Sri Lanka to bring 113 Sri Lankans stranded in Pakistan

Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Saturday allowed Sri Lanka to operate special flights to Pakistan to bring back Sri Lankan nationals stranded in Pakistan, ARY News reported.

Rescued leopard in Maskeliya dies

The leopard which was trapped in a tree in Maskeliya and rescued after a lengthy operation died yesterday due to severe damages caused to its internal organs, Wildlife Department Director-General Chandana Sooriyabandara said.

Curfew in Colombo except 11 areas to be lifted on Wednesday

The police curfew imposed in Colombo District except for 11 Police Divisions would be lifted at 5am on Wednesday (22) and would be re-imposed at 8pm.

Don’t politicize relief distribution process: UNP

The United National Party (UNP) has urged the Government not to politicize the relief distribution process during the curfew period.

Trump warns China of possible consequences for pandemic

U.S. President Donald Trump warned China on Saturday that it should face consequences if it was ’’knowingly responsible’’ for the coronavirus pandemic, as he ratcheted up criticism of Beijing over its handling of the outbreak.

Coronavirus: More than 160,000 deaths globally

Covid-19 has infected more than 2.3 million people and killed at least 160,000 worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University, the CNN reported.

Don’t involve politicians for relief distribution: Sajith

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa today urged the government to handover the mechanism that has been established for providing relief to people during the present COVID-19 crisis, to the public servants.

Curfew to be relaxed from Monday

The Government has decided to relax the police curfew from Monday (20) in most of the districts with the objective of restoring normalcy in the country, the President’s Media Division said.

EC must fix a date if can’t hold General Elections on the date fixed by President: PM

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa today said that the Elections Commission has to fix a new date for General Elections if it cannot hold elections on the day fixed by the President.

Covid-19 cases now at 248 in Sri Lanka

The toll of Covid-19 cases in Sri Lanka has increased to 248 with four Covid-19 infected patients being reported today, the Health Ministry said.

SL says chartered UL flight between London and Shanghai was purely commercial

A Sri Lankan airlines special charter flight which recently traveled between London and Shanghai, carrying Chinese passengers, was purely a commercial flight which operated following a request made to Sri Lankan by the Chinese authorities to help transport its citizens back home before UK takes steps to shut down the Heathrow Airport amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Daily Mirror learns.

5,000 buses, 400 trains to be assigned from Monday: Minister

The Government has decided to assign 5,000 Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses and 400 trains for the transportation from Monday, Transport Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.

Habeas corpus applications on behalf of lawyer Hejaaz Hisbullah

Two Habeas Corpus Applications were yesterday filed in the Court of Appeal on behalf of senior lawyer Hejaaz Hisbullah who was arrested by the CID allegedly over his links to the Easter Sunday bombers.

GMOA wants COVID-19 task force groups at district level

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has written to COVID19 National Task Force Chairman and Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva requesting him to consider establishing task force groups at a district level.

Intelligence agencies play integral part in tackling COVID-19: Defence Sec.

Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne said the intelligence agencies which were sidelined under the previous government have been revamped today, and that these agencies play an integral part in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

Government stats on covid-19 not accurate -SJB

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya had reason to believe that Covid-19 statistics which the government comes out with, are not accurate, as testing is not carried out in a proper manner, former Minister, Mano Ganesan told a press conference.

Dearth of more than 500 drugs in the country

There is an existing shortage of more than 500 drugs including some essential drugs in the country, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) highlighted yesterday.

Request technical support from Russia: GMOA writes to President

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) has written to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa calling him to request technical support from Russia to initiate the much-needed production and to scale up testing capacity in Sri Lanka.

PM instructs to facilitate production of ’monitoring bracelet’

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed the relevant officials to facilitate the high quality production of the bracelet which can monitor the people who are in quarantine, the Prime Minister’s Media Division said.

Seven more COVID-19 patients recovered

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

Veteran actor Daya Thennakon passes away

Veteran cinema and teledrama actor Daya Thennakon passed away at the age of 76, family sources said.

Toll of Covid-19 cases rises to 242

Four Covid-19 infected patients were reported increasing the total cases to 242, the Health Minister said.

Japan offers $930 virus stimulus payment to all residents

Japan will offer a cash payment of 100,000 yen ($930) to every resident, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced Friday, as measures to contain the coronavirus decimate the world’s third-top economy.

SL students in Melbourne safe: Ministry

The Consul General in Melbourne, Australia has said that Sri Lankan students are safe and short term Visa holders may apply for Visa extensions, the Foreign Relations Ministry said today.

Another woman arrested over false info on COVID-19

A 50-year old woman has been arrested by the CID on charges of posting false and misleading content about COVID-19 on social media.

Validity period of expired driving licences extended

Transport Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has instructed the Department of Motor Traffic to extend the validity period of driving licences which expired by March 10, until Covid-19 pandemic is over.

‘No proposal from SLC yet and obviously no discussion’: Top BCCI official

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is keen to host the currently-suspended IPL but the influential voices within the BCCI feel that there is no point in discussing such a proposal in a “closed world” battling the COVID-19 pandemic right now, the PTI reported.

Two more COVID-19 patients recovered

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

No person or organization authorized to collect parking fees in city roads: CMC

The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has not authorized any person or organization to collect parking fee in the city roads maintained by the CMC during the ongoing curfew period, the CMC said.

IMF to review SL’s Rapid Credit Facility request

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that they have started to review Sri Lanka’s request for Rapid Credit Facility.