COVID cases would increase in coming months: Health officials

The number of COVID-19 cases will definitely go up in coming months, notwithstanding there is a dip in the cases at present, health officials pointed out.

Health guidelines issued to start O/L, A/L classes in all schools

The health guidelines have been issued to start the G.C.E. Ordinary Level (O/L) and Advanced Level (A/L) classes in all schools.

Oct. 31 declared a National Day of mourning for Colombo, Gampaha

The government has declared October 31, as a national day of mourning for Colombo and Gampaha Districts as a mark of respect for the late Most Ven.Velamitiyawe Kusaladhamma Nayaka Thera, the Home Affairs State Ministry said.

Court suspends Communist Party’s decision to remove Raja Collure

The Colombo District Court today issued an Enjoining Order suspending the Sri Lanka Communist Party’s decision to remove North Western Province Governor Raja Collure as the Chairman of the Communist Party.

Fully vaccinated Sri Lankans allowed to visit UK from November 1: British HC

The eligible travellers from Sri Lanka with appropriate proof of vaccination will qualify under the fully vaccinated rules for travel to the UK from November 1, the British High Commission in Colombo said.

EU grants EUR 2 Mn to SL for COVID-19 health response

The European Union (EU) has granted a further EUR 2 million in funding to help Sri Lanka in its efforts to manage the pandemic.

Uni. entrance cut off marks released

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has released the cut off marks of students who sat the GCE A/L examination for the year 2020, UGC Chairman Prof. Sampath Amaratunga said.

Suspect tells Magistrate he was tortured to implicate Hejaaz Hizbullah

The Coordinator of Save the Pearls organization Mohamed Sulthan has informed the Fort Magistrate’s Court that he was tortured in order to implicate Attorney-at-law Hejaaz Hizbullah.

Prez, PM agree on presenting observations to Cabinet Paper

Political parties affiliated to the Sri Lanka Nidahas Podujana Sandanaya have agreed to present observations to the Cabinet Paper pertaining to the Yugadanavi Power Plant, Prime Minister’s Media Division said.

Sri Lankans still need to quarantine for 10 days when visiting UK

The British government is yet to issue a clearance for Sri Lankan nationals to enter the United Kingdom without a mandatory quarantine or the necessary PCR tests, stating Sri Lankans still had to follow the category of ’people who do not qualify as fully vaccinated for travel to the UK’.

Payment to Chinese Company halted following court decision: People’s Bank

Responding to the moves taken by the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka to blacklist People’s Bank,the People’s Bank said the decision to halt the payment to the Chinese Company was taken following an interim injunction issued by the court.

People’s Bank of Sri Lanka blacklisted by China

The People’s Bank of Sri Lanka has been blacklisted by the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka for failing to make the payment according to the Letter of Credit and the contacts between two parties.

Appointing PTF headed by Gnanasara Thera: CPA urges Govt. to revoke gazette

The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) yesterday urged the government to immediately rescind the relevant Gazette notification to appoint a Presidential Task Force (PTF) mandated to implement the ‘One Country, One Law’ concept, chaired by Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera.

Govt. calls rating action “irrational”

In response to the rating action by Moody’s, the government through the Central Bank, expressed its strong displeasure and called it “irrational” and “hasty”.

Welikada Prison inmates’ protest cause Rs.10mn damage

The Prison Engineering Division has estimated that the Chapel section of the Welikada Prison has suffered a loss of around Rs. 10 million due to the protest staged by the inmates, the Prisons Department said.

Namal insists Port City not for him to race

Sri Lanka has set a target of raising USD 1 billion through sports over the next five years, Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa said yesterday.

Facebook changes its name to Meta in major rebrand

Facebook has changed its corporate name to Meta as part of a major rebrand.

Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan granted bail in drugs case

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s son has been granted bail 26 days after he was arrested for allegedly doing recreational drugs at a party.

Australia beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets

Australia beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets in a Super 12 contest at the ICC Twenty20 World Cup in Dubai on Thursday.

Only SLFP, its leadership will regain lost faith in political system: Daham

Claiming that people have lost faith in the political systems in the country over the years, former President Maithripala Sirisena’s son Daham Sirisena said today it was only the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and its leader had an action plan to rebuild the country.

Supreme Examinations for monks should be recognized globally: Edu. Minister

The time has come to intervene to bring the supreme examinations for venerable monks to internationally accepted standards, Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said.

Naval, fishing communities advised not to venture into sea until further notice: Met Dept.

Due to low-pressure area is currently formed in the sea area off the eastern coast of the island, naval and fishing communities are advised not to venture into the sea areas off the coast extending from Trincomalee to Puttalam via Kankesanturai until further notice, the Meteorology Department said.

Govt. to provide free tea plants to potential growers from next year: Plantation Minister

Tea plants will be provided free of charge to any grower who wishes to engage in tea plantation from next year, Plantation Minister Ramesh Pathirana said in a media briefing today.

Provide relief for private bus owners to restart services: Minister tells NTC Head

Transport Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi today instructed the National Transport Commission (NTC) Chairman to provide all possible relief for private bus owners to restart bus service.

DIG in charge of CID replaced

DIG in charge of the CID Prasad Ranasinghe has been transferred from the post to the Police Headquarters and DIG in charge of the Matara and Hambantota Districts W. Tilakaratne has been appointed as the DIG in charge of the CID with immediate effect.

Moody’s further downgrades Sri Lanka to Caa2

Moody’s Investors Servicehas today downgraded the Government of Sri Lanka’s long-term foreign currency issuer and senior unsecured debt ratings to Caa2 from Caa1 under review for downgrade, concluding a review for downgrade initiated on July 19, 2021.

SLMA warns of another COVID wave; writes to President

Lessons learnt from the recent outbreaks in countries such as the UK, Singapore and Israel compel Sri Lanka to believe that another wave is imminent, particularly in a situation where the restriction of movement has been lifted, Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) warned.

Fr. Cyril Gamini requests a week to study case against him at CID

Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando who was summoned to the Criminal Investigation Division ( CID) to record a statement over a complaint lodged by the Director General of State Intelligence Services, has informed the CID that he needs a week to study the case.

Speaker certifies Youthful Offenders, Penal Code (Amendment) bills

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has endorsed the certificate on the Youthful Offenders (Training schools) (Amendment)bill and the Penal Code (Amendment) bill, Communications Department of Parliament said.

Organic fertilizer shipment won’t be accepted: Minister

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa informed the Chinese Ambassador in Sri Lanka that the organic fertilizer shipment sent by the Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group will not be accepted, Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said.