Oxygen is seen being supplied to the National Hospital in Colombo from a bowser. The Government has decided to import liquid medicinal Oxygen to address a possible shortage of oxygen in the country. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

A total of 175 more COVID-19 related deaths that occurred yesterday (08) were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today pushing the death toll to 10,864.

Discussions are underway to offer COVID-19 vaccines to two million school children studying from Grade 7 to 13, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said today.

The CEO of EPIC Lanka technologies that managed the database of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), arrested for alleged disappearances of data files was today ordered to be released on bail by Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.

A new test kit manufactured locally by a research team from Peradeniya University, is to be used in Sri Lanka as an interim testing method to the Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) and PCR tests to detect people infected with COVID-19 virus, the Health Ministr

Sri Lanka’s controversial self-proclaimed spiritual healer, Eliyantha White has contracted the COVID-19 infection and has been admitted to a private hospital in Colombo.

School closures have led to alarming inequities in learning opportunities for children in South Asia including Sri Lanka, despite significant efforts by governments and partners to expand remote learning, a research conducted by the UNICEF revealed.

The Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, has decided to impose a 100 percent cash margin deposit requirement against the importation of selected goods of non-essential or non-urgent nature made goods including on mobile phones, television

A total of 18,140 more Covid-19 patients recovered and were discharged from hospitals increasing the total number of recoveries in Sri Lanka to 408,116, the Health Ministry said.

While stressing the point that a minority of fully vaccinated people could get severe disease, and may even die, the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) requested the Government to consider giving a third dose to people whose immune system is weak d

Drug trafficker Kaludura Chaminda Thabrew alias Bob Marley who was wanted over smuggling drugs into the country on a multi-day trawler, had been arrested in Elpitiya by the Police Narcotics Bureau.

The magisterial inquiry into the alleged questionable last will of late Miss Ceylon 1962 Jennifer Ingleton (nee Labrooy) was postponed for September 21 by Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court owing to the prevailing pandemic situation in the country.

Referring to the request made by Gynaecologist of the De Soysa Maternity Hospital for women Dr. Harsha Atapattu to delay pregnancy by one year, given the Delta variant spread, the Health Ministry said it was not its official stand.

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court has issued an order to release 14 tamed elephants held under the custody of the Department of National Zoological Gardens, back to their original owners.

Colombo South Teaching Hospital (CSTH) Deputy Director and Government Medical Officers’ Forum (GMOF) President Dr. Rukshan Bellana has contracted the COVID virus, a CSTH official said today.

The National Investigation Agency of India has arrested a drugs and arms trafficker in connection with the Vizhinjam Arms case. The accused has been identified as Arasaratinam Ramesh who is a Sri Lankan national.

Director General of the National Zoological Gardens, Ishini Wickremesinghe has resigned from her post.

A 30-year old suspect has been arrested with 1.6 kg of Crystal Methamphetamine (Ice) by the Police Special Task Force (STF) during a raid in Peliyagoda.

Steps will be taken to issue the relevant gazette notification as soon as the recommendation from the Attorney General’s Department is received for proscribing seven more disposable plastic products manufactured in our country, Environment Minister

Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera donated medical equipment to Habarana Rural Hospital, including an ECG unit urgently required to treat COVID patients. The medical equipment were donated following a request b

Chairman of Sinopharm Group Liu Jingzhen has expressed his enthusiasm in setting up a vaccine refilling plant in Sri Lanka,the Sri Lankan embassy in Beijing said.

In a joint communication, United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteurs have recommended to review the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in Sri Lanka to bring it in line with international human rights standards.

Some police stations had defaulted in paying water bills, the government said yesterday.

Health specialists today advised women to delay their pregnancy by one year if possible due to the spread of the Delta Covid variant.

The Health Minster today agreed with the proposal made by the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) to stop the use of the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID vaccine for the age group 18 to 30 and to use it for the 12 to 18 age group, the GMOA said

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested a CEO of a company that managed the data base of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) in connection with the dissapearances of data files, police said.

A monk goes past a container, outside the Colombo mortuary where the remains of Covid victims are stored and taken to be cremated. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has not sought a meeting with Pope Francis and neither will he or his delegation be visiting the Vatican during the Prime Minister’s visit to Italy which begins tomorrow, the Daily Mirror learns.

Water Supply Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara today said the Ministry expects to continue water supply without any increased charges and determined to meet water consumption needs of the people.

People in Nagalagam street in Colombo are seen purchasing goods violating quarantine laws. Several retail shops are seen opened and several roadside vendors are seen selling their goods illegally. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana