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.

5% Fuel price reduction is not sufficient: former Oppo. Leader

Five percent fuel prices reduction proposed by the government is hardly sufficient as it does not give the people in Sri Lanka the fullest benefit of the decrease of prices in the global market, former Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said yesterday. Mr Premadasa told a press conference that prices of fuel could be reduced by 40 percent.

Some Govt. MPs to cross over to SJB ahead of polls

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), led by Sajith Premadasa is in talks with a group of government MPs who have expressed their willingness to join the opposition and contest the upcoming general election under the new alliance, the Daily Mirror learns.

Two Sri Lankans infected with Coronavirus in UAE

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention on Tuesday confirmed two Sri Lankans infected with the Covid-19 coronavirus in the country.

Court re-issues arrest warrant on secretary

The Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar yesterday re-issued the warrant for the arrest of P.K. Weerasinghe, the Secretary of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) appointed to probe incidents of political victimisation under the ’Yahapalanaya’ government.

Cabinet approval sought to reduce fuel prices: Amaraweera

Power, Energy and Commuter Transport Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera will appraise the Cabinet today on the low level of fuel prices in the global market and seek the possibility of reducing prices in the domestic market.

Japanese vehicle prices may go up by 10% due to strong Yen: VIASL

The price of the vehicles imported from Japan would be increased due to increase of the Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) value of Japan vehicles by 10 per cent, the Vehicle Importers Association of Sri Lanka (VIASL) said today.