The decision to impose strict travel restrictions for three whole days shows the government’s discrimination towards a section of the minority, an Opposition Muslim MP said today.

Since the Sri Lanka Army took over the printing of drivers’ licenses from January 1 this year, the Army has been able to save nearly Rs. 219 million revenue for the Government within four months period.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) today condemned the recent killing of two suspects in police custody, namely Melon Mabula alias ‘Uru Juwa’ and Tharaka Perera Wijesekera alias ‘Kosgoda Tharaka’ which has occurred on two consecutive day

The Railways Department has taken steps to operate several long-distance trains from today to facilitate the state and private sector employees who travel to and from their workplaces, Deputy General Manager of Railways A.D.G Senavirathne said.

Issuing an advisory for heavy rains over the next 24-hours, the Meteorology Department said heavy falls above 100 mm could be expected at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and in the Galle and Matara districts.

The COVID cases in Piliyandala in the Colombo District continue to rise as 146 more patients out of 413 reported in the Colombo district were from Piliyandala.

Despite the strict travel restrictions are in force in the country, there is no decision taken to close the airports, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranathunga said.

The NIA has taken over the probe into the seizure of AK-47 rifles and ammunition along with Rs 3,000 crore worth of heroin from a Sri Lankan vessel on March 25.

Police have arrested two women and two children who travelled across to Sri Lanka by boat from Rameshwaram, India and hiding in a house in Gurunagar, Jaffna.

All shops should be closed from 11 p.m tonight till 4 a.m Monday, Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said.

The COVID-19 death toll in Sri Lanka climbed to 868 with 18 more deaths being confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services yesterday, the Government Information Department said.

Notorious organized criminal Dharmakeerthi Tharaka Perera Wijesekera alias ’Kosgoda Tharaka’, who was in police custody, died after a shooting incident involving with the police during an operation.

Twelve areas including eleven Grama Niladhari Divisions have been isolated with immediate effect in Gampaha, Galle and Ratnapura districts, Army Commander General Shavenra Silva said.

Whilst calling for an all-party discussion, the United National Party (UNP) yesterday called for the setting up of a special reserve to be used for a pandemic or a disaster.

There was a threat of the variant entering SL through those arriving from India and from other countries where the variant has spread.

A total of 957 more COVID-19 patients have been detected increasing the daily count of COVID-19 cases to 2,386, the Government Information Department said.

The Health Ministry has issued guidelines on the restriction imposed on inter-provincial travel and revised restrictions on permitted functions.

Following immense confusion on whether the travel restriction will come into effect from today or tomorrow, Army Commander Shavendra Silva has clarified that the night restriction will come into effect from tonight.

Muslims in Sri Lanka will celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr on Friday (14) as the crescent for the new month was not sighted today , Colombo Grand Mosque announced today.

A total of 1,429 more COVID-19 patients have been detected so far today, the Government Information Department said.

The Government is continuing with the procedure of providing Rs.5,000 allowance for the people who are affected by isolation and Rs.10,000 for those who are under quarantine, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that the decision to start using organic fertilizer was taken towards endowing a healthy future generation to the country.

A total of 1,016 more COVID-19 patients recovered and were discharged from hospital increasing the total number of recoveries in Sri Lanka to 1,07,657, the Health Ministry said.

As the First and foremost measure, The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) requested the Government to implement movement restrictions by way of an All-Island ’’quarantine curfew’’ to achieve 80% - 90% physical distancing to ens

Eastern Province Governor Anuradha Yahampath today said that she was tested positive with COVID-19 virus.

The public can travel for non-essential purposes from tomorrow (Friday) till 31st May based only on the approved last digits of the ID numbers of the day, the Police said. The ID system will not apply when a travel ban is in place.

An islandwide travel restriction will be imposed from 11 pm tomorrow to 4 am till Monday in order to prevent a further spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, Army Chief Shavendra Silva told Daily Mirror.

Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa who continues his effort to reach foreign diplomats to assist Sri Lanka to overcome the current COVID pandemic, requested for Norwegian assistance as well.

Strict travel restrictions will be imposed from 11 pm to 4 am daily islandwide from tonight till May 31 to prevent a further spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, Army Commander General Shavendra Silva told Daily Mirror.

Another 600,000 vials of Russian-made Sputnik-V vaccine to reach the country within the next couple of weeks, Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID-19 Disease Control State Minister Sudarshini Fernandopulle said.