Hejaaz Hizbullah contracts Covid 19: CID informs court

The Criminal Investigations Department which was scheduled to produce detained Attorney at Law Hejaaz Hizbullah this afternoon before the Fort Magistrate did not produce him and informed the court that he had been tested positive for Covid 19.

All persons accompanying tourists should undergo 14 days quarantine

Under the new Covid-19 health guidelines issued for managing tourists, all persons accompanying tourists including tour guides, safari jeep drivers, bus drivers, other drivers, assistants, translators, unless attending in full PPE, should undergo 14 days quarantine.

SL expresses interest in procuring COVID-19 vaccines from India

Visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Dr.subrahmanyam Jaishankar said India he was carrying back with him Sri Lanka’s interest in accessing vaccines against COVID-19 from India.

Udayanga slams Kimarli, says she was fully aware about Yala, Mirissa

Sri Lanka’s former Russian Ambassador, Udayanga Weeratunga who has stirred controversy in recent days over his project to bring in Ukrainian tourists to Sri Lanka, yesterday slammed Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Kimarli Fernando, over her recent letter sent to Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga stating the SLTDA was unaware of tourists being taken to Yala and Mirissa under the pilot project.

India, SL held discussion on bilateral issues: Dinesh Gunawardane

Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardane with his Indian counterpart, said to the media that the two sides discussed defence and security related matters, as well as the issues related to maritime and fisheries sectors, as littoral states of the Indian Ocean.

Kotahena, Ruwanwella & several other areas released from isolation

The isolation status of Kotahena, Barber Street and Ruwanwella Police areas and 60-Watte in Cinnamon Gardens have been lifted with immediate effect, Army Commander Shavendra Silva said.

Two more die of Covid-19

Two more Covid-19 related deaths were reported today taking the death toll to 219, the Government Information Department said

Anti-Covid-19 herbal syrup gets administrative approval

The administrative approval has been granted to conduct research on anti-Covid-19 herbal syrup introduced by Ayurvedic practitioner Dhammika Bandara, Director General of Health Services Dr Asela Gunawardena said.

Govt. ready to provide COVID-19 vaccines soon after ACCD approval: Health Minister

While claiming that the Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases (ACCD) was preparing the Vaccine Deployment Plan at present, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said yesterday that COVID-19 vaccine would be provided to the people soon after the approval was granted by the ACCD.

Club Koggala Village turns Intermediate Covid Treatment Centre

The Sri Lanka Army has taken steps to establish the Club Koggala Village Hotel in Galle as an Intermediate Care Centre for COVID-19 infected patients from tomorrow (January 7).

Dayan Jayathilake appointed Senior Adviser to Sajith on International Affairs

Diplomat and well-known political critic Dr Dayan Jayathilaka has been appointed as the Senior Adviser on International Affairs to Opposition Leader and Samagi Jana Balawegaya leader Sajith Premadasa.

Operation to net people without face masks: 14 test COVID-19 positive in WP from 550 RATs

Fourteen persons have been tested positive with COVID-19 following Rapid Antigen Tests conducted randomly on 550 people who were not wearing face masks in the Western Province yesterday, Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said.

Two GN divisions isolated in Pujapitiya, Eheliyagoda

Two Grama Niladari (GN) division in Poojapitiya and Eheliyagoda have been isolated with immediate effect while isolation orders have been released in nine Grama Niladhari Divisions in Akkaraipattu Police Division, the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak said.

Legal action on travel agencies if tourists violate health guidelines: Minister

Legal action will be taken against the respective travel agencies if tourists violate health guidelines when visiting Sri Lanka.

Priority list for vaccine identified: Health Ministry

The Health Ministry has decided on a priority list of recipients of the coronavirus vaccine which consists of vulnerable groups. Among the recipients identified are people above 60 years of age, frontline workers and others.

Two more Covid-19 fatalities reported

Two more individuals succumbed to the Covid-19 today raising the death toll to 217, the Government Information Department said.

Airlines permitted to bring 75 Sri Lankans in each flight: Army Chief

The number of Sri Lankans permitted to board each flight arriving in the country from overseas has been increased to 75 from 50, allowing at least 250 more Sri Lankans to return to the country daily, Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said.

Two sans face masks test COVID-19 positive through RATs

Two persons have been identified as COVID-19 infected following Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) conducted among 300 individuals, who were not wearing face masks in the Colombo city today.

Antigen or PCR tests on people who don’t wear face masks - Police

Beginning from today, Rapid Antigen Tests(RAT) or Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests would be conducted on those who are not wearing face masks in public, in addition to taking legal action, police said.

Chinese Vaccines: Rules Out Pfizer

Sri Lanka’s health experts who are currently studying the anti COVID-19 vaccinations produced by some countries, is likely to recommend the Oxford/astrazeneca vaccine manufactured in India and the vaccines manufactured in China and are likely to rule out the Pfizer manufactured in the UK, the Daily Mirror learns.

500 German tourists to visit SL

Around 500 German tourists are scheduled to arrive in the country this month under the pilot project initiated in preparation for opening up the country for tourism at the end of this month, an official said yesterday.

565 more Covid-19 patients recover

A total of 565 more Covid-19 patients recovered and were discharged from hospitals increasing total number of recoveries in Sri Lanka to 37,817, the Health Ministry said.

Authorities still unable to lift isolation in lockdown areas

Despite some areas in Colombo are placed under isolation for a longer period of time, the health authorities are still unable to revoke the isolation status, as there is a tendency of more COVID-19 sub cluster proliferation, police said.

Adhere to COVID-19 guidelines; Authorities to monitor private, state institutions

The police and health authorities to monitor whether private and state institutions, factories and offices are functioning according to the health guidelines and bio security protocols issued to prevent COVID-19 spread, Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said.

Covid positive person flees country submitting bogus PCR test report

A COVID- 19 positive person from Enderamulla in the Mahara MOH Division is alleged to have left the country on a false medical report.

Two expert committees clash over burial of Covid-19 victims

Some members from the first and second appointed expert committees,set up to study and recommend if COVID-19 victims could be buried,had clashed during a meeting held on Dec.31,with contradicting views,with some members saying burials could cause harm while all 11 members of the second committee saying burials could be permitted,the Daily Mirror learns.

SLC employee tests positive with Covid-19

An employee of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had been contracted with Covid-19 and was isolated with immediate effect, the SLC said.

403 more Covid-19 cases reported today

A total of 403 individuals have tested positive for Covid-19 so far today increasing the total number of positive cases in Sri Lanka to 44,774, the Government Information Department said.

Who will take responsibility if an Ukrainian cluster emerges: JVP

While claiming that the government had put the whole country in danger by bringing down tourists from Ukraine for a few dollars, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today asked the government to reveal who will take the responsibility if a Ukrainian cluster emerged in the country.

India approves two Covid-19 vaccines for emergency use

India on Sunday authorised the emergency use of two coronavirus vaccines developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University and by local pharmaceutical firm Bharat Biotech, the country’s drug regulator said, paving the way for one of the world’s biggest inoculation drives.