Manusha arrives at CID

Samagi Jana Balawegya (SJB) Parliamentarian Manusha Nanayakkara has arrived at the CID to record a statement over an ongoing investigation, police said.

Parliament to meet five days next week

Leaders of political parties representing Parliament has decided to hold sittings for five days next week, Chief Government Whip Johnston Fernando said today.

Mattakkuliya Army Camp commanding officer arrested over alleged murder

A Lt. Colonel, the Commanding Officer of the Mattakkuliya Army Camp has been arrested by the police in connection with the murder of an individual in the Mattakkuliya area, the Army said.

Validity period of expired driving licences extended

The Department of Motor Traffic [DMT] through an extraordinary Gazette notification, has extended the validity period of driving licences by a maximum of 12 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

Fumio Kishida wins race to become Japan’s next prime minister

Fumio Kishida has won a race to lead Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), putting him on course to become the next prime minister.

A batch of 400,000 Pfizer vaccines flown in

A consignment of 400,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine vials has been flown into the country by Emirates Airways air cargo, the airport duty manager said.

State services to resume from tomorrow: Janaka Bandara

While giving priority to essential services, the government has decided to resume state services from tomorrow, Public Services, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Janaka Bandara Thennakoon said.

Indian Foreign Secretary scheduled to visit Colombo soon

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla is scheduled to visit Colombo in early October, official sources in New Delhi told The Hindu, as India and Sri Lanka seek to engage at high levels amid a perceived strain in ties.

YouTube to remove all anti-vaccine misinformation

YouTube has said it will remove content that spreads misinformation about all approved vaccines, expanding a ban on false claims about Covid-19 jabs.

No inter-provincial trains, buses for another two weeks from tomorrow: Dilum

No inter-provincial trains and bus services for another two weeks, even after lifting the quarantine curfew on October 1, Transport State Minister Dilum Amunugama said.

Colombo restaurants likely to request vaccine cards

Colombo restaurants are likely to request customers to produce their vaccination cards when looking to dine-in, in future.

Sri Lanka to re-open on tough restrictions to avoid another wave

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday instructed officials to lift the ongoing nationwide quarantine curfew on October 1, as health authorities noted a considerable decrease in the number of COVID-19 patients and deaths.

UN SG documents allegations of reprisals in Sri Lanka

UN Secretary General (UN SG) António Guterres has documented allegations of reprisals and intimidation against some 240 individual members of civil society, activists and journalists in 45 countries, including Sri Lanka for cooperating with the UN.

Noticeable decline in infections and spread of COVID cases:Medical Expert

A noticeable decline in the spread and infections of COVID-19 could be observed at present where the number of houses where there were at least four Covid patients under home-management by August 30 had now reduced from 60 percent to 45 percent, a medical expert said yesterday.

Cabraal’s six-month road map for stability to be unveiled tomorrow

Newly-appointed Central Bank Governor Ajith Niard Cabraal will unveil ‘The Six-Month Road Map for Ensuring Macroeconomic and Financial System Stability’, on Friday, October 01, 2021.

Youth population a major contributor to virus transmission: Expert

While highlighting the diminished enthusiasm shown by the youth in getting their vaccine, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Samitha Ginige said the youth population exceptionally contribute to virus transmission as they being frequently moving within society.

No move to take action against unregistered property owners in Colombo City: Rosy

Mayoress of Colombo Rosy Senanayake today assured that there is no move to take any action against any owner of unregistered properties in Colombo City and there will be no acquisition of any property.

Selected Sinopharm recipients to get Pfizer as third dose

The Expert Committee has recommended in principle giving Pfizer vaccine as the third dose for selected Sinopharm recipients as of now.

Allowing fully vaccinated foreigners sans PCR is like inviting another wave: NTUF

Denouncing the move to allow fully vaccinated foreign passengers to travel in the country without PCR test, National Trade Union Front (NTUF) said today it was similar to inviting another wave as fully vaccinated people could still transmit COVID-19.

Decisive time ahead in determining SL’s Covid situation: Epidemiology Chief

The time ahead is going to be decisive in determining the situation of Covid in the country and people have been urged to follow Covid appropriate behaviour, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Samitha Ginige said today.

Nationwide quarantine curfew to be lifted on Oct. 1

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed to lift the ongoing quarantine curfew on October 1, Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said.

CA suspends registration of elephants

The Court of Appeal today issued an interim order restraining the Director-General of Wildlife Conservation Department Grant from registering all elephants in terms of the new regulations challenged in Courts.

5,000 MT of food wasted in Sri Lanka, daily: Amaraweera

Nearly 5,000 metric tons (MT) of cooked and uncooked food is wasted in Sri Lanka every day, and rice has become a politicised word, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.

Govt. stands with rice mafia; not with farmers or consumers: JVP

The Government is standing with the rice mafia rather than taking steps to protect the farmers and consumers by taking concrete steps to ensure a reasonable price for rice and paddy, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) charged today.

Illegal buildings, constructions in CP still an issue: Governor

Despite the discussions about illegal buildings and construction in the Central Province (CP), illegal construction was still a major issue which needed to be halted, CP Governor Lalith U. Gamage said.

Why did Navy men come into churches and warn of an impending attack?

Catholic church in Colombo today said it is still confused by the fresh warnings of impending attacks on churches in the archdiocese despite the apology tendered by the Navy Commander who had claimed it was false.

Minister Weerasekera orders IGP to investigate CID for failure to follow directive

Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekera has instructed the IGP to conduct an immediate investigation into the failure of the CID officers to act following the directive not to question journalists, including newspaper editors.

Court prevents appointing a new Chairman to Mannar Pradeshiya Sabha

The Court of Appeal today issued an interim order preventing the Northern Province Local Government Commissioner from taking any steps under the Local Authority Election Act to appoint a new Chairman to the Mannar Pradeshiya Sabha.

Defence Ministry says not to panic over news on Church attacks

The news circulating on social media platforms and electronic media over a possible terror attack on Sri Lankan Churches was based on basic information which is neither analyzed nor confirmed by the respective authorities, the Defence Ministry said.

MRIA carried out the highest number of passenger, cargo operations: State Minister

Despite the current COVID19 epidemic in the country, the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) has carried out the highest number of passenger operations in its history, Aviation and Development of Export Zones State Minister D.V. Chanaka said.