Sri Lanka ponders opening air - sea borders in July

Sri Lanka is considering reopening its air and sea borders in July to foreign tourists, TTG Asia reported. However, Sri Lanka Tourism’s chairperson Kimarli Fernando said arrivals would be mostly Sri Lankans who reside overseas, return to visit relatives and friends.

SL on alert over Kawasaki-like disease spreading in Europe, West

The Health Ministry yesterday said Sri Lanka was closely monitoring increasing cases of a Kawasaki-like disease spreading among children in Europe and in the West and said although no cases had been reported here, they would continue to study the pattern of the disease.

22 more Covid-19 cases identified

Twenty-two (22) more persons tested positive for Covid-19 as of 11.45 pm on Wednesday, increasing the total number of infected cases to 915. All 26 Covid-19 infected patients identified yesterday (13) have been reported from the Welisara Navy camp.

Chinese President telephones President Gotabaya

BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping suggested Wednesday that China and Sri Lanka, while ensuring COVID-19 prevention and control, gradually resume practical cooperation in various fields, advance major cooperation projects in an orderly manner and promote the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road.

Ready to conduct elections but not at the cost of human lives

Election Commission’s Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya asserted at Tuesday’s meeting with the political party representatives that his office was prepared to conduct the general election, but not at the cost of human lives.

WFP & Australia fund take-home food rations for SL school children

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) are providing US$400,000 (LKR 74 million) to the Ministry of Education (MoEd) towards the National School Meal Programme. 80,000 primary school children will receive one month’s worth of food rations to help them and their families cope with the school closures due to COVID-19.

Balance of COVID – 19 fund reaches Rs. 915 million

With corporate and individual donations and direct deposits, the COVID – 19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund‘s balance has now surpassed Rs. 915 million, Presidential Media Division said.

Rajitha remanded till May 27

Former Minister Rajitha Senaratne was remanded till May 27 by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court over the ’white van’ press conference.

SriLankan flight suspension extended till May 31

The suspension of scheduled passenger flights of SriLankan Airlines due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has been extended till May 31, the Airlines said.

Court orders CID to produce Rajitha

Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratna today ordered the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to produce former Minister Rajitha Senaratna before courts.

Nearly 500 tri-forces members and their close contacts among Covid-19 patients

Nearly 500 tri-forces personnel and their close contacts were among those tested positive for Covid-19 in the country.

COVID-19 recovered patients rise to 382

Sixteen more COVID-19 infected patients were recovered and discharged from the hospital today, the Health Ministry said.

Fire at Deiyandara Magistrate’s Court record room

A fire has broken out in the record room of the Deiyandara Magistrate’s Court this morning, the Police said.

Liquor shops allowed to re-open

Liquor shops have been permitted to re-open in the areas where the curfew is not in effect, the Excise Department said.

HC sets aside Magistrate’s bail order on Rajitha

The Colombo High Court has set aside a bail order issued by the Colombo Chief Magistrate on former Minister Rajitha Seneratna over the ’white van’ press conference case.

Schools may be open 7 days a week: Ministry

The Education Ministry is focussing on keeping schools open all seven days of the week to catch up with the lost opportunities in education in the aftermath of the Covid 19 pandemic, Education Minister Dulles Alahapperuma said yesterday.

Police to crack the whip

Armed with the backing of a Magistrates determinations, the Police have decided to get tough from today (13) on anyone violating the curfew or quarantine laws.

FB apologizes for role in Sri Lankan violence

Facebook Inc.’s lack of a serious response to signs of abuse on its platform in Sri Lanka may have helped stoke deadly violence in the country in 2018, according to an investigation of the social network’s operations there.

Covid-19 cases in Sri Lanka now at 889

Five more Covid-19 infected patients were reported increasing the total cases to 889 in Sri Lanka, the Health Ministry said.

MoD refutes claims on Navy covering up Covid-19 info

The Defence Ministry strongly denies allegations by some media against the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) that it refrains from providing information about sailors, who are infected with coronavirus, to health authorities.

President reviews current status of digital ID

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today reviewed the current status of the proposed “unique digital identity card”, which will be issued only once by obtaining bio data of all citizens, the President’s Media Division said.

SriLankan Airlines offers travel passage for eligible travellers

Taking into consideration the reopening of economic activity in the world followed by easing of some travel restrictions between countries, SriLankan Airlines is now offering services to passengers who are eligible to travel under the respective country travel advisories to London, Tokyo (Narita) Melbourne and Hong Kong and beyond.

Up to 5 NY children dead, 93 sickened by rare COVID-related Illness

New York may have as many as 93 cases of children presenting with a new pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome likely linked to COVID-19. At least three children have died, and two more deaths are under investigation, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced.

23 more Covid-19 patients recover

Twenty-three (23) COVID-19 infected patients recovered and were discharged from the hospital today increasing the total number of recovered cases to 366, the Health Ministry said.

320 Sri Lankans including an expectant mother arrived from Chennai

A total of 320 Sri Lankans including an expectant mother who were stranded in Chennai had arrived at the Katunayake International Airport today, Airport Duty Manager said.

European Commission de-lists SL from High Risk Third countries with Anti-Money Laundering

The European Commission has de-listed Sri Lanka from its list of High Risk Third Countries with Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Strategic Deficiencies published on May 7, the Central Bank said today.

External A/L candidates can pay exam fees to nearest post office: Exam. Dept.

The Examination Department said the external candidates who wish to apply for the Advanced Level (A/L) Examination can make the examination fees to the nearest post office.

President instructs to focus on rapid development in main cities

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed the officials to focus on rapid development of several main cities in the country including Colombo, the President’s Media Division said.

President underscores importance of random sample testing

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has highlighted the importance of conducting random sample PCR tests in areas where people frequent regularly, the Presidential Media Division (PMD) said.

No issue with cremating COVID-19 dead: Archdiocese

Church has no issue with cremating Catholics who succumb to COVID-19, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Colombo said yesterday.