Atul Keshap to serve as Chargé d’Affaires at US Embassy in New Delhi

Former US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Atul Keshap, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, is set to serve as Chargé d’Affaires, ad interim,in New Delhi following the retirement of Ambassador Daniel Smith.

Delta variant to be dominant in another 10 weeks in SL: Medical experts warn

The medical experts have warned that the Indian variant known as Delta would be the dominant variant in the country in about ten weeks if proper measures were not taken at correct time.

Attention drawn to vaccinate students, academic, non-academic staff of universities: Minister

Following requests of University Vice Chancellors, the attention of the Education Ministry was drawn to provide COVID-19 vaccine to all students, including university academic and non-academic staff and this gives an indication that the universities will be opened soon, the Education Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris said.

40% plastic washed ashore, no trace of remaining: Minister

Following the tragedy of the MV X-Press Pearl cargo vessel, which had burnt and sank in Sri Lankan waters, only 40% of the plastic micro pellets in the ship have washed ashore and there was no trace of what had happened to the remaining 60%, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.

Customs seize ghee imported under guise of lamp oil

A local businessman was arrested with a consignment 1,500 kg of ghee while attempting to smuggle them into the country by declaring them to customs as lamp oil, Customs Deputy Director (Legal) and media spokesman Sudatta Silva said.

India’s Reserve Bank currency swaps to boost Sri Lanka’s reserves; CB Governor

Two currency swap arrangements in the pipeline with India’s Reserve Bank are key components in the immediate work plan of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to boost its reserves, bank’s chief WD Lakshman said.

Dry rations for places of worship due to non-receipt of alms

The government has launched a program to provide dry rations to places of worship in distress due to non-receipt of alms from donors due to the island-wide Covid breakout and travel restrictions.

Kusal Mendis, Dickwella & Danushka Gunathilaka arrive in Sri Lanka

Cricketers Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella & Danushka Gunathilaka who faced suspension and were recalled for breaching the bio-bubble during England tour arrived in Sri Lanka a short while ago.

Probe finds no Chinese military in Tissamaharama

An investigation has revealed that the Chinese military is not present in Tissamaharama, Cabinet co-spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said today.

Govt. approves concessions for tourism sector

The government today approved allowing relief to employees in the tourism sector, particularly those affected by the crisis due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Two construction site workers in Slave Island found positive with new Delta variant

Two construction workers attached to a building site in Slave Island were happened to be close associates of the person who was found infected first with Delta varient of COVID-19 are suspected to have been infected with the same variant, Chief Medical officer Colombo Municipal Council ( CMC) Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni said today.

Government defends decision to ban passengers from the Gulf

Cabinet Spokesman, Keheliya Rambukwella said that with over 100 Covid positive patients being reported from among arrivals from the Middle East, the Government was compelled to enforce the temporary ban.

Prof. Neelika Malavige resigns from vaccine committee

Prof. Neelika Malavige (immunologist) attached to the Sri Jayewardenepura Faculty of Medical Sciences has resigned from the independent vaccine advisory expert committee of the drug regulator.

Several areas in Colombo, Gampaha isolated

Several areas in Colombo and Gampaha Districts have been isolated from 6 am this morning,the National Operations Center for Prevention of COVID-19 said.

Vaccines given 44-45 weeks apart observed increasing and prolonging immunity: Report

Two doses of the Astrazeneca vaccine administered 44-45 weeks apart generated nearly four times the level of antibodies than when the doses were given 8-12 weeks apart, says a report by the Oxford Vaccine Group, the developers of the vaccine, on Monday, the Hindu reported.

Govt to suspend import of sugar to prevent profiteering by importers: State Minister

State Minister of Minor Export Crops Janaka Wakkumbura said the government decided to suspend the import of sugar to prevent profiteering by importers who had stocks for more than six months in case of any increase of import tax on sugar.

SF defends Army Commander against Ranil’s criticism

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka said he could not agree with former Prime Minister UNP National List MP Ranil Wickremesinghe for his recent remarks criticising the security forces for what he said ‘overlooking the Cabinet’ in anti- pandemic operations.

Passengers from Gulf temporarily banned

The National Operations Centre for the Prevention of the COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) has decided to temporarily ban passengers from Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait.

Western countries support organic farming, President informed cabinet

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had informed the Cabinet this evening that Western countries such as Germany pledged their support to introduce organic farming successfully.

Pfizer & Moderna jabs to be used as 2nd dose for COVISHIELD first dose recipients

The Health Ministry has granted the approval for the use of US produced Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines as the second dose for those who were administered with the AstraZeneca COVISHIELD vaccine as the first dose.

41 more succumb to COVID-19

A total of 41 more COVID-19 related deaths that occurred yesterday (27) were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today pushing the death toll to 2,985.

Two million doses of Sinopharm vaccine to arrive in SL on July 2 and 4

Sinopharm has confirmed that two million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine procured by Sri Lanka will be delivered on July 2 and 4, Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka said.

Govt. unveils new programme to help treat COVID-19 patients at home

The Health Ministry today introduced a new hotline number 1390 to create a new process to properly care the COVID-19 patients at home.

Torture and nailed to cross for defaming friend on FB: Two arrested with five swords

Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the abduction, torture and nailed to a cross of two persons in a highly torturous manner for sharing a defamation post against an individual on Facebook.

Passengers from eight countries barred from disembarking in Sri Lanka

All online and offline airlines that passengers with a travel history (including transit) in the past 14 days to Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe will not be permitted to disembark in Sri Lanka from July 1.

Ranjan undergoing treatment at Karapitiya Hospital for knee injury

Ranjan Ramanayake, who is serving a four-year rigorous imprisonment at the Angunukolapalassa Prison, has been admitted to the Karapitiya hospital to undergo a surgery.

Kusal Mendis, Dickwella & Danushka Gunathilaka suspended

The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has suspended cricketers Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka pending inquiry for breaching the bio-bubble during England tour and had been recalled immediately to Sri Lanka, SLC Secretary Mohan De Silva said.

Dreaded Delta variant reported from Kahathuduwa

The Indian variant known as Delta has been detected from a resident in Relawala Grama Niladhari Division, Jayaliyagama in Kahathuduwa, the Health officials said.

Stray dog enters Covid treatment centre, bites three women

A stray dog that has entered a Covid-19 treatment centre at Kosnilgoda Hospital in Morawaka had bitten three women who were receiving treatment there.

Seven killed, many injured in blast in Bangladesh

At least seven people were killed and more than 50 people were injured in an explosion in the Bangladeshi capital late on Sunday, police said.