TELO Admin, Author at ரெலோ - தமிழ் ஈழ விடுதலை இயக்கம்

Colombo Port City Bill passed with amendments

Posted on May 20, 2021 | by TELO Admin | Leave a Comment

The committee stage reading of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission draft bill has been passed with amendments in parliament, with majority of 91 votes.

Ada Derana reporter said that the third reading of the bill was passed with 149 parliamentarians voting in favour and 58 voting against the bill.

After presenting the amendments, Justice Minister Ali Sabry moved the Port City Bill for the Third Reading and JVP MP Vijitha Herath had called for a Division for the Third Reading of the Bill.

During the Second Reading, the Government presented the Bill with amendments at the Committee of the Whole Parliament. Amendments proposed by the Opposition were rejected by the Government.

Accordingly, a division were called for and voting took place in three occasions at the Committee Stage.

The Opposition, asked for a number of clauses to be recorded as opposed by the Opposition during the committee stage.

Previously SJB MP Harsha de Silva had proposed amendments to Clause 23 and a division had been called for it as well, the 3rd proposed amendment for which a vote has been called for. 45 votes were cast in favour of the amendment proposed by the MP while 146 vote against it.

Earlier today, the second reading of the bill was passed with a total of 148 Members of Parliament voting in favour and 59 against.

All political parties affiliated with the government have supported the draft bill during the vote, while members of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), National People’s Power (NPP) and Tamil National Alliance had opposed it.

Parliament this morning resumed the debate on the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill, which kicked off on Wednesday morning (May 19).

Delivering a special statement to the House yesterday, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said the government expects to bring in an amendment that allocates at least 75% of the job opportunities at the Colombo Port City should be reserved for Sri Lankans.

On Tuesday (May 18), Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena had presented the Supreme Court’s determination on the Colombo Port City Bill.

The Supreme Court had found that several clauses of the Bill were inconsistent with the Constitution. However, these clauses can either be amended or passed in the parliament with a special majority or in a referendum, the Supreme Court determined.

In its 62-page determination on the Bill, the Supreme Court had also included how the concerning clauses can be amended.

The government later announced that it agrees with all determinations and amendments of the Supreme Court with regard to the Colombo Port City Bill.

An Internationally Supervised Referendum Needed To Bring An End To The Suffering Of The Tamil Speaking People By C.V. Wigneswaran

Posted on May 19, 2021 | by TELO Admin | Leave a Comment

It was a sad day in the year 2009 that we remember today. As far as we Sri Lankan Tamils of the North and East are concerned we have to face many obstacles even today. On one hand Covid 19 is playing havoc among us. On the other hand we face repression by the State in many ways. Personally, I would be called upon in a day or two to answer criminal charges for saying;

1. that the Tamil language was the language of the earliest inhabitants of this Island 2. that Mahawamsa is not a historical document

3. that the LTTE took up to arms because of repression and discrimination by the Sri Lankan State

4. that over a lakh of people were killed in Mullivaikal at the close of the War and

5. that the Armed Forces have taken over Civil functions and the North is kept under Army Rule, all of which are true but have been made out to be criminal. I am told by these statements I have propagated national and racial hatred that constitutes incitement to violence!

Thus repressive and reprehensible activities we face here in the North and East continuously.

It is amidst them that we remember our dead who passed away at Mullivaikal in May 2009.

The British and the Tamils were tricked by the Sinhalese leaders at the time of Independence. Many promises were given prior to Independence that minorities would not be discriminated against and they would be treated with fraternal feelings.

But within one year of Independence one million Tamils were deprived of their franchise.

We Tamil speaking are the majority in the North and East of Sri Lanka. But our individuality is at stake. There are steps being taken inter alia to grab our traditional home lands to introduce Buddhism forcibly into areas where there are no indigenous Buddhists living, with Military help, to have our Resources plundered, to colonise settlements with Sinhala Colonists who have been brought from elsewhere into Tamil speaking areas and to have the demography of the area changed and to destroy war memorials.

It was to protect us from such genocidal acts on the part of the successive governments that our youth took up to arms. But due to the geo politics of Big Powers they were routed in 2009 together with over a lakh of innocents in Mullivaikal.

Justice to those, whose dear ones disappeared, eludes them even today. But those who committed, aided and abetted brutal criminal acts against our people are being given important Government positions and diplomatic postings.

Today we witness the sorry spectacle of Memorials erected in remembrance of those who died at the end of the war, 12 years ago, being broken and destroyed. The International Community is unable to do anything about it.

A government in power seems to be able to attack and harm our people in Sri Lanka but the International Community can do nothing about it!

In 2013 the then Conservative Prime Minister of Great Britain Hon’ David Cameron visited us in Jaffna. At that stage he promised us that Justice and Accountability for what happened in Mullivaikal would be ensured. But anything tangible are still to be done. Even now the Conservatives are in power in Great Britain.

When Independence from Britain to Ceylon was given, the Sinhala Leaders of that time deceived the British by saying that they would look after the interests of the minorities for certain. But as soon as Independence was obtained over a million Tamils from the Upcountry were denied their citizenship. Thereafter there had been periodical discriminatory steps taken to undermine the safety and well being of the Tamil speaking in Sri Lanka.

Britain failed to ensure that there would be safety and fair play as far as the minorities in Ceylon were concerned. The mistake made at the time of Independence wherein adequate safeguards against the hegemony of the majority were not ensured by giving a federal constitution to Ceylon, still has its adverse effects on Sri Lanka even today.

But I would say that it is time now for the Conservative Government of Britain to ensure justice and fair play to our people. The mistake made during the term of office of Prime Minister Hon’ Clement Atlee must now be corrected. I make this humble request on behalf of our people.

It is certainly heartening to see that the Democratic Party which worked hard in the UN to bring Resolutions against the Sri Lankan Government is now back in power in the US.

US together with Great Britain must ensure Justice and Accountability for the crimes perpetrated in Mullivaikal in May 2009.

Thus taking Sri Lanka before the International Criminal Court stands a priority for the US and UK and other Countries who value democracy and fair play.

It is high time an International body of Experts on Military Law be asked to inquire into the need for the Military which committed severe human rights violations during the war, to continue to prolong their stay for the past 12 years. The Government has publicly assured that the LTTE is no more. It has assured our Country that there are no semblance of any attempts at violence of any sort in the North and East up to now. If so why should the Armed Forces continue to be in the North and East. It is not enough to say in a Democracy for security reasons without spelling out what those security reasons are. We find the Military holding on to over 60000 acres of State Land and over 3000 acres of private land. We find them getting involved directly or indirectly in cultivation, fishing, trading, expropriation of our resources and so on. We find them helping those who are interested in land grabbing in the North and East coming from elsewhere. We find them aiding and abetting those who are trying to distort history. We find them trying to brainwash our people, especially the youngsters, by working on their poverty and indigent circumstances. Therefore security reasons cannot be the motive for the Military continuing to occupy our traditional homelands for twelve years after the war. We must be told the actual reasons and the reasons must be investigated by an International Panel of Military Law experts.

I had suggested when I was Chief Minister that if lack of space was the reason not to house the Military in Colombo and its suburbs, the Government could divide its Military into nine parts and establish their one ninth Military in each of the nine Provinces. Why should the Government garrison such a large contingent of the Military in the North and East alone? Does the Government intend placing an occupational Army in the North and East for ever curtailing, controlling, commanding and covering our people by spying on them under the cover of intelligence gathering? Are we not entitled to a free, democratic and un-interfered existence in our traditional homelands?

Surely the Police could now take over security since it is peace time now.

It is important in order to bring an end to the suffering of the Tamil speaking majority in the North and East of Sri Lanka that an internationally supervised Referendum be conducted in the North and East. That is the most democratic step that the International Community could take to ensure peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka.

This attempt to usher in a Referendum among the majority Tamil speaking people in the North and East must be ensured by not only US and the UK but also Canada, India, Australia, the European Union and many other Countries which value Democracy and Democratic institutions.

An internationally supervised referendum among the people of the North and East would no doubt ensure Democracy, Peace and preserve Human Rights in this region. May I appeal to Congresswoman Deborah K. Ross, Congresswoman Kathy Manning, State Senator Wiley Nickel and State Senator Jeff Jackson, who are all attending this event, to work towards an internationally supervised referendum in the Tamil-speaking Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka to find a permanent solution to the 70 year old Tamil question as well as to fully co-operate in our efforts to bring Sri Lanka before the ICC.

May we all Tamils the World over take an oath on this day, that despite all obstacles, we would in unison work for Justice and Accountability for the Genocide committed at Mullivaikal in 2009? I thank you.

*Address by Justice C.V. Wigneswaran at the event organised by the Tamil Americans United Political Action Committee on “Tamil Genocide Day” May 18th 2021 – Online via Zoom webinar

*Justice C.V.Wigneswaran – Member of Parliament, Jaffna District

Govt. shoots down business community request to purchase AstraZeneca vaccines for second jabs

Posted on May 19, 2021 | by TELO Admin | Leave a Comment

The government has shot down a latest request by the private sector to pay for the importation of Astra Zeneca vaccines for the corporate world as several are desperately awaiting the second jabs, the Daily Mirror learns.

An effort was underway by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in recent days to gather information on how many doses were required by the private sector for its employees who had received the first doses of the Covishield Astra Zeneca vaccines. An email issued by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce was widely circulated to all its member chambers this week, to submit a list of how many of its employees require the Astra Zeneca doses for the second jab.

The email said the Chamber was made aware that there was a possibility to secure a stock of Astra Zeneca vaccines at Rs.5000 per dose and those members interested in purchasing the second dose for their staff who had already been administered the first dose, were requested to inform their requirement immediately.

Sources from the Chamber told Daily Mirror they received a wide response on companies willing to purchase the Astra Zeneca doses for its employees and the State Pharmaceutical Corporation had been approached on the possibility of the private sector willing to make a payment for the urgent stocks.

Since the start of the pandemic, the private sector was in continuous discussions with the SPC to seek permission to import the vaccines where the public sector employees would also be able to receive the doses through the stocks imported by the private sector.

However the Daily Mirror learns that the latest request by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce was turned down by the government once again today who stated they were not in a position to acquire a separate stock for the private sector of the Astra Zeneca doses and the private sector would be included in the national vaccination program where jabs would be administered free of charge.

The country is facing a severe shortage of the Astra Zeneca doses with 600,000 people awaiting the second doses. Out of this 100,000 people are from the Colombo city.

While the front line workers and the front line service providers are receiving the second doses with the left over 300,000 Astra Zeneca doses in stock, the Colombo Municipal Council yesterday said the doses were not available for members of the general public by speculation was rife that people with ‘connections’ were administered the doses. Paliamentarians were also being administered the second doses.

However health authorities said that efforts were ongoing to secure the 600,000 stocks of AstraZeneca which was urgently required and negotiations with global private companies were ongoing to secure the jabs at a higer price. However the parent company from where these companies had purchased the doses have been contacted to secure a confirmation on the authenticity and quality of the vaccines.

The government is yet to received a confirmed date of when the 600,000 doses of Astra Zeneca doses can be secured.

Parents of Sri Lanka’s ex-Tiger combatants should be allowed to grieve: top Army officer

Posted on May 19, 2021 | by TELO Admin | Leave a Comment

Parents of Tamil Tiger combatants should be allowed to commemorate their children who died in Sri Lanka’s 26-year war, Lt Gen (Retd) Jagath Dias said in a discussion aired on the privately owned Derana Network yesterday (18).

Dias, who commanded the 57th Division of the Sri Lanka Army in the final phase of the war, said a majority of the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) cadres were forcibly conscripted fellow Sri Lankans who were led astray by wrongful ideology.

“It was our misled children, our misled brothers and sisters that were born in this country. They went astray and joined terrorist leaders to divide the country. They fought us face to face and got wounded or killed. They belonged to this country,” said Dias.

Memorialising former LTTE cadres has been a contentious issue in Sri Lanka. A memorial plaque for Tamils killed in the war was found vandalised in the northern Mullaitivu district on May 13, The Hindu reported that day. An Army spokesman told The Hindu that it was possible that a third party had vandalised the structure to cause disharmony. In January this year, the University of Jaffna bulldozed a two-year-old memorial built in the name of civilian casualties, which was subsequently rebuilt following student protests and pressure from India.

Yesterday (18) marked 12 years since the end of the war.

Lt Gen (Rtd) Dias said though one becomes a terrorist through wrong ideology, all mothers feel the same grief. However, he warned, separatist political forces might use it to their advantage.

“The way I see it, instead of allowing it to be used politically, we must have a national mechanism to allow them to commemorate their children. Of the killed or wounded terrorists, about 95% didn’t join willingly. They were forcibly conscripted and trained. We found evidence for this in the form of notes and such in bunkers,” said Dias.

“There are some Tamil political parties – not all – that are opportunistic and are trying to benefit from this. We must put a stop to that. We must give the parents the strength and the courage needed. We should give them the opportunity to light a lamp with dignity in celebration of their son or daughter,” he said.

The military official further said that Tamil civilians in the north coexist peacefully with Army troops stationed there.

“If you go to a Tamil village in Kilonochci, Pudukudirippu or Pooneryn where we have camps, they coexist with our troops. In an emergency, they get the ambulance from the camp. If they need a generator or water bowser or even food or anything else, it’s the camp that they go to. Even though things are normal in the north and government services are there, in an emergency, they go to the camp and speak to the officers there,” he said.

“Why? Because there is a level of trust there. What has gotten in the way of that trust is separatist politics controlled by the separatist diaspora,” he added.

The influence of the separatist diaspora is felt by civilian families back home in northern Sri Lanka, said Dias.

“That’s where we must intervene,” he said.

Sri Lanka to suspend All arrivals from 21-31 May

Posted on May 19, 2021 | by TELO Admin | Leave a Comment

All passenger arrivals into Sri Lanka have been suspended from the 21st -31st May.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) announced that passenger arrivals will be suspended from midnight on 21 May to midnight on 31 May.

The CAASL said, however, passengers who wish to leave the country will be permitted to do so during this period.

The Authority further said the ban will be enforced due to the current coronavirus situation in the country.

Canadian Prime Minister and politicians remember the Tamil Genocide

Posted on May 19, 2021 | by TELO Admin | Leave a Comment

Marking the 12th anniversary since the massacres in Mullivaikkal, Canadian politicians across all spectrums remember the Tamil genocide with remarks from Prime minister Justin Trudeau and New Democratic Party leader, Jagmeet Singh, with further statements coming from leading MP’s and MPP.

Prime minister Justin Trudeau, in his statement, reflected on the ‘scars’ and ‘endured trauma’ that survivors of the massacres had to face and noted that twelve years later they ‘still seek answers, including on the fate and whereabouts of missing family members and loved ones’ and called on Sri Lanka to address the ‘underlying drivers of the conflict’.

He went on to note that Canada was part of the core group at the United Nations Human Rights Council which gave that mandate to ‘collect, consolidate, analyse and preserve information and evidence’ relating to violations in Sri Lanka and added that Canada will ‘advocate for a meaningful accountability process and extend support to all those working toward justice, reconciliation, and inclusion’. Concluding his statement Trudeau called on all Canadians to ‘take time today take time today to recognize the important contributions that Tamil-Canadians continue to make to our country and the adversity they have overcome’.

His full statement reads:

Today, on the 12th anniversary of the end of armed conflict in Sri Lanka, we remember all those who were killed, or injured, and all who were impacted by the many years of conflict, including during the last phase of the war in Mullivaikal. We also offer our deepest sympathies to the survivors and their families, and to everyone living with the pain and trauma caused by this conflict.

“Twelve years later, the wounds and scars of this conflict linger as survivors and all those who faced adversity, suffered loss, and endured trauma still seek answers, including on the fate and whereabouts of missing family members and loved ones.

“Canada was part of the core group at the United Nations Human Rights Council this past March where the High Commissioner for Human Rights was given the mandate to ‘collect, consolidate, analyse and preserve information and evidence’ relating to violations in Sri Lanka.

“On this anniversary, Canada reiterates its call to the Government of Sri Lanka to find a solution to the underlying drivers of the conflict. We will continue to advocate for a meaningful accountability process and extend support to all those working toward justice, reconciliation, and inclusion, all of which underpin long-term peace and prosperity in the country.

“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I invite all Canadians to take time today to recognize the important contributions that Tamil-Canadians continue to make to our country and the adversity they have overcome.

Jagmeet Singh – Leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party

Jagmeet Singh, Leader of Canada’s NDP noted how the ‘ Tamil Community has shown incredible resilience despite the genocidal campaigns and genocide perpetrated against the Tamil community in Sri Lanka by the Sri Lankan government’. Commenting on the passing of the Tamil Genocide Education and remembrance week in Ontario, he called it a ‘powerful step forward in remembering our history’.

Marking the 12th anniversary of Mullivaikkal, Gary Anandasangaree; MP for Scarborough-Rouge Park and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations; spoke in parliament and maintained that Tamils would continue their struggle until justice was achieved.

His full statement reads:

Madam Speaker, on May 18, Tamils in Canada and around the world will mark the 12th anniversary of the Mullivaikkal genocide.

They will mourn, they will grieve, they will commemorate and they will resolve to never again be witness to such genocide and atrocity in our world.

Sadly, this right to commemorate itself is under attack. The Sri Lankan state continues to desecrate memorials and threaten those who commemorate.

Despite these restrictions, Tamils on the island and around the world will join hands on May 18 in person or virtually to pay tribute to our fallen brothers and sisters, and recommit to ensuring that Tamils can live on the island with freedom, equality and self-determination.

We will continue to be resilient and never be silenced. The monuments to those who were lost are etched in our collective memory and in our hearts.

The march towards justice is long and painful, but we will continue until justice is served.

Vijay Thanigasalam – MPP for Scarborough-Rouge Park

Vijay Thanigasalam MPP for Scarborough-Rouge Park noted that the ‘history of Tamil people In Sri Lanka has been marked by endless persecution and anti-Tamil pogroms, leading to the genocide of the Tamil people’ and an important step for the community to heal is the ‘acknowledgement and recognition’ of this genocide.

The member for Scarborough-Rouge Park also called for a minute’s silence to be marked in the Ontario Provincial Parliament.

Doug Ford – Premier of Ontario

Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario and leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative party opened his statement ‘honouring innocent lives lost during the Tamil genocide’ and paid tribute to the ‘resilience and strength’ of the Tamil community. He noted that the ‘atrocities’ of the Tamil genocide must ‘never be forgotten’.

Andrea Horwath – Leader of the Ontario’s Official Opposition NDP

Andrew Horwath, emphasised the continued support of the New Democratic Party for the ‘ongoing struggle for justice, self-determination and accountability for this historical truth’ the later in reference to the peak of the genocide during the Mullivaikkal massacres. She explained that the continued advocacy of Tamil-Canadians ‘gives us all hope’ despite all the hardships endured by the community. Concluding her statement she noted that despite these hardships, ‘there will be justice, peace and recognition for the people of Tamil Eelam’.

Her full statement reads:

This May marks 12 years since the Mullivaikkal Massacre in Sri Lanka.

New Democrats join the Tamil community in solidarity and support for your ongoing struggle for justice, self-determination and accountability for this historical truth.

In this past year, we have seen many concerning instances of the work of Tamil activists, journalists and students in Sri Lanka and around the world coming under attack.

Yet the Tamil community has persevered and continues to advocate for what is right.

New Democrats have always been proud to stand with you whether it was joining community leaders and youth at the blockade of the Gardener Expressway in 2009 or in 2016, when I hosted the first Tamil Genocide remembrance ceremony at Queens Park, Or this May when we were proud to support the passage of Bill 104 into law.

The NDP is here for Tamil Canadians, and we remain committed to working closely with you on issues that matter to your community. Your advocacy gives us all hope that despite everything that the Tamil community has endured, there will be justice, peace and recognition for the people of Tamil Eelam.

Thank you, and together may we remember.

John Tory – Mayor of Toronto

John Tory, Mayor of Toronto noted how ‘we must never allow for such dark chapters of our history to repeat itself’ and concluded his statement in paying his respect for Tamil Genocide Remembrance day which Tory noted has been ‘officially recognised by the Ontario Legislature’.

Bill Blair – MP for Scarborough Southwest

Bill Blair, MP for Scarborough Southwest echoed Gary Anandasangaree statement and noted that that on May 18 ‘we stand with the Tamil community in memory of the suffering that was experienced and those who are still impacted by the trauma of this war.’

Anita Anand – MP for Oakville

Anita Anand, MP for Oakville echoed Gary’s statement in Parliament and marked May 18 th as a day to ‘honour the memory of those who lost their lives, went missing or were displaced’

Caroline Mulroney – MPP for York-Simcoe

Caroline Mulroney, MPP for York-Simcoe noted that ‘today, May 18, we recognize Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day’ and commented on the passing of the Tamil Genocide Education Week act in Ontario, ‘ensuring that we will forever remain vigilant about this tragedy’.

Doly Begum – MPP got Scarborough Southwest

Doly Begum noted that the ‘[Sri Lankan] state committed gross human rights violations against Tamil civilians’ and that ‘today we honour those innocent lives lost’.

Patrick Brown – Mayor of Brampton

Patrick Bown, Mayor of Brampton commemorating Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day issued a proclamation in Brampton City Council declaring May 18, 2021, as ‘Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day in the City of Brampton’.

He noted that ‘May 18 serves as a reminder of the Tamil ethnic cleansing and genocide and provides an opportunity for the survivors in Canada and around the world to reflect on the enduring lessons of ethnic cleansing and genocide and rededicate to peace and protection of Human Rights.’

Read the full proclamation below:

The Tamils in Sri Lanka were subject to severe persecution, human rights violations, ethnic cleansing and genocide based on their ethnicity.

Over 40,000 Tamil civilians lost their lives during the last stages of the war in May 2009 and over 100,000 lives were lost in the three decade of struggle for Human Rights in Sri Lanka since 1983.

The 300,000 Tamils who have made the Canada their home have worked hard to rebuild their lives in their new found home, have greatly enriched our country through their leadership in business, academia, government, science, and the arts, and have inspired young generation to become successful and contributing citizens.

May 18 serves as a reminder of the Tamil ethnic cleansing and genocide and provides an opportunity for the survivors in Canada and around the world to reflect on the enduring lessons of ethnic cleansing and genocide and rededicate to peace and protection of Human Rights.

THEREFORE: I, Mayor Patrick Brown, on behalf of Brampton City Council, do hereby proclaim May 18, 2021 as “Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day”in the City of Brampton.

Martin Medeiros – Regional Councillor for Wards 3 & 4 the city of Brampton and Region of Peel.

Martin Medeiros, remembered ‘those that suffered death, injury, and displacement during the conflict’ and noted the passing of a motion earlier this year directing the City of Brampton to work with the Tamil community to construct a memorial commemorating the loss of life.

CID, FBI, Australian police conduct probe on Easter Sunday attack

Posted on May 19, 2021 | by TELO Admin | Leave a Comment

The CID together with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the Australian Federal Police are currently conducting an international probe on the Easter Sunday attacks, Minister of Public Security Sarath Weersekera told Parliament today.

Minister Weerasekara made a special statement in the House responding to remarks made by outgoing Attorney General Dapula de Livera that CID investigations on Easter Sunday attacks are not completed, said these kinds of investigations take time.

“Khalid Sheikh Mohammed who has been found as the mastermind behind September 11 attacks is yet to be tried, while it took a few years for India to take action against the killers of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. It took three years to file legal action against the killlers of late Minister Lakshman Kadirgamer and to take legal action against the Dalada Maligawa attackers.

Therefore, time consumes for these kind of investigations as the wrongdoers cannot be allowed to escape through the loopholes,” the Minister said.

Coronavirus death toll in Sri Lanka crosses the 1000 mark

Posted on May 18, 2021 | by TELO Admin | Leave a Comment

Sri Lanka’s novel coronavirus death toll crossed the grim milestone of 1,000 today (May 18), as the Director-General of Health Services confirmed 34 new victims.

This is reportedly the highest number of fatalities the country registered in a single day following the outbreak of the pandemic last year.

As per official data, Sri Lanka has witnessed as many as 1,015 deaths from the COVID-19 so far.

Among the deceased is a youth aged 20 years from Ratnapura area who died of acute COVID pneumonia.

Further, a 32-year-old female from Dematagoda area succumbed to COVID pneumonia, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, thrombophilia and hypothyroidism while a 38-year-old female from Ragama area fell victim to acute COVID pneumonia and diabetes.

According to the Department of Government Information, the remaining 31 victims were over the age of 50.

TNA MPs mark Tamil Genocide Day at Sri Lanka’s parliament

Posted on May 18, 2021 | by TELO Admin | Leave a Comment

A group of lawmakers from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) marked Tamil Genocide Day at the Sri Lankan parliament complex in Kotte this morning, before a parliamentary session was due to take place.

The parliamentarians dressed in black and lit candles by a red and yellow flag, before holding a moment of silence to commemorate the tens of thousands of Tamil civilians killed at the hands of the Sri Lankan state 12 years ago.

The remembrance ceremony comes as the Sri Lankan army announced a lockdown in the Mullaitivu district, where commemorative events were set to take place.

Dozens of smaller scale private events have taken place instead across the Tamil homeland.

Travel Restrictions caused Rs. 60 Bn loss to state; Ajith Nivard

Posted on May 18, 2021 | by TELO Admin | Leave a Comment

Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Sri Lanka’s State Minister of Finance, Capital and Public Enterprise Reforms said the loss to the country’s economy due to the recent four-day island-wide travel restrictions is north of Rs. 60 billion.

The State Minister on Tuesday (18) informed parliament on the expenses incurred by the government for COVID-19 prevention activities.

The COVID prevention expenses mentioned by the State Minister are as follows:

Relief Packages in April & May: Rs. 56,593 Million
Quarantine, Medicine & Infrastructure: Rs. 29,045 Million
Relief to families in October & November 2020: Rs. 7,073 Million
Rs. 10,000 package to quarantined home: Rs. 2,846 Million
Support for loss-making state bodies due to COVID-19: Rs. 311 Million.
Facilities offered by District & Divisional Secretariats: Rs. 102 Million
Purchasing agricultural products: Rs. 88 Million

The State Minister said the total expenses are north of Rs. 96 Billion and so far in 2021 the state had spent Rs. 41.9 Billion adding the government has spent more than Rs. 138 Million on COVID-19 prevention efforts.

102 million was spent on other facilities allocated by divisional and district secretaries. 88 million was spent on purchasing agricultural produce. All these expenses amount to 96,058 million rupees. That is 96 billion. We have already spent 41.9 billion rupees in 2021 as well. So far, the government has spent 138 Billion rupees directly for COVID-19.