All passenger arrivals to be suspended from midnight tomorrow

All passenger arrivals at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake have been suspended with effect from midnight tomorrow for two weeks, the Government said.

Army officer among 28 Covid-19 patients

One of the 28 confirmed Covid-19 positive cases in the country is an Army Officer who was engaged in quarantine activities of Sri Lankans returned from Italy, Army Commander Shavendra Silva confirmed.

Army Commander heads National Operation Center

Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva has been tasked to spearhead the National Operation Center for Prevention of COVID- 19 outbreak,the President’s Media said.

Visitors not allowed at prisons

The Prisons Department today said that all prison inmates in the country would not be permitted visitors, with effect from today, in order to prevent the coronavirus from spreading.

Passengers from Qatar, Canada & Bahrain barred from entering SL

Passengers of Qatari, Canadian or Bahraini nationalities or any passenger who has a travel history to Qatar, Canada or Bahrain within the last 14 days will not be permitted to land in Sri Lanka with effect from 17 March midnight for a period of two weeks, Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka said.

Limit people coming to handover nominations: Police urge political parties

Political parties have been requested to limit the number of people coming to handover nomination papers, to two representatives, police said.

US volunteers test first vaccine

The first human trial of a vaccine to protect against pandemic coronavirus has started in the US.

Several train services suspended

Several railway services along the main, coastal, Kelani Valley, Northern and Chilaw lines had been suspended today following instructions by the Railways General manager, the Control Room said.

Contact police via 119, no need to visit the police: Police HQ

The Sri Lanka Police requested Sri Lankan passengers who arrived from European countries including UK, Iran, Italy and South Korea between March 1 to 15 to register themselves through the police hotline 119 instead of visiting the police stations.

Over 170 Sri Lankans from Italy and Korea evade quarantine

The Ministry of Defence said that over 170 passengers, who have returned to Sri Lanka from Korea and Italy have not been subjected to quarantine process and requested to contact the police or relevant authorities to get them into the screening process.

President to address the nation tonight

Addressing the nation tonight President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is to deliver a statement on the prevailing pandemic situation in the country, President Media Division said.

Several attendees of Royal-Thomian big match go into self-quarantine

Several attendees of the big match held between S. Thomas’ College and Royal College last weekend have gone into self- quarantine after a SriLankan Airlines First Officer who attended the matches tested positive for the COVID-19, the Daily Mirror learns.

Dinesh hasn’t contracted COVID-19: Foreign Ministry clarifies

Dismissing social media reports that Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardana has contracted COVID-19 through a ministry official, the ministry said yesterday he had not come into contact with the said officer who returned to Colombo on March 8.

Until eleventh hour, UNP will strive to contest together

Talks are ongoing to get all factions of the UNP to contest the general election together before nominations close on Thursday, UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam told a press conference held yesterday.

Nominations close at noon on Thursday

Accepting nominations of candidates for the forthcoming parliamentary election will conclude at 12:00 noon on Thursday at respective District Secretariats of the 22 electoral districts.

Thirty-five returnees go missing in Matara

Thirty-five out of 277 residents in the Matara District who had returned to Sri Lanka from several countries have gone missing, Matara District Health Services Director Dr. Upali Karunaratne said yesterday at a special meeting held at the Matara District Secretariat.

Opposition MPs seek postponement of nomination, polling dates

Three Opposition MPs in a letter addressed to Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya have requested him to postpone the date for calling nominations and the holding of the general elections considering the chaos caused by COVID- 19.

Govt. declares 3-day holiday till Thursday

The government announced a three-day holiday period upto Thursday, March 19 excluding essential services involving health, transport, food supplies, banks and district secretariats.

General Elections should be postponed: Rathana Thera

While deciding to contest the upcoming General Election under the political party ’Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya’, former MP Athuraliye Rathana Thera, Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera and several other Buddhist monks requested the government to postpone the elections considering the COVID epidemic.

GMOA proposes govt. to shutting down of airport, harbours

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) in a letter to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today has proposed drastic measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic including the shutting down of all airports and harbours with immediate effect.

Don’t be deceived by social media posts: Ayurveda Dept.

The Ayurveda Department today cautioned the public not to be deceived by various social media posts about Ayurvedic cures for COVID-19 saying there was no such remedy for the viral infection except for immune-boosting spices or herbs like ginger and coriander.

SL passengers who returned from Europe, Iran, S. Korea asked to register with police

The Defence Ministry today requested all Sri Lankan passengers who returned from Europe, Iran or South Korea to register themselves at the nearest police station immediately.

SriLankan Airlines officer tested positive

A First Officer of SriLankan Airlines tested positive for Coronavirus and some of the staff members asked to undergo self-quarantine process, SriLankan Airlines said.

Six more COVID-19 patients diagnosed: Total rises to 28

Six more persons had been diagnosed positive for COVID-19 infection, bringing the total confirmed cases to 28, Director General of Health Anil Jasinghe said.

Electricity supply to several areas disrupted

The Electricity supply to several areas of the country has been disrupted this evening due to lightning strike, Director of Development at the Ministry of Power and Energy Sulakshana Jayawardena told Daily Mirror.

NIC one-day service suspended until further notice

The Department for Registration of Persons (DRP) had decided to suspend issuing National Identity Cards under one-day service scheme from tomorrow until further notice, DRP Commissioner-General Viyani Gunathilaka said.

COVID-19 syndrome; NPP to meet EC Chairman

While claiming that the prevailing situation in the country is not conducive to hold the General Election due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the National Peoples’ Power (NPP) Party said today it is planning to meet the Elections Commission Chairman to discuss the current situation.

22nd Corona patient identified

A 73-year-old man who was receiving treatment at the Karapitiya Hospital has been tested positive for the virus bringing the total number of patients to 22.

Holiday will not be extended: Govt.

The government has decided not to extend the holiday declared due to the spread of the Coronavirus, Public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry Secretary S. Hettiarachchi said today.

Three more Covid patients diagnosed: Total rises to 21

Three more persons, including a 13-year-old girl had been diagnosed positive for Covid-19 infection, bringing the total confirmed cases to 21, Director General of Health Anil Jasinghe said.