Govt. to bolster COVID-19 testing

Health officials said yesterday despite a steep rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country, a majority of new patients were from identified clusters and that Sri Lanka had still not advanced into the community transmission of the pandemic. ​

State and private sector accelerate e-commerce spend as COVID-19 alters shopping habits

As COVID-19 is altering almost everything including how people shop for their day-to-day needs, some chief executives expect such changes are here to stay even after the pandemic passes and therefore, they are making some crucial changes to their business models to adapt fast.

Your Covid-19 related mental health questions answered

With another renewed curfew, these grim times take great effort to stay positive and keep our worries at bay. But why do we worry and how can we cope?

Politics of Postponing Parliamentary Elections Amid a Pandemic

The world including Sri Lanka is undergoing a pandemic crisis of colossal proportions. The Island nation however is in double jeopardy as it is in the grip of two crises simultaneously.

The WHO- Addressing issues in Sri Lanka

Dr Razia Pendse took over as WHO Representative to Sri Lanka in May 2017. She has been with WHO since 2004 and has worked at WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia and WHO headquarters in Geneva. Born in Udaipur, Rajasthan India, she received her Doctor of Medicine (MD) in Pediatrics from the University of Rajasthan, India; and Masters in Public Health (MPH) from the University of London, UK. She is married to Dr Narayan Pendse. They have a 22-y

No need of reconvening old parliament: President

While stating that the ’law does not expect to do the impossible’, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today said that he had no intention whatsoever to reconvene the old parliament.

General election on June 20 -NEC

The National Elections Commission has decided to hold the General Election on June 20th, a Commission’s official said.

Re-opening bars: ADIC wants decision withdrawn

The Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC) said today experts and all who love the nation were astounded by the government’s decision to re-open bars along with relaxation of curfew and urged the President to take urgent action against this scheme.

US crude falls below $15 a barrel as virus throttles demand

US crude crashed to below $15 a barrel Monday, its lowest level for over two decades, with traders concerned that storage facilities are filling up as the coronavirus pandemic strangles demand.

President, officials explore possibility of resuming day-to-day life at provincial level

The possibility of immediate resumption of day-to-day economic activities at provincial levels in order to safeguard the national economy was explored at a meeting chaired by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today, the President’s Media Division said.

Lawyer Hejaaz Hisbullah arrested over Easter Sunday attack

Attorney-at-Law Hejaaz Hisbullah has been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with the investigations into the Easter Sunday attack, CID official said.

Govt. should partially lift lockdown: Ranil

Sri Lanka should partially lift the lockdown imposed to combat COVID-19 in order to keep the economy going, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

US to halt funding to WHO, says Trump

US President Donald Trump says he has instructed his administration to halt funding to the World Health Organization (WHO).

A Looming Constitutional Crisis, Courtesy Covid-19

Sri Lanka is fighting hard, to the best of all its citizens’ abilities, to deal with the current global pandemic caused by the coronavirus. To its credit, Sri Lanka seems to be comparatively doing well.

All Ayurvedic Hospitals to remain open during curfew

The Presidential Task Force on Essential Services yesterday announced that all Ayurvedic Hospitals would be remained open despite the curfew imposed in the country.

Wuhan reopens after months-long lockdown

China has reported zero new coronavirus deaths for the first time since it emerged as the nation on Wednesday scaled back lockdown standard and reopened the city of Wuhan, the New York Daily News reported.

How we fight the common enemy, COVID-19, will shape our destiny: PM

Making a special statement, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa today commended the sacrifices made by all COVID-19 frontline workers and requested all citizens to stay at homes by following rules imposed for the benefit of all the citizens as everyone’s destiny will be decided by the way we conduct ourselves to defeat the common enemy, COVID-19.

Navy receives Lankan chef aboard ‘MSC Magnifica’

Cruise ship ‘MSC Magnifica’ on its way to Italy from Australia left Colombo Port last noon after disembarking a Lankan crew member and admitting a 75-year-old female German passenger to the Colombo National Hospital after she suffered a heart attack, former State Minister of Ports and Shipping Kanaka Herath said.

President tells SJB: Will grant relief without discrimination

The government has made arrangements to provide relief to people amid difficulties brought about by novel coronavirus, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had told leaders of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) whom he met yesterday.

COVID-19: An alternate perspective in uncharted waters

It is said, “If you can stay positive in a negative situation, you win.” The population of the World is 7.6+billion. Therein, the population of South and South East Asia is 2.5+billion or nearly 33%.

COVID-19 spread may be slowing in high temperature - SL researcher

The COVID-19 pandemic may not spiral out of control in countries such as Sri Lanka due to its high temperature and high humidity levels as it has been noticed that the pandemic is causing a wider spread in low temperature countries, independent local researcher, Huzefa Akbarally said.

Covid-19: Are our healthcare workers safe?

Lack of legal power for PHIs, a shortage of safety equipment, gruelling work hours and dealing with stress and anxiety; how are our first responders are putting their lives on hold for Sri Lanka

Authorities discuss to lockdown Colombo?

Top authoritative sources told Daily Mirror yesterday that discussions were ongoing if Colombo can go in for a lockdown for a few days in order to search for more infected people, as well as to stop

Udayanga Weeratunga granted bail

Former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga was yesterday granted bail by Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court.

COVID-19: Protect the protectors

Going by some of the malicious comments posted by a section of society on social media over the spread of COVID-19, they seem to believe rashness is a legacy of a particular community. If one compiles a list of causes of the rapid worldwide spread of the pandemic, recklessness on part of the people in every country might be the first among them.

Priority in Sri Lanka to contain further spread - UN

As Sri Lanka continues to battle coronavirus (COVID-19), the United Nations (UN) says emergency fiscal support will help the country cope with the added burden on the healthcare system due to extra patients and testing.

Bandula on COVID-19: Apparels will take $2bn hit from supply chain disruption

The apparel sector will lose USD 2 billion for the three-month period starting from March because of the disruption to supply chain in Europe and the US following the COVID-19 outbreak, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardene said yesterday.

Second COVID-19 death confirmed from Negombo

All eleven members in his family have been ordered to be self-quarantined

Sri Lanka needs rapid expansion of testing

As we come to the end of the ‘official quarantine’ period and begin to relax the ‘lockdown’ within Sri Lanka but keeping the ‘international lockdown’ in place, we need to look at how the SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes COVID -19 behaved in other countries. Based on actual case numbers fr

Need for plan and creative approach to COVID-19 containment

The coronavirus pandemic has been global in its reach. But its impact has varied widely. Approaches to its containment have also varied from country to country. Given the varying conditions, each country has had to or will have to, fashion its approach to suit its peculiar conditions so that the spread of the virus is contained while ensuring that the measures taken do not themselves exacerbate the situa