Sri Lanka’s war against the Delta variant which has exhausted the country’s health system and overburdened hospitals is still in its formative stages and is only expected to worsen in the coming three weeks, doctors have warned.

The authorities in Ragama have begun cremating the bodies of 42 people who died from the coronavirus. The bodies were piled up at the Ragama Teaching Hospital morgue.

The cases, pending or filed before 2016 under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), will be concluded before the end of this year, Justice Minister Ali Sabry said.

A probe is underway after a Hindu religious gathering was held in a temple in Batticaloa today after pictures of the commemoration circulated online sparking anger as to why it was held amidst a rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic.

Around 30 percent of the reported COVID 19 patients within Colombo City have been infected with the Delta variant, Chief Medical Officer Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni said today.

A medical team has performed a successful Liver Transplant surgery for the first time in the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital, its Director Dr. Rathnasiri A. Hewage said.

Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe called for the dissolution of the COVID 19 taskforce and assign decision making powers to institutions which are constitutionally empowered to handle them.

A total of 94 more COVID-19 related deaths that occurred yesterday (07) were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today pushing the death toll to 5,111.

People over 60 years of age and those with cronic illnesses in the Western Province who have not received the first dose of the Covid vaccine will be vaccinated for three days beginning next Tuesday (10), the Government Information Department said.

The Environment Ministry has instructed the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) to mark the protected boundaries of all the rivers as a measure to protect them from environmental pollution associated with river water and dumping of pollutants into

A total of 2,563 more COVID-19 patients recovered and were discharged from hospital increasing the total number of recoveries in Sri Lanka to 293,357, the Health Ministry said.

The close contacts of COVID-19 patients should get themselves tested 3-5 days after exposure whereas earlier recommendation was 5-7 days, a local medical expert said.

A large number of gemstones including the world’s largest star sapphire cluster found recently from the Pelmadulla area in Ratnapura will be put up for auction in Shanghai, China, Gems and Jewellery State Minister Lohan Ratwatte said.

The Medical experts have highlighted the importance of prohibiting large indoor gatherings in order to contain the spread of the COVID-19 in the country.

Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga refuted media reports that her son Vimukthi was planning to enter into active politics.

Giving a Covid-19 vaccine booster shot for fully vaccinated people was discussed with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Task Force on Prevention of COVID-19, Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said.

It has been decided to restrict the activities of the Postal Department considering the COVID-19 situation.

Another consignment containing 1.86 million Chinese Sinopharm vaccines was brought into the country this morning to control the spreading of COVID-19.

Making the first such arrest after establishing of a new unit to trace the culprits who upload child pornographic videos and photographs to the internet or social media, a 25-year old man who had uploaded more than 500 videos and photographs was ar

The Sri Jayawardenepura General Hospital today dismissed media reports that the COVID-19 patients are lying in corridors due to the insufficient space to treat patients at the hospital.

Sri Lanka is facing the worst ever public finance crisis and time is ripe for evolution of sustainable solutions to the present ills instead of trying to muddle through them, Opposition MP Patali Champika Ranawaka said .

The validity period of all types of Visas currently obtained by foreigners in Sri Lanka has been extended by 30 days up to September 7 from tomorrow (8), the Immigration Department said.

A total of 2,796 more COVID-19 patients were detected within today increasing the number of patients reported in Sri Lanka to 327,019, the Government Information Department said.

The Covid-19 death toll exceeded 5,000 mark with 98 more deaths being reported today, the Government Information Department said.

In the wake of the number of people who succumb to COVID-19 is on the rise, the Fatality Rate in Sri Lanka has increased to 1.5%.

The Public Health Inspectors’ Union (PHIU) insisted that the Government should impose strict travel restrictions in order to prevent the country from plunging into a major catastrophe in terms of the Delta variant of COVID-19.

The Government today urged the general public to get themselves vaccinated as early as they can, as the highly contiguous Delta variant spreads like wildfire in the country.

A total of 2,487 more COVID-19 patients recovered and were discharged from hospitals bringing the total number of recoveries in Sri Lanka to 290,794, the Health Ministry said.

The Community Policing Division of the Sri Lanka Police has commenced an operation to trace those who have not been vaccinated with even a single dose in the Colombo city, Police Spokesman SDIG Ajith Rohana said.

The Health Ministry has issued guidelines on providing home-based care for asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients.