The Delta Variant of COVID 19 which has mutated into three different variants is spreading all over the nation, State Minister Channa Jaysumana told Parliament today.

People are seen queued up to buy kerosene in Maligawatte today due to the fear of shops putting up shutters due to the COVID spread. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana.

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern put the nation under strict lockdown on Tuesday after one new case of the coronavirus was reported in its largest city of Auckland, the country’s first in six months.

While stressing the need to consider the recommendations and predictions of the local medical specialists and foreign experts on the pandemic situation in the country, former President Maithripala Sirisena said today the government should be flexible

The National Movement for Consumer Rights Protection (NMCRP) said some banks and financial institutions have continued to ignore the Central Bank circular and insisted their customers to pay the interest.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has responded positively to a request made by former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to call for an all party meeting when the two leaders met today, an official statement from the UNP said.

Relatives of those who have died due to COVID 19 were seen gathered at the rear gate of General Hospital Colombo. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana 

Taking into account the rapid spread of Covid-19 in Gampaha town, the Gampaha Lawyers’ Association has taken a unanimous decision not to attend court proceedings until August 23.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 in UAE and Oman will get underway from 17 October, with the final to be played in Dubai on 14 November.

A special gazette notification signed by the President has been issued with regard to institutional and legal framework of the Development Coordination and Supervision Ministry of Minister Namal Rajapaksa.

Necessary steps will be taken to resolve the trade union action initiated by the teachers through discussions, new Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said.

The Court of Appeal in its recent judgment held that an accused who made a confession to a police officer would be inadmissible and no confession made to a police officer should be proved as against a person accused of any offence.

The shops at the Gampaha City will remain closed for one week following a decision taken by the vendors themselves to close the shops considering the worsening COVID-19 situation in the country. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

The Marine Drive extension project from Wellawatte to Dehiwala is nearing completion and it will be open for traffic later this year, Minister of Highways Johnston Fernando said yesterday.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said prioritisation of national economic development in line with the neo-liberal model at the cost of human lives would not bode well for Sri Lanka.

The hiccups and shortcomings that occurred in calculations related COVID-19 figures are being addressed and rectified and once it is done, the death rate will slow down, Health Promotion Bureau Director Dr. Ranjith Batuwanthudawa said.

A Vaccination programme was held at the P D Sirisena Play Ground where it was noticed that people were arriving at the location to get themselves vaccinated with much enthusiasm. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

People in Maradana are seen subjected to PCR tests today. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

A total of 167 more COVID-19 related deaths that occurred yesterday (15) were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today pushing the death toll to 6,263.

Former Health Minister  Pavithra Wanniarachchi who was appointed as the Minister of Transport today morning said that she was removed from the Ministry of Health at an unexpected moment.

Claiming that the curfew imposed in the night is not effective in restricting people’s movement, Government Nursing Officers’ Association (GNOA) President Saman Rathnapriya today said Trade Unions of the Health sector would take to the street for

Two complaints were filed at the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) by Sihala Rawaya and Ayurvedic practitioner Indrani Swarna Senaratne today against alleged violation of human rights with regard to the COVID vaccination program. Venerable

The Committee on Parliamentary Business has decided to restrict this week’s Parliamentary sittings only for tomorrow (17), Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake said.

Sri Lanka Navy vessel ’’Shakthi’’ to set sail to Chennai in India today to freight Oxygen from India to Sri Lanka, the Navy said.

The Hong Kong government announced today tighter quarantine arrangements for people arriving in Hong Kong from 16 countries, including the Sri Lanka, citing the threat from the more infectious Delta novel coronavirus variant.

Former MP Mangala Samaraweera is presently under intensive care after he was hospitalized with the COVID-19 virus.

While saying he is privileged and honoured to be appointed as the Health Minister of Sri Lanka, Keheliya Rambukwella said it is imperative that the collective social responsibility of all citizens will be needed to defeat the COVID-19 challenge.

The brother-in-law of former minister Rishad Bathiudeen who was arrested in connection with an alleged sexual abuse on a woman who worked at Rishad Bathiudeen’s residence in 2016, has been released on bail by Colombo Magistrate Buddhika Sri Ragala.

Veteran Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan has shared on Instagram and Twitter a video of his dance sequence from his iconic film ‘Kaalia’ with the Sri Lankan track “Manike Mage Hithe”.

Senior Superintendent of Police Nihal Thalduwa has been appointed as the new Police Media Spokesman with immediate effect.