Unemployed university graduates will be offered with suitable employment opportunities this year irrespective of their political affiliations, religious or ethnic groups, Higher Education Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena said.

He was speaking at a meeting of undergraduates in the Kurunegala District on Saturday.

The Minister said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa have given these instructions considering the plight of unemployed graduates in the country.

“Every educated youth is a valuable resource to the country and this nation. The talents and skills of these educated youth have to be used by the authorities. and they should be given opportunities to serve the country. Their contributions should be taken for the country’s future progress. Billions of rupees have been spent by the Governments to educate these graduates. The school education system and the University education system in Sri Lanka have to be modified and updated to suit to the present global career needs. Then, all graduates who pass out from state universities would be able to get job opportunities easily locally and globally in accordance with their professional skills and vocational abilities,” the minister said.

He added that the Government always considers the youth population of the country as an asset and not as a burden to the motherland.

The accelerated National housing project Gamata Geyak - Ratata Hetak which will see the construction of 14022 houses within the next 60 days was launched under the auspices of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in Kurunegala on Saturday.

Under the theme of ‘A house for every village; a better future for the country’ it is envisioned that 14,022 houses which is to be constructed by the National Housing Development Authority will see a destitute family in each of the 14,022 Grama Sevaka divisions being afforded a house of their own.

“At first sight this may seem like an ordinary house yet what the project plans to achieve is to build double the number of homes than which was envisioned during the last four years in short span of time,” Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaska said while speaking at the event.

“For every family that lives under a thatched roof, we owe them a house of their own.

Because to live in such a manner is akin to living on rent for the rest of their lives.” he said.

The Prime Minister in his speech at Weerawawa in Kurunegala assured that the program will not be divided or discriminate based on party politics, religion or ethnicity.

“During the last four years, when houses were built in Hambantota, posters put up in Jaffna.

If all the money spent on publicity was diverted to actually building houses, we would have fever homeless people,” the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister invited future home owners to be part and parcel of the process of building a house of their own.

Referring to the upcoming General Election the Prime Minister remarked that today there was more Parliamentarians in the Opposition then there was in the ruling party of the country’s government.

“We are a caretaker government but we are aware of the fact that we are outnumbered. Going forward we need a strong and stable Government which can only be achieved under the guidance and leadership of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa,” the Prime Minister added.

Commenting on the leadership crisis within the United National party, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa remarked that never before in history has he seen such greed for the position of the party leadership. “You need not be the leader to win the election. I was not a leader when I was elected. That came much later,” he said.

A number of urban development and housing projects which were neglected during the last few years will be revived and completed soon, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday. The Prime Minister also said that the government will make allocations for the most creative and innovative city and housing plans from the next budget.

Prime Minister Rajapaksa made these observations at a Progress Review Meeting for Urban Development and Housing Ministries held at Suhurupaya, Battaramulla, where lengthy discussions were held concerning the urban development projects centering the city of Colombo, including the Port City project, railways, and development plans for Jaffna, Kandy and Anuradhapura.

The Prime Minister paid attention on proper garbage disposal in line with the city development projects. He also gave instructions to the Urban Development Authority(UDA) officials to pay special attention to development, housing and waste management projects which were overlooked during the previous years.

Prime Minister Rajapaksa also pointed out that a number of housing projects commenced during the last four and a half years by the Urban Development Authority are not completed. He also said that the monies allotted for these projects have not been utilized for their construction activities.

During the meeting, State Minister for Housing Indika Anuruddha pointed out to the Prime Minister that there have been many instances where monies were allotted only for 100 houses whereas 1000 foundation stones have been laid, deceiving the general public. It was also pointed out that during the years 2017, 2018 and 2019, construction activities for 96,344 housing units commenced.However, the necessary allocations around Rs.26,000 million to complete these projects were not available.

Prime Minister Rajapaksa observed that the Urban Development Authority and Housing Development Authority have carried out programmes which are not directly relevant to these two institutions, as a result of which they are suffering from financial losses.

Prime Minister Rajapaksa further said that the government would take measures to relieve these institutions of their financial losses and reactivate them.

“I believe that we need to find a way to revive these institutions. We will get into trouble if we run these institutions while incurring losses. Therefore, we need good financial management and administration. We cannot get any allocations from the General Treasury right now. We should wait until the next Budget. However, we can seek financial assistance from other ministries if available. For example, if the Health Ministry or the Ministry of Buddhasasana have additional financial capabilities, you can obtain those funds after holding discussions with them,” Premier Rajapaksa said.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the previous government has unnecessarily sought foreign expertise for construction projects and paying them large sums of monies. Prime Minister Rajapaksa directed the officials to seek the advice of local experts’ for construction projects.

Prime Minister Rajapaksa also instructed the UDA to establish a hostel facility in Colombo for school athletes who come for practices from the outstations. He also instructed the relevant authorities to produce the required number of hospital beds for government hospitals without having to import them. It was also decided to manufacture the doors, windows and other relevant equipment necessary for housing scheme projects using our workforce.

UDA and Housing Development Authority officials said that billions of rupees had been spent as advertising expenses.

Fifteen government institutions including the Urban Development Authority, Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation, National Physical Planning Department, National Housing Development Authority, Urban Settlement Development Authority, State Engineering Corporation and the Department of Government Factory participated in the meeting.

The Health Ministry or the Education Ministry has not advised anyone, including students to wear face masks in public or when attending school, Information and Communications Technology, Higher Education, Technology and Innovations Minister Dr.Bandula Gunawardena said.

Addressing a media briefing at the Government Information Centre yesterday, he said there is an unfounded fear among the people and children. He said that some persons are trying to capitalize on this situation and increase their sale of masks by publicising that the wearing of masks has been made mandatory. “Don’t believe these rumours and panic. In the event there is an emergency situation and it is required to wear these masks, then we will notify the people through the media,” he said.

Minister Gunawardena noted that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa are both very involved in ensuring the maximum protection and services in this issue. “However, the Health Ministry or the Education Ministry has not issued any instructions for students to wear masks when attending school. However, we have been notified that some parties have been spreading such statements and this is not a good thing. We will directly notify the schools and authorities if such a need arises. Moreover, there is no decision to close schools at this point.”

He urged the public not to be misled by rumors and fake news. “We have experienced worse epidemics than this and Sri Lanka has dealt with such situations effectively. We have had more deaths from dengue and other illnesses. This is not such a serious situation. So far only one person has been confirmed with coronavirus and we have taken all necessary precautions to ensure that this epidemic does not get out of hand, the minister assured.

Minister Gunawardena also pointed out that at this point of need Sri Lanka must stand-by China and assist them. “China has always stood by Sri Lanka through our good times and bad. Hence, we will do everything possible to assist them in their time of need. We are saddened by this situation China has to face. However, we have to take certain measures to safeguard our people from this virus and although it could cause some inconvenience, these steps have to be taken for the betterment of our people. I hope and pray that this endemic will soon be contained and all people would be able to live without fear.”

Education Ministry Secretary N.H.M.Chithrananda said they had a meeting with the Prime Minister and he had issued ordered to allow all media notifications to go through the PM’s office and the Health Ministry.

“There are some precautionary measures that need to be followed to prevent spreading or contracting the coronavirus or any other illness. One step is to constantly wash your hands, especially when you have been outdoors, and to always use a tissue when sneezing or if you have a cold or cough and dispose of these used tissues responsibly. One should also ensure that very little touching of the face or nose is done and to refrain from touching stray animals. Moreover, we also asked the school authorities not to stop any of the sports or school activities as this will create unnecessary fear and panic among the public.”

GMOA Representative Dr. Samantha Ananda addressing the media briefing said there is unwarranted fear and panic among the people over this coronavirus due to incorrect and fake news being spread through social media. Hence, he urged the media to report matters pertaining to this issue responsibly and refrain from reporting unverified news.

“The coronavirus is an infectious disease and the best we can do is to prevent contracting it as there is no known treatment for it. What can be done for those who have already contracted is the same treatment followed to treat those with the common viral flu. This virus has only spread in a certain part in China. Now it has spread to around 14 countries around the world, but only to a minimum level. In Sri Lanka so far there is only one confirmed case and that too is a Chinese national. She is stable and is not serious.There have been many other viruses such as SARS and MERS that spread earlier and many more deaths were reported. However, the coronavirus is not as deadly as the other viruses, but the rate of spreading is somewhat faster than the others. Therefore, although many infections are reported, there are fewer deaths than in previous epidemics.”

He said that there have been around 4500 reported cases confirmed with the coronavirus, but 95% of them are in China and that too only in this specific area. He said less than 60 cases have been reported outside of China.

He also said that the WHO is directly involved in this case and therefore, there is nothing to panic about. Dr. Ananda also noted that Sri Lanka has taken the right approach and followed the proper measures and that is the reason that they were able to detect this Chinese lady who had contracted the virus. He said Sri Lanka has deployed experts in the medical field at various capacities and asked that the public place their trust in them to ensure Sri Lankans are safeguarded. He also noted that a special action team has been established to monitor the Coronavirus worldwide and keep the local authorities updated on the latest situations. Further, thermal scanners are established at all airports and ports and medical teams are positioned to treat any patient or detect those infected.

All Sri Lankan students arriving from Wuhan, China will be moved to and screened at the Diyathalawa army camp for two week’s time, says Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi.She stated this addressing the special media briefing on the measures taken to curb the spread of new coronavirus which took place at the Department of Government Information this morning (28).Minister Wanniarachchi further stated that every passenger arriving in Sri Lanka will be screened at the airport and those who have high body temperature and show symptoms of coronavirus will be directed to the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) and other relevant hospitals. “Persons who are tested positive for coronavirus will be treated after separating them from other patients,” she added.The 22-member national action committee appointed to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Sri Lanka convenes daily to discuss the steps that should be taken to control the situation in the island, the Health Minister commented further.

Addressing the Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe mentioned that authorities are collecting the travel itineraries of all of the passengers arriving at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and this ‘declaration’ is now made available in Chinese as well. The travel destinations of these visitors will be inspected by PHIs from time to time, he noted.Commenting further, Dr. Jasinghe said four thermal screeners are currently in use and the number of staff deployed in this regard has been increased. He stated that screening also takes place Jaffna International Airport as there are passengers entering the country, although in small numbers.

He emphasized that strict procedures have also been implemented at harbours with regard to ships anchoring in Sri Lanka.Dr. Jasinghe said that in addition to the IDH, the Colombo North Teaching Hospital (CNTH), Gampaha Hospital, Negombo Hospital, Kandy National Hospital, Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital, Jaffna Teaching Hospital, Kurunegala Teaching Hospital, Ratnapura Provincial General Hospital, Batticaloa Teaching Hospital and Badulla Provincial General Hospital are now treating persons who are suspected to be contaminated with the coronavirus.

The Medical Research Institute in Colombo has established the facilities for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test in the country to detect 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), he added.“In order to protect the health staff from being infected by the virus, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) have been supplied to medical officers while more stocks are to be received from the World Health Organization (WHO) and emergency purchases. There is no inadequacy of PPE in the country,” Dr. Jasinghe said noted.

Speaking further he said the Ministry of Health has issued a technical Circular to all medical officers containing instructions on treating patients infected by new coronavirus and protecting themselves from being contaminated.Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Chief Epidemiologist at the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, Deputy Director Generals of Health Services Dr. Susie Perera and Dr. Paba Palihawadana, Health Ministry’s Quarantine Unit Director Dr. S.M. Arnold, Health Ministry’s Director of Health Promotion Bureau Dr. Palitha Karunaperm and several other senior medical officers.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa called on Most Ven. Aggamaha Panditha Kotugoda Dhammawasa Supreme Mahanayake Thera of the Amarapura Maha Nikaya at the Mount Lavinia Dharmapalarama Viharaya on Sunday afternoon and conveyed his greetings and good wishes to the prelate on the occasion of his birthday.

The President also wished the prelate good health and a long life.

The Most Ven. Dhammawasa Supreme Mahanayake Thera in turn invoked blessings on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and wished him the ability to rebuild the country and usher in permanent peace and prosperity to the people within the next five years.

A media communique by the President’s Media Division said in a brief anusasana, the Mahanayake Thera said the President who was elected to power at a time when the country and its people were in deep frustration had a great responsibility towards the fulfilment of people’s hopes and aspirations. The blessings of dignitaries of all religions including the Maha Sangha was with the President for his endeavour to fulfil that responsibility and rebuild the motherland as a prosperous country once again.