COVID Treatment Centre in Gampola

The Gampola Youth Corps Centre was converted to a COVID Treatment facility through the intervention of Irrigation Development related to Rural Paddy Fields State Minister Anuradha Jayaratne.

No buses next week if bus crew are not vaccinated this week: LPBOA

If the Government do not take suitable step to vaccinate all private bus employees and owners by end of this week, private bus operations will grind to a halt by next week, Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) warned.

Chinese rocket debris crashes back to Earth, plunging into Indian Ocean

The remnants of China’s largest rocket have plummeted back to Earth, plunging into the Indian Ocean near the Maldives, according to Chinese state media, ending days of speculation over where the debris would hit.

Six caught for stealing iPhones sent via courier

Police have arrested six suspects, including three supervisors of a leading courier service in connection with a robbery of iPhone mobile phones being sent to Sri Lanka via air cargo from abroad.

Nine Deputy Health Services DGs to monitor COVID prevention in each province

Nine Deputy Director Generals of Health Services have been appointed to all provinces to coordinate and monitor the COVID prevention programme.

Public asked to be vigilant of circulating fake Dollar notes

Police warned the public to be vigilant of calculating fake 100 Dollar notes and Sri Lanka currency notes.

16 GN divisions isolated with immediate effect: NOCPCO

Fourteen Grama Niladhari (GN) divisions in Rakwana and Kalawana police areas in Ratnapura District and two GN divisions in Lindula and Panadura South police areas in Nuwara-Eliya and Kalutara districts have been isolated with immediate effect, the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) said.

Indian SC sets up task force for Covid response, oxygen audit, supply

The Supreme Court has put in place a 12-member National Task Force (NTF), including top experts and doctors from across the country, “to facilitate a public health response to the pandemic based on scientific and specialised domain knowledge”.

22 more die of COVID-19: Death toll increases to 786

The COVID-19 death toll in Sri Lanka climbed to 786 with 22 more deaths being confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services, the Government Information Department said.

1,890 fresh COVID-19 cases detected today

A total of 1,890 more COVID-19 patients have been detected so far today increasing the number of patients reported in Sri Lanka to 123,228, the Government Information Department said.

230 MT toxic coconut oil to be re-shipped to Malaysia tonight

A consignment of 230 metric tonnes of unrefined coconut oil brought to the Colombo Port on April 30 will be re-exported to Malaysia tonight, Customs Deputy Director (Legal Affairs) and Media Spokesman Sudattha Silva said.

Inoculation of Sinopharm vaccine gets underway

Inoculation of the China’s Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine got underway for the first time in Sri Lanka today. People in Jinthupitiya, Colombo are seen queuing to get the vaccine at the Jinthupitiya, District 02 MOH office. The vaccine had been given to 150 individuals in the area. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Red alert issued for 14 districts over severe lightning: Met Dept.

A Red alert on thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning has been issued for 14 districts, the Department of Meteorology said today.

1,335 more COVID-19 patients recover

A total of 1,335 more COVID-19 patients recovered and were discharged from hospital increasing the total number of recoveries in Sri Lanka to 103,068, the Health Ministry said.

COVID: Medical professionals warn of underlying grave national catastrophe

The country might soon face a COVID disaster of unprecedented major proportions where we would even have to be selective as to whom we would treat and whom we are compelled to succumb to the disease, Medical Professionals warned today.

Navy destroys over 235kgs of Kerala cannabis smuggled from India

Seven Indian nationals have been arrested when they attempted to smuggle over 235kg of Kerala cannabis worth Rs. 70 million into the country during a operation conducted in the seas off Kudiramalei Point by the Navy yesterday.

Uncontrolled re-entry of large portion of Chinese rocket; no adverse effect to SL- Prof. Jayaratne

Elaborating on a large portion of a Chinese rocket is set to land into the Earth’s atmosphere at 2.52 am tomorrow (09), Prof. Chandana Jayaratne of the Department of Physics, Colombo University said there could be no adverse effect on Sri Lanka

Sinopharm vaccine too gets green light from NMRA

The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) today granted approval for the emergency use of Sinopharm vaccines as shield for COVID virus in Sri Lanka, State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa Jayasumana said

President and First Lady become grandparents

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the First Lady became grandparents today morning after their son Manoj Rajapaksa and his wife were blessed with a baby girl in the US.

Large segment of Chinese rocket: Very low risk of any damage

 A large segment of a Chinese rocket is expected to make an uncontrolled re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere on the weekend, but Beijing has downplayed fears and said there is a very low risk of any damage.

COVID-19 variant spreading in India found in SL

The COVID-19 variant currently spreading in India (B.1.617) was found from a positive patient at a quarantine centre in Colombo, Director of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine of Sri Jayewardenepura University Dr. Chandima Jeewandara said.

Gazette notice bars blending coconut oil with other oil

Through an Extraordinary Gazette notification yesterday, the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) said coconut oil should not be mixed with any other oil subsidiaries.

Cab lands on Police motorcycle in Ampara

Two police officers including the traffic OIC of the Ampara Police Station were injured after a vehicle driven by a drunk driver landed on top of a Police motorcycle in Ampara yesterday.

COVID-19: Malaysia imposes travel ban on Sri Lanka, other countries

Malaysia has imposed a travel ban on Sri Lanka and a few other countries where coronavirus cases have seen a rise over the last couple of weeks.

Sri Lanka Cricket offers BCCI to host remainder of IPL in September

After the English counties on Thursday offered to host the remainder of the IPL 2021 season, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Friday has also presented the alternative for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to conduct the rest of the season in Sri Lanka.

Nearly 1,400 COVID cases in WP alone; Highest in Gampaha

It has been reported that 1,393 COVID cases out of 1,914 cases in the country yesterday were from the Western Province, the National Operation Centre for Prevention of Covid Outbreak said

Police arrest more than 600 for quarantine violation

Police have arrested 617 persons including 342 from Colombo for violating quarantine laws yesterday.

13 more GN Divisions isolated

Steps have been taken to isolate 13 more Grama Niladhari Divisions in Gampaha, Kalutara and Jaffna Districts with immediate effect, Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said.

UNP reiterates call for island-wide lockdown

The United National Party ( UNP) yesterday questioned the government on the reports that there is a move to stop PCR tests next week.

COVID-19: Sri Lanka sees highest daily toll of 19 deaths

A total of 19 COVID-19 deaths were reported today recording the highest single-day deaths from the virus since the outbreak in the country.