The China - Sri Lanka Cooperation Studies Centre (CSLCSC) of the Pathfinder Foundation (PF) translated and published the Chinese book ‘Prevention and Control of COVID - 19’ in Sinhala as a service to the public of Sri Lanka. The soft copy of the book is available free of charge and can be downloaded and read easily on https://bit.ly/3hCJQIZ
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus has taken the entire world by surprise. COVID - 19 has been touted as ‘the great equalizer,’ as the virus transcends wealth, fame, age, gender and nationality. Everyone is currently engrossed with the real-time pandemic situation.
The book features a range of prevention and control measures to be adopted at different places such as homes, outdoors, workplaces, etc., and also contains scenario - based strategies, frequently asked questions, and addresses myths and misconceptions prevalent among the public. Consequently, it will serve to educate students, teachers, and management of institutions where groups of people are concentrated such as rehabilitation centres and the general society.
‘Prevention and Control of COVID - 19’ is edited by Professor Wenhong Zhang, who is a leading Chinese expert in infectious diseases and was Head of the Shanghai COVID - 19 Treatment Expert Group. He is also the Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital of Fudan University.
The book is a valuable tool to all readers, and provides simple, practical, scientific and targeted information on prevention and control measures. It clearly states ‘Breaking the chain of infection is the only way to control the spread of infectious diseases. However, implementation of control principles requires each of us to properly protect ourselves and actively cooperate with anti-epidemic work, in addition to relying on national prevention and control measures, so that this battle may come to an end faster.’
The China - Sri Lanka Cooperation Studies Centre of the Pathfinder Foundation carried out the translation with the support of the International Department Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Shanghai Scientific & Technical Publishers and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Sri Lanka. The translation of the publication to Sinhala was undertaken by Mr. Lakshmana Saparamadu.
Category: Economic Flash Published on Monday, 24 August 2015 15:03
At the conclusion of the parliamentary election a new government has been formed under the Premiership of Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe. It is important to emphasise the need for introducing immediate policy reforms to accelerate economic growth and development. The new government’s manifesto sets out a major reform program. In this regard, the Pathfinder Foundation (PF) has frequently highlighted the need for macro-economic policy adjustments as a pre-condition for sustained growth. While such stabilization is necessary to create a conducive growth framework, priority should be attached to implementing programs which bring about an attractive investment climate as quickly as possible. This is particularly urgent as the current set of domestic and international circumstances make it difficult to stimulate the lagging growth rate through macroeconomic policy adjustments.
Category: Economic Alert Published on Tuesday, 18 August 2015 11:43
Time to grasp the opportunity?
In recent days, important voices have been raised about the dangers of completing the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India and constructing a land bridge between the two countries. It is noteworthy that the focus has not been on exploring whether the CEPA and the land bridge can be favourable for Sri Lanka. Instead, there has been a clamour to throw the baby out with the bathwater. This article seeks to make the case that both the CEPA and the land bridge are opportunities rather than threats. However, it is important that the CEPA is negotiated in a manner that furthers Sri Lanka’s interests. The article also makes the case that the land bridge should be seen in the context of a pan-Asian and sub-regional push towards greater connectivity.
Category: Economic Dialogue Published on Wednesday, 12 August 2015 12:17
Time to Stop Playing Politics with Education
The Constitution of Sri Lanka stipulates that education is a fundamental right. The population has achieved a literacy rate of 98.1%. From the time of the Kannangara Reforms in the 1940s, education at all levels has been primarily funded and administered by the government. The public school network has an enrolment of about four million students in over 10,000 schools across the nation. At tertiary level, there are 15 state universities.
Against this landscape, there is a tendency to be complacent about Sri Lanka’s achievements in the education sector despite poor learning outcomes. There are some myths which need to be exposed, if the country is to develop a competitive workforce which is sufficiently skilled to be the basis for promoting sustained prosperity. Empowering people through education, training and skills development is the means through which this prosperity can be shared.
For this to happen the following ‘myths’ need to be ‘blasted’.