Lanka Sathosa says spices with lotus flower packing will not be taken off shelves

Lanka Sathosa, the state run retail chain, has said that its spices which were packed with a design of a lotus flower on it, will not be removed from shelves, despite concerns raised by the Center for Monitoring Election Violence who has written to the National Elections Commission raising serious concerns of polls violation over it.

All Ayurvedic Hospitals to remain open during curfew

The Presidential Task Force on Essential Services yesterday announced that all Ayurvedic Hospitals would be remained open despite the curfew imposed in the country.

Wuhan reopens after months-long lockdown

China has reported zero new coronavirus deaths for the first time since it emerged as the nation on Wednesday scaled back lockdown standard and reopened the city of Wuhan, the New York Daily News reported.

Govt. to shut down all economic centres

The Government has decided to close all Economic Centres in the country to prevent the people from gathering into economic centres exposing them to the COVID-19, informed sources said.

How we fight the common enemy, COVID-19, will shape our destiny: PM

Making a special statement, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa today commended the sacrifices made by all COVID-19 frontline workers and requested all citizens to stay at homes by following rules imposed for the benefit of all the citizens as everyone’s destiny will be decided by the way we conduct ourselves to defeat the common enemy, COVID-19.

India gifts 10-tonne consignment of medicines to Sri Lanka

India gifted a 10 tonne consignment of essential life saving medicines to Sri Lanka, in view of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

Toll of Covid-19 cases rises to 183

Five Covid-19 infected patients were reported today, increasing the total cases to 183 in Sri Lanka the Health Ministry said.

Recommendations from top Medical Professors towards an exit strategy

Six Chair Professors of Medicine (and Specialist Physicians) in Sri Lanka have expressed their opinion on an exit strategy from the current COVID-19 lockdown in Sri Lanka, recommending the current level of restriction should continue for now and be reviewed after the New Year among others.

Four more Covid-19 patients recover

Four more Covid-19 infected patients recover and were discharged from the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) today increasing the total recovered cases to 42, the Health Ministry said.

80-year-old male dies due to Covid-19

An 80-year-old male has died at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) due to Coronavirus, reporting the 6th COVID-19 death in Sri Lanka, the Director General of Health Services said.

UK PM Boris Johnson moved to ICU as symptoms worsen

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been moved to intensive care in hospital after his coronavirus symptoms ’’worsened’’, Downing Street has said.

President, SJB request employers to pay attention to stranded workers

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa today requested the employers to pay attention to their employees who could be stranded in the urban areas without being able to return home due to the current situation in the country.

Payments via Outward Investment Accounts for overseas investments suspended

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa today issued an Extraordinary Gazette suspending Sri Lankans from making payments through Outward Investment Accounts for overseas investments for three months.

Dullas, Gamini & many others make donations to COVID-19 Fund

Ministers Dullas Alahapperuma, Gamini Lokuge and several institutions and private companies have made donations to the COVID-19 Fund within two days increasing its balance to Rs.380 million.

Curfew in 6 districts to continue

The curfew in 19 districts except in Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Puttalam, Kandy and Jaffna will be lifted on April 9 at 6.00 am and re-imposed at 4.00 pm on the same day, the President’s Media Division said.

15 staff members of Apeksha Hospital sent to quarantine centre

At least 15 staff members of the Apeksha Hospital in Maharagama had to be moved to a quarantine centre after a patient, who was later tested positive for COVID-19, arrived to obtain treatment from the OPD, Hospital Director Dr. Wasantha Dissanayake said.

German heart patient also brought to SL from MSC Magnifica

A 75-year-old German female passenger who was aboard the cruise ship MSC Magnifica, was also brought to the country along with the Sri Lankan chef by the Sri Lanka Navy this morning after considering her deteriorating health condition.

A tiger at the Bronx Zoo tests positive for coronavirus

Nadia, a tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York, has become the first of her kind to test positive for the coronavirus.

SL rupee hits Rs. 199 against US Dollar

Sri Lankan Rupee has further depreciated against the US Dollar making the selling rate to Rs.199.40, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka said.

Corona deaths top 100 in India

The Indian Union Health Ministry on Monday said 109 deaths were reported across the country due to Coronavirus, and the total number of infected cases so far has risen to 4067.

Sri Lanka curfew forces cricket team to improve fitness

Sri Lanka’s cricket team have been ordered onto customised home training regimes during the coronavirus lockdown by coach Mickey Arthur following frequent accusations of poor fitness.

Jailor nabbed with heroin

A 24-year old jailor of the Anuradhapura Prison had been arrested on charges of possession of heroin inside the prison, the police said.

Jayantha Ratnayake passes away

Popular musician Jayantha Ratnayake, the elder son of musician Victor Ratnayake, has passed away at the age of 51 at the Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama today.

COVID-19 spread may be slowing in high temperature - SL researcher

The COVID-19 pandemic may not spiral out of control in countries such as Sri Lanka due to its high temperature and high humidity levels as it has been noticed that the pandemic is causing a wider spread in low temperature countries, independent local researcher, Huzefa Akbarally said.

SL chef aboard cruise ship brought to country

The Sri Lankan chef who was aboard the cruise ship MSC Magnifica, was brought to the country by the Sri Lanka Navy this morning.

Workers trapped in WP to be evacuated

The government has taken steps to facilitate those who temporarily reside in the Western Province for work and are stranded due to the curfew, to return home in other parts of the country.

Expedite COVID-19 testings as over 40,000 associated with confirmed cases: GMOA

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) today urged the health authorities to speed up the COVID-19 testing of some 42,000 personnel who have been in contact with over 160 patients tested positive for the virus in the country.

Sri Lankan dies in Australia due to Covid-19

A 59-year-old Sri Lankan living in Australia, Sumith Premachandra, had passed away from COVID-19 virus in Melbourne today.

Toll of Covid-19 cases rises to 176

Five COVID-19 infected patients had been identified, bringing the total cases in Sri Lanka to 176, the Ministry of Health said.

1390-Hotline for public to obtain free medical advice

In order to assist those with suspected Covid-19 the Ministry of Health has established an emergency hotline 1390 for the public to obtain free medical advice on symptoms of COVID-19, Health Services Director General Dr. Anil Jasinghe said.