmission happens during a Challenges take years and huge amounts of money. can affect the lungs and airways in the human have no immunity”. Dr Helena Maier, from conversation between two or more people. No vaccine exists for the corona virus yet body. This virus spreads by droplets from the the Pirbright Institute, said: ‘Coronaviruses This transmission mechanism can be called Developed and powerful countries are and it’s not likely one will be developed in time mouth and nose and it spreads by touching are a family of viruses that infect a wide range micro-droplet infection. People generate a lot noticeably absent in the fight against to be of any use in this outbreak, for similar someone who is infected. For example shak- of different species including humans, cattle, of micro droplets which carry many viruses. COVID -19 virus. Medical experts so far reasons to the above. The National Institutes ing hands, hugging and kissing etcetera or pigs, chickens, dogs, cats and wild animals. A We produce them when we talk loudly. People have failed to find any appropriate vac- of Health in the US, and Baylor University in touching a contaminated surface or breathing study by the Wuhan Institute of Virology, pub- around us inhale them and that is how the cination or drugs to challenge this pan- Waco, Texas, say they are working on a vac- in an infected person’s respiratory secretions. lished in February 2020 in the scientific jour- virus spreads. That is the reason to maintain a demic. Even developed countries such as cine based on what they know about coronavi- nal Nature, found that the genetic make-up safe distance. Inhaling droplets emitted United States, United Kigdom, France, ruses in general, using information from the How it impacts the body virus samples found in patients in China is 96 through sneezing and coughing is one of the Germany , Italy and Spain failed to SARS outbreak. But this may take a year or percent identical to a corona virus they found transmition routes of viruses. overcome this dissater due to their late more to develop. Dr Peter Horby, Professor of Oxford Univer- in bats. Once the virus enters the body, it binds two action causing higher deaths rates. The (The writer is a medical practitioner sity said: “The COVID -19 virus can spread Professor Kazuhiro Tateda, Microbiology cells in the lungs – goblet cells that produce problem is that only a few countries are based in the UK) International Mine Awareness Day falls today

Ongoing conflicts in parts of Kachin and northern Shan States also continue to trap civilians, and a surge in landmine Towards a mine free world by 2025 use is also fuelling a migrant exodus in some areas. Anti-government groups in Afghanistan, India, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Yemen also used the weapons. Research- ers said they were unable to confirm allegations of landmine use in Cameroon, Colombia, Libya, Mali, the Philippines, Somalia, and Tunisia. Afghanistan, where the civilian toll continues to hover near record highs as its conflict intensifies, topped the list of land- mine casualties in 2018. A notice on landmines in Sri Lanka Even though most countries have signed on to the landmine ban, there’s still a large global stockpile among treaty signato- fter two decades of steadily diminishing casualty remain in the country. Of these, over half (571) cause agricul- ries, which are allowed to retain mines “for training and numbers, people being killed or injured by explo- tural blockages, 118 cause road blockages, 105 create infra- research”. Still, these totals are just a fraction of the stockpiles sive hazards has leapt to a reported high of 8600 structure blockages, and 88 disrupt water access. These block- held by countries who haven’t signed on: Russia’s cache of anti- Aper year. ages undermine agricultural expansion, rural market develop- personnel mines is estimated to be at least 26.5 million. As the world marked the International Mine Awareness Day ment, and food security, with a particular impact on small, The UN has called for continued efforts by States, with the on Wednesday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio local farmers. assistance of the United Nations and relevant organizations, to Guterres urged governments to provide political and financial Landmines also plague millions of refugees and internally foster the establishment and development of national mine- support to keep up the vital work of mine action wherever it is displaced people around the world. While escalating combat action capacities in countries where mines and explosive rem- needed. In June 2014, over 1,000 state and non-governmental often drives them away from their homes, it is landmines that nants of war constitute a serious threat to the safety, health representatives of the international community gathered in often keeps them away, or threatens them upon their return. and lives of the civilian population, or an impediment to social Mine casualties Maputo, Mozambique, and set, through the “Maputo+15 Dec- Landmine contamination disrupts economies, exacerbates and economic development at the national and local levels. laration,” a target of a landmine-free world by 2025. food insecurity, displaces communities, and challenges access According to the UN Secretary-General, “In our turbulent For over 20 years, the work of the United Nations Mine In a video message for the annual April 4 observance, the to transportation, water, and other infrastructure. For 60 mil- world, mine action is a concrete step towards peace.” Myan- Action Service has been driven by the needs of affected people UN chief spoke about how mines prevent works of peace and lion people around the world, mines impose on nearly every mar is the only government whose security forces deployed and tailored to the threat of explosive hazards faced by civil- development. aspect of life, presenting a constant risk. landmines in the last year, according to a new report that flags ians, peacekeepers and humanitarians. “An unprecedented volume of landmines and unexploded The World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Chil- “exceptionally high” global casualty numbers from mines and UNMAS works to save lives, to facilitate deployment of UN weapons contaminates rural and urban war zones, maiming dren’s Fund (UNICEF) particularly appealed for Syria on the other explosives despite a widely adopted ban on the weapons. missions and the delivery of humanitarian assistance, to pro- and killing innocent civilians long after conflict has ended,” International Mine Awareness Day saying mine clearance The Landmine Monitor report, tallied nearly 6,900 casual- tect civilians, to support the voluntary return of the internally Guterres said. there is a matter of urgency. ties from landmines and other explosives in 2018, largely displaced and refugees, to enable humanitarian and recovery On December 8, 2005, the UN General Assembly designated They said more than 8 million people in Syria, including driven by conflicts in Afghanistan, Mali, Myanmar, Nigeria, activities and to advocate for international humanitarian and April 4 each year as the International Day for Mine Awareness over 3 million children, are exposed to explosive hazards. Syria, and Ukraine. Sri Lanka has cleared most of its land- human rights law. and Assistance in Mine Action. British actor Daniel Craig, known for his role as James mines. The United Nations advocates for the universalization of The theme for this year’s observance is “Advancing Protec- Bond, who is the UN Global Advocate for the Elimination of The report – an accounting of casualties and global stock- existing legal frameworks and encourages Member States to tion, Peace and Development.” Mines and other Explosive Hazards, stated that landmines, piles, as well as on progress towards mine removal and victim expand those regimes and develop new international instru- Noting that that roads cleared of explosive devices enable grenades, missiles and other explosive weapons are a “deadly assistance – is released annually by the International Cam- ments to protect civilians from the scourges of landmines and peacekeepers to patrol and protect civilians, Guterres stressed legacy” of conflict in places such as Cambodia, Somalia, Iraq paign to Ban Landmines. The coalition of NGOs spearheaded explosive remnants of war. It undertakes this work in collabo- that mine action is vital. He said that when “fields are cleared and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. the anti-mine movement, leading to the 1997 treaty that ration with interested states, civil society, mine action and and schools and hospitals are made safe normal life can He noted that “after two decades of steadily diminishing banned the weapon’s use. international organizations. resume.” In 2018, according to the annual Landmine Monitor, casualty numbers, people being killed or injured by explosive The coalition says 164 countries have signed on to the trea- Since the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, nearly 7,000 people globally were killed or injured by land- hazards has leapt to a reported high of 8600 per year.” He ty. But 33 others have not, including some of the world’s largest Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel mines, over half of which were children. But the harms of regarded this “an unimaginable figure and almost certainly an stockpilers of landmines: the United States, Russia, China, Mines and on Their Destruction, commonly known as the unexploded ordnance are far more expansive than that statistic undercount”. Pakistan, and India. From mid-2018 to October 2019, govern- Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention opened for signa- represents. Craig said that on International Mine Awareness Day, the ment security forces deployed mines in only one country, ture in 1997, 164 countries have ratified or acceded to it. Though insufficient data prevents an estimate of the total world remembers and pays tribute to the thousands of teachers Myanmar, underscoring the ongoing conflicts raging on mul- In addition to anti-personnel mines, challenges remain area contaminated by landmines and unexploded ordnance providing risk education, and the deminers around the globe tiple fronts in the Southeast Asian nation. The Landmine with respect to all other explosive remnants of war. On 12 globally, the number is unquestionably thousands of square who devote their lives to making the world a safer place — not Monitor report says there’s evidence of landmine casualties in November 2006, the Secretary-General welcomed the miles. At least 11 countries are deemed to have “massive con- just for now but for generations to come. previously uncontaminated areas. entry into force of Protocol V on explosive remnants of tamination” – that is, contaminated territory totaling more According to the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS), mine war from the Convention on Certain Conventional Weap- than 100 km2. In these contaminated areas, civilians cannot action, including clearance, risk education and assistance to ons and reiterated his call for its universalization and live, farm, work, or otherwise inhabit – displacing previous victims is critical for advancing protection, peace and develop- implementation. In December 2008, the Secretary-Gener- residents and hindering economic development. Thousands of ment. al welcomed the opening for signature of the Convention square miles of potentially rich farmland are rendered inacces- on Cluster Munitions, which was joined by 108 states. sible, undermining food security and livelihoods. Moreover, In 2018 UNMAS convened, coordinated and led the because the exact location of landmines is not always known, drafting of the United Nations Mine Action Strategy 2019- great masses of land are inaccessible despite likely being land- 2023. Two of the most significant aspects of the Strategy mine-free. For example, the Ethiopian government has declared are that it represents an accountability framework for the a total of 1,056 square kilometers contaminated, but reports United Nations system and introduces a Theory of that it expects only about two percent of this area to actually Change for the United Nations engagement in mine contain mines. action. Angola – one of the world’s most heavily mined nations – In April 2015, the UN Secretary-General designated the also illustrates this dilemma. Despite having an “abundance of renowned actor Daniel Craig as the first UN Global Advo- fertile soils, biodiversity, vast water resources, aquatic biologi- cate for the Elimination of Mines and Explosive Hazards. cal and natural resources all over the country,” according to the As the Global Advocate, Craig supports the UN Secre- Food and Agriculture Organization, Angola imports an esti- tary-General by engaging in public advocacy to promote mated 80 percent of its food, and food insecurity is acute for the vision of the United Nations to achieve a world free of many of its citizens. Mine contamination is a key contributor the threat of mines and explosive hazards and to assist in to its agricultural underproduction. The Angolan government Removing landmines in Sri Lanka A landmine - cost US$ 3, removal cost could exceed US$ 1,000 mobilizing resources for the UN Trust Fund for Assis- has reported that roughly 1,000 mine-contaminated areas tance in Mine Action saturday,april 4, 2020

amie Chui has been a virtual for a low proportion of documented prisoner in her Hong Kong infections and deaths, a six-week-old J home for most of her nine-month baby in the US died this week from pregnancy. Trapped intially by violent Isolated and afraid: complications relating to the disease. pro-democracy protests and tear gas, and then by the coronavirus -- she Begging for help now faces giving birth alone, with her husband unlikely to see his child until Across Asia, it has become the days later. norm for routine pregnancy check-ups Asia is facing a second wave of to be replaced with telehealth consul- COVID-19 infections and as cases How the pandemic is tations, while traditional ante-natal spiral globally with one million con- group sessions have been replaced by firmed positive and half the planet on online courses. lockdown, women are having to give As infections soar in America and birth in unprecedented circumstanc- Europe the knock-on effects for mater- es. nity and postpartum care are already Hong Kong and China have changing pregnancy visible, with wards in California being imposed some of the world’s strictest used for virus cases instead. measures to prevent infections in Britain’s Royal College of Midwives maternity units: birthing partners are reported that one in five midwife banned from labour units, delivery posts are now empty in maternity rooms and post-natal wards in public units -- double the figure before the hospitals. virus crisis started as staff fall sick, That has left many women strug- self-isolate, or are redeployed to care gling not only with normal pregnancy for COVID-19 patients. anxieties and infection fears, but also WHO has warned dwindling sup- the new reality of hospital deliveries, plies of personal protective equip- at a time when experts warn resourc- ment (PPE) for frontline workers will es are more stretched than ever. put lives at risk. “The most stressful part for me is At Manila’s Jose Fabella Memorial that hospitals have suspended the Hospital, where women are some- visiting arrangements and accompa- times three to a double bed, doctors nied labour,” says Chui, adding: “I now worry about a lack of isolation will need to fight alone.” units and rely on donations for protec- “I’m nervous, to be honest. But I tive gear. don’t know what else I could do.” Cynthia Anzures, who chairs the Hong Kong’s protests began as obstetrics department, says: “If we Chui fell pregnant. some hospitals in New York but gov- Lidia Inês Cardoso Ribeiro, adding ety to people already worrying about advocate is a necessary addition to don’t have enough donations, like for Fearful of the violence and tear gas ernor Andrew Cuomo issued an exec- that she has written to the Hospital their baby contracting the virus or ante-natal classes. our n95 masks, we reuse them. We might do to her unborn child, she utive order to ensure ‘no woman Authority to urge them to reconsider. exhausted medical teams, could make There has been little research into use raincoats if we don’t have PPEs.” stayed indoors. Now she is doing the would give birth alone’, after a huge “I believe all women should have labour “longer, more difficult and the impact of COVID-19 on pregnant There are fears this will soon be the same thing because of the coronavi- public outcry and 600,000-strong the choice to have a person they trust likely to end up in unplanned surgical women, but the WHO says current reality in many more Asian cities, as a rus. petition. to empower and support them procedures.” evidence suggests that while vulnera- recent surge in cases creates fresh “I have been staying at home for In China and Hong Kong, women through labour,” she explains. Irma Syahrifat, a trained doula in ble to respiratory infections, they are waves of panic-buying, while new almost my whole pregnancy,” the are instead left having to choose Christina Kimont, a Canadian mid- Indonesia, says women there have no more at risk of serious illness than country-wide lockdowns could impact 33-year-old photographer explains. between spending upwards of HKD wife and public health researcher, had to attend appointments with phy- the general population. supply chains. Banning labour companions goes 100,000 (US$10,000) for private hos- now in Macau, which operates similar sicians in full-suited hazard gear -- an A small Chinese study following Chui says she has no choice but to against the World Health Organiza- pital delivery, where partners are still restrictions, agrees the situation instantly distressing situation. 33 expectant mothers in Wuhan stay inside even after delivery to pro- tion’s ‘Safe Childbirth Checklist’ rec- allowed to attend, or going it alone in could be problematic. Currently, Indonesian hospitals found it was possible, though rare, to tect her newborn. ommendations that women should the public system. “The human body cannot easily do allow one birth support person but, pass the infection in utero after three “I think it is better to just stay at have a trusted person with them dur- “I have had to mentally and physi- what it is designed to do while in a with rules constantly changing as newborns tested positive for the home. Just like what I’m doing right ing the process. cally prepare to deliver without my state of stress,” she says. cases spike, she insists “mental pre- virus. now.” A similar move was attempted by husband’s support,” says 36-year-old She warned that adding extra anxi- paredness” for delivery without an While infants and children account (AFP) The 19 countries Untouchable: the baby born to a mum with coronavirus without Covid-19 For 10 days after giving “He grabs your finger, They decided to operate 9 ounces). He was put gloves and masks, were Although they have spent birth to her first child, the the poor little thing and the next day. straight into an incubator allowed to take him home. 14 days in quarantine, there There are 193 countries which are members of mother was not allowed holds on to the plastic, not “I felt a whole mixture of and kept away from all the “Hey little champion, are no testing kits to con- the United Nations. near him after she tested on to you. But at least that’s feelings, it was horrible,” other babies until he was we’re going to go home firm they are free from the As of 2 April, 19 countries had not reported a positive for coronavirus, for another day over, you have she says -- fear of infecting tested and found to be free now,” were the first words virus so they are still wear- Covid-19 case, according to a BBC tally using data fear of infecting her new- to think of it like that other- the baby, nervous about of the virus. Muro said to her son dur- ing gloves and masks. from Johns Hopkins University. born. wise you get depressed,” going through it without Following 48 hours ing their emotional reun- The 19 countries without Covid 19 are; And even though she has says the 34-year-old. her husband, and the recovering in hospital in ion. “It was like he’d just “I still haven’t touched Comoros; Kiribati; Lesotho; Malawi; Marshall since been reunited with She had been preparing bizarre sense of being oper- almost total isolation, with been born that day.” my son without gloves... we Islands; Micronesia; Nauru; North Korea; Palau; her son, neither she nor her to have the baby by caesar- ated on by surgeons com- the staff entering the room For Arantxa Fernandez, a are just dying for the quar- Samoa; Sao Tome and Principe; Solomon Islands; husband have been allowed ian section on March 16, pletely covered in protec- as little as possible because psychologist at the hospi- antine to end so we can South Sudan; Tajikistan; Tonga; Turkmenistan; to physically touch him but everything changed tive suits. of a lack of protective tal, it was also a very spe- touch him, kiss him,” says Tuvalu; Vanuatu, Yemen without gloves as they when her grandmother, Back home, her husband equipment, Muro was cial moment, “the most Carrillo as his wife gives Some, experts agree, are likely to have unre- undergo an extended peri- who the couple had been was also struggling, know- allowed to go home, but beautiful I’ve ever experi- Oliver a bottle, safety meas- ported cases. North Korea, for example, is offi- od of quarantine. seeing every day, caught ing she was in surgery but had to leave her baby enced in my professional ures in place. cially on zero, as is war-torn Yemen. “It’s hard,” says Vanesa the virus. She later died. not knowing what was behind. life,” she told AFP. And the new parents are But there are countries where the virus has not Muro at her home in On March 12, she and going on. “It seems silly but even Throughout the process, not able to turn to their landed. Most are small islands with few visitors - Madrid, the worst-hit area her husband tested positive “It was the longest 90 though he was seven floors Fernandez would send the families for support. in fact, seven of the world’s 10 least-visited places, in Spain, a country where and he rushed her to minutes of my life,” says below me, he seemed closer couple photos and videos of Even though Muro’s par- as per UN data, are free of Covid-19. more than 10,000 people Madrid’s La Paz University Oscar Carrillo. to me there than when I Oliver while he was still in ents live very close, Spain’s That remoteness means one thing: in this age of have died from the virus, Hospital but he was not In the end, baby Oliver was home,” she says. hospital, offering the pair lockdown means it feels social-distancing rules, island nations are the the highest number outside allowed in, “so he left me at was born safely, weighing It was only 10 days later support that they describe like they are living miles original self-isolators. Source: BBC Italy. A&E”, she told AFP. 3.6 kilogrammes (7 pounds, that the couple, wearing as “vital”. away, Carrillo says. (afp)

Ethiopia races to bolster Virus crisis shines light on ventilator stockpile North Africa health care

In four years as a doctor The coronavirus pan- underfunded health sector. Algeria is the worst-hit of rus tests since the start of in Ethiopia, Rediet Libanos demic has put the spotlight In a stagnating Tunisia, the the three North African March, raising concern has used a mechanical ven- on shortcomings in health government has struggled countries so far, with 986 about whether its number tilator just once: on a care in several North Afri- to mobilise funds to face officially declared cases, of cases could be higher. patient who suffered a can countries, even as gov- the COVID-19 pandemic. including 83 deaths, com- “We don’t have enough haemorrhagic stroke a few ernments moved quickly to Just last year, the health pared with 47 deaths from test kits and hydroalcoholic months ago. announce restrictions to sector was shaken by a 735 cases in Morocco, and (disinfectant) solution”, But as the country braces limit the spread of the series of deaths of newborn 455 cases including 14 one intensive care worker for a potential surge in cor- virus. “Our fate is in the babies and reports of deaths in Tunisia. at a provincial hospital in onavirus, the 28-year-old hands of a health system unsanitary facilities, poor Moroccan Health Minis- Morocco told AFP. and many of her colleagues that we have neglected for staff management and a ter Khalid Ait Taleb said The country has just are scrambling to master years”, a doctor in the lack of resources. that “considerable effort is 1,642 intensive care beds the workings of the breath- Moroccan city of Marrake- And in neighbouring made to care for patients”. for its 35 million people. ing machines, which buy sh said in a video widely Algeria, “the health crisis But he also acknowl- Health spending time for critically-ill shared on social media. has exposed failings of the edged that “even before accounts for around five patients. COVID-19 patients in health system”, said Kamel COVID-19, we had a lack of percent of Morocco’s During a training this Morocco have denounced Bouzid, president of the human resources. That’s national budget, compared week in Addis Ababa, Redi- the conditions in public Algerian Society of Medical the main problem”. with the World Health et and six other doctors got hospitals, reigniting nag- Oncology, quoted by inde- Morocco has only carried Organization’s recommen- a refresher on how to opti- ging controversy over the pendent news site TSA. out around 3,000 coronavi- dation of 12 percent.(AFP) mise oxygen volume and be skilled in how to use general of medical services whelmed by orders from pressure for patients whose this machine,” she told at the health ministry. around the globe, it’s not at lungs are failing, practicing AFP. By comparison, the US all clear how this gap will first on a green rubber Yet even as doctors study state of New York, the cur- be bridged, he said. dummy organ before visit- up on ventilation tech- rent centre of the pandem- “I’m really worried about ing clinics to see ventilators niques, Ethiopia’s govern- ic, has said it could need a shortage,” Yakob said. in action. ment -- like others in Africa tens of thousands of venti- “This is not because of the Though Ethiopia has -- is confronting a stark ven- lators for a population of commitment of the govern- reported only 29 cases of tilator shortage that could around 20 million. ment or lack of will, but COVID-19, two of them hobble its COVID-19 The Ethiopian health because of lack of resourc- critical, Rediet expects the response. ministry’s own “worst-case es.” country will soon see an In a country of more than scenario” modelling pre- Ventilator shortages have onslaught of patients for 100 million people, just 54 dicts the country will been well-documented in whom ventilation could ventilators -- out of around require around 1,500 venti- Italy and New York, and mean the difference 450 total -- had been set lators for COVID-19 health officials at the Afri- between life and death. aside for COVID-19 patients by the end of April, can Union stress that the “I will be on the front patients as of this week, Yakob said. problem is not unique to lines of that, so I need to said Yakob Seman, director With producers over- the continent. (afp) saturday, April 4, 2020

Coronavirus intensifies pressure on SL Finance Companies - Fitch

The coronavirus outbreak Fitch expects Sri Lanka degree of recovery in FY21 A one- to six-month debt mum capital-adequacy ratio by 1 January 2020. The Sri ness segment of Sri Lankan and the resultant prolonged FLCs to face multiple chal- will depend largely on the moratorium, depending on the requirements has been extend- Lankan FLC sector had been FLCs. business disruptions will put lenges in the near team, duration and severity of the type of credit line, will have ed by one year. This will pro- struggling with rising non-per- Fitch expects to complete a additional pressure on Sri Lan- including muted loan growth, virus outbreak. negative first-order implica- vide some breathing space to forming loans, weakening review of its ratings on the Sri kan finance and leasing com- margin compression amid The Central Bank of Sri tions for FLCs, but a reduction FLCs that have not met the profitability due to rising credit Lankan FLCs in the near term, panies’ (FLCs) earnings and lower interest rates, and rising Lanka (CBSL) has announced of the liquid-asset requirement relevant thresholds due to dis- costs and muted loan growth, as with the banks, considering asset quality, says Fitch Rat- loan-impairment charges due further relief for COVID- for deposits and borrowings location of the capital markets, even before the coronavirus the likely impact of recent ings. The ultimate economic to asset-quality pressures. We 19-affected businesses, and could reduce near-term liquidi- while significant near-term outbreak. This was due mainly developments. “We have and financial market implica- believe that there could be a individuals are to be offered ty shocks stemming mainly earnings pressure may weigh to the sluggish economic already revised our banking tions of the outbreak are fall in loan growth in 4QFY20 similar relief by FLCs as those from non-payment of loan on FLCs’ capital buffers.” growth and restrictions on the sector outlook to negative as unclear, while Fitch considers (ending 31 March 2020), with offered to customers of banks, rentals. Out of the Fitch-rated FLCs, importation of vehicles to the coronavirus pandemic the risks to NBFIs’ credit pro- growth already sluggish up to including debt moratorium. We “In addition, the timeline to five had not met the minimum defend the local currency - poses increased risks to the files to be clearly skewed to end-3Q20 (yoy decline of believe that these have mixed comply with enhanced mini- core capital requirements of which hit growth prospects for anticipated expansion in the the downside. 0.9% in gross loans). The implications for FLCs. mum core capital and mini- LKR2 billion (USD11 million) vehicle finance, the key busi- economy and credit demand.”

USE EPF RESOURCES TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO Developing Asia Growth to Fall in 2020

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (3 April 2020) — SUSTAIN EXPORT SECTOR - NCE Regional economic growth in develop- Sri Lanka is currently ing up EPF funds as a loan sary credit checks/guarantees of 6% for EPF and 0.50% ing Asia will decline sharply in 2020 fighting a Global Pandemic provider, to the employees in are obtaining from the margin for the bank totaling due to the effects of the novel corona- and enduring a challenging the form of salaries for sev- employer (exporter). The 6.50% p.a. virus (COVID-19) pandemic, before period both in terms of eral months, until the Export- employer (exporter) will act Further the NCE also recovering in 2021, according to the Healthcare and an Economic ing businesses could stand the guarantor to the loan requests the Central bank to Asian Development Outlook (ADO) upheaval. This has resulted on their own. The sugges- given by EPF to the employ- direct the commercial banks, 2020, the Asian Development Bank’s in halt of Production, many tions are of dual form, from ee (staff) and be liable for who have been top perform- (ADB) annual flagship economic pub- businesses reaching a critical which the most feasible and repayment of same. ers during the past few years lication. juncture. suitable could be followed. As an alternative model to provide loans to the The report forecasts regional growth Further, some of the The NCE suggest that EPF suggested, is the commercial exporters at a concessionary of 2.2% in 2020, a downward revision exporters are facing issues funds are released to the banks to grant a credit facili- interest rates, in the situation of 3.3 percentage points relative to the with cancelled pre orders on employees (staff) as a loan ty exclusively to employers the EPF cannot be utilized as 5.5% ADB had forecast in September already manufactured batch- covering their monthly sala- (exporters) to pay their a means of providing loans, 2019. Growth is expected to rebound es of products in terms of the ries for the months March to employee (staff) salaries and for their working capital to 6.2% in 2021, assuming that the economic slowdown around August 2020. This mecha- covering the period March to management requirements. outbreak ends and activity normalizes. Sawada. In the People’s Republic of from $64 in 2019. All of developing the world. This trying situa- nism to be strengthen with August 2020.The employer “Our proposal is to protect Excluding the newly industrialized China (PRC), growth will rebound to Asia’s subregions will see growth tion presumably will lead to commercial banks acting as (exporter) submit the payroll industries; especially the economies of Hong Kong, China; the an above normal 7.3% in 2021 before weaken this year because of weak high levels of retrenchment the administrator. The to the bank, whom in turn exporting companies, with Republic of Korea; Singapore; and reverting back to normal growth. global demand, and in some econo- such as employee redundan- employer (exporter) submit will credit the employee the potential to create Taipei, China, developing Asia is fore- Growth in India is forecast to slow to mies because of domestic outbreaks cy and to the extreme extent the payroll to the bank who (staff) accounts with relevant inflows of foreign exchange cast to grow 2.4% this year, compared 4.0% in fiscal year (FY) 2020 before and containment policies. Subregions of complete shutdown of in turn obtain the funds from payments. in this critical need.it is to 5.7% in 2019, before rebounding to strengthening to 6.2% in FY2021. that are more economically open like business ventures. EPF and credit the salaries to It is suggested that re-pay- assured that our exporters 6.7% next year. Underpinning much of the weakness East and Southeast Asia or tourism- In this light the NCE pro- the employee’s (staff) ment of loan to be completed will repay the government “The evolution of the global pan- across Asia is a deteriorating external dependent like the Pacific, will be poses that President to accounts. Prior to doing so, within 24 months of granting once they are strong in their demic—and thus the outlook for the environment, with growth stagnating hard hit. explore the option of open- the bank will ensure neces- with an interest component operations. global and regional economy—is or contracting in the major industrial The global cost of the pandemic highly uncertain. Growth could turn economies of the United States, Euro could range from $2.0 trillion to $4.1 out lower, and the recovery slower, area, and Japan. trillion, equivalent to a loss of between than we are currently forecasting.” Brent oil prices are expected to 2.3% to 4.8% of global gross domestic FCCISL initiates medical donation through CICCPS in Beijing said ADB Chief Economist Yasuyuki average $35 per barrel this year, down product. Federation of Chambers of Com- merce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) arranged a donation of medi- cal items through China International Apparel sector equips COVID-19 caused 77% Chamber of Commerce for the Private Sector (CICCPS) in Beijing with the collapse in global aviation support of the Xiangyuan County in healthcare workers Shanxi Province in China. Sri Lanka’s apparel sector the fabric supplied by TeeJay The donation which contained, surgi- has taken up arms to equip Apparels. The COVID-19 crisis has brought the aviation cal masks (quantity 20,000), N95 local healthcare workers with In addition to this endeavor, industry to its knees. This week (30th March – masks (2,000), disposable protective the appropriate clothing as they most apparel factories around 5th April), international airline seat capacity fell clothing 200) and isolation clothes serve in the frontlines of our the country are manufacturing to just 23% of what it was in the first week of (200) was handed over to K. K. Yoga- battle against COVID-19. and supplying protective cloth- April last year. Just 10 million seats were still in naadan Deputy Chief of Mission at All apparel firms in associa- ing items and masks to local service, to facilitate essential travel, compared Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing, China tion with the Joint Apparel hospitals and authorities in an with 44.2 million a year ago. on March 31. The equipment have been Wang Yanguo, Party Secretary and President of CICCPS hands over the Association Forum Sri Lanka effort to eradicate the COVID- Looking back over the first quarter of the year, directed to Ministry of Health Sri donation to K K Yoganaadan Deputy Chief of Mission at Embassy of Sri (JAAFSL) are developing an 19 virus. airline seat capacity is 9.4% down compared Lanka. Speaking at the ceremony Wang Lanka in Beijing, China. On extreme left is Alexi Gunasekera Minister isolation overall gown designed A primary contributor to the with Q1 2019. (482 million seats were in service Yanguo Party Secretary and President Commercial, Gong Yongling, Member of the Standing Committee and for doctors and nurses that local economy, Sri Lanka’s in Q1 2020, compared with 532 million in Q1 of CICCPS told the gathering “I think Minister of Publicity of Xiangyuan County Party Committee (center) come in direct contact with apparel industry has long sup- 2019.) At the start of January, capacity was the fight against the new coronavirus and Zhou Chonglin, Executive Secretary General of CICCPS (extreme infected patients. ported the development and slightly up on last year. However, it started to epidemic is also the most practical right) The industry and JAAFSL wellbeing of the country. With fall during the last week of January, when the exercise and test for the Asia Pacific will be sharing the development the country’s textile and gar- Chinese government announced restrictions on trade Agreement of Chamber of Com- “When China fought against the epi- Lanka gave us strong support and soli- details and patterns of this pro- ment industry transforming Sri outbound travel. From then until the middle of merce which is just under preparation.” demic, FCCISL and people of Sri darity and we are thankful to that.” tective clothing with other key Lanka into an apparel hub in March, air capacity fell substantially; at which manufacturers in order to pro- the region and providing point it fell precipitously to the end of the tect all citizens and rid the employment to a significant month. country of this virus. portion of the population, the The top ten airlines still operating in the first AIIB to launch USD 5 bn COVID-19 Crisis Recovery Facility In addition, several apparel sector is governed by the week of April (30th March – 5th April) are: factories have also come JAAFSL. KLM, with 800,000 seats still in service, Qatar Beijing, China—The Asian the coordinated international its members, especially low- opment in Asia.” “The together to Airways, with nearly 500,000 seats in service Infrastructure Investment response to counter COVID income members, whose international community manufacture and Ryanair with 400,000. They are followed in Bank (AIIB) is proposing to 19 crisis, as per the Extraor- economies are being particu- needs to come together to and supply over descending order by Delta, Air France, Ameri- its Board of Directors to cre- dinary G20 Leaders’ Sum- larly impacted by COVID- pool our resources to help 2 million pro- can, BA, Wizz Air, Cathay Pacific and Jeju. ate a crisis recovery facility mit. 19. the world navigate the cur- tective masks (www.eturbonews.com) in response to urgent eco- The facility is designed to AIIB President and Chair rent pandemic and eco- free of charge nomic, financial and public be flexible and adaptive to of the Board, Jin Liqun, nomic upheaval. AIIB is for government health pressures and to sup- emerging demands. It will said: “A well-managed and committed to playing its medical service port a quick recovery after offer dedicated financing for robust development institu- full part.” personnel. The the current crisis. the next 18 months for quali- tion must be nimble The facility could sup- initiative was The first set of fabric masks was handed A new Crisis Recovery fying projects within its enough to deal with exter- port emergency public coordinated by over to Chairman of State Pharmaceutical Facility will offer an initial membership. The size of the nal shocks and responsive health needs, such as health JAAFSL and the Corporation Dr. Prasanna Gunasena by USD5 billion of financing to facility could be increased enough to adapt to the infrastructure for emergen- Sri Lanka Appar- SLAEA Chairman Rehan Lakhani. Group both public and private sec- depending on client demand. changing needs of its cli- cy preparedness and clients el Exporters’ Director Omega Line Felix Fernando and tor entities facing serious AIIB is also exploring how ents while also adhering to whose infrastructure invest- Association Eskimo Fashions CEO Indika Liyanahew- adverse impacts as a result it can use its Project Prepa- our mission of promoting ments are severely impact- (SLAEA), with age are also present. of the pandemic. It is part of ration Special Fund to help economic and social devel- ed by the pandemic.

British Airways is to suspend more than Emirates announces first passenger flights post suspension 30,000 staff, from cabin crew to ground Emirates has received approvals to Brussels and Zurich, with 4 flights a notice, these flights will only carry port of essential goods. Sheikh limited to travellers who meet the staff, engineers and head office employ- carry passengers on certain flights. week to London Heathrow, and 3 outbound passengers from the UAE. Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, entry requirements set by the destina- ees, until the end of May under the gov- Effective Monday 6 April, initial flights a week to the other cities. Emirates will also carry belly-hold Chairman and Chief Executive, Emir- tion countries, will be welcomed by ernment furlough scheme for companies flights will commence from Dubai to Operating from Dubai International cargo in both directions, supporting ates airline and Group said: “These our customers seeking to return home hit by the coronavirus pandemic. (www.the- London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Paris, airport Terminal 2 until further trade and communities with the trans- initial passenger services, although to their countries and families.” guardian.com) ADVERTISEMENTS SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020 sport saturday,april 4, 2020 Play your part, health minister tells Premier League stars

LONDON, Thursday - Premier League a significant financial penalty on clubs to League and was aware of the public sen- instances where clubs have the resourc- striker Gary Lineker, who has donated soccer players need to take a pay cut and reimburse those hit hardest in the pock- timent. es to pay all staff, the benefit of players two months of his BBC presenter’s sal- “play their part” as Britain battles the et.” “However, our current position is that paying non-playing staff salaries will ary to the British Red Cross, said coronavirus pandemic, health minister Knight set a Tuesday deadline for — as businesses — if clubs can afford to only serve the business of the club’s highly-paid footballers were an easy Matt Hancock said on Thursday. clubs to “do the right thing...or face the pay their players and staff, they should,” shareholders”. target. Players’ wages, with the game’s big- consequences”. it added. Norwich City said their players and “There are lots of other people in gest stars paid far more per week than Professional football in England has The PFA said players did not want to management had agreed to donate a society who earn huge money — bil- the average Briton earns in years, have been suspended until April 30, at the see club staff treated unfairly and recog- percentage of their salaries, amounting lionaires, CEOs on huge money,” he become a hot topic after some clubs fur- earliest, due to the pandemic with some nised “any use of the government’s sup- to more than 200,000 pounds said. loughed non-playing employees under a top- flight clubs putting non-playing port schemes without genuine financial ($247,000), to help those affected by “I hope it’s not just footballers who government job retention scheme. staff on leave. need is detrimental to the wider the virus. are targeted. Football will, and should, One parliamentary committee head society”. Britain's Health Sec- “As a group of players, we wanted to do something.”Knight said the Premier earlier called for a windfall tax on clubs PUBLIC SENTIMENT retary Matt Hancock speaks stand up and do our bit,” captain Grant League should be “role modelling a who failed to tackle the “obscene situa- at a digital COVID-19 news Hanley told the club website (www. responsible approach” along tion”. Sky News reported that senior conference at 10 Downing canaries.co.uk). the lines of European “I think everybody needs to play their figures wanted the Premier League’s Street in London, Britain The managers of Bournemouth and rivals. Players at a num- part in this national effort and that 20 clubs to agree to a blanket wage April 2, 2020. Brighton & Hove Albion have also ber of top continental means Premier League footballers too,” cut of up to 25% at a meeting to be Pippa Fowles/10 taken voluntary three-month pay cuts. clubs, including Ital- Hancock said, highlighting the sacrifices held by video conference on Friday. Downing Street/ Others, such as last season’s losing ian and Spanish heav- made by National Health service work- That, however, was only one of a Handout via Champions League finalists Totten- yweights Juventus ers who had caught the range of options for wages which were REUTERS ham Hotspur who imposed a 20% and Barcelona, have disease and died. due to be discussed, Sky added. It added, pay cut on 550 non-playing staff, agreed temporary “The first thing that The PFA players’ union said it hoped however, have said they hoped players would pay cuts. Premier League foot- to reach an agreement with the Premier that “in end up “doing their bit”. – Agencies ballers can do is make Former England and Tottenham a contribution, take a pay cut.” Julian Knight, a member for the rul- ing Conservative party who chairs the Department for Digital, Cul- ture, Media & Sport (DCMS) Com- mittee, wrote to finance minister Rishi Sunak urging action. “We are facing an obscene situation where top players who aren’t working are continuing to see hundreds of thou- sands of pounds roll in each week while the staff who keep the clubs going are losing wages,” he said. “If the Premier League isn’t going to act to resolve this crisis then the Govern- ment must step in by imposing

World Games postponed to 2022 to Cricket's devil in the D/L: Dramatic rain-affected finishes

avoid Tokyo Olympics clash LONDON, Thursday - It may have replaced a his extraordinary blunder gifting England victo- system that produced the farcical finish that saw ry in the first one-day international in Guyana. South Africa needing to score 21 runs off one With the light fading, Stuart Broad had Denesh ball to beat England in a 1992 World Cup semi- Ramdin lbw to shift the D/L target in England's final in Sydney, but the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern favour, with West Indies needing 27 from 22 method has been involved in its fair share of balls. controversy as well. Dyson, however, insisted his not-out batsmen The death aged 78 of Tony Lewis, who togeth- walk off after reading the sheet in front of him. er with fellow mathematician Frank Duckworth "When it came down to that last wicket I devised the original D/L formula, designed to set didn't go across the column," former Australia revised targets in weather-affected limited overs opening batsman Dyson admitted afterwards. matches, was announced on Wednesday. The "I went down the wrong column... It was a bad system was introduced in 1997 and adopted by mistake." the International Cricket Council two years later, A few months later, after a run of poor results, with Steven Stern becoming the custodian of the Dyson was sacked. method when mathematicians Duckworth and Lewis retired. 2018: SCOTLAND'S WORLD CUP HEARTACHE "His contribution to the game of cricket will ALABAMA, Thursday - The 2021 World “A great deal of detailed work is now be remembered for years to come," said ICC Scotland had to beat the West Indies in a Games have been pushed back by a year required to implement this decision, general manager Geoff Allardice as he paid trib- South African captain Shaun Pollock is left qualifying match in Harare to reach the 2019 to avoid clashing with the Tokyo Olym- but I am impressed by the flexibility ute to Lewis on Thursday. Critics, however, despondent after miscalculating the Duckworth/ World Cup in England. pics which were rescheduled due to the and efficiency of the Birmingham insist the system is too complicated and here Lewis rain rule in the 2003 World Cup match Chasing 199 to win, they were 125 for five off coronavirus pandemic, World Games Organising Committee,” International AFP Sport looks at three of the most dramatic against Sri Lanka. 35.2 overs when a downpour ended the game. organisers said on Thursday. World Games Association (IWGA) finishes to a match involving the Duckworth- The Scots felt aggrieved after Richie Ber- The World Games, which are held President Jose Perurena said. Lewis formula: Proteas had won when he blocked what became rington was given out lbw for 33 in what every four years and feature 32 sports The international event was set to the last ball of the match, rather than run a win- appeared to be a poor decision. that are not part of the Olympic pro- host 3,600 athletes from over 100 coun- 2003: SOUTH AFRICA EXIT OWN WORLD CUP ning single. But with no Decision Review System in use at gramme, were scheduled to take place tries to take part in a variety of sports "Both Shaun Pollock (South Africa captain) the qualifiers, they had no way of challenging the in Birmingham, Alabama, from July such as martial arts, bowling, squash, AS BOUCHER BLOCKS OUT and Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lankan captain) had on-field umpire's verdict. 15–25 next year but have now been billiards and even wheelchair rugby. Co-hosts South Africa needed to beat Sri the same papers (with the run-rates)," said Had Scotland been just four down for the same postponed to July 7-17, 2022. “All organisational main pillars such Lanka in their final group game in Durban to go Duckworth. "Sanath read it right and Shaun total come the rain, they would have won and Organisers said that the decision to as venues and accommodation are in through to the second phase Super Sixes. didn't." qualified. move the Tokyo Olympics to 2021 made place for 2022, and we are able to have When rain stopped play with five overs, South Although it was DRS, rather than DLS that a significant impact on the planning of exactly the same sports programme as Africa were 229 for six. That was the 'par score' 2009: DYSON DOES FOR THE WEST INDIES was mainly in the spotlight this time, it did show the World Games and sticking to the we had planned for 2021,” IWGA CEO under D/L method -- crucially the figure a team what a difference the loss of just one wicket original dates would have meant exclud- Joachim Gossow added. needs in order to tie rather than win. It appeared Someone else who certainly "didn't read it could make under the formula Lewis and Duck- ing many Olympic athletes and officials. – Agencies on-strike batsman Mark Boucher believed the right" was West Indies coach John Dyson, with worth created. – AFP Hit list: What's next in line for possible coronavirus postponement

PARIS, Thursday - The coronavirus the Epsom Downs to watch Britain's Epsom Derbies since her first visit as a despite France having extended its pandemic has decimated the 2020 richest race. princess in 1946. But she has never lockdown until April 15. Sports minis- sporting calendar, with the Tokyo failed to attend her 'local' meeting ter Roxana Maracineanu on Wednes- Olympics and football's European CANADIAN GRAND PRIX since ascending the throne in 1952. day said that the world's most prestig- Championship the biggest events to be The five day festival draws a 300,000 ious cycling race, which usually draws postponed, while Wimbledon was can- Scheduled date: June 14 crowd which consumes 56,000 bottles more than 10 million fans to the road- celled for the first time since World -- The earliest the Formula One sea- of champagne and 80,000 cups of tea sides, could take place with no specta- War II. son can get underway is in Montreal on while out on the track equine aristo- tors. But she also admitted that all Here, AFP Sport takes a look at six June 14 after the opening eight races of crats joust for prize money in excess of options, including cancellation, are of the upcoming major competitions the campaign were all either postponed £8 million ($10 million). being considered. which could also be scrapped or or cancelled. Ascot spokesman Nick Smith told delayed due to the COVID-19 out- A decision on a potential delay will The Daily Mail: "There are no certain- BRITISH OPEN break: be made by Easter weekend (April ties and we are one industry in a world 11-12), according to race organisers. of industries in exactly the same posi- Scheduled dates: July 16-19 EPSOM DERBY Formula One and Silverstone chiefs tion. You can plan with optimism but -- British media reported on Friday also said they have until the end of no surety." said that the British Open at Royal St Scheduled date: June 6 April to decide whether to postpone It has been staged every year since George's could be postponed within -- British racing is in shutdown the British Grand Prix, scheduled for 1911. The 2005 meeting moved to York days. mode until at least the end of April, July 19. while the racecourse was closed for Over 200,000 spectators are due to placing doubt on Newmarket's Guin- F1 chairman Chase Carey said last renovation. Tour de France the world's most prestigious cycling race. attend the tournament in Sandwich. eas weekend on May 2/3, and inevita- month that he still expects the season A delay could have a knock-on effect bly also the jewel in the British flat to start in the summer with a revised US OPEN (GOLF) But American media reports earli- has passed 100,000, over 44,000 of on the rest of the golf calendar, with racing crown, the Epsom Derby. calendar of "15-18 races". er this week said that the tournament them in New York state. space at a premium after the postpone- The Blue Riband of the turf has Scheduled dates: June 18-21 in Mamaroneck, New York, was likely ments of the PGA and the Masters. been held every year since Diomed ROYAL ASCOT -- The 120th US Open at Winged to be put back until later in the sum- TOUR DE FRANCE It is highly unlikely that the 149th took the inaugural running in 1780. Foot is due to be the first men's major mer. Open could be held later than Septem- During the two World Wars it was Scheduled dates: June 16-20 of the golf season after the postpone- The course was closed last week, Scheduled dates: June 27-July 19 ber due to the weather, but a delay until moved to Newmarket. -- British monarch Queen Elizabeth ments of both the Masters and the since when the number of confirmed -- The Tour de France is still sched- next year would impact plans to hold Around 150,000 people descend on II has only missed attending two PGA Championship. COVID-19 cases in the United States uled to start in Nice on June 27, the 150th edition at St Andrews. – AFP saturday, april 4, 2020

Sports Editor : 011 242 9223 Fax : +941122343694 e mail : [email protected] Kenya marathon star Kipsang held for breaking virus curfew

NAIROBI, Friday - Kenya's former rently under provisional suspension 10pm," Iten county police commander not breaking the government world marathon record holder Wil- from the World Integrity Anti-Dop- John Mwinzi told AFP. orders." son Kipsang spent the night in jail ing Unit (AIU). Western Iten attracts thousands of Kenya has imposed a 7pm-5am after being arrested drinking and He pleaded guilty in a court on elite Kenyan and foreign athletes who curfew in a bid to curb the spread of playing pool with a large group after Friday and was released on bail of flock into the small town, located at the coronavirus. a nighttime curfew, police said Fri- 5,000 shillings ($47, 43 euros). 2,400m above sea level, for altitude Mwinzi has also ordered the arrest day. "We arrested Kipsang and nine oth- training. of twelve athletes, including two for- Kipsang, who claimed the world ers, including one of the administra- "This is a very serious offence. eigners found training in a group on record during the 2013 Berlin mara- tors of the county at the Keelu Resort These people are respected and they Monday for disobeying directives on thon, is a police officer who is cur- club drinking and playing pool at are supposed to lead by example and social distance. – AFP

Wilson Kipsang English cricket chiefs consider Haircuts and horses - India cricketers make virus checkpoints most of coronavirus lockdown NEW DELHI, Friday - From Fast bowler Mohammed Shami LONDON, Friday - English Virat Kohli having his hair cut by is "having the most amazing time" cricket chiefs are consider- his Bollywood wife, to Ravindra with his dog Jack and opening ing installing coronavirus Jadeja on a stallion, India's super- batsman Shikhar Dhawan posted checkpoints and isolation star cricketers are making the a skit of him doing household units at grounds as a way most of their enforced break dur- chores while getting orders from of restarting the game ing the national coronavirus lock- his wife. behind closed doors. down. Cricket commentators have also Last week the England At a time when the Indian Pre- kept the humour alive with witty and Wales Cricket Board mier League (IPL) would nor- posts as India, which has 1,965 (ECB) announced that no mally be in full swing, Kohli has confirmed coronavirus cases and professional cricket would sent out a number of video mes- 50 deaths, pursues a 21-day lock- be played before May 28 at sages telling people to stay down which started on March 25. the earliest. indoors to stop the spread of the Sanjay Manjrekar posted a But the ECB is stepping virus. video of him cutting vegetables, up its planning for a poten- But the tweet that got the most complete with a running commen- tial resumption of interna- media coverage and "likes", more tary. The IPL, cricket's biggest tional action with no spec- than 100,000, was one posted by Twenty20 league, is officially tators. England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) headquarters at his actress wife Anushka Sharma postponed until April 15 but it is England's Test series Lord’s of her cutting her style-icon hus- widely expected to be either with West Indies is due to band's hair. pushed back further, severely start at the Oval on 4 June. to work within that num- next June, but with quali- ber (which would be made fying series being post- At the same time Kohli, 31, has truncated or cancelled altogether. Australia and Pakistan are been chatting live on Instagram In international cricket, India also due to tour during the up of essential matchday poned and no certainty as Video of Anushka Sharma cutting Virat Kohli's hair went viral on social media. staff). Then you have to to when they will be with former England star Kevin top the ICC Test championship English summer. action, is contenting himself with slippers.)," the 26-year-old wrote think about medical provi- rescheduled, the show- Pietersen "about what's happen- table, are second behind England The ECB's director of watering plants, and using "this on Twitter along with the video. sions, creating a safe and piece match could be ing world over at the moment and in the one-day rankings and lie special projects Steve time to reflect on the aspects of The Board of Control for Crick- sterile environment delayed. also about all the years we've fourth in the T20 chart. Elworthy told the Guardi- my life that are truly important et in India (BCCI), which donated around that venue, so that "We continue to under- known each other". The lockdown in the country of an that such an approach and picking up some new hobbies $6.8 million to the prime minis- everyone who comes in is take a comprehensive busi- Elite cricketers have a relentless 1.3 billion has left hundreds of would essentially mean along the way". ter's coronavirus relief fund, has clear. ness continuity and con- travel schedule and while the lock- thousands of India's poor sud- creating a "safe and sterile With many rich and middle- also kept its Twitter account "So it's how you test tingency planning exercise down is tough for many, Australia denly jobless, prompting many of environment" at grounds. class Indians now forced to do the active with the news of the players them at the gate, the isola- which will allow us to coach Justin Langer said it was them to walk sometimes hundreds "We're mapping out housework themselves because during curfew. Pictures of Test tion units that you have to adapt to the rapidly evolv- "nirvana" for his players to have of miles back to their home vil- what international match- their domestic staff can't get to batsman Cheteshwar Pujara with put in. These are consid- ing world in which we find an extended break at home. lages. es would look like behind work, Bumrah also posted a video his wife and daughter were dis- erations we are thinking ourselves," ICC chief exec- Jadeja has been able to indulge "Our hearts are breaking look- closed doors," he said. of him mopping a floor -- less than played on the BCCI page. about." utive Manu Sawhney said his love of horses, posting a video ing at the suffering of so many & Referring to the British successfully. "The Pujara family is spending The International Crick- on Friday. of himself riding a white stallion. we hope our contribution, in some government's initial advice "My modified mobility drills are some quality time home. Some et Council said on Friday "The ICC management The all-rounder was also seen way, helps easing the pain of our prior to the current lock- keeping the house clean and my household chores & fun time with that it was reviewing its will continue our contin- sprinting topless on a treadmill. fellow citizens," Kohli tweeted, down, he added: "The mother very happy. (P.s - I had to the little one. Stay Home Stay options in light of the gency planning around Paceman Jasprit Bumrah, adding that the couple were advice around mass gath- famous for his lethal sling-arm do everything again without the Safe," the post said. donating to relief funds. - AFP erings was 500 people or COVID-19 pandemic. ICC events and will also fewer. The men's T20 World work with members to "That was guided by the Cup is scheduled to start explore all options availa- Eyes fresh tilt at World Cup glory potential impact on criti- in Australia in October. ble to us based on a range cal services like paramed- The inaugural World of scenarios connected to ics and doctors. Test Championship final is the pandemic." Health workers to be honoured "You would likely have due to take place at Lord's – AFP Jones' cricket dream on hold TWICKENHAM, Friday - Eddie Jones at 2021 Grand National has said his ambition of watching LONDON, Thursday - The first day of next year's three day Grand cricket in the Caribbean will have to National meeting is to be named "Liverpool's NHS Day" to honour wait after he signed up for a fresh Kandy Big Matches affected National Health Service workers combatting the coronavirus pan- crack at winning the World Cup demic, The Jockey Club announced on Thursday. with England. This year's meeting which usually climaxes with the world's great- When he became England coach by covid-19 epidemic est steeplechase on Saturday has been cancelled due to the pandemic after the 2015 World Cup, the Aus- which as of Tuesday had claimed 2,352 lives in the United Kingdom. tralian, a lifelong cricket fan, said he Hafiz Marikar kadagala MV and Teldeniya National planned to be watching cricket in NHS staff are battling to deal with thousands of other patients who Eddie Jones In Kandy, out of the seven cricket big School on March 7 and 8 at Police grounds have the virus. the West Indies when his initial four- matches only one was played, all other big saw Teldeniya MV emerging winners. The Jockey Club, the largest commercial group in British horserac- year deal was up. perfect game of rugby and I want a matches have been suspended due to the The other Big Matches in Kandy that ing which operates 15 racecourses including Aintree, which hosts But having first extended until team that can be remembered as a coronavirus epidemic. The sporting calen- were postponed were the oldest big match The Grand National, said they would also be donating 10,000 tickets 2021, it was announced Thursday great team." dar has been heavily affected by the out- in the hills the 114th Battle of the Maroons -- which usually cost £40($50)each -- to local NHS staff and social the 60-year-old has committed him- Meanwhile, Rugby Football Union break and there is a likelihood of all the and the 32nd one-day match between care workers. self to taking England all the way to chief executive Bill Sweeney believes remaining big matches will be cancelled Kingswood College and Dharmaraja Col- The 10,000 tickets would be on top of the normal Thursday crowd the 2023 World Cup in France. the coronavirus outbreak could lead due to the present situation. lege, the 104th clash between Trinity Col- of around 30,000. Asked what had happened to his to a radical shake-up of the global Everyone in Kandy is proud to support lege and St. Anthony’s College, the 62nd "The day, which is due to take place on Thursday 8th April 2021, dream of watching from the bound- game. With international rugby union the admirable efforts put in place by all Battle of the Babes played between St. will also be re-named Liverpool's NHS Day in honour of the dedi- ary edge in the West Indies, Jones brought to a standstill by the spread those who are working to deal with this Sylvester’s College and Vidyartha College, cated NHS staff and volunteers across Merseyside who are working said in a conference call from Japan: of COVID-19, concerns are mounting threat. the Battle of the Double Maroons between tirelessly to care for COVID-19 patients," read the Jockey Club state- "That is going to have wait a bit, that major unions and clubs could go “The Kandy District Cricket Associa- Madina Central College Madawala and ment. mate." Jones, Australia's coach when out of business in the months ahead, tion are all out to give a fillip when things Azhar Central College, Akurana, the 16th "In recognition of the hard work and commitment of carers who they lost to England in the 2003 with USA Rugby filing for bankruptcy come back to normal,” said its president Big Match between Nugawella Central are providing support for vulnerable people in the community World Cup final, was 80 minutes protection and the likes of Australia Roland Perera and secretary Janaka Pathi- and Wallala A. Ratnayake Central, and the through this crisis, The Jockey Club will ensure professional carers away from seeing his current side lift and New Zealand forecasting losses. rana. Battle of the Golds between Sri Rahula from the social care sector will also benefit from the initiative." the trophy in Japan last year after a But Sweeney said the crisis had led The only big match to be played between College and Wariyapola Sri Sumangala thrilling semi-final defeat of New to enhanced co-operation from coun- D.S. Senanayake earlier known as Sen- College (formerly St. Paul’s). Zealand, only for England to be tries on both sides of the Equator overwhelmed by a rampant South rather than the traditional friction. Africa in the final. "What's come out of this is an agree- The often outspoken Jones said ment between all the unions -- north Black Caps doubt over tours to Windies, Bangladesh England had to win the World Cup to and south (hemisphere) and World be considered a great side. Rugby to really start with a blank WELLINGTON, Friday - New Zealand Cricket given the bigger picture, and the terrible toll "We want to become one of those sheet of paper," said Sweeney. conceded upcoming tours to Europe and the COVID-19 is taking worldwide, we need to teams where people remember how "When you have a crisis of this West Indies were unlikely to proceed Friday, look after not only our own people but the you play for a period of time, that's nature and scale -- and I don't think with doubts also hanging over a planned visit greater community good," White said. the ache I have as a coach," he anybody could have predicted any- to Bangladesh. He confirmed this month's tour to Sri explained. "The test of greatness is to thing of this magnitude - it does NZC chief executive David White said the Lanka by the White Ferns women's team had do it consistently. With that comes highlight where you have fault lines. trips to Ireland, Scotland, the Netherlands been cancelled. All cricket has been stopped results. If we're the greatest team "A lot of conversations now are and the Caribbean scheduled for June-July as New Zealand undergoes a four-week then a World Cup medal is probably around 'how do we come out of this were "most unlikely", while there were "obvi- COVID-19 lockdown and White said NZC sitting in front of us. and emerge stronger?' ous question marks" about touring Bangla- was examining possible playing scenarios for "Our goal hasn't changed at all "We don't want to just come back desh in August. next season. "Our current focus is very much This year's Grand National meeting may have been cancelled due to from what I stated at the start of this in and carry on with the same model, "Clearly, this situation is extremely disap- on ensuring the future sustainability of crick- the coronavirus but the first day of next year’s will honour the local cycle and it will continue to be the that just repeats the errors and the pointing for everyone involved in sport but, et in New Zealand," White said. - AFP health staff and social care workers by naming it Liverpool's NHS Day. same. "I want a team that plays the difficulties of the past." – AFP