Don’t resort to TU action, will get vaccine in next round: Home Affairs Ministry

The Home Affairs Ministry today announced that all officers at District Secretariats, Divisional Secretariats, Grama Niladharis and all Development officers not to engage in any kind of Trade Union (TU) action as they would be the next group to get vaccinated.

Extreme weather: Many rivers reach flood levels

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) today alerted that the water levels at several gauging stations of five rivers have reached flood level.

Cabinet nod to build new refinery in Sapugaskanda

The cabinet has given the green light to Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila to construct a new Oil refinery with the capacity of 100,000 BPD (Barrels Per Day) at Sapugaskanda and also to renovate the existing refinery to raise its daily capacity to 45,000 BPD from the current 38,000, Minister Gammanpila said.

1,808 fresh COVID-19 cases detected so far today

A total of 1,808 more COVID-19 patients have been detected so far today, the Government Information Department said.

Man carrying goods on wheelbarrow arrested

A 40-year old man from Darga Town, who was seen in a video which circulated on social media today, carrying goods in a wheelbarrow without a face mask, has been arrested.

People in WP advised not to reach debris floating in sea - MEPA

The Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) today warned people, who are in close vicinity of the Colombo coastal areas not to reach debris coming from the distressed MV ‘X-PRESS PEARL’, which is currently in a critical situation following an explosion occurred today.

Grama Niladharis to begin countrywide strike tonight

While condemning the actions taken by the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) yesterday over administering COVID vaccines for them and their family members violating the priority list, the Grama Niladhari’s Association (GNA) today decided to engage in countrywide Trade Union (TU) action from tonight, GNA President Sumith Kodikara said.

Dilshan sells his modern apartment in Melbourne

The 44-year-old sportsman managed to secure a buyer for the property, located in Prahran - an inner suburb just five kilometres from Melbourne’s CBD.

Three impersonators as doctors arrested for driving in Colombo

Three persons, who had impersonated themselves as doctors, were arrested in Colombo while driving their cars despite the prohibition of vehicular movements,Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said.

Distressed wild elephant rescued following Yoshitha’s intervention

A wild elephant who was in pain after falling into a ditch in the Puthur area in Vavuniya was rescued by authorities following the urgent intervention of Yoshitha Rajapaksa, who came across the video footage of the distressed animal.

Colombo elevated highway project handed over to CHEC

The Cabinet approval was granted to award the contract for the construction of the elevated highway to Kelaniya New Bridge (NKB) via Rajagiriya connecting Outer Circular Highway at Athurugiriya to the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), co-cabinet spokesman, Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila said.

Sabeeta Perera’s husband rushed to hospital after collapsing on road

Husband of popular actress Sabeeta Perera, millionnaire businessman Upali Jayasinghe was rushed to the Colombo National Hospital last evening after CCTV footage showed him collapsing on the side of a road.

MP Nalin Bandara tests COVID-19 positive

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Nalin Bandara and his wife tested COVID-19 positive today.

Govt. approves proposal to expedite treatment for critical Covid patients

The Government has approved the proposal to expedite providing medical treatment for COVID patients who are in critical condition.

Cabinet nod to purchase 14 million doses of Sinopharm vaccine

The Cabinet of Ministers has granted the approval to purchase 14 million doses of Sinopharm vaccine and one million doses of Astrazeneca vaccine immediately, the Government Information Department said.

Tense situation erupts outside Lady Ridgeway as scandal over AstraZeneca doses

A tense situation has broken out outside the Lady Ridgeway Hospital in Maradana where over 3000 people have gathered, demanding the second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccinations.

24 Black Fungus cases reported this year, nothing to do with COVID

Twenty four cases of the disease which is commonly called ‘Black Fungus’ and academically named ‘mucormycosis’ has been reported so far in the country this year, but none of them has tested positive for Covid-19, a medical expert said yesterday.

Explosion reported aboard burning vessel: Crew rescued

An explosion was reported on board the burning Singapore-flag ship ‘X-PRESS PEARL’ in the seas off Colombo Port.

One arrested over Rs. 30.6Mn robbery in Talangama

A 34-year-old suspect had been arrested over a robbery in which Rs. 30.6 million worth cash, Jewellery and other valuables were stolen from a house at Pelawatta in Talangama on May 8.

Govt. desperate for AstraZeneca, ready to purchase at any cost

The government has decided to purchase the urgently required 600,000 doses of the Astrazeneca doses at any price, the Daily Mirror learns.

Severe breach in Astrazeneca second jabs

There has been a serious breach in the roll out programme of the second jab of the Astrazeneca vaccine in Sri Lanka with allegations being raised that the Health Ministry has not followed the required protocol and instead gave doses with close ‘connections’, the Daily Mirror learns.

US warns against travel to Sri Lanka due to COVID-19 concerns

Amid rising coronavirus cases in Japan and Sri Lanka, the US State Department issued a travel advisory warning against travel to the respective countries due to COVID transmission concerns.

Aiming for 2,500 Russian tourists per month after SL re-opens borders: Weeratunga

Sri Lanka’s former envoy to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga says he is aiming to bring in at least 2,500 Russian tourists per month to Sri Lanka after the country re-opens its borders and approval is received from the Health authorities.

Indian couple holds mid-air wedding ’to escape Covid restrictions’

An Indian couple reportedly chartered a plane and held a mid-air wedding with more than 160 guests in an effort to escape coronavirus restrictions.

Medical union members seen at vaccination centre with family members: GMOA

While claiming that they did send a letter in March requesting the Health authorities to provide their family members with the COVID-19 vaccine, the Government Medical Officers’ Association said the so-called members of the medical unions, who had requested and insisted that their family members should also be vaccinated were seen yesterday at the National Hospital along with their family members to receive the vaccine.

Health Ministry not yet informed healthcare workers to vaccinate their family members: AMS

While stressing that certain categories of healthcare workers especially a powerful medical trade union were granted special provision to vaccinate their immediate family members, Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) said this has happened in such a situation where the Ministry of Health has not issued any general announcement to health staff to this effect.

Daily count of COVID-19 cases increases to 2,970

A total of 687 more COVID-19 patients have been detected increasing the daily count of COVID-19 cases to 2,970, the Government Information Department said.

Cabinet halts import of limited number of vehicles

The Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, decided to suspend the importation of a limited number of vehicles today (24) in view of the current situation in the country, the PM’s office said.

Lunar eclipse on Vesak Poya Day

Sri Lankans will have the opportunity to witness a lunar eclipse on the day after tomorrow (26), the full moon Vesak Poya Day, a senior official of the Arthur C. Clarke Centre said.

South-west monsoon intensifies; met. Dept. forecasts heavy showers above 150 mm

While issuing a general weather forecast for the next 36 hours, the Meteorology Department forecast heavy showers above 150 mm could be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Southern provinces.