A Rapid Deployment Unit of SLAF Regiment Special Force (RSF), Police Special Task Force (STF) and Intelligence Operatives raided several illegal sand mining operations which were carried out near the Sittar Bridge in Mutur yesterday.

Treasurer of the Ceylon Workers’ Congress and Nuwara Eliya District Parliamentarian Maruthapandi Rameshwaram has contracted COVID-19

All passenger arrivals into SriLanka will be suspended from 11.59 p.m. on May 21 to 11.59 p.m. on May 31, the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) Chairman Upul Dharmadasa said.

The government has shot down a latest request by the private sector to pay for the importation of Astra Zeneca vaccines for the corporate world as several are desperately awaiting the second jabs, the Daily Mirror learns.

Former Governor of the Northern Province Reginald Cooray has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC).

Whatever the COVID virus variant spreading in the country is not relevant for the people, as they should strictly follow the basic health guidelines to prevent being getting infected, Sri Jayawardenapura University Immunology Department and Molecular

A group of Sri Lankans had been given special approval to return from India today, the Health Ministry said. The Health Ministry said approximately 20 Sri Lankans were on a special flight that arrived from New Delhi today.

Sri Lanka could face the risk of reporting over one million COVID-19 cases within next 100 days, Health Ministry Spokesman Dr Hemantha Herath said.

Sri Lanka has been unable to secure Covid-19 vaccines for rollout according to the original time- bound plan because of the failure on the part of Serum Institute of India to deliver the committed stocks of doses, a Minister said.

A silent protest organized by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) against the Port City Economic Commission Bill was held today (19) near the Parliament Roundabout. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

The CID together with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the Australian Federal Police are currently conducting an international probe on the Easter Sunday attacks, Minister of Public Security Sarath Weersekera told Parliament today.

No decision has been taken as yet to give COVID vaccine for children, but it is advisable to continue with the preventive measures other than vaccinating, Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children (LRH) Consultant Paediatrician Dr. Deepal Perera said.

Former Western Province Governor Azath Salley who is under CID detention, admitted to the National Hospital in Colombo yesterday

The next two weeks in our country are going to be crucial where in a situation of more than 2,000 COVID-19 positive cases being recorded daily, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) said.

A group of Indian officials arrived in Colombo today on a special flight from New Delhi, sources said.

Sri Lanka remained deeply concerned over escalating violence between Palestine and Israel, the Foreign Ministry said.

The Astrazeneca vaccines which are presently being administered in Colombo are only for the front line workers and front line service providers and not for members of the public who had received the first doses, Chief Medical Officer of the Colombo M

The Government has reached out to overseas Sri Lankans for financial as well as other forms of assistance to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

A total of 1,968 naval personnel including 64 naval officers and 1904 sailors were promoted and advanced to their next higher ranks on the occasion of the 12th National War Heroes Commemoration D, the Navy said.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday (18) inspected the Seeduwa COVID Intermediate Treatment Center. The centre can accommodate about 1,200 COVID-19 patients.

A total of 34 more COVID-19 deaths were reported today surpassing the toll of COVID-19 deaths in Sri Lanka 1,000 mark.

The government at a special Cabinet meeting today decided to incorporate all the amendments proposed by the Supreme Court into the Port City Economic Commission Bill, so that it could be passed only with a simple majority, the Daily Mirror learns.

With the vast escalation of COVID positive cases in the country, the capacity to accommodate the patients is reaching beyond maximum level, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) General Committee Member Dr. Prasad Colambage said.

A total of 1,734 more COVID-19 patients have been detected so far today, the Government Information Department said.

Several volunteers donated blood to the Blood Bank yesterday. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Ten suspects including two women were arrested for commemorating the death of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader Velupillai Prabhakaran in Kalkudah today.

It is appropriate for breastfeeding mothers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera said today

The Pfizer and Moderna Covid vaccines should remain highly effective against two coronavirus variants first identified in India, according to new research carried out by US scientists.

Picture shows people are receiving Sinopharm Vaccine as protection against Covid-19 in Colombo today. The Government earlier decided to inoculate the Chinese Sinopharm vaccines for citizens over 60-years of age. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana.

The Defence Ministry was shifted to the newly constructed Defence Headquarters Complex in Sri Jayawardenepura, Kotte today (May 18).