COVID-19 patient found,some hospital personnel isolated –Asiri Health

Asiri Health today said that several hospital personnel have been isolated since yesterday (26) after a patient, whose family deliberately withheld relevant information, tested positive for COVID-19, at the Asiri Medical Hospital.

Highest daily death toll as 919 die in Italy

The death toll from the coronavirus pandemic in Italy has surged by 919 in one day, with 9,134 patients now having lost their lives.

Donations to COVID-19 Fund exempted from taxes

Donations to COVID-19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund that has been established to strengthen the mitigation activities aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19 virus in the country and related social welfare programme, have been exempted from taxes and foreign exchange regulations, the President Media Division said.

SL Mission in process of compiling details of students in Southern India

The Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission is in the process of compiling details of Sri Lankan students in South India and working on ensuring their safety and welfare, the Foreign Relations Ministry said today.

Govt. urges SL expats to safely remain in respective countries

The Government today urged Sri Lankan expatriates who wish to return, to safely remain where they are now until the risk of COVID-19 virus minimized.

UN ’troubled’ by release of SL soldier on presidential pardon

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said today that it was ’troubled’ by the reports of the release of former staff sergeant R.M. Sunil Ratnayake on a special presidential pardon.

Infected man had associated with more than 50 people: Minister

Health Minister Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi today expressed her utmost disappointment and anger when the Police and Health authorities detected a 67-year-old COVID 19 infected individual who had dodged quarantine for more than a week and suspected of having infected over 50 other Sri Lankans in the last few days.

Public should strictly adhere to curfew: Govt.

The Government today insisted that the public must strictly adhere to the curfew now in force island-wide. In a statement, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said the curfew has been imposed with the sole purpose of preventing the spread of COVID-19 which has now become a major health issue.

Mechanism to deliver drugs to doorsteps : Health Services DG

The government has introduced a mechanism to deliver drugs to the doorstep of houses through pharmacies in the area in order to reduce spread of COVID 19, Health Services Director General Anil Jasinghe said.

UK Prime Minister tests positive for coronavirus

UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for coronavirus, Downing Street has said.

Man caught trying to pass cash to ’Wele Suda’

The STF arrested a 26-year-old man, who had attempted to handover Rs.150,000 in cash to Samantha Kumara alias Wele Suda and Mohamed Niyaz currently under life imprisonment at the Boosa Prison.

Police to act tough on curfew violators

The acting IGP has directed the police to strictly implement curfew regulations and ask people to remain indoors because steps had been taken to distribute essential commodities and medicines to their doorstep.

All pharmacies, supermarkets ordered to close until further notice

Acting IGP C.D. Wickremaratne today instructed all super markets and pharmacies except for state-owned pharmacies to close until further notice.

COVID-19: Ranil urges Govt. to look sharp from Apr. 4 to 11

Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today came up with several situations which he said government was likely to face from April 4 to 11 as highlighted by some health sector officials.

Amnesty International slams Prez’s decision to release Sergeant Sunil Rathnayaka

Responding to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s decision to release Sergeant Sunil Rathnayaka, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for South Asia, Biraj Patnaik, said the government’s arbitrary decision to release Sergeant Rathnayaka sends an extremely worrying message.

ICTA introduces online video conferencing to facilitate govt. organizations

The Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) has introduced online Government’s video conferencing solution based on open-source technologies to enable government organizations and employees to conduct their work effectively.

South Africa suspends cigarette sales

Following the World Health Organization (WHO) cautioning linking Corona deaths with tobacco consumption, the government of South Africa has decided to suspend the sale of cigarettes.

Avoid home accidents related to ENT during lockdown period: ENT Surgeons

The college of Otolaryngologists (ENT Surgeons) of Sri Lanka advised people to avoid home accidents related to Ear Nose Throat during lockdown period as there will be a postponement of non-urgent ENT procedures and limited service at ENT clinics during this epidemic.

Payment of VAT: Grace period granted until April 30

The government has granted a grace period until April 30 for payment of Value Added Tax (VAT) for the months of February and March 2020, the Inland Revenue Department said.

SL man in Switzerland dies from COVID-19

A Sri Lankan man living in Switzerland has died from COVID-19 virus on March 25, the Foreign Relations Ministry said.

Over 500 quarantined individuals leave for home

A total of 501 individuals, quarantined in Kandakadu, Punani and Diyathalawa quarantine centres left for their homes this morning, as the fourth batch to leave for the fourth consecutive day, the Army said.

US overtakes China with most cases

The US now has more confirmed cases of coronavirus than any other country, with more than 85,500 positive tests.

Ban selling cigarettes: Doctors

With the World Health Organization (WHO) pointing out the link between corona deaths and tobacco, the medical officers and academics here are urging the government to ban the sale of cigarettes in view of the epidemic.

‘Contact Sri Lanka’-Online Portal for osverseas Sri Lankans

‘Contact Sri Lanka’ an online portal for the benefit of Overseas Sri Lankans was launched today (26) at the Ministry of Foreign Relations. The web link is hosted on the Ministry web page www.mfa.gov.lk and also can be accessed at www.contactsrilanka.mfa.gov.lk.

Wide responsibilities for COVID-19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund

“COVID – 19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund” that has been established by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa last Monday to strengthen the mitigation activities aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19 virus in the country and related social welfare programme, have been vested with a set of wide responsibilities .

Leave cancelled for police officers

The Police Headquarters say that leave for all ranks of police have been canceled until April 10, due to the prevailing situation in the country with the COVID-19 outbreak, Police said.

Basil to head Presidential Task Force on COVID-19

The Special Representative of the President, Basil Rajapaksa has been appointed as the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force established to combat COVID – 19 with full powers.

Introduce new legislation if necessary to curb COVID-19: Ranil

Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had informed the government to introduce any new legislation that is necessary to curb the COVID-19 epidemic, sources close to Mr. Wickremesinghe said today.

Govt identifies period till April 10 as ’High risk’ - Bandula

The government has identified the period till April 10 , 2020 as a high risk period for the spread of coronavirus and therefore the curfew situation in the western province will continue, a minister said.

Four new COVID-19 patients identified today

Four new persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in Sri Lanka today, bringing the total number of cases to 106, the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health said.