Payment of private sector employees’ salary: Agreement extended till September

The Cabinet has decided to extend the agreement reached between government and private sector employers to ensure payment of Rs. 14.500 or 50 per cent of the basic salary of private sector employees until September.

Gazette on health guidelines for polls within two days - Pavitra

Health Minister Pavitra Wanniarachchi today said that health guidelines pertaining to the General Elections would be Gazetted within the next two days after receiving the necessary advice from the Attorney General and the Legal Draftsman.

130,000 PCR tests performed so far: Dr. Jasinghe

Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe said more than 130,000 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests have been performed so far to identify COVID-19 patients in Sri Lanka .

Special mobile polling centres to facilitate those on self-quarantine

While claiming that people at quarantine centres or on self-quarantine would not be allowed to vote at normal polling station, the Elections Commission (EC) said yesterday it was considering the possibility of establishing mobile polling centres or special polling centres to facilitate such people to exercise their votes.

Another prolonged lockdown will kill our economy: Ranil

Whist stating that another prolonged lockdown will kill Sri Lanka’s economy, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe proposed that political parties, health experts and other bodies discuss the Public Health Emergency Bill proposed by some opposition parties and enact as soon as new Parliament meet.

Hirunika denies she was sidelined by Janani Premadasa

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) candidate Hirunika Premachandra today said she has no confrontation whatsoever with Janani Premadasa, the wife of SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa.

February electricity bill to match with March, April and May

The Cabinet has approved the payment of the electricity tariff indicated in the February bill in March, April and May as well.

Not necessary to impose curfew: Health DG

It is not necessary to impose a lock-down in the country in a situation where the COVID-19 is not widespread, Director General of Health Services, Dr Anil Jasinghe today.

Tipper driver remanded for running over Police officers

The tipper truck driver who was arrested for running over Police officers in Hakmana, had been remanded till July 23 on charges of murder, attempted murder, causing severe injuries to officers on duty and reckless driving, the Police said.

Adherence to health guidelines at work: Prez says heads are accountable

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday said that the heads of both government and private entities are accountable for adhering to health guidelines in their organizations in the wake of current spike in COVID 19 cases.

Covid-19 pandemic - No intention to hide actual scenario: DGHS

Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Anil Jasinghe said there were only 19 Covid-19 cases reported yesterday and that they had no intention of hiding the actual situation in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

Gammanpila proposes index to rate ministers’ performance

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Leader Udaya Gammanpila has proposed the creation of an index to rate the performance of ministers quarterly.

SL will take 10 years to bounce back from this crisis: Ranil

It will take ten years for Sri Lanka’s economy to bounce back to the position it was before the initial COVID-19 outbreak given the current situation, former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today at Sirikotha.

Elephant attacks three wildlife officers in Kala Wewa

Three officers attached to the Wildlife Department including a veterinary surgeon were rescued after their boat capsized following an elephant attack in Kala Wewa today.

COVID-19 threat: Shops in Kalawana closed

All shops in Kalawana were closed from noon today after a COVID-19 infected patient was found in the area, Kalawana Eksath Traders Association President W.D. Rodrigo said.

Melsta Hospitals Ragama closed after GM tests positive for COVID-19

Melsta Hospitals Ragama has been closed after its General Manager (GM), who had conducted lectures at the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Centre, was tested positive for COVID-19, police said.

Two Homagama Army officers test positive for Covid-19, seven families quarantined

At least 30 persons belonging to seven families in Homagama have been sent for self quarantine after two Army officers from the area who are serving at the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Centre tested positive for Covid-19, Homagama MOH office said.

Tipper truck runs over police officers, killing cop and injuring two others

Three police officers who were on duty at a roadblock on the Matara-Hakmana road were run over by a tipper truck, killing a police constable.

Inmate admitted for PCR test falls to death at the Hospital

An inmate who was admitted to the Negombo Hospital for a PCR test on Covid-19 has died after falling from the eighth floor of the hospital, the Police said.

285 Lankans arrived from Jordan

A total of 285 Sri Lankans who were stranded in Jordan arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning. They arrived in Sri Lankan Airlines flight UL 1506 from Amman Airport (AMM).

Govt. hides true COVID-19 situation: NPP

The National Peoples’ Power (NPP) said yesterday the government was hiding the true situation of the COPVID-19 outbreak in a move to show that the situation in the country had returned to normalcy just for political advantage.

Some use COVID-19 as scapegoat to get polls postponed: GL

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Chairman Professor G.L. Peiris yesterday said those who are afraid of facing the elections use the COVID-19 situation as a scapegoat to get the General Elections postponed.

Navy Chief Piyal De Silva to retire

Navy Commander Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva is to retire on Wednesday after 36 years of service in the Sri Lanka Navy.

Kandakadu cluster: Not a wide-spread scenario- Dr. Jasinghe

While claiming that 428 Covid 19 Positive cases had been reported from Kandakadu and Senapura Rehabilitation Centres, Director General of Health Services Dr Anil Jasinghe today said the spreading of the virus in the respective areas was not a wide-spread scenario.

Two close associates of ’Angoda Lokka’ arrested in Mulleriyawa

Two close associates of underworld figure ’Angoda Lokka’ have been arrested with heroin during a raid at Udumulla in Mulleriyawa this morning.

Ranil calls for postponement of elections

Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today called for the postponement of the general election stating that the country is facing a dangerous situation in the wake of COVID-19 raising its head once again.

Over 600 Sri Lankans repatriated from UK, Australia and Maldives

A total of 648 Sri Lankans stranded in the UK, Australia and the Maldives had landed at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) by three separate SriLankan Airline flights yesterday and this morning, sources said.

I’ll make country safe from drugs and underworld: PM

I will take action to put an end to underworld activities and the drug menace which had intensified during the tenure of the previous government, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Leader, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said today.

Three-wheeler driver shot dead in Moratuwa

A 39-year-old three-wheeler driver, who was stopped at a Police road block at Lunawa, Moratuwa, has been shot dead by police following an altercation, police said.

Electricity - It was I who forced the Govt. to cut tariffs: Ranil

Referring to the government’s decision to slash March, April and May electricity tariffs by 25 per cent, former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said it was he who got this concession for the people.