A total of 190 more COVID-19 related deaths that occurred yesterday (23) were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today pushing the death toll to 7,750.

A 40-year-old suspect arrested by the Mathugama Police had died while being taken to the Police station, police said. He was infected with the COVID-19.

The streets of Pettah are seen deserted due to the nationwide quarantine curfew. Only wholesale business activities take place in what would be bustling place at the heart of the Colombo city. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Travel restrictions should be further tightened up to 80 to 90 per cent and the imposed restrictions should be implemented perfectly, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) said.

PCR tests were conducted by the heath officials at Bandaranaikepura in Rajagiriya today.A large number of people were seen taking part in the proramme. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Former Minister Mangala Samaraweera’s funeral was held in Colombo today. SJB MP, Harsha De Silva, in a video post on his Facebook said his colleagues were not allowed in but the video he managed to capture showed Samaraweera’s remains being taken

State Minister Janaka Wakkumbura tested positive to Covid- 19 becoming the eighth member of Parliament to be tested Covid-19 positive within this month.

Following the death of former minister, Mangala Samaraweera earlier today, tributes have poured in from all parts of the world and from local politicians, with many calling his death a loss to the nation.

The Inter-University Bhikkhu Federation (IUBF) today launched an online protest demanding the immediate release of student leaders and Trade Union leaders fighting against the Kotelawela Bill. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Under the programme of providing the COVID vaccine for people who are above 60 years of age and above, the government has decided to gather information from all Buddhist, Hindu, Catholic and Muslim clergy.

Sri Lanka received US$ 780 million Special Drawing Rights (SDR) from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), an official said.

Senior lawyer Gowry Shangary Thavarasha, one of the leading instructing attorneys in Human Rights cases, died of Covid-19 on Monday (23).

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court has ordered the registrar of Colombo District Court to produce the purported Last Will and Testaments of late Miss Ceylon 1962 Jennifer Ingleton (nee Labrooy) in Court on September 7.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry has refuted an earlier statement that a Ukrainian aircraft was hijacked at Kabul airport during a desperate evacuation of Afghans and other nationals seeking to flee the Taliban militant group.

Beggars who live in the Colombo area are seen getting the first dose of the Chinese Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine in Colombo today. The event was organized by the Dam Street Police and the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) Health Division. Pix by Pradeep

No decision has been taken by the government to make pay cuts of any state or private sector employees, Cabinet Spokesman and Media Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said.

The Metrology Department said that the earthquake that occurred with a magnitude of 5.1 on the Richter Scale in the Bay of Bengal poses no threat to Sri Lanka.

A 12-year-old schoolgirl at President’s Girls’ College in Nawala has died of the Covid-19 infection.

Special airborne training programme was held at the Maduruoya reservoir area with the participation of paratroopers of the Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force, Commando Regiment, Special Forces yesterday.

The Sri Lanka Air Force handed over a Heated Humidified Oxygen Therapy Unit (HHOT) to District General Hospital in Kalutara yesterday.

Sri Lanka has had discussion with Acting Head of the Embassy of the UAE in Sri Lanka Saif Alanofy on the possibility of obtaining crude oil and petroleum products on a long-term credit facility.

Former Minister Mangala Samaraweera has passed away from COVID-19, his family confirmed a short while ago.

Sri Lankan born British national Sivendran Vettivetpillai of Abraaj group has pleaded guilty to nine counts of criminal charges carrying a total of 115 years in jail and a fine of up to $11.5 million, foreign media reported.

The Gampaha City which is one of the cities that is being highly battered by COVID-19, looked deserted due to the 10-day lockdown imposed by the authorities to curb the further spread of the virus. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

It was revealed that a total of 82,194 vehicles have been assigned to the government institutions, including Ministries, State Enterprises, Provincial Councils and Local Government Institutions.

The Cabinet Minister had approved importing of 300,000 liters of liquid medical oxygen weekly which is required to treat Covid-19 patients who are in critical condition.

The government has approved issuing tourist visa licenses valid for 180 days for tourists visiting Sri Lanka.

A 36-year-old man from Nugegoda was arrested for sharing fake images corpses in a foreign country and indicated that the bodies of those who died due to the Covid virus are being dumped in the the Kalubowila Hospital wards.

The Agriculture Ministry has decided to keep the economic centres open in the Colombo district today and tomorrow, Colombo District Secretary Pradeep Yasarathna said.

The Environment Minister instructed the officials to formulate a National Environmental Policy (NEP) that would not change the policies of certain ministries even during government or ministerial change.