Australia donates 6,300 kilograms of PPEs to SL

The Australian Government handed over 6,300 kilograms of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to Sri Lanka today.

Namal Rajapaksa gets new State Ministry

Minister Namal Rajapaksa was sworn in as the State Minister of Digital Technology and Entrepreneur Development before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat today.

President orders to buy crops from farmers, distribute free among needy: Amaraweera

The President yesterday told the Government officials to purchase crops from farmers and to distribute them free of charge among the needy, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.

Fonterra clarifies concerns over Anchor butter not having Tamil wording

Fonterra Brands Lanka has clarified the reason behind Anchor butter not having Tamil wording. The company said that Anchor butter product packaging is fully compliant with the packaging regulations of Sri Lanka.

NASA selects 2 missions to study ‘Lost Habitable’ world of Venus

NASA has selected two new missions to Venus, Earth’s nearest planetary neighbor. Part of NASA’s Discovery Program, the missions aim to understand how Venus became an inferno-like world when it has so many other characteristics similar to ours – and may have been the first habitable world in the solar system, complete with an ocean and Earth-like climate.

Minor floods situation in Gampaha, Kalutara

A minor flood situation was witnessed in Gampaha and Kalutara District as the water levels of Kalu Ganga and Attanagalu Oya swell, the Department of Irrigation said today.

Cardinal says some politicians may be involved in Easter attacks

While stating that some politicians may be involved in the Easter Sunday attacks, Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith yesterday urged the government to carry out a proper investigation to determine as to who was behind the conspiracy which the former attorney general had referred to.

PM’s official website hacked

The official website of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, www.mahindarajapaksa.lk reported to have been hacked yesterday (June 2), Information Technology Society of Sri Lanka (ITSSL) President Rajiv Yasiru Kuruwitage said.

U.S. airlifts urgent COVID-19 supplies to Sri Lanka

The U.S. Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has airlifted emergency medical supplies to Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka to help save lives, stop the spread of COVID-19, and continue to meet the urgent health needs across South Asia.

The highest single day COVID cases reported from Gampaha yesterday

The daily COVID-19 cases reported within a district in a single day has surpassed the 1,000 mark for the first time as 1,004 COVID-19 patients were reported in the Gampaha District yesterday.

Two arrested for illegally treating COVID patients in Kesbewa

Two persons have been arrested for maintaining a Facebook page and illegally treating the COVID positive patients and those under quarantine in Kesbewa.

OIC complains alleging ASP abducted his wife

The Kiribathgoda Police are investigating a complaint lodged by an OIC of a police station in Gampaha division against an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of the CID alleging that his wife had been abducted.

SL closely monitors mixing and matching approved vaccine

Sri Lanka closely monitors mixing and matching Astrazeneca vaccine with Pfizer or Moderna in countries such as Canada, a Minister said. Sri Lanka currently faces the shortage of 600,000 Astrazeneca vaccines to be used as the second dose.

Sajith critical of Govt’s failure to call for all party conference

Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa yesterday criticized the government for its not heeding his earlier request to call up an all party conference to decide on a course of action to arrest the current COVID-19 pandemic and to find solutions to several other issues.

Sri Lanka’s vaccination programme flawed, no benefit in vaccinating hotspots: SLMA

The Sri Lanka Medical Association said that the current vaccination strategy is flawed and in need of urgent review, with priority given for elderly patients. Sri Lanka’s premier professional medical body in a letter to the President said that there is no seeming benefit of vaccinating disease hot-spots with high mobility of people.

39 COVID-19 fatalities reported

A total of 39 more COVID-19 patients died of the virus bringing the death toll in the country to 1,566, the Government Information Department said.

No room should be left to cause disruptions to people’s lives: Prez tells Governors

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa told the Governors and District Secretaries today that they should personally intervene to maintain essential services and prevent any disruption to the lives of the people.

Sri Lanka prepares to face oil leak from X Press Pearl

Sri Lanka is preparing to face a potential oil leak from the ship, X-Press Pearl, which began to sink earlier today. The Navy said that the coast guard together with vessels from India are now on standby to deal with the situation.

Pregnant mothers to get only Sinopharm jab: Health Ministry

The Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases of the Health Ministry has recommended that pregnant women should only be vaccinated with the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine, Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath told the Daily Mirror.

JVP urges Govt. to conduct scientific study to assess damage

While claiming that an irreparable loss caused to all sectors of environment, social and economy due to the distressed MV X-Press Pearl vessel, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today urged the government to conduct a scientific study on the fishery harvest and a proper assessment on the damage caused to the marine environment and social life of the coastal belt.

Piumi Hansamali, Chandimal & others sent for quarantine in Passara

Fifteen attendees including event organiser Chandimal Jayasinghe and model Piyumi Hansamali who were arrested earlier for organising a birthday party at the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo on Sunday night violating quarantine regulations, have been sent to serve quarantine.

Sooka questions appointment of former IGP to OMP

A former member of a UN expert panel on Sri Lanka, Yasmin Sooka, has questioned the appointment of former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jayantha Wickremaratne to the Office on Missing Persons (OMP).

Sri Lanka yet to submit compensation claims to ship owners

Sri Lanka is yet to submit claims to obtain compensation from the owners of the ship, MV X-Press Pearl. State Minister of Urban Development, Coast Conservation, Waste Disposal, and Public Sanitation Dr. Nalaka Godahewa told Daily Mirror that discussions are still ongoing to make an interim claim.

Sinopharm to be administered in 12 districts from June 8: Army Commander

The Chinese Sinopharm COVID-19 Vaccine will be administered in 12 districts from June 8 and will be given to pregnant women and for senior citizens, Head of the National Operation Center for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), Army Commander and General Shavendra Silva said.

Islandwide travel restriction extended till June 14

The islandwide travel restriction will be extended till June 14, Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said.

Fishing activities from Panadura to Negombo suspended

The Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has advised the fishermen to suspend all fishing activities in the sea areas extending from Panadura to Negombo via Colombo with immediate effect.

Even if Rs.100 bn is paid as compensation, environmental damage cannot be restored

Even if Rs. 100 billion is paid to the government as compensation for the MV X-Press Pearl ship that caught fire in Sri Lankan waters, the damage caused to the environment cannot be restored, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.

Update: Birthday party at five star hotel : 13 attendees granted bail

Seven more people have been arrested for attending the birthday party organized at the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo on Sunday night violating quarantine regulations, Police said.

Marriage registration fees revised from June 1: Registrar General’s Dept.

The Registrar General’s Department revised the charges of marriages registration with effect from June 1, the Registrar General’s Department Register General W.M.M.B. Weerasekara said.

Over 600 cases reported in Colombo, Gampaha yesterday

Among the 2,845 COVID positive cases reported yesterday, Colombo and Gampaha districts had more than 600 cases apiece, while Gampaha recorded the highest, National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) said.