Ranil calls for postponement of elections

Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today called for the postponement of the general election stating that the country is facing a dangerous situation in the wake of COVID-19 raising its head once again.

Over 600 Sri Lankans repatriated from UK, Australia and Maldives

A total of 648 Sri Lankans stranded in the UK, Australia and the Maldives had landed at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) by three separate SriLankan Airline flights yesterday and this morning, sources said.

Four more Covid-19 patients reported from Rajanganaya

The total number of Covid-19 infected cases increased to 2,515 after four more patients were reported from Rajanganaya, Anuradhapura today, the Ministry of Health said.

SLPP suspends major election rallies for three-days

SLPP organiser Basil Rajapaksa had instructed to suspend the upcoming SLPP election rallies to be attended by President and the Prime Minister.

Three cops interdicted over Moratuwa shooting

Three police officers have been interdicted in connection with the shooting incident in Moratuwa where a fisherman was killed.

Six fmr Sanasa Society officers arrested over Rs. 708mn financial fraud

Six suspects including the former Deputy General Manager of Gampaha District Sanasa Society have been arrested over a financial fraud of Rs. 708 million, the Police said.

No holidays declared: Govt.

The Government Information Department today denied rumors that holidays being declared during the next few days due to Covid-19 situation in the country.

43 more Covid-19 cases reported

Forty-three (43) new Covid-19 cases have been detected increasing the total number of patients to 2,511, the Government Information Department said.

Amitabh Bachchan tests positive for Covid-19

Superstar Amitabh Bachchan, on Saturday, tested positive for Covid-19. The ’Piku’ actor has been admitted to Mumbai’s Nanavati hospital, Indian media reported.

Ranil tells party members, bring back those who left us

Former prime minister and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday requested the party members in the grassroots level to initiate a dialogue with those who have left the party to get them back to the fold.

Increased vulnerability due to resurgence of COVID-19: SLMA

The Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) criticised the government for relaxing health and travel restrictions at public gatherings, public transport and recreational activities, increasing the vulnerability of the country to a resurgence of COVID-19.

Another counsellor of Kandakadu tests positive for Covid-19 in Rajanganaya

Another counsellor attached to the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre has tested positive for Covid-19 in Rajanganaya today, health authorities said.

Russia selects Sri Lanka & 12 countries for resuming international flights

The Russian authorities have made up a list of 13 countries including Sri Lanka that Russia can resume flights to at the first stage of the resumption of international flights.

Likelihood of UNP being revamped: Ruwan

United National Party (UNP) Deputy General Secretary Ruwan Wijewardene said on Thursday he expected the UNP to be revamping of UNP after the general election.

Army, SIS launch massive tracing operation to identify new COVID associates

The Army and the State Intelligence Service have launched a massive operation to trace down all those who have associated with the inmates at the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Center who were transferred to other prisons in the country in recent weeks and several more people will be taken into quarantine in the coming days to prevent a leak in society which can trigger a second wave of COVID-19.

I’ll make country safe from drugs and underworld: PM

I will take action to put an end to underworld activities and the drug menace which had intensified during the tenure of the previous government, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Leader, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said today.

Three-wheeler driver shot dead in Moratuwa

A 39-year-old three-wheeler driver, who was stopped at a Police road block at Lunawa, Moratuwa, has been shot dead by police following an altercation, police said.

Govt. to slow down repatriation process

With the detection of fresh COVID-19 cases at the drug-rehabilitation centre in Kandakadu, the government has decided to slow down the process of repatriating Sri Lankans from abroad, an official said today.

Electricity - It was I who forced the Govt. to cut tariffs: Ranil

Referring to the government’s decision to slash March, April and May electricity tariffs by 25 per cent, former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said it was he who got this concession for the people.

No intention to impose lock-down: Ajith Rohana

Responding to a question asked by a journalist about the possibility of a lock-down situation in the country, DIG Ajith Rohana said yesterday they had no intention of imposing a lock-down because there was no community transmission of COVID-19 according to the health authorities.

Intelligence on Zahran culled from media platforms: Witness

Almost all the intelligence on National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) leader Zahran Hashim was collected through social media platforms and there was a marked reluctance to obtain ground-level intelligence about him, a senior staff officer attached to the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) on Thursday informed the Commission probing the Easter Sunday attacks.

Facebook ban on Gnanasara Thera - Rathana Thera complains to HRC ban

Some members of the ’Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya’, led by former MP the Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera yesterday complained to the Human Rights Commission (HRC) on the Facebook ban imposed on Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera.

General Election: EC wants health guidelines to be gazetted soon

Chairman of the National Election Commission Mahinda Deshapriya said that the health guidelines issued for the conducting of the upcoming parliamentary elections not being properly promulgated had become the biggest issue facing the commission at the moment.

Methamphetamine pills worth Rs. 20mn seized at BIA

A 35-year-old suspect was today arrested by Customs Narcotics Control Officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) with 5,716 methamphetamine pills worth Rs. 20 million.

Army Commander rejects false reports of areas under lock-down

Army Commander Shavendra Silva, the head of the coronavirus prevention operations today rejected the false reports that several areas were subjected to a lock-down.

PNB Officers guilty of drug related charges deserve death penalty : Ajith Rohana

While condemning the actions of the 18 officers alleged involved in a chain of drug related charges, Senior Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Ajith Rohana today said the guilty parties should be served the capital punishment.

87 more COVID-19 infected patients reported from Kandakadu

Eighty seven more COVID-19 infected patients were reported from the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Centre increasing total cases at the Centre to 340, Government Information Department said.

Covid-19 patient found in Marawila: Father tests negative for virus

The father of the Covid-19 patient found from the Marawila Hospital has tested negative for the virus, Regional Director of Health Services of Puttalam district Dr. Dinusha Fernando said.

Photo-journalist complains against ex-PNB OIC Rangajeewa

A photo-journalist attached to the Ceylon Today newspaper filed a police complaint against former Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) OIC IP Neomal Rangajeewa for threatening and obstructing his duties at the premises of the Colombo High Court.

India in talks with Sri Lanka over its request for debt relief

India today said it was holding talks with Sri Lanka over its request for postponement of repayment of debt. ’’The matter has progressed and technical level discussions are presently underway,’’ spokesperson in the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Anurag Srivastava said.