Majority of bodies of COVID victims cremated in cemeteries within the Colombo City are of those who reside outside the city, Chief Medical Officer Colombo (CMC) Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni said yesterday.

The Taliban insists it had no links with the LTTE before or after the defeat of the rebels.

Sri Lanka’s death toll from the rapidly spreading COVID-19 virus is fast rising with an average of 32 deaths reported per million by August 13, which is very high for a country with a 21 million population, health experts warned yesterday.

With adequate vaccine doses now available in the country, people are seen actively coming in large numbers to get vaccinated. Pictures show the vaccination drive being carried out at the Vihara Maha Devi Park. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

The consignment of 800,000 disposable syringes donated by India was stuck at Delhi- Uttar Pradesh during transportation in a truck to the Indira Gandhi International Airport, but the highest level intervention by the Indian External Affairs Ministry

China and Sri Lanka are set to deepen their bilateral “vaccine diplomacy” with a leading Chinese pharma company preparing to set up a manufacturing plant to make anti-Covid jabs in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s home district, Hambantota

While refuting allegations that opening the country for tourists resulted in the spread of Covid pandemic, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunge said today the country was opened for tourists to facilitate three million people who were engaged in the t

An islandwide curfew will be imposed daily from Monday 10 pm to 4 am, daily due to the present COVID-19 crisis. Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said this however will not apply on essential services.

Sri Lanka’s total COVID-19 deaths exceeded 6,000 with the announcement of 161 more fatalities that occurred yesterday.

Whilst stating that it is alarming to see business establishments, trade establishments and individuals having a sheer disregard to health guidelines, Mayoress of Colombo Rosy Senanayake today urged the general public to follow even more stringent he

UNP MP and Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to discuss the present pandemic situation with political parties presenting Parliament, clergy, business community and other professionals and try to reach

The Samagi Jana Balwegaya (SJB) today urged people to impose a self-lockdown without waiting for the government to impose an official one.

Taliban insurgents entered the Afghanistan capital Kabul today, an interior ministry official said, as the United States evacuated diplomats from its embassy by helicopter.

Permission will be granted if buses are requested institutionally to transport employees only for essential services, Transport State Minister Dilum Amunugama said.

Claiming that it was an absurd practice that appealing the Government to impose lockdown as it was not heeding to the experts’ opinion, JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake today requested people to go into self-lockdown for the sake of their own sa

The Government has decided to suspend all functions where people gather in large numbers including weddings from Tuesday midnight (17).

While saying the Government always takes decision pertaining to COVID-19 as per recommendations of medical experts, State Minister Channa Jayasumana said they would not be hesitant to lockdown the country if medical experts recommend doing so.

The 75th Independence Day of India was celebrated in different parts of Sri Lanka today in strict compliance with COVID-19 protocols.The celebrations this year are part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ initiative launched by Prime Minister Narend

A special programme will be implemented by every SLTB depots from Monday (16) to operate bus services for office employees under bio-bubble system, Transport State Minister Dilum Amunugama said.

Judicial Officers and lawyers have expressed dismay over a recently held Judicial Service Commission (JSC) meeting which is believed to have insisted on the Magistrates to use Sections 98 and 106 of the Criminal Procedure Code to control protesters a

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has unofficially learned that the three cricket players who were recently banned from cricket for a year for breach of discipline are preparing to go to play cricket in the United States, a senior official of Sri Lanka Cricket

Responding to the statements made by the opposition is a waste of time because they are very happy with the vast increase in COVID positive cases and the death toll in the country, Transport State Minister Dilum Amunugama said.

Two persons were arrested for assaulting two public health inspectors attached to the Dickwella Medical Officer of Health at Kondeniya in Dickwella.

A powerful earthquake has struck the Caribbean nation of Haiti, killing at least 304 people and injuring more than 1,800.

The Central Bus Stand and the private bus stand in Colombo wore an almost deserted look despite the city remains open for public. However, people seem to be hesitant in using public transport due to the fears of the worsening COVID-19 situation. In a

The Public Health Inspectors Union today requested people to go into self-imposed lockdown from next Monday to contain further spread of COVID-19.

A total of 3,263 more COVID-19 patients were detected today increasing the number of patients reported in Sri Lanka to 351,533, the Government Information Department said.

A total of 160 more COVID-19 related deaths that occurred yesterday (13) were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today pushing the death toll to 5,935.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday conducted searches at seven locations in Tamil Nadu and Kerala at the premises of those involved in trafficking of arms, ammunition and narcotics from Iran and Pakistan to Sri Lanka, an official sai

An ex-Air Force personnel has been arrested for making alleged threats to attack an institution in Colombo, Police said.