State Minister Sudarshini Fernandopulle should be appointed as the cabinet Minister of Health in the impending cabinet reshuffle, if the current COVID pandemic is to be controlled effectively, an SJB MP said today.

There is no issue with the ability to conceive a child after receiving the COVID vaccine, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr. Pradeep de Silva said.

Leading medical workers, in the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic have alleged that there is a discrepancy in the official count of infected patients released to the media.

The heads of local government institutions are advised to take necessary steps to cremate the bodies of those who died of Covid-19 without delay, State Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Roshan Ranasinghe said.

Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Yositha Rajapaksa today denied rumors that he was trying to secure a stake in the domestic gas business.

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has granted approval to increase the price of Laugfs gas cylinders, officials said.

The Health Ministry has revised the quarantine measures to be followed by travellers arriving from foreign countries.

At least 24 passengers were injured when a bus skidded off the road and toppled at Manipay in Jaffna this morning.

The High Court has refused to hear an appeal on behalf of a four-year-old girl whose Sri Lankan family are fighting to avoid deportation and return home to the Queensland town of Biloela.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) has terminated four websites which published malicious advertisements to market the 15-year-old girl from Mount Lavinia for sex trade, police said.

About 263 Community Vaccination Centres manned by tri-forces and health authorities will be operational countrywide today.

The Sri Lanka Army will commence a mobile vaccination for the elderly, sick, handicapped and feeble citizens from tomorrow in the Western Province.

The Health Department of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has organized a mobile vaccination program for citizens who are immobile and or bed ridden and cannot go to a vaccination center, Colombo Mayor Rosy Senanayake said.

The island states are most likely to be affected by the environmental damage caused by global warming and the impact on countries such as Sri Lanka, in particular, is very high, Environment Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe said.

A total of 124 more COVID-19 related deaths that occurred yesterday (10) were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today pushing the death toll to 5,464.

Four opposition parties in Japan, the Constitutional Democratic, the Democratic Party for the People, the Communist and the Social Democratic, demanded that the case of the death of a Sri Lankan woman in the immigration centre be brought before the p

About 16 Ayurvedic medicines have so far been approved and given recommendations to be used as medicines to boost immunity against COVID-19, Ayurvedic Commissioner Dr. Dhammika Abeygunawardana said.

Considering the rapid spreading of COVID in the Western Province (WP), issuing of vehicle revenue licences have been suspended, the Government Information Department said.

The immediate imposition of curfew will prevent at least 1,200 additional deaths within the next 20 days, Professor of Community Medicine, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Professor Suneth Agampodi stressed.

Former President Chandrika Kumaratunge’s son Vimukthi Kumaratunge said he had no intention whatsoever of engaging in Sri Lankan Politics and refuted recent media reports of him entering the local political arena.

UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene today urged the government to impose a lock down and introduce a convenient system for the people to obtain their essentials.

The Government Nursing Officers’ Association (GNOA) today threatened to resort to a Trade Union action, if the Government fails to declare a practical and scientific lockdown claiming that the health sector is at a grave risk of getting contracted

The Registrar General’s Department initiated a programme yesterday to issue birth, death and marriage certificates through online service.

A 26-year-old man who had entered Sri Lanka via sea route illegally from Tamil Nadu in India has been sent to quarantine, Police said.

The Health Ministry has decided to set a maximum price for Rapid Antigen Tests and PCR tests carried out by private healthcare services, Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said.

The world market price of a ton of gas has increased by more than 80 percent compared to 2019, Cooperative Services, Marketing Development and Consumer Protection State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna said.

Claiming that the Covid-19 deaths have increased by 48.8%, State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics, and COVID-19 Disease Control Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle said the country was at risk at the moment.

A new land area has been selected at Irakkamam in the Ampara District of the Eastern Province for the burial of COVID victims, Medical Technical Services Director Dr. Anwar Hamdani said.

The three-day vaccination drive for People over 60 years of age, who have not received their first dose of the Covid vaccine got underway at three vaccination centres in Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara Districts today.

A cabinet reshuffle is likely to take place next week with several key portfolios likely to change heads, the Daily Mirror learns.