Only support candidates who contest under elephant

United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has requested all members attached to provincial councils and local bodies of the party to only support candidates who contest the general election under the elephant symbol.

Govt keeps close tab on development: Minister

Admitting that COVID 19 infection has hit Sri Lanka, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachci said it was still premature to declare restrictions on election rallies, public gatherings, free food offerings (Dan Sal) or mass religious or political events.

PCoI secretary surrenders to Court

Pearl. K. Weerasinghe, Secretary of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) that probed the alleged incidents of political victimization during ‘Yahapalana’ government, surrendered to the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar yesterday through a lawyer following a warrant issued for her arrest.

SLFP not jolted by SLPP’s adverse remarks

The SLFP’s Central Committee (CC) is to meet this afternoon (12) to discuss the election campaign and the negative remarks made by certain SLPP politicians against the SLFP and its leaders, party spokesman former State Minister Weerakumara Dissanayaka said yesterday.

Machine able to detect Covid-19 gifted to Health Ministry

A P.R.C. machine that can detect many viruses including Covid-19 has been gifted to the Health Ministry by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday.

COVID-19 has no relevance to postponing polls: Sajith

The Coronavirus has no relevance to the general election as preventing the further spread of the disease is the most important matter rather than talking of postponing the polls, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa said yesterday.

Queen discusses intensifying ties between UK & SL

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and newly appointed Sri Lankan High Commission to United Kingdom Saroja Sirisena held discussions on deepening and intensifying the longstanding political, economic and cultural relations between the two countries.

UNPers who had formed another party will lose positions in UNP: Vajira

All those UNPers who had formed another party will lose the positions they hold in the party once they sign the nomination papers to contest from another party, former UNP MP Vajira Abeywardene said today.

Kuwait to suspend all flights from Friday over coronavirus

Kuwait has declared that it will be suspending all flights from Friday. The gulf country will, however, limit inbound trips for Kuwaiti citizens and their first-degree relatives.

WHO declares coronavirus a pandemic

The World Health Organization (WHO) just declared the novel coronavirus outbreak to be a pandemic.

General Election won’t be postponed due to Covid 19: EC

Responding to media reports that General Election 2020, would be postponed due to prevailing Covid-19, Election Commission Director General Saman Sri Rathnayake said the Commission had not taken such a decision.

Visa on arrival suspended

The on-arrival visa facility which was available for foreigners entering the country has been suspended by the government until further notice, the President’s Media Division said.

Sinister move by govt to postpone general election: Harin

There is a sinister move by the government to postpone the general election citing coronavirus as an excuse, former MP Harin Fernando said today.

Maximum retail price fixed for chicken

The government has decided to set a maximum retail price for chicken from midnight today, the Consumer Affairs Authority said.

Ecstasy pills worth Rs.13mn seized at CME

An abandoned parcel containing 3,885 tablets suspected to be Methamphetamine (Ecstasy), worth over Rs 13 million had been seized at the Central Mail Exchange today.

Chauffeur Tourist Guide Lecturers urge Govt. to crosscheck hotel checklists

The Chauffeur Tourist Guide Lecturers’ Association (CTGLA) today requested the authorities to crosscheck with the hotel checklists to identify the persons whom he had associated with the Tourist Guide who was found infected with COVID-19.

BIA replies to false rumours

Referring to a video circulating on social media which shows a commotion at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) with several returnees from Italy, Vice Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services Rajeewasiri Sooriyaarachchi categorically rejected the claims that it was a forcible detention.

England cricketers will not pose for selfies or sign autographs in SL

England’s men’s cricket team will not stop for photographs with fans or sign autographs during their tour of Sri Lanka, in an effort to negate the spread of the coronavirus.

If fuel price are reduced, 2nd km fare down by Rs 5: Three-wheeler Assn

If the Government would reduce fuel prices following the decrease in the crude oil prices in the world market, the Lanka Self-Employed Professionals’ National Three-Wheeler Federation today said that they would reduce the fare for the second kilometre in a three-wheeler taxi by Rs.5.

Covid-19 infected patient’s family members to be quarantined at home

The family members of the first Coronavirus infected Sri Lankan in Sri Lanka, who was found in Colombo District, would be quarantined at home, Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe said.

Fire breaks out at four-storey building in Pettah

A fire has broken out at a four-storey building at the 1st Cross Street in Pettah a short while ago, the Fire Brigade said.

Five arrested over throwing tyre at J’pura student

Five students of the Sri Jayawardenepura University including the main suspect had been taken into the custody over the incident where a first-year student was injured in a ragging incident.

Three-judge bench to hear writ applications by Ravi, others

A three-judge bench was appointed by the Court of Appeal today to hear the writ applications filed by former MP Ravi Karunanayake and three others seeking an order preventing their arrests.

Second patient cured of HIV, say doctors

A man from London has become the second person in the world to be cured of HIV, BBC reported today quoting his doctors. It said Adam Castillejo is still free of the virus more than 30 months after stopping anti-retroviral therapy.

AG says PCoI has no authority to question AG’s functions

Attorney General Dappula De Livera has responded in writing to Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) Probing into Incidents of Political Victimization that it has no judicial power or authority to question the Attorney General’s functions before the Trial-at-Bar, the AG’s Coordinating Officer State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne said.

MR signs nominations papers to contest from Kurunegala

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has signed nomination papers at his residence in Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7 today to contest the upcoming General Elections from Kurunegala District, the Prime Minister’s Office said.

Govt. requests public support for COVID-19 prevention

While confirming the first COVID-19 infected Sri Lankan the Government requested the general public to support the health authorities in taking preventive measures.

First Sri Lankan in SL infected with Covid-19 found

The first Sri Lankan infected with Covid - 19 (Coronavirus) has been found and currently being treated at the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH), Angoda, informed sources said.

UK Health minister Nadine Dorries tests positive

Health minister and Conservative MP Nadine Dorries been diagnosed with coronavirus.

Old parliament open to public on weekends

The old parliament building which houses the office of the Presidential Secretariat will be open for public viewing during the weekends, the Presidential Secretariat said.