Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera was confronted during a media briefing at the Health Promotion Bureau yesterday over the spike in COVID-19 infections in the country.

A 28- year old Razik Raza who is at present in remand custody over aiding the suspects in the Easter Sunday blasts, admitted he was aware of the experimental bomb blast in 2018, prior to the suicide attacks.

A 31-year-old man who said to have obstructed the police officer who was on duty at Borella junction during the motorcade provided for the Chinese Defence Minister on April 27 was arrested, police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said.

Even those who have received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccination will be subject to a Rapid Antigen Test by health officials who have been deployed at all the entry and exit points of the Western Province, the Army Chief said.

Research is underway on the possibility of mixing one Covid vaccine brand with another and the safety of giving two doses of another brand to an individual who has already obtained one dose of the AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine.

Dambulla, Galewela and Naula police areas in Matale district and Pannala Police area in Kurunegala district have been isolated with immediate effect, Army Commander Shavendra Silva said.

The bed capacity in all hospitals designated to treat COVID-19 patients in the Western Province has reached full capacity, Western Province Health Department Secretary Gamini Dharmasena said.

Fifteen thousand doses of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccines will arrive in Sri Lanka on May 4, and it will be administered to the public in the Western Province immediately, a senior government source told Daily Mirror yesterday.

Six more COVID-19 patients died of the virus today bringing the death toll in the country to 667, the Government Information Department said.

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mahinda Balasuriya has died at the age of 68 this afternoon at a private hospital in Colombo, Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said.

Despite it being announced earlier today that the Random Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) would be conducted at all entry and exit points from and to the Western Province on individuals, health officials were not present at some points, although police off

The total number of Covid-19 cases reported in the country exceeded 1,000 mark for the third consecutive day today.

Concerns were raised in court today over the health of the former Director of the Criminal Investigations Department, Shani Abeysekara.

A 35-year old woman from Moratuwa, who was run over by a lorry at a pedestrian crossing at Katukurunda in Moratuwa last night, had been tested positive with Covid-19.

At least 15 passengers had sustained injuries when a bus veered off the road at Mahatudugala on Ragala- High Forest road and fell down into a precipice this morning, the Police said.

While saying that the spread of COVID-19 in companies in the country is on the rise, Chief Epidemiologist Dr Sudath Samaraweera said today the risk of infection was quite dramatic in closed and air-conditioned spaces.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has announced tomorrow (30) as a special half-day holiday for banks instead of May Day which falls on a Saturday (May 1).

A tense situation arose at State Engineering Corporation this morning as the chairman of the institution was held hostage by the workers.

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) announced to withdraw all coconut oil stock under the brand ’N-Joy’ from the market, the CAA Information Department said.

Chinese Defence Minister Gen. Wei Fenghe left Sri Lanka a short while ago after a two-day official visit. He left the country for Beijing at 8.55 a.m. He toured the country with a 37-member delegation.

Six Grama Niladhari divisions in Trincomalee district have been isolated with effect from 7.00 this morning, Army Chief and Head of the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19, General Shavendra Silva said.

Police have arrested a 19-year old youth from Kahatapitiya in Gampola for spreading false news on social media.

Random Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) will be performed at 12 entry and exit points from and to the Western Province on individuals from 12.00 noon today until further notice.

Michael Collins, the NASA astronaut and retired Air Force general who piloted Apollo 11’s mission to the moon, died early Wednesday, according to a statement from his family. He was 90.

The Indian community in Sri Lanka has requested the Indian High Commission in Colombo to provide them with the Coronavirus vaccine, Daily Mirror learns.

The public cannot choose the Coronavirus vaccine they want and instead must go with what is given to them, State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control, Sudarshini Fernandopulle told Daily Mirror yesterday.

Sri Lanka and China agreed to enhance defence cooperation, particularly in terms of high level exchanges and training, informed sources said.

The health authorities today reserved 45 more ICU (Intensive Care Unit) beds from KDU hospital, Colombo North, Colombo South and Negombo hospitals for the benefit of COVID patients, Minister Channa Jayasumana said today.

The number of daily COVID-19 cases surpassed the 1,000 mark today for the second consecutive day.

Despite the large number of COVID cases being reported in various parts of the country, Army Commander Gen. Shavendra Silva said that there is no move to go for a complete lockdown of the country and only some areas such as certain Grama Niladhari Di