SRI LANKA TO PAY 2% INTEREST PREMIUM EMERGING GOVERNANCE ISSUES ON CORONAVIRUS FOREX ACCOUNT AMID COVID-19 THE APRIL COUNTER- 10 - 12, 2020 CULTURE ICON VOL: 4- ISSUE 190 . WORLD SEEKS ECONOMIC REMEDY 30 AS VIRUS DEATH TOLL MOUNTS BUSINESS PAGE 02 HOT TOPICS PAGE 04 COMMENTARY PAGE 06 LITERARY LIVES PAGE 08 Registered in the Department of Posts of Sri Lanka under No: QD/144/News/2020 COVID-19 and curfew in Sri Lanka • A single patient was confirmed as COVID-19 positive yester- day (9) taking the tally of the novel coronavirus infection to 190. Over 250 individuals suspected to have contracted the vi- rus under observations at selected hospitals across the coun- try, 134 are receiving treatment and 49 have been deemed completely recovered. • The districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Puttalam, Kandy and Jaffna, identified as high risk zones continue to be under indefinite police curfew, while curfew in most district lifted at 6:00 a.m. yesterday was re-imposed at 4:00 p.m. un- til 6:00 a.m. on April 14. • DIG AjithRohana warned that effective today (10) any per- son who crosses district borders in violation of curfew will be compulsorily sent to quarantine centres for a 14-day quaran- tine process. • At least 67 people from the Ratnapura and Pelmadulla areas are sent to the Diyatalawa quarantine centre after two more family members of the gem businessman of Ratnapura are found positive for COVID-19. These include the relatives of a gem businessman and employees of a gem mine belonging to him, and their families. • Cabinet approval is given to bring down 33 Sri Lankans stranded at airports overseas due to coronavirus pandemic. The Sri Lankans will have to undergo 21-day quarantine once they arrive in the country. • Those with suspected COVID-19 symptoms urged to call 1390 - emergency hotline, for set up for free medical advice on COVID-19 and assistance, if they need to be admitted to hospital • Areas declared as ‘isolated’ in the districts of Colombo, Kalu- tara and Kandy remain in the same category with no one al- lowed to enter or leave until further notice. -Pharmacies in all districts will remain open from 9:00 a.m. onwards. - Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Coronavirus toll Rev Stuart Elliott blesses a fire as part of his Easter Eve holiday started Wednesday (8) evening and runs to attending his UrbietOrbi blessing in Saint Peter's Square, service on the shore of LlynMymbyr in Snowdonia, Capel April 16 but families are being strictly urged to mark a case of addressing the city and the confined world. 88,981 deaths at 1100 GMT Curig, Wales, yesterday (9).Without his parishioners to the festival at home for their own protection against Predominantly Catholic countries would normally see accompany him because of the coronavirus lockdown COVID-19. Christians celebrating Easter will see the huge gatherings on Sunday (Orthodox Easter falls on yesterday he has filmed various outdoor ceremonies which will COVID-19 confinement crimp celebrations with Holy April 19) - but not this year, not even in the Mexican be broadcast online to celebrate Easter. Christians will Week services generally taking place behind closed municipality of Iztapalapa, which usually hosts a Passion PARIS- The worldwide number of fatalities from the novel be obliged to turn to services broadcast on television doors. The Vatican will be no exception, where Pope procession that sees participants lug crosses through coronavirus pandemic rose to 88,981 yesterday (9), according or over social media this year owing to the coronavirus Francis last Sunday (5) celebrated Palm Sunday at the streets. Television and internet are stepping into to a tally compiled by AFP at 1100 GMT from official sources. and Jews will mark the Passover holiday in their own a deserted Saint Peter's Basilica. His audience will the breach, however, to allow believers to participate More than 1,519,260 declared cases have been registered in homes rather than as communities. The major Jewish likewise be watching on screens rather than physically remotely in one of Christianity's most important festivals 192 countries and territories since the epidemic first emerged in China in December. Of these cases, at least 312,100 are now considered recovered. The tallies, using data collected by AFP from national au- UN warns thorities and information from the World Health Organiza- tion (WHO), probably reflect only a fraction of the actual number of infections. Many countries are only testing the most serious cases. Italy, which recorded its first death in late February, has Pandemic no ‘blank cheque' to had the most fatalities with 17,669 from 139,422 infections. Spain has recorded 15,238 fatalities from 152,446 infec- tions. The death toll in the United States is the third highest, at 14,817 from 432,132 infections - the highest number of cases flout human rights in the world. France has reported 10,869 deaths and 112,950 infections followed by Britain with 7,097 deaths and 60,733 cases. GENEVA- The coronavirus crisis "Emergency measures should be which will remain in force long after Some countries, organizations and China - excluding Hong Kong and Macau - has to date de- is not a "blank cheque" to flout civil necessary and proportionate," she the emergency is over," said Bache- leaders - including US President clared 3,335 deaths and 81,865 cases, with 77,279 recoveries. liberties, the UN human rights com- said. "I am profoundly concerned by let. "In some countries we have al- Donald Trump - have voiced doubts Since 1900 GMT on Wednesday (8), Somalia announced its missioner warned yesterday (9) as certain countries' adoption of emer- ready seen reports of journalists be- about the figures from China on the first coronavirus-linked death. she criticized some states' adoption gency powers that are unlimited." ing penalized for reporting a lack of numbers of deaths and infections. Europe has listed 787,744 cases and 62,402 deaths to date, of "unlimited" emergency powers. Many countries have adopted ex- masks, health-workers reprimanded Bachelet also urged countries to the US and Canada together have 451,315 cases with 15,273 "Emergency measures may well traordinary measures to deal with for saying they lack protection, and protect their most vulnerable citi- deaths, Asia 127,727 cases and 4,504 deaths, the Middle East be needed to respond to this pub- the pandemic, which has killed near- ordinary people arrested for social zens during the pandemic, including 88,295 cases and 4,354 deaths, Latin America and the Carib- lic health emergency. But an emer- ly 100,000 people worldwide since it media postings about the pandemic. detainees, the poor, women and mi- bean 45,523 cases with 1,814 deaths, Africa 11,519 cases with gency situation is not a blank cheque emerged in China in December. "Criticism is not a crime." grants. "Unchecked, the pandemic is 577 deaths and Oceania 7,146 cases with 57 deaths. to disregard human rights obliga- In Hungary, Prime Minister Vik- Bachelet also called on govern- likely to create even wider inequali- tions," said Michelle Bachelet. tor Orban is now ruling by decree ments to "greatly increase access to ties, amid extensive suffering," she -AFP The former Chilean president until his government says the crisis accurate information and statistics" said, reiterating her call for a relaxa- was addressing the first-ever virtual has passed. "In a few cases, the epi- on the pandemic, stressing that tion of international sanctions on meeting of the United Nations Hu- demic is being used to justify repres- "transparency is paramount and countries like Iran. World’s biggest food man Rights Council in Geneva. sive changes to regular legislation, can be life-saving in a health crisis." -AFP companies warn Coronavirus could More than 16 million US workers lose jobs double number of people WASHINGTON- Another 6.6 mil- leaving veteran workers and recent US financial economist at Oxford Given the current information, lion people filed for unemployment hires in nearly every type of indus- Economics. Many Wall Street ana- though, several economists expect benefits last week as the coronavi- try without a paycheque. In just lysts concede that at this point, that by the end of the month more going hungry rus outbreak continued its devastat- three weeks, more than 16 million forecasts are not much more than than 20 million people will have ing march through the US economy, US workers have lost their jobs — gussied-up guesses: The purpose- been thrown out of work, pushing LONDON- Food supplies across the world will be “massively the Labour Department reported more losses than the most recent ful and sudden halt in economic the unemployment rate toward 15%. disrupted” by the coronavirus, and unless governments act yesterday (9). recession produced over two years. activity has no precedent, and no In February, it was 3.5%, a result of the number of people suffering chronic hunger could double, With astonishing swiftness, the It’s as if “the economy as a whole one knows when the restrictions on 113 straight months of job growth. some of the world’s biggest food companies have warned. pandemic has shut down both has fallen into some sudden black movement and commerce will be -NYT Unilever, Nestlé and PepsiCo, along with farmers’ organiza- long-standing and new businesses, hole,” said Kathy Bostjancic, chief lifted. tions, the UN Foundation, academics, and civil society groups, have written to world leaders, calling on them to keep borders open to trade in order to help society’s most vulnerable, and to invest in environmentally sustainable food production.