Nishantha Ulugetenna new Navy Commander

Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenna was appointed as the 24th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday.

Some ministers, MPs wanted to hide info: Ex-DIG

Some MPs and ministers had instructed their security officers not to reveal that they had been informed about a possible terror attack by a group connected to National Thawheed Jamaat (NTJ), retired DIG Lucien Priyalal yesterday informed the PCoI on the Easter Sunday attacks.

Adherence to health guidelines at work: Prez says heads are accountable

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday said that the heads of both government and private entities are accountable for adhering to health guidelines in their organizations in the wake of current spike in COVID 19 cases.

Covid-19 pandemic - No intention to hide actual scenario: DGHS

Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Anil Jasinghe said there were only 19 Covid-19 cases reported yesterday and that they had no intention of hiding the actual situation in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

Gammanpila proposes index to rate ministers’ performance

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Leader Udaya Gammanpila has proposed the creation of an index to rate the performance of ministers quarterly.

Govt. denies ’Restricted Areas’ report

The government information department yesterday denied a report widely circulating on social media saying several areas across the country had been marked as ’Restricted Areas’ following the detection of new COVID-19 patients.

Melsta Hospitals, Ragama says situation adjusted

Melsta Hospitals Ragama said yesterday that it made adjustments to its operations after one of its staff member tested positive for Covid-19.

Turkey confident SL will continue fight against FETO

Turkish Ambassador in Sri Lanka, R. Demet Şekercioğlu on Tuesday said they were confident that Sri Lanka, more than any other country, would understand and continue to support Turkey’s efforts in fighting against the Fetullahist Terrorist Organization (FETO).

Pope appoints Auxiliary Bishop to Colombo Archdiocese

Pope Francis has appointed Fr. Anton Ranjith Pilleynayagam as an Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo, The Vatican announced yesterday.

SJP rejects UNP allegations

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) today rejected allegations made by United National Party (UNP) candidate Oshala Herath that the Election Commission Chairman had mentioned that documents were manipulated when registering the SJB.

SL will take 10 years to bounce back from this crisis: Ranil

It will take ten years for Sri Lanka’s economy to bounce back to the position it was before the initial COVID-19 outbreak given the current situation, former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today at Sirikotha.

Election law violation cases surpass 3,000

The number of cases in relation to election law violation was at 3,040 as of today with 114 cases being reported from Sunday (12) to yesterday (13), the National Elections Commission said.

Covid-19 cases in Sri Lanka surge to 2,663

The Covid-19 cases in Sri Lanka climbed to 2,663 as of 8.15 pm today with the identification of 17 more cases, the Epidemiology Unit said.

Prez assures people protection from COVID-19 pandemic

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today assured that the people would be protected from the COVID-19 pandemic by mitigating the risk of the virus spreading in the country, until the pandemic is finally wiped out.

Elephant attacks three wildlife officers in Kala Wewa

Three officers attached to the Wildlife Department including a veterinary surgeon were rescued after their boat capsized following an elephant attack in Kala Wewa today.

647 people in Polonnaruwa sent for quarantine

At least 647 people who had contacts with COVID-19 patients in Polonnaruwa District had been sent to quarantine, Regional Health Services Office said.

Covid-19: Mobitel Office at W.A.D Ramanayake Mawatha closed

The Mobitel Office at the W.A.D Ramanayake Mawatha has been closed after a person, who had contacts with a Covid-19 patient had visited the office, its Management said in statement.

COVID-19 threat: Shops in Kalawana closed

All shops in Kalawana were closed from noon today after a COVID-19 infected patient was found in the area, Kalawana Eksath Traders Association President W.D. Rodrigo said.

MR likely to be next SLFP leader: Amaraweera

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected to assume the role of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) after the general election in the wake of the current SLFP leader, former president Maithripala Sirisena being expected to step down from the post after the polls, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said today.

Producing inmates at courts suspended

Producing prison inmates in courts has been temporarily suspended and their legal proceedings would be carried out through video technology, the Prisons Department said.

Melsta Hospitals Ragama closed after GM tests positive for COVID-19

Melsta Hospitals Ragama has been closed after its General Manager (GM), who had conducted lectures at the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Centre, was tested positive for COVID-19, police said.

Two Homagama Army officers test positive for Covid-19, seven families quarantined

At least 30 persons belonging to seven families in Homagama have been sent for self quarantine after two Army officers from the area who are serving at the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Centre tested positive for Covid-19, Homagama MOH office said.

Witnesses record statements over sale of seized drugs

Four independent witnesses today recorded statements over the sale of drugs seized in raids by the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) Officers. The statements were provided behind closed doors at the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.

Tipper truck runs over police officers, killing cop and injuring two others

Three police officers who were on duty at a roadblock on the Matara-Hakmana road were run over by a tipper truck, killing a police constable.

Inmate admitted for PCR test falls to death at the Hospital

An inmate who was admitted to the Negombo Hospital for a PCR test on Covid-19 has died after falling from the eighth floor of the hospital, the Police said.

No COVID-19 positive patients found in Colombo, outskirts

There have been no isolated cases of COVID-19 patients found in Colombo or its outskirts and all associates linked to the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Center inmates and its employees have been traced while further monitoring is continuing, Director General of Health Services, Dr. Anil Jasinghe told Daily Mirror last evening.

285 Lankans arrived from Jordan

A total of 285 Sri Lankans who were stranded in Jordan arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning. They arrived in Sri Lankan Airlines flight UL 1506 from Amman Airport (AMM).

Govt. hides true COVID-19 situation: NPP

The National Peoples’ Power (NPP) said yesterday the government was hiding the true situation of the COPVID-19 outbreak in a move to show that the situation in the country had returned to normalcy just for political advantage.

Some use COVID-19 as scapegoat to get polls postponed: GL

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Chairman Professor G.L. Peiris yesterday said those who are afraid of facing the elections use the COVID-19 situation as a scapegoat to get the General Elections postponed.

Use MOH network & military intelligence to trace contacts: GMOA

Referring to the outbreak of COVID-19 cases at Kandakadu Rehabilitation and Treatment Centre, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) on Monday requested the Government to use both the Ministry of Health (MOH) network and military intelligence to trace contacts.