Two students die of COVID-19

An eighteen-year-old student of the Isipathana College and 17-year -old student of a girls school in Colombo have died of Covid 19 recently.

Informant of Easter Sunday suspects rewarded

Mohamed Razik Mohamed Taslim, who was shot in the head by Zahran Hashim’s group that was believed to be linked to the Easter Sunday suicide attacks, was offered Rs. 2.5 million in cash by Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekera for providing information to the Police over Easter Sunday suspects.

Police Scotland reviews Sri Lankan Police training: Rights groups express concern

(London) – The Scottish government should provide details of a review of Police Scotland training for Sri Lankan police, Human Rights Watch, Freedom from Torture, the Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice, and Pax Christi Scotland said in a letter to the Scottish Justice Secretary Keith Brown.

Govt approves procurement of 9 Mn Sinopharm, 14 Mn Pfizer doses for 18 to 30 yr olds

The government has approved the purchase of nine million doses of Sinopharm and 14 million doses of Pfizer at the unit price and it has been decided to vaccinate all people over 18 years of age by September 30 in order to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reports claiming Mangala has succumbed to COVID-19 are false

Social Media reports claiming that former MP Mangala Samaraweera has passed away after battling COVID19 are false, his colleagues confirmed to Daily Mirror a short while ago.

Cabinet nod to import rice from Pakistan to address rice shortage

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal submitted to import 6,000 metric tons of rice immediately from Pakistan.

Govt. to import 360,000 more litres of liquid medicinal Oxygen

The Cabinet today granted approval to import 360,000 more litres of liquid medicinal Oxygen to ensure undisturbed supply of liquid medicinal Oxygen for treating the critical COVID-19 positive patients in the country.

Licensed Banks not asked to “Devalue” Sri Lanka Rupee: CBSL

Responding to messages being circulated claiming that licensed banks have been officially asked to devalue the Sri Lanka rupee with immediate effect, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) said they had not given such orders to any Licensed Banks.

Chief News Editor of ’Sunday Island’ Suresh Perera dies of Covid-19

Chief News Editor of the ’Sunday Island’ Suresh Perera succumbed to Covid-19 last evening while receiving treatment at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital.

Vaccination program slowing down

Despite the government’s assurance that the vaccination drive in the country will be expedited to prevent the rapid spread of COVID-19, the number of persons vaccinated yesterday (17) stood up to 137,221 only.

No lockdown; strict travel restrictions will be imposed: President

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has reiterated that even though no lockdown has been imposed, travel restriction would be strictly implemented.

Env. Ministry identifies new sensitive ecological zones

Four new sensitive ecosystems have been identified in the country and they have been designated as Sensitive Ecological Zones, the Environment Ministry said.

SL probing implications of new identified delta mutations and what lies ahead

Sri Lanka’s health experts have launched a probe to identify the implications of the three new mutations of the Delta variant found mainly from Colombo and if it is more contagious than the original Delta variant which itself is fast spreading in the country.

$250M currency swap with Bangladesh: Sri Lanka gets first tranche of $50m this week

The central bank of Bangladesh will lend $50 million to under-pressure Sri Lanka this week as part of Bangladesh’s efforts to support the Island nation suffering from a foreign exchange crisis.

SL monitoring Afghan situation in terms of immediate, mid and long term implications

Sri Lanka is closely monitoring the development in Afghanistan in terms of immediate, mid and long term implications and to bring down a group of 65 Sri Lankans now in Kabul, a day after the Taliban seized power of Afghanistan after 20 years, a senior defence official said.

Women to have rights ’within Islamic law: Taliban in first presser since Afghanistan takeover

In their first official press briefing since the Kabul seizure, the Taliban vowed to protect women’s rights ’’within the limits’’ of Islamic law.

171 COVID-19 deaths reported: Death toll surges to 6,434

A total of 171 more COVID-19 related deaths that occurred yesterday (16) were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today pushing the death toll to 6,434.

Sri Lankan retailer sells firewood online

A Sri Lankan online retailer is selling firewood online and reportedly had sold more than 1000 bundles of firewood, as the country was facing an acute scarcity of domestic gas.

Use fuel wisely to save foreign currency to get down medicines, vaccines: Gammanpila

Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila today requested the public to use fuel economically in view to save foreign currency to bring in the much-needed medicines and vaccines.

Two die in shootout with police in Sooriyawewa

Two men were killed in a shootout between two robbers and the police in Sooriyawewa this evening, police said.

Cabinet not scientific; allocate Ministries on scientific basis:Rathana Thera

Claiming that there was no scientific basis in the allocation of Cabinet of Ministers, Parliamentarian Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera said today what was needed not a Cabinet reshuffle, but to allocate Ministries on a scientific basis immediately.

Over 30 cities suspend business operations

Business operations of at least 31 cities across the country have been suspended as of today while another 15 cities have suspended operations today due to the spread of COVID-19.

12 Parliament staff members test Covid positive

A total of 12 staff members of Parliament tested positive to Covid-19 following Rapid Antigen Tests carried out today, Sergeant-at-Arms Narendra Fernando said.

SL signs Rs.61.5 billion loan with China Development Bank

China Development Bank and Sri Lankan Government has entered into an agreement of RMB 2 billion - approximately Rs. 61.5 billion Term Facility today, the Chinese Embassy in Colombo said.

Booster doses halt or minimize spread, prevent mutant variant: GMOA

By administering a booster dose, it will halt or minimize the spread of the disease and prevent further mutation, thereby preventing a mutant variant, the Government Medical Officers’ Association today said.

Rear Admiral Jayarathne appointed Navy Chief of Staff

Rear Admiral YN Jayarathne has been appointed as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy with effect from today by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Emergence of new COVID variant at end 2021, could bypass immunity created by current vaccination: GMOA

The most dangerous threat that Sri Lanka may face is the potential for an emergence new severe COVID virus strain by the end of 2021, that would bypass the immunity created by the current vaccination programme, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) said.

Delta Variant mutates into three different variants and spreading in SL: Jayasumana

The Delta Variant of COVID 19 which has mutated into three different variants is spreading all over the nation, State Minister Channa Jaysumana told Parliament today.

New Zealand locked down over single COVID-19 case

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern put the nation under strict lockdown on Tuesday after one new case of the coronavirus was reported in its largest city of Auckland, the country’s first in six months.

Govt.should be flexible and heed to medical experts: Maithri

While stressing the need to consider the recommendations and predictions of the local medical specialists and foreign experts on the pandemic situation in the country, former President Maithripala Sirisena said today the government should be flexible in making decisions and act during this pandemic crisis.