57 from Kandakadu test positive for COVID-19

At least 56 people of the 450 inmates and staff members at the Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre – East in Kandakadu, tested positive for COVID-19 today, Health Services Director General Dr. Anil Jasinghe said.

Election stickers can only be displayed on candidate vehicles: EC

Display of slogans, signs, stickers with photographs, flags promoting a candidate on vehicles is prohibited except on vehicles in which the contestant candidate travels, the National Election Commission said.

SL to purchase 4 helicopters for training

The Cabinet has given the green light to the Sri Lanka Air Force to purchase four helicopters to train helicopter pilots for peace keeping duties overseas, Cabinet Spokesman Ramesh Pathirana said today.

Govt. to sign agreement with Afghanistan to exchange convicted persons

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal to sign an agreement between Sri Lanka and the lslamic Republic of Afghanistan to facilitate the exchange of convicted persons except for those convicted of terrorism and drug trafficking.

Cabinet nod to destroy confiscated Beedi Leaves

Taking into consideration the adverse impact on the health of those who consume the Beedi leaves, the Cabinet of Ministers today decided to destroy stocks of Beedi Leaves that are confiscated in future.

SL urges United Nation to be impartial

Sri Lanka has emphasized the United Nations as the largest global body committed to ensure the rights of every human being, to remain impartial while fully respecting the principle of sovereign equality in its all interactions with member states.

COVID-19 kills 12 more Lankan workers in Mid East, toll rises to 35

Twelve more Sri Lankan migrant workers in Middle Eastern countries have died due to COVID-19 during last three weeks, increasing the death toll to 35, Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB) told Daily Mirror today.

Rishad arrives at CID

Former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen arrived at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) this morning to give a statement over investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks.

25% reduction on electricity bills for March, April, May

The Cabinet has agreed to provide a 25 per cent reduction on electricity bills for March, April and May for consumers who had used less than 90 units per month, Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardane said today.

298 Lankan expatriates returned from UAE

A total of 298 Sri Lankans, who were stranded in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), due to the Corona-19 pandemic have arrived in the country this morning at the Mattala International Airport.

Health Ministry rules out possibility of cluster

The Health Ministry yesterday ruled out a possibility of the Welikada Prison transforming into a Covid-19 cluster or a second wave triggering off in the country after an inmate tested positive at the Welikada Prison.

Saloon door already removed and sold

Referring to the remark made by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday that the SLPP needs a two thirds majority to replace the saloon door with a metal door in order to establish a stronger government, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said, the saloon door had already been removed and sold out.

Fmr. Govt’s reluctance to use PTA halted arrests of Islamic extremists

Testifying before the PCoI probing Easter Sunday attacks, Former Director of Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) Nalaka de Silva yesterday said the previous government showed reluctance to use Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to prosecute alleged terrorists.

PM tells Indian counterpart: ’Unable to lease out Mattala Airport’

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said he ruled out the possibility of leasing out the Mattala International Airport to India when he visited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier.

60% of registered vehicles not in running condition: DMT

Sixty per cent of the total vehicles registered at the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) is not in good running condition, DMT Assistant Commissioner J.A.S. Jayaweera said.

315 inmates test negative for COVID-19

At least 315 inmates at the Welikada prison, who were subjected to PCR tests, have tested negative for COVID-19, Army Commander Shavendra Silva said.

Cabinet decides relief for power consumption in April, May: Amaraweera

The cabinet has decided to give a big relief to electricity consumers to settle their March and April electricity bills as consumers have used power excessively in the two months and thereby received a higher bill than usual, Power, Energy and Transport Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said today.

Red notice issued for 15 districts over severe lightning: Met Dept.

Red notice on thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning was issued for 15 districts in Eastern, North-central, Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, and Southern province, the Department of Meteorology said today.

Former PM did not care intelligence information: Former CNI

Convincing the importance of intelligence information to former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was totally absurd, said former Chief of National Intelligence (CNI) Kapila Hendawitharana while testifying before the PCoI probing Easter Sunday attacks today.

Special operations center to handle election law violations

A special operations center has been set up at the Police Headquarters to handle issues related to the general election, Police said.

Stop SJB going green - Akila tells EC

UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam in a letter addressed to Chairman of the Election Commission had requested him to stop the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) from using green as its party colours.

Trump says he’s considering a ban on TikTok in the U.S.

President Donald Trump said his administration is considering banning the short video app TikTok in the U.S. as one possible way to retaliate against China over its handling of the coronavirus.

Japan grants Rs.1, 360 Mn Medical Equipment to combat COVID -19

The Japanese Government today granted an aid of Rs. 1, 360 million for provisioning necessary Medical Equipment to combat COVID -19 in the country, Ministry of Finance, Economy and Policy Development said.

Sports Ministry sends match-fixing probe report to AG’s Dept.

The Sports Ministry has referred the probe report of its Special Investigations Unit that investigated allegations of match-fixing made by Mahindananda Aluthgamage, to the Attorney General’s Department.

I changed my mind: Thewarapperuma

Kalutara District UNP candidate Palitha Thewarapperuma, who threatened to withdraw his candidature, said today he would resume his election campaign as the Election Commission Chairman informed him that he could not legally do so.

12 PNB officers remanded

The 12 officers attached to the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB), who were arrested for alleged drug trafficking charges, were ordered to be remanded till June 21 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratna today.

2,207 election law violation cases reported so far: EC

The National Elections Commission has so far received a total of 2,207 complaints regarding election law violations and violent activities, the Commission said.

All prisons closed for visitors until further notice

All prisons across the country would remain closed for visitors until further notice following the detection of a Covid-19 inmate at the Welikada Prison, the Prisons Department said.

Sri Lanka eliminates rubella ahead of 2023 target

Sri Lanka and Maldives were today verified for having eliminated rubella, making them the first two countries in WHO South-East Asia Region to achieve measles and rubella elimination ahead of the 2023 target.

Rare twin elephant calves born in Minneriya

An elephant mother has given birth to twin calves at the Minneriya National Park, Director Wildlife Health at Department of Wildlife Conservation Dr. Tharaka Prasad said.