Sri Lanka extends VISA period for Russian & Ukrainian tourists

Royal Caribbean International’s new Wonder of the Seas ship made its debut in the U.S. on March 4, 2022, at Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades in Florida.

There are 8,529 new cases being reported in the Auckland Region today, representing 56 percent of the total new cases – down from 61 percent of total new cases a week ago. This number is still high and the outbreak is still very active in the Auckland region, but numbers have levelled off there in the last week. We will know in the next few days if this signals that the outbreak has peaked there.

Ukrainian servicemen captured from Zmiinyi Island, or "Snake" Island, were brought to Sevastopol in Crimea, Feb. 26, 2022.

With Russia intensifying its war on Ukraine, killing civilians and triggering a mass refugee crisis, President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced a U.S. ban on imported Russian oil. Critics of Russia have said that sanctioning its energy exports would be the best — perhaps only — way to force Moscow to pull back.

COVID-19 milestone on Tuesday as Waterloo Public Health says that more than 40,000 people have been officially cleared of the virus.The agency says that another 45 people are considered to be cleared of the virus, raising the total number of resolved cases in the area to 40,018. Ontario offering nurses up to $5,000 as job retention incentive Naturally, the numbers could be higher as the province limited testing availability a few months back once the fast-spreading Omicron variant established itself as the dominant strain throughout the province.Waterloo Public Health also reported another 38 positive tests for the coronavirus on Tuesday, lifting the total number of cases in the area to 40,896.This drops the rolling seven-day average number of new daily cases down to 49.

ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 18: Enrique Tarrio, leader of the Proud Boys, a far-right group, is seen at a "Stop the Steal" rally against the results of the U.S. Presidential election outside the Georgia State Capitol on November 18, 2020 in Atlanta, Georg WASHINGTON - The U.S.

Justin Trudeau says Canada is extending the military mission in Latvia as part of a continued NATO effort to stave off further Russian aggression following its invasion of Ukraine two weeks ago.But he offered little clarity when asked whether Canada will boost domestic spending on the military to hit the promised two per cent of GDP target agreed to by NATO allies in 2014.“We understand the urgency that is presented right now in the world with Ukrainians standing strong against this illegal Russian invasion,” Trudeau said when asked about whether Canada will increase spending to meet the NATO target and urgently replace the weapons being offered to Ukraine.“Those weapons are much more useful and in the coming weeks in the hands of Ukrainian soldiers fighting for their lives than they would be in Canadian hands.

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden has decided to ban Russian oil imports, toughening the toll on Russia’s economy in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine, according to a person familiar with the matter."We're banning all imports of Russian oil and gas and energy. That means Russian oil will no longer be accepted at U.S. ports," the president announced on Tuesday.The move follows pleas by Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy to U.S.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan authorities have announced that power cuts will be imposed on Wednesday (9).Groups ABCDEFGHIJ:2 1/2 hours from 8 AM to 6 PM 1 hr & 15 min from 6 PM to 11 PMGroups PQRSTUVW:2 hours from 9 PM to 5 PM1 hour from 5 PM to 9 PM

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden has decided to ban Russian oil imports, toughening the toll on Russia’s economy in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine, according to a person familiar with the matter.The move follows pleas by Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy to U.S. and Western officials to cut off the imports, which had been a glaring omission the massive sanctions put in place on Russia over the invasion.

FILE - The Shell logo is displayed outside one of its petrol stations on May 27, 2021, in Leeds, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images) LONDON - Energy giant Shell said Tuesday that it will stop buying Russian oil and natural gas and shut down its service stations, aviation fuels and other operations in the country amid international pressure for companies to sever ties over the invasion of Ukraine.The company said in a statement that it would withdraw from all Russian hydrocarbons, including crude oil, petroleum products, natural gas and liquefied natural gas, "in a phased manner."The decision comes as surging oil prices have been rattling global markets and just days after Ukraine’s foreign minister criticized Shell for continuing to buy Russian oil, lashing out at the company for continuing to do business with President Vladimir Putin’s government."We are acutely aware that our decision last week to purchase a cargo of Russian crude oil to be refined into products like petrol and diesel — despite being made with security of supplies at the forefront of our thinking — was not the right one and we are sorry," CEO Ben van Beurden said.

COLOMBO (News 1st); President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has decided to convene the Economic Council on a weekly basis with the objective of accelerating the economic growth in the country through the management of the entire economy by thoroughly discussing the local economic policies including macroeconomic policies, the behavior of the national economy after Covid – 19 pandemic situation, economic restructuring as well as the major development projects that directly affect the economic policies and financial policies of the government.The Cabinet of Ministers decided to grant their concurrence to the measures to be taken by the President to let implement the decisions taken by the relevant Ministries, Departments and Statutory institutions when necessary subject to the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers followed by the instructions and guidance of that Board as well as to invite intellects with esteem/standard in the respective fields as required for the meetings of the Economy board.Accordingly, the composition of the Economic Council is comprised as follows.• His Excellency the President Gotabhaya Rajapaksha (Chairman)• Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa• Minister of Trade Bandula Gunawardhana• Minister of Highways Johnston Fernando• Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksha• Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage• Minister of Plantation Ramesh Pathirana• Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Ajith Nivard Cabraal• Secretary to the President Gamini Senerath• Secretary to the Treasury S. R.

While people in Russia are being fed government propaganda and limited from seeing the truth inside their own country, former Russians who now live in Canada can see the full picture — and are horrified of what their homeland is doing in Ukraine.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to increase the incentive allowance of migrant workers from Rs. 10/- per USD to Rs.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S.

Covid-19 can damage the brain and addle thinking, scientists found in a study that highlights the illness’s alarming impact on mental function.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. She’s well aware that anyone who speaks out against the Kremlin could be in danger – but personal safety is the least of Baronova’s concerns. "The problem is, I know these people very well.

BUCKS COUNTY, Pa - A Bucks County family is waiting with bated breath as their newly adopted son is stuck in a bomb shelter in Ukraine. Maryana Kravchenko and her husband Dmitriy recently returned to Lower Southampton, Pennsylvania, from the Ukraine where they adopted 16-year-old Maksym. They met the teen three years ago as part of the Open Hearts and Homes for Children program. Maryana and her husband adopted Maksym from Ukraine on Feb.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Head of Sri Lanka’s Catholic Church, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Rajith has called on the support of the UHNRC to intervene to uncover the truth behind the Easter Sunday Attacks of 2019 and mete out justice to the victims.“The Easter Sunday suicide bomb attacks in Sri Lanka on the 21st of April 2019 claimed the lives of 269 people including 82 children, and 47 foreign nationals belonging to 14 nations and injured more than 500 others,” said His Eminence to the 49th Regular Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.He said the first impression of the massacre was that it was purely the work of a few Islamist extremists. However, subsequent investigations indicate that this massacre was part of a grand political plot, he added.The Head of the Catholic Church said that despite repeated requests the incumbent government of Sri Lanka has failed to mete out justice to the victims.“Instead of uncovering the truth behind the attack and prosecuting those responsible, there are attempts to harass and intimate those who call for justice,” he said.His Eminence also noted that “as a result nearly three years after the horrendous crime were are still in the dark as to what really happened on that Easter Sunday.”“As this is a serious violation of the fundamental rights of the aggrieved victims, we earnestly call upon the UNHRC and its member countries to support the continuation of evidence gathering initiated by the council last year and to devise the means to ensure an impartial investigation to unravel the truth behind the Easter Sunday massacre,” he noted.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Central Bank of Sri Lanka has positioned the Rupee to Rs. 230/- against the US Dollar with effect from Monday (7), to allow flexibility in the exchange rate.FULL STATEMENT:Considering the severity of the external shocks and recent developments in the domestic front, the Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka announced a comprehensive policy package on 04 March 2022 with the view to counter such economic headwinds.The Central Bank also indicated that it will continue to closely monitor the emerging macroeconomic and financial market developments, both globally and domestically, and will stand ready to take further measures as appropriate, with the aim of achieving stability in the fronts of inflation, the external sector, the financial sector, and real economic activity.In that context, greater flexibility in the exchange rate will be allowed to the markets with immediate effect.

Ukraine on the advice of President Vladimir Putin’s top critic, Alexei Navalny.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the new sanctions while in the United Kingdom alongside British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte.The 10 individuals are “complicit in this unjustified invasion,” Trudeau said. Their identities were not immediately revealed.“This includes former and current senior government officials, oligarchs and supporters of Russian leadership,” he said.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The state-of-the-art cement manufacturing facility of Lanwa Sanstha Cement Corporation (Pvt) Ltd., was inaugurated by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Monday (7).A BOI venture, the Lanwa Sanstha facility spread across 63 acres is located in Hambantota’s Mirijjawila Export Processing Zone, and saw an investment of US $ 100 Mn.The total capacity of the plant would be 4mn MT per annum and is one of the largest such facilities in the whole of South Asia.The President and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa also placed the foundation stone for the proposed steel factory at the premises which will cover 250 acres, with an investment of US $ 400 Mn.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Member of Parliament Madura Vithanage had led a protest opposite the Samagi Jana Balavegaya office premises on Monday (7).News 1st correspondents said that the MP led a group demanding to know what the former government did for the people when they were in power.It was reported that eggs were also hurled at the SJB office premises while placards were posted on the vehicles parked there as well.News 1st correspondents said that following the tense situation, the group dispersed from the premises.

BARTOW, Fla. - A contract worker assigned to be the spotter for heavy equipment coming in and out of a Polk County landfill was crushed by a bulldozer while using a porta-potty, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.Deputies say a heavy equipment operator, who was also a CertiTemp contract employee, was operating a bulldozer at the landfill while Aaron Henderson,40, was assigned as a "spotter," meaning he was tasked with being on the ground, providing traffic control to incoming and outgoing dump trucks dumping trash within the landfill. Deputies say around 5:10 p.m., the end of a regular workday, the bulldozer driver began to drive his assigned bulldozer up an embankment towards a "heavy equipment staging area" to park his bulldozer for the end of the day. While doing so, the front blade of his bulldozer was elevated 3-4 feet off the ground, and he could not see directly in front of him due to the blade obstructing his view, according to PCSO. Deputies say the driver went up the embankment towards the staging area, and once on level ground, he began to turn his bulldozer and heard a loud crumble.

A non-profit organization that initially started helping young girls escape human trafficking is now helping those same girls evacuate Ukraine safely by making perogies.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a “desperate” plea to the United States to help Kyiv get more warplanes to fight Russia’s invasion and retain control of its airspace.U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Washington has given a “green light” to the idea and is currently “very, very actively” looking at a proposal under which Ukraine’s neighbour Poland would supply Kyiv with Soviet-era fighters and in turn receive American F-16s to make up for their loss.However, the proposition is fraught with uncertainty and Poland has been less than enthusiastic about it in public, largely because Russia has warned that supporting Ukraine’s air force would be seen in Moscow as participating in the conflict and open up suppliers to possible retaliation.

COLOMBO (News 1st); A tense situation was reported at the Consular Affairs Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs located at the Ceylinco House premises in Colombo.According to reports, a power cut had disrupted the functions of the Consular Affairs Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday (7) morning.A large number of people who visited the premises for various services have been inconvenienced due to the power cut.Commander Chameera Ranaweera, the coordinating officer to the Foreign Secretary speaking to News 1st that the tense situation was NOT caused by the Foreign Ministry, adding that Ceylinco House is owned by several parties, following a dispute between two parties one party had suspended the supply of power to the premises.Sri Lanka Police was called into the premises to control the situation and bring about a solution, he added.Commander Chameera Ranaweera said that he expects the power supply to be restored within an hour, following discussions with those concerned.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Nadungamuwa Raja, the majestic tusker that carried the sacred tooth relic during the annual Kandy Esala perahera, has died.This was confirmed to News 1st by the Diyawadana Nilame of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.Nadungamuwa Raja was one of the most protected tuskers in Sri Lanka, having his own security details when traveling to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy.Nadungamuwa Raja, was a celebrated elephant towering around 10.5 feet (3.2 meters) in height, the tallest tamed tusker in Sri Lanka.There are two regular handlers with Raja in addition to the military unit deployed to clear a path for the animal when it navigates crowded country roads.Raja is a national treasure because he is one of the few tuskers chosen to carry a casket of Lord Buddha’s relics in an annual pageant at the most sacred Buddhist shrine on the island, the Temple of the Tooth.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau departed for Europe on Sunday to meet with allies about the intensifying situation in Ukraine. He will meet on Monday with the prime ministers of Britain and the Netherlands in London. Abigail Bimman reports.

Russia, the companies said Saturday, in the latest blow to the country’s financial system after its invasion of Ukraine.Mastercard said cards issued by Russian banks will no longer be supported by its network and any card issued outside the country will not work at Russian stores or ATMs.“We don’t take this decision lightly,” Mastercard said in a statement, adding that it made the move after discussions with customers, partners and governments. Canada targets Russia and Belarus with tariffs, sends more lethal aid to Ukraine Visa said it’s working with clients and partners in Russia to cease all Visa transactions over the coming days.“We are compelled to act following Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, and the unacceptable events that we have witnessed,” Visa Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Al Kelly said in a statement.The suspensions are a follow-up to more limited moves earlier in the week to block financial institutions from the networks that serve as arteries for the payments system.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka has approved the Ceylon Electricity Board’s request for power cuts on Monday (7).Groups PQRSTUVW:2 hours from 9 AM to 5 PM1 hour from 5 PM to 9 PMGroups E & F:5 hours from 8 AM to 6 PM2 1/2 hours from 6 PM to 11 PM

As the war rages on in Ukraine, we bring you the story of a man who’s been working in Alberta but chose to extend a visit home to fight for his country.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Electricity Board has announced a Power Cut Management schedule, in event the CEB in unable to meet the demand of electricity for Monday (7).

COLOMBO (News 1st); When a Sri Lankan Minister who is a US citizen, negotiates with the United States on behalf of Sri Lanka, it goes beyond reasonable doubt that he will stand for the United States than Sri Lanka, as his property and family are in America, and he can easily return back without consequences after his tenure ends, says former Minister Udaya Gammanpila.Participating in the News 1st ’10 questions’ program, the former Minister alleged that although he did not protest against the 20th amendment when it was introduced, he stated that he fought for the East Terminal of the Colombo Port not to be handed over to foreign investors in the Cabinet.He said that the solutions presented by him to address the crises in Sri Lanka were disregarded as well.He further alleged that Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, who he dubbed as ‘The Ugly American’ was behind the New Fortress LNG deal, as well as the investments behind the East Container Terminal.The former Minister also said that the Finance Minister wants to take the country to a point where the economy is collapsed, food shortage is imminent alonfg wiith medicine and fuel.He warned that due to these actions at a certain point national assets must be sold to the United States to feed Sri Lankans.Watch the Full Program Here ;

As Russian troops closed in on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, Anastasiia Yalanskaya insisted she would stay, even while her friends and family fled around her.

NEW YORK - Mastercard and Visa are suspending their operations in Russia, the companies said Saturday, in the latest blow to the country’s financial system after its invasion of Ukraine.Mastercard said cards issued by Russian banks will no longer be supported by its network and any card issued outside the country will not work at Russian stores or ATMs."We don’t take this decision lightly," Mastercard said in a statement, adding that it made the move after discussions with customers, partners and governments.Visa said it’s working with clients and partners in Russia to cease all Visa transactions over the coming days.RELATED: Russia-Ukraine war: Cease-fire attempt fails amid more shelling"We are compelled to act following Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, and the unacceptable events that we have witnessed," Visa Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Al Kelly said in a statement.The suspensions are a follow-up to more limited moves earlier in the week to block financial institutions from the networks that serve as arteries for the payments system. Russian people have already been hit hard by heavy sanctions and financial penalties imposed by the U.S.

Just a few short years ago, he made a career out of entertaining Ukraine. Now as the nation’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s defiance is inspiring people amid the Russian invasion.

A Russian-born businessman is willing to pay $1 million to officers who arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin amid his invasion into Ukraine.Announced in a social media post from Alex Konanykhin, a citizen of Russia and an entrepreneur, the bounty will be paid to officers who comply with their "constitutional duty" and "arrest Putin as a war criminal under Russian and international laws.""Putin is not the Russian president, as he came to power as the result of a special operation of blowing up apartment buildings in Russia, then violated the Constitution by eliminating free elections and murdering his opponents," Konanykhin wrote. "As an ethnic Russian and a Russia citizen, I see it as my moral duty to facilitate the denazification of Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has survived at least one assassination attempt since Russia invaded his country over a week ago, according to official accounts, with media reports suggesting he may have dodged two more.Ukrainian officials have confirmed one of the attempts, which they say was to be carried out by a unit of Kadyrovites, an elite special forces team based in Chechnya that serves the country’s president Ramzan Kadyrov.Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, told a media briefing on Tuesday that the plot was foiled last weekend after anti-war agents of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) — the successor to the KGB — tipped the Ukrainians off.“We are well aware of the special operation that was to take place directly by the Kadyrovites to eliminate our president,” Danilov said.“I can say that we have received information from the FSB, who today do not want to take part in this bloody war. And thanks to this, I can say that Kadyrov’s elite group was directly destroyed, which came here to eliminate our president.” Zelenskyy criticizes NATO for refusing to impose no-fly zone over Ukraine The Times of London reported Thursday that two more attempts to kill Zelenskyy have been carried out in recent days by members of the Wagner Group, a private mercenary group whose leader is tied to Russian President Vladimir Putin.Those attempts were also stopped by Ukrainian forces protecting the president, the paper reported, with the mercenary groups suffering losses.

WASHINGTON - Trucker convoys from across the U.S. are expected to arrive in the D.C. region over the weekend.Thousands of truckers began traveling this week toward the nation's capital as part of the American Trucker's Freedom Convoy.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Misleading statements lead to public panic, warned Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday (5).President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has made it clear that he has taken the necessary steps to drive the country towards development, said the prime ministers while noting that all public servants, not only himself and the ministers & mps, must work towards realizing these goals.“The topic discussed in recent days was the fuel crisis. In fact, there was NO fuel crisis,” he said, adding that misleading statements claiming that fuel reserves would only last for four days led to mass panic.He said that during his administration, at time fuel reserves would last only a day, however, shipments were ordered and what only remained to do at the time was to unload the shipments and deliver.The Prime Minister said that statements made with less experience in politics led to mass panic among the people, leading to long queues for fuel across the country.“We are changing that situation.

The requirement for Covid certificates and passenger locator forms for those arriving into the country will end from midnight.

Russia declared a partial ceasefire on Saturday to allow humanitarian corridors out of Ukrainian cities that have suffered heavy casualties during the deadly invasion that has now entered its 10th day.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with members of the Ukrainian community in Toronto on Friday as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues. “Canada stands with Ukraine.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The resolution which was adapted at the United Nations Human Rights Council is in direct contradiction to the council’s founding principals, including impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity, which goes beyond the mandate of the council, says the Foreign Minister Prof. G.L.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday that Canada will continue to support Ukraine for “as long as it takes” as Russia’s invasion of the country enters its second week.

Russian forces shelled Europe’s largest nuclear plant early Friday in the battle for control of a crucial energy-producing city, and the power station was on fire.