Seizure of AK-47s, ammo from SL boat: LTTE, Pakistan links identified

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) probing the seizure of five AK-47 rifles and `3,000-crore worth of heroin from a Sri Lanka boat off the Kerala coast on March 25 has found that a Pakistan national was the main handler of the smugglers.

Some Christian preachers against COVID vaccine: SLNCC

Some Christian preachers are misleading their followers requesting them not to get the COVID-19 vaccine, saying the Bible had forbidden taking such vaccines, Sri Lanka National Christian Conference (SLNCC) said yesterday.

Milk powder importers still insist on Rs. 260 price hike a kilo

The milk powder importers still insist on a price hike of at least Rs. 260 for a packet of one kilo despite tax exemptions and by the slight drop of world market prices. Earlier, they sought a price hike of Rs.350 a kilo.

Covid death toll exceeds 150 for second consecutive day

A total of 155 more COVID-19 related deaths that occurred yesterday (12) were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today pushing the death toll to 5,775.

Kelani River under CCTV surveillance to net people dumping garbage

The Environment Minister has proposed designating the Kelani River from Hanwella to Peliyagoda as a ’conservation zone’ and to install CCTV cameras on the bridges built over the river in this zone to arrest those who drop garbage bags into the river at night.

Party Leaders to meet on Monday to discuss pandemic situation

Leaders of political parties representing Parliament are to meet next Monday (16) to discuss the current pandemic situation in the country,Sergeant-at-Arms Narendra Fernando said today.

6 new educational TV channels for school children from next week: Minister

As a first step of the programme to launch 20 television channels dedicated to education, six new television channels and a radio frequency will be launched next week, Education Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said.

Former MP Mangala Samaraweera hospitalized with COVID-19

Former Parliamentarian, Mangala Samaraweera has been hospitalized after being infected with the COVID-19 virus, the Daily Mirror learns.

Pay special attention to senior citizens with chronic diseases: Prez to health officials

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has directed the health officials to pay special attention to those who are above the age of 60 and are suffering from chronic non-communicable diseases.

Vaccination cards for those above 30, will be checked from Sept. 15

The government has decided to check the vaccination cards of those above 30 years, when they visit all public places, from September 15, Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said.

ID office, all branch offices closed for public from Monday : DRP Commissioner General

The Department for Registration of Persons (DRP) has decided to close their main office at Battaramulla and all other branch offices for public from Monday (16) until further notice, DRP Commissioner General Vianni Gunathilaka said.

Another MP tests Covid positive

State Minister Prasanna Ranaweera tested positive for COVID 19 today and thus became the fifth Member of Parliament to become positive within the last ten days.

Inter-provincial travel ban strictly enforced; inter-province public transport cancelled

The prevailing inter-provincial travel restrictions will be thoroughly implemented from midnight today, Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said.

No move to hide or alter COVID statistics: Health Ministry

Referring to discrepancy in the official count of infected patients released to the media, Deputy Director-General of Health Services Dr Hemantha Herath said there is no move to hide or alter statistics related to COVID-19 infections and deaths.

Cardinal appeals Catholics to raise black flags on Aug.21

Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith requested all Catholics in the archdiocese and others to raise black flags on August 21 in protest against the failure to mete out justice to Easter Sunday victims by the authorities.

SC concludes hearing into Tissa Attanayake’s Private Member Bill

The Supreme Court today concluded arguments put forward in support and against the Human Rights Organization Bill which was presented to Parliament by SJB Parliamentarian Tissa Attanayake, as a Private Member Bill.

President says NO lockdown, but tighter travel restrictions

Following a meeting held between President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the President said he was not ready to impose an islandwide lockdown but opted for tougher travel restrictions, informed sources said.

Govt’s failure to prevent Covid deaths worse than failure to prevent Easter Attacks: Tilvin

Criticizing the Government’s failure to intervene in preventing Covid mortality, JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva said today that the Government should be responsible for Covid deaths even more than the previous government that was responsible for Easter Attacks deaths.

WHO warns SL could soon face a health crisis: Says urgent priority is to SAVE LIVES

The World Health Organization (WHO) expert group said today that Sri Lanka is showing a rapid increase in daily reported number of cases and deaths and the trends indicate that Sri Lanka could soon face a health crisis of unprecedented proportions.

Why did State Minister write to Sports Minister requesting for vaccines, instead of Health minister?

SLPP Puttalam District MP and State Minister Priyankara Jayarathna has written to Youth and Sports Affairs Minister Namal Rajapaksa requesting for 100,000 COVID-19 vaccines to the Puttalam District, instead of writing to the Ministry of Health.

Hospital network will cripple if no lockdown imposed soon: Dr. Abeysinghe

Claiming that the Hospital network in the country is at grave risk of being crippled, former Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe today urged the Government to impose a two-week lockdown. Failing which, not only the Covid mortality but deaths due to other diseases would become inevitable, he warned.

Impose lockdown for two weeks; Medical professionals urge President

Sri Lanka Medical Association and the Intercollegiate Committee have urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to impose lockdown for a minimum of two weeks in order to prevent a vast escalation of COVID-19 infections and fatalities.

Fully vaccinated people don’t need third dose of Covid-19 vaccine as of now: Dr. Jeewandara

Individuals who are fully vaccinated are adequately protected and do not need an additional dose of Covid-19 vaccine as of now, Director of the Department of Immunology & Molecular Medicine at Sri Jayewardenepura Dr. Chandima Jeewandara said.

The F.D.A. authorized a third dose of Covid vaccines for immunocompromised people

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday authorized third doses of Pfizer-BioNTech’s and Moderna’s coronavirus vaccines for some people with weakened immune systems, giving physicians more leeway to protect those who did not respond enough to an initial series of shots.

Detained Sri Lankan ’treated like a dog in Japan,’ says family after seeing video

The family of a Sri Lankan woman who died in March following mistreatment at a Japanese immigration center said she was ’’treated like a dog’’ after the government disclosed Thursday security camera footage of her final days.

No consensus in the government to enforce complete lockdown?

Tough restrictions are expected to be announced by the government soon to contain the rapid spread of the coronavirus, government sources said.

UNP to send policy on Covid to Govt. and party leaders: Ruwan

The UNP, which has come up with a policy to deal with the COVID- 19 pandemic, has decided to send it to the President, Prime Minister , Minister of Health, Speaker, Army Commander and leaders of other political parties, party Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene said.

Tougher travel restrictions over the weekend?

Another crucial meeting will held this morning between President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Presidential Task Force on Prevention of COVID-19 to decide if travel restrictions will be imposed over the weekend to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

SL can’t fully rely on other countries when importing oxygen: Deputy DG

In a situation where Sri Lanka has decided to import oxygen, Deputy Director-General of Health Services Dr Hemantha Herath said Sri Lanka cannot rely fully on foreign countries.

Govt places orders for Oxygen supplies from India and Singapore

With the spike of Covid -19 patients needing breathing support, the government placed orders for the import of liquid Oxygen from India and Singapore, a Minister said.