Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardane has tested positive for Covid-19, becoming the ninth Member of Parliament to be tested Covid-19 positive within this month, the minister confirmed.

Police officers from the Dam Street police station distributed lunch packets to paupers who are living on the sidewalks in Pettah. It was a great solace for them at the time the whole country is under quarantine curfew. Dam Street police OIC, CI Ajit

A total of 214 more COVID-19 related deaths that occurred yesterday (26) were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today pushing the death toll to 8,371.

The Dehiwala-Mt. Lavinia Municipal Council has begun a project to produce coffins made out of cardboard. MC Member Priyantha Sahabandu spearheads the project. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

The attention of the Health Ministry was drawn to make available self-diagnosis kits for people to test themselves at home and determine whether they are infected with Covid virus, Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) Director Dr. Ranjith Batuwanthudawa sai

A total of 14,152 Covid patients are being kept under home quarantine, while 36,220 patients had fully recovered after home quarantine by now, Director of the Tertiary Care Services Dr. Avanthi Karunarathne said today.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is not infected with the COVID-19 virus and neither has he been admitted to the ICU, and rumors of his critical health are false, Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister Yoshitha Rajapaksa told Daily Mirror.

People living in Colombo area are seen receiving their Chinese Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine at the Viharamahadevi Park open air vaccination centre today. Retired soldiers of the SL Army Medical Corps participated in the voluntary programme. Pix by Pra

Curfew passes will not be required for those engaged in essential services including apparel, industries, agricultural activities during the quarantine curfew, Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said.

In a public petition signed by 75 individuals including Christian and Catholic priests, they have called upon members of the Human Rights Council and all members of the international community to urge the Sri Lankan government to release Attorney-at-

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday announced a package of welfare measures at a cost of Rs.317.40 Crore for the welfare of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees living in special camps in the State.

State Minister Sudarshani Fernandopulle said today that lockdown would not be effective if people do not behave responsibly and fail to follow health practices.

Following government’s decision to extend the current islandwide lockdown till September 6, people are seen rushing to buy household needs to manage such period. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

The ongoing islandwide lockdown has been extended till September 6, 4 am, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

Another two million doses of Sinopharm vaccines will arrive in Sri Lanka tomorrow (28), the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka said.

Vendors and people in Pettah, the trade hub of the city, are seen equally busy handling, loading and unloading essential goods despite the quarantine curfew and inclement weather conditions. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

No country has made it mandatory that a specific brand of COVID-19 vaccine should have been given to the migrant worker who enters the country where he/she is employed, Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB) Deputy General Manager Mangala Randen

The due date for accepting applications for the G.C.E. Advanced Level and Grade 5 scholarship examinations has been extended to September 15, the Examinations Department said.

A new portal has been opened on the Sri Lankam Foreign Employment Bureau (SLBFE) website in order to pre-register migrant workers for COVID-19 vaccination programme, SLBFE said.

Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children (LRH) Consultant Paediatrician Dr. Deepal Perera yesterday requested the parents to stop smoking as it causes the death of children if they are infected with corona virus.

Nearly 200 children infected with COVID virus are currently being treated at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH) in Colombo, LRH Director Dr. G. Wijesuriya said yesterday.

President Biden on Thursday denounced a terrorist attack at the Kabul airport that killed at least 13 American service members and injured 18 more, saying that the frantic evacuation of U.S. citizens and allies from Afghanistan will continue even as

A decision will be taken today whether the countrywide lockdown will be further extended after Monday when the COVID-19 Task Force convenes with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told Daily Mirror yesterday.

It has been revealed that the Delta variant could cause heart failure in individuals with no previous history of any chronic ailment including cholesterol hypertension or diabetes and without developing any symptoms of COVID-19.

While claiming that the government was using the police to intimidate and harass those who criticize the former, the National People’s Power (NPP) yesterday denounced the government’s move to use the police for political ends.

The Covid-19 death toll in Sri Lanka exceeded 8,000 mark with 209 more deaths being reported today, the Government Information Department said.

A total of 4,602 more COVID-19 patients have been detected today increasing the total cases reported in Sri Lanka to 412,370, the Government Information Department said.

SriLankan Airlines categorically denied social media reports that the SriLankan Airline was deploying COVID-infected Flight Attendants and said it was untrue and misleading the public at a time the entire country is suffering due to the recent spike

Government MP S. B. Dissanayake said Covid-19 was not a disease that people should dread unnecessarily.

A doctor in charge of a Covid vaccination centre in Chilaw along with a Family Health Officer have been transferred over an incident where a Covid-19 vaccine was administered to a 12-year-old child without the approval of the Health Ministry.