12 December 2024 | Vol. 10, #227

Thinakkural: “Do not stay for more than 48 hours at home; deaths can be prevented by receiving medical assistance immediately” – Dr. Peranantharajah | 33 diagnosed with unidentified fever in Jaffna! | “What kind of fever is spreading in Jaffna?” – Dr. Kumudu Weerakoon

Thamilan: Rice mill owners reluctant to accept president’s order; rice scarcity remains! | Doctors leaving the country could intensify!

Mawbima: The doctorate issue: An NCM against the Speaker? | Onmax higher-ups have purchased properties in other countries

Dinamina: An amendment for the LG elections while allowing the youth to participate: AG informs the court regarding the attention of the Cabinet | The Kandy Museum of Archaeology declared open

Aruna: Security cuts for former presidents: A maximum of 60 security personnel

Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only

“Tamil parties to discuss matter of a solution (for the ethnic issues) early next year” – Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam

Thinakkural, Virakesari

All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam claimed that the Tamil political parties have agreed to discuss how they are going to work collectively to address the Tamil people’s issues during the new constitution process. He added that they will start discussions early next year based on the proposed political solutions by the Tamil People’s Council. Ponnambalam held a discussion on the matter with Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) MP (Selvam) Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan yesterday (11th). Recently, ITAK MP S. Shritharan and Ponnambalam held a discussion.

“Will 100,000 Tamil [refugees] return?; ready to assist” – Governor of the Northern Province 

Thinakkural 

Governor of the Northern Province N. Vethanayagan claimed that they are prepared to provide livelihood and housing assistance if the Sri Lanka refugees (nearly 100,000) in Tamil Nadu return to the country. The governor made this claim during a discussion with Henry Donati, Head of Peacebuilding and Human Rights, Sri Lanka of the British High Commission in Sri Lanka.

“The government has no proper knowledge about the rice issue” – Patali Champika Ranawaka

Divaina, Ada

Leader of the Eksath Janaraja Peramuna (EJP) former MP Patali Champika Ranawaka stated that the current government has no proper knowledge on how to handle the rice crisis the country is experiencing. Issuing a statement, Ranawaka stated that he is requesting the ministers of trade and agriculture and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to find a scientific solution for the rice and coconut crises that have struck the country.

[Sri Lanka receives] USD 100 million from the ADB

Dinamina

Head of Sri Lanka Operations for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Cholpon Mambetova stated that the ADB has planned to provide a concessionary loan of USD 100 million to the Sri Lankan government for the development of the water supply and sanitation sectors in Sri Lanka. She made the statement at a discussion held yesterday (11th) between a delegation of the ADB and Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing Anura Karunathilaka.

Adani says no to USD for the Colombo Harbour project 

Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan

India’s Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) Ltd stated on Tuesday (10th) that it is withdrawing its request for funding from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) for the Colombo West International Terminal project. Accordingly, the Adani Group added that it would finance its Colombo Port terminal project through internal accruals and a capital management plan. The DFC last year stated that it would provide USD 553 million in financing for the port terminal project which is partly owned by the Adani Group. The company, however, stated that the Colombo West International Terminal project is progressing well and is on track for  commissioning by early 2025.

A new fever in Jaffna | Rat fever (Leptospirosis): 200 deaths and 9,000 patients reported last year; 10,000 patients reported for the 11 month period of this year

Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan

The Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health stated that an unknown fever has been spreading through Jaffna, recording five fatalities and 33 diagnoses so far. Dr. Kumudu Weerakoon of the Department of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health stated that out of more than 9,000 cases of rat fever reported in 2023, nearly 200 people have died. Weerakoon added that during this year, the number of rat fever patients has increased compared to the previous year. She also stated that investigations are currently being conducted to confirm whether the undiagnosed fever that is spreading in Jaffna District is rat fever. She stated further that patients with fever and respiratory problems have been reported from those areas and that the samples of the relevant fever patients are currently being tested.

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