Probe finds she was brought to the house at age of 15

It was revealed that the girl working at the house of former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen in Borella, who died of burn injuries, was brought to the house as a domestic helper when she was 15 years old.

Govt. will deal with openness and transparency regarding human rights issues: Dinesh

The government will deal with openness and transparency regarding the issues of human rights and reconciliation, Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena assured the activists of the civil organisations and NGOS of the country.

Stalin and Nagamuwa released from quarantine centres

Ceylon Teachers Union General Secretary Joseph Stalin, Frontline Socialist Party Politburo Member Duminda Nagamuwa and several others who were detained in quarantine centres were released yesterday.

Students arrested for theft had their own pornography inside stolen computer

Following an arrest of three boys of leading schools in Horana in connection with breaking into several shops, the police had found a number of pornographic videos recorded by them inside a stolen computer.

41 more die of COVID-19

A total of 41 more COVID-19 related deaths that occurred yesterday (15) were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today increasing the death toll in Sri Lanka to 3,702.

Confiscated canned fish approved by Food Control Unit and SLSI: Lanka Sathosa

Clarifying the reports that confiscated canned fish was sold through Lanka Sathosa following a Cabinet decision, its Chairman Rear Admiral (Retd) Ananda Peiris said today Lanka Sathosa was selling a number of food items confiscated by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) after Food Control Unit at the SLPA approved them for human consumption.

Country to be opened despite detection of Delta variant cases

In a backdrop where 19 more cases of dreaded Delta variant cases were detected from the community yesterday (15) increasing the total cases of such variant to 38 in Sri Lanka, the Health Ministry has further relaxed restrictions and asked people to act in a responsible manner.

New births decrease due to COVID: Indigenous Medicine State Minister

There is a rapid decrease in the number of childbirths in the country due to the COVID epidemic, Indigenous Medicine Promotion State Minister Sisira Jayakody said.

Eiffel Tower to reopen after record nine-month closure over pandemic

The Eiffel Tower is to reopen to visitors on Friday for the first time in nine months following its longest closure since World War II.

Sinovac vaccine gets NMRA approval

The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) today granted approval for the emergency use of China’s Sinovac Covid vaccine as a shield for the COVID virus in Sri Lanka.

Mobile vaccination service for those who are confined to home due to illnesses

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed the officials to launch a mobile vaccination service for those who are suffering from illnesses and unable to leave their homes.

Quarantine measures amended for incoming travellers during COVID pandemic

While issuing revised travel-related health directives, Health Director-General today issued quarantine measures for travelers arriving from India, South American countries, South African countries and European countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

People above 18 yrs should be given training at military camps: Minister

Claiming that the discipline in the country has deteriorated lately and that in order to create a disciplined society, people over the age of 18 should be given a training in military camps, Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekera said.

Inter-provincial bus and train services suspended until Aug 1

The COVID committee has decided to suspend all inter-provincial bus and train services until August 1 from tomorrow, Transport State Minister Dilum Amunugama said.

918 more COVID-19 patients recover

A total of 918 more COVID-19 patients recovered and were discharged from hospitals increasing the total number of recoveries in Sri Lanka to 254,871, the Health Ministry said.

Sajith writes to Speaker over sudden removal of officers from Elections Commission

Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa in a letter addressed to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene today urged the latter to convene the Parliament Council to discuss about the sudden transfer and removal of officers attached to the Elections Commission.

Joseph Stalin files FR

The General Secretary of Ceylon Teachers Union Joseph Stalin today filed a Fundamental Rights petition in Supreme Court seeking a declaration that attempts by police and Health Authorities to prevent protests using quarantine regulations violate people’s fundamental rights.

Fine revised to Rs. 100,000 for production, distribution, sale of polythene lunch sheets

Among the number of decisions taken by the Environment Ministry, there was also a decision to increase the fine for the production, distribution and sale of polythene lunch sheets to Rs. 100,000 from August 1, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.

SC awards Rs. 1 MN as compensation for torture leading to death of father of two

The Supreme Court has awarded one million rupees against the five Police Officers attached to Peliyagoda Police Station as compensation for torture leading to the death of a father of two children, a seven-year-old son and a daughter of one month at the time of his death.

Two key players ruled out of India series

Two key players in Sri Lanka cricket team namely Wicket-Keeper Batsman Kusal Janith Perera and Fast Bowler Binura Fernando will be ruled out of the India series due to injuries, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said.

EU court rules headscarves can be banned at work ’under certain conditions’

Companies in the EU may ban Muslim employees from wearing a headscarf under certain conditions, a top European court has ruled.

Habeas Corpus petition on behalf of Duminda Nagamuwa to be heard on July 19

The Habeas Corpus petition filed on behalf of Frontline Socialist Party Propaganda Secretary Duminda Nagamuwa seeking an interim order directing authorities to produce the Duminda Nagamuwa before Court forthwith will be taken up for support on July 19.

SC fines woman 3 lakhs for making false complaint against lawyer

A woman who made a false complaint to Supreme Court targeting a female lawyer over her professional conduct was ordered to pay a fine of Rs.300,000 by Supreme Court.

New health guidelines issued

While revising the health regulations under the topic of relaxing travel restrictions, the Health Services Director General issued new set of guidelines that will take effect from today.

WhatsApp testing multidevice support that works without the phone

WhatsApp first officially confirmed the existence of multi-device support during an interview where both company chief Will Cathcart and Mark Zuckerberg were present. The early June confirmation provided WhatsApp fans a timeline for the launch of some new features, including support for multiple devices.

Sri Lanka receives over 1.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from COVAX

A chartered plane arrived in Sri Lanka this morning with more than 1.5 million doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine from the COVAX Facility.

Blacksmith, helper arrested for making illegal ’Cap Guns’

A blacksmith known as ’Yaka Baas’ and his assistant ’Chandi’ who have been manufacturing illegal weapons for the past 37 years, were arrested yesterday by the Anuradhapura police.

’Strong likelihood’ of more dangerous Covid variants, warn WHO experts

The emergency committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned about the “strong likelihood” for the emergence of more virulent and dangerous variants of coronavirus that may be more challenging to control.

SL has identified oil and gas deposits

Sri Lanka has identified oil and gas deposits currently valued US 240 billion, Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila said.

Proposed security sticker on liquor bottles from Aug. 15: Excise Chief

The proposed security sticker to be pasted on all locally manufactured liquor bottles, which had been delayed owing to technical reasons, will be commenced from August 15th, the Excise Department said yesterday.