President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that the decision to start using organic fertilizer was taken towards endowing a healthy future generation to the country.

A total of 1,016 more COVID-19 patients recovered and were discharged from hospital increasing the total number of recoveries in Sri Lanka to 1,07,657, the Health Ministry said.

As the First and foremost measure, The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) requested the Government to implement movement restrictions by way of an All-Island ’’quarantine curfew’’ to achieve 80% - 90% physical distancing to ens

Eastern Province Governor Anuradha Yahampath today said that she was tested positive with COVID-19 virus.

The public can travel for non-essential purposes from tomorrow (Friday) till 31st May based only on the approved last digits of the ID numbers of the day, the Police said. The ID system will not apply when a travel ban is in place.

An islandwide travel restriction will be imposed from 11 pm tomorrow to 4 am till Monday in order to prevent a further spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, Army Chief Shavendra Silva told Daily Mirror.

Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa who continues his effort to reach foreign diplomats to assist Sri Lanka to overcome the current COVID pandemic, requested for Norwegian assistance as well.

Strict travel restrictions will be imposed from 11 pm to 4 am daily islandwide from tonight till May 31 to prevent a further spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, Army Commander General Shavendra Silva told Daily Mirror.

Another 600,000 vials of Russian-made Sputnik-V vaccine to reach the country within the next couple of weeks, Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID-19 Disease Control State Minister Sudarshini Fernandopulle said.

It is always easy and practical to increase the number of beds in hospitals, but we cannot increase the health service capacity at once, as it consumes more time to recruit and train people to work at the health services, Primary Health Care, Epidemi

State Minister Sudarshani Fernandopulle said that predictions made by a US health research facility would be the case if no interventions are made.

Basil Rajapaksa who is heading the high-powered Presidential Task Force for Economic Revival and Poverty Eradication during the COVID-19 pandemic, last night left the country for the United States, the Daily Mirror learns.

Under the current situation, traffic movents fo and from the town area of Piliyandala are strictly prohibited with immediate effect, Western Provincial Council (WPC) Chief Secretary W.P. Pradeep Yasarathne.

State Minister Sudarshani Fernandopulle said that the elderly population are still at greater risk of death due to Covid-19 in Sri Lanka.

A 37-year-old Sri Lankan, who attempted to smuggle 18 gold biscuits, has been arrested by the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning.

Sri Lanka did not require the approval of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to commence using the Sinopharm vaccine.

A total of 435 persons have been arrested in various parts of the country for violating quarantine laws during the past 24 hours.

All travellers arriving from overseas including Sri Lankans should be mandatorily quarantined at a Quarantine facility until completion of 14 days, the Health Ministry said.

Thirteen police areas in Colombo, Gampaha, Galle, Ratnapura, Hambantota and Kegalle districts have been isolated with immediate effect, Commander of Army General Shavendra Silva said.

The Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health has published comprehensive guidelines on the use of the Sinopharm and Sputnik vaccines which includes the side effects one can experience. (EASWARAN RUTNAM)

Number of those infected is expected to reach its peak in two weeks More PCR tests will reveal a staggering number of infections Travel restrictions between provinces will not do. We need tighter restrictions

The Disaster Preparedness and Response Division of the Health Ministry said yesterday that seven percent of PCR tests carried out in the first week of May had returned positive.

A total of 50,493 Sri Lankans were administered with the first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine within today.

An organized criminal known as Mambulage Dineth Melan Mambula alias ’’Uru Juwa’’ wanted over several murders and extortion was shot dead by police during an incident at Nawagamuwa, Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said.

Residents in Dehiwala and Wijerama were vaccinated with the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine today. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

The COVID-19 death toll in Sri Lanka climbed to 850 with 23 more deaths being confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services, the Government Information Department said.

Police and Army officers will check the relevant documents and reason for crossing boundaries at every province limit from tomorrow, Community Police Services State Minister Dilum Amunugama said.

Six staff members of the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi, India have been tested positive for COVID-19, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today.

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) today said they had made a policy request from the President to close all wine stores, outlets and to motivate people not to smoke and help increase the immunity of the people.

A total of 1,225 individuals have tested positive for Covid-19 so far today increasing the total number of positive cases in the country to 129,755, the Government Information Department said. 129,755