NCPA to inspect wealthy households in Colombo to find child domestic workers

In the wake of the death of a 16-year old girl at former a minister’s house, the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) said that steps will be taken to inspect wealthy households closely in the Colombo area to check whether under-age children are being employed as domestic helpers.

Emirates extends suspension of flights from Sri Lanka to UAE till July 28

Emirates on Friday extended its suspension of flights from four countries — Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka — to Dubai till July 28 in line with directives from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government.

Gaffoor second in 100m butterfly heat

Sri Lanka’s Aniqah Gaffoor finished second in her heat in the Women’s 100m butterfly event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics a short while ago.

800 people drown to death annually in SL: Health Ministry

Every year, around 800 people die of drowning in Sri Lanka and it is the second prime cause of death from unintentional accidents, the Health Ministry said.

Death of girl: Bathiudeen’s wife, father-in-law, brother-in-law detained

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court today allowed the police to detain four persons including the wife, father-in-law and brother-in-law of former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen till Monday in connection with the death of a 16-year-old domestic aide at the former minister’s house.

Improve amenities at Sri Lankan refugee camps: TN Chief Minister

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday directed the officials concerned to improve the basic amenities for the Sri Lankan Tamils given shelter in refugee camps and that steps should be taken to form a steering committee for resolving the grievances of Lankan Tamils.

EMA the first to approve Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for children

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has approved the use of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 12 to 17.

WATCH: Tehani finishes 49th in Women’s 10m Air Rifle event

Egodawela shot a total of 611.5, and was classified between Kanykei Kubanychbekova of Kyrgyzstan, 48th with 612.8 points, and Luna Solomon of the Refugee Olympic Team, who came 50th with 605.9.

Pay hike for teachers difficult during present economic crisis: Minister

As much as 86 percent of the government’s revenue had been spent for the payment of salaries and remunerations in 2020 triggering public finance concerns for the country, and therefore this was not an appropriate time to grant a pay hike for teachers, trade Minister Bandula Gunawardana said.

SL’s health system exhausted as Delta goes out of control

Sri Lanka’s health system has been exhausted as almost all hospitals have run out of beds to treat the rising number of patients infected with the Delta variant of the COVID-19, the Daily Mirror learns.

Govt. to sign agreement with rice mill owners

The government is to sign an agreement with all rice mill owners within the next two weeks, Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage said yesterday.

Govt. purposely refraining from conducting PCR tests: Rathnapriya

National Trade Union Front Chairman Saman Rathnapriya yesterday alleged that the Government was purposely refraining from conducting PCR tests where the number of PCR tests had reduced by 50 percent when compared to the number of PCR tests conducted in February.

Colombo MC residents to get Astrazeneca second jab next week

Residents of the Colombo Municipal Council limits will get their Astrazeneca second dose next week, Colombo Mayor Rosy Senanayake said yesterday.

Committee to analyze environmental damage caused by furnace fuel dumped by ships: Amaraweera

A committee will be appointed to look into the environmental damage caused by the furnace oil dumped by ships docking at Sri Lankan ports, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.

Limited inter-provincial buses, trains from August 1: Dilum

The COVID committee granted approval to operate a limited number of buses and trains among provinces from August 1, Transport State Minister Dilum Amunugama said.

COVID-19 death toll exceeds 4,000

A total of 43 more COVID-19 related deaths that occurred yesterday (22) were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today pushing the death toll to 4,002.

STF raid slaughterhouse in Pulathisipura

Seven persons have been arrested for operating an illegal slaughterhouse at Tambala in Pulathisipura by the STF along with 68 cattle.

SL in further trouble as more Delta variant cases reported from 14 areas

Sri Lanka has recorded 30 more fresh cases of the Delta variant in 14 areas in the country, the Health Ministry said.

Actress Anusha Damayanthi lodges complaint with CID

Actress Anusha Damayanthi today lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over an insult aimed at her on a social media platform.

Nothing harmful in Moderna vaccine, Health Ministry guarantees

Referring to reports being circulated on social media with regard to the Moderna jab, the Health Ministry today urged people not to be afraid of getting the Moderna as it contains no enzymes that are harmful to human body.

’X-Press Pearl’ disaster: Govt. agencies failed, environmentalists charge

The Government and its agencies like Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) and National Aquatic Resources Research, Development Agency (NARA) and other local bodies have failed in addressing the environmental damage and damage to livelihood of fishermen caused due to the inferno in the X-Press Pearl vessel recently, environmental activists claimed.

Eran Wickramaratne challenges constitutionality of the Finance Bill in SC

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne has filed a Special Determination petition in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the bill titled “Finance” which was placed on the order paper of Parliament on July 20.

Senadhipathi turned away from entering Presidential Secretariat

Avant Garde Chairman, Nissanka Senadhipathi was prevented from entering the Presidential Secretariat yesterday by a group of protestors who were staging a protest outside.

Viral load 1,000 times higher in people infected with Delta variant

People infected with the Delta variant of novel coronavirus produce a lot more virus particles than those infected with the original version of coronavirus, thereby making their infection very easy to spread, according to a study.

Death of girl:  Bathiudeen’s in-laws in hot soup as wife, father-in-law, brother-in-law arrested

Three persons including the wife and father-in-law of former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen have been arrested in connection with the death of a 16-year old domestic aide at the former minister’s house, police said.

Electric fence and trapping of elephants have failed: COPA report

The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) has observed that the policy of constructing electric fences and trapping elephants had been a failure.

Cobra causes panic inside Accident Ward at NHC

The sudden appearance of a cobra inside the Accident Ward of the Colombo National Hospital made all staff and patients jump in surprise and fear today.

Sri Lanka confident of attracting major investments into Port City

China Harbour Company Group Chairman Tang Qiaoliang told Sri Lankan Ambassador Dr.Palitha Kohona that he was confident of attracting major financial sector investments to the Colombo port city .

Rishad committed grave offence by employing underage girl as domestic aide: JVP

Expressing dismay over the sluggish investigations into the death of a teenage girl at former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen’s residence, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today said Mr. Bathiudeen had committed a grave offence by employing an underage girl as domestic aide.

PHIs to be strict on weddings; legal action against guideline violators

The Public Health Inspectors have decided to strictly inspect wedding ceremonies and to take legal action against those who violate health guidelines.