State owned retail network Lanka Sathosa will remain open across the island from today as directed by the government to ensure the masses have access to food and essential items during the ongoing restriction period.The Ministry of Trade has decided to provide a relief package to Sathosa customers and a ‘Sahana Malla’ (relief bag) containing 10 items for Rs.1000. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel and Kushan Pathiraja
Police officers were pasting stickers on vehicles entering the Western Province from North Western Province at Thoppuwa Junction. The operation was conducted under the instructions of Kochchika. Police introduced a sticker system for the vehicles entering Colombo City to avoid repeated checking of vehicles and also to facilitate vehicle inspections. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe
Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith flanked by some catholic priests speaks during a press conference where he urged the authorities to investigate to determine as to who was behind the Easter Sunday attacks which the former Attorney General referred to as a conspiracy.
Fifteen attendees including event organiser Chandimal Jayasinghe and model Piyumi Hansamali who were arrested earlier for organising a birthday party at the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo on Sunday night violating quarantine regulations, have been sent to serve quarantine. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe
The government today handed granted an allowance of Rs. 5,000 to people who lost their livelihood due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Picture shows people are receiving the allowance in Rajagiriya and Gampaha. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja and Pradeep Pathirana.
Heavy traffic was reported at many entry points to Colombo city despite the travel restrictions. Vehicles were seen in long queues at Peliyagoda junction from the Colombo-Kandy main road, Polduwa junction on parliament road and Mount Lavinia. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana, Kithsiri de Mel and Wanuna Wanniarachchi
A raid was carried out by the Measurement Standard Unit of the Gampaha District Secretariat, to test and stamp measuring accessories of traders in the Welisara Economic Centre. A total of 22 shops were checked and legal actions were taken against four shops for not renewing the measuring accessories. The raid was carried under the instructions of Gampaha District Secretary Sunil Jayalath. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe
The officers attached to the Investigation Unit of the Customs Prevention Division today seized 15,251 kilograms of dried turmeric stock worth more than five million rupees while attempting to smuggle it into the country. The turmeric stock was declared as 16, 000 kilograms of Refined Naphthalene packed in 507 boxes. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana
The first COVID-19 treatment centre for Buddhist monks donated by a leading personality in Kandy was handed over to the Ministry of Health today with the distinguished participation of the Anunayake Theras of the Malwatte Chapter. Pix by Chamil Rupasinghe
A small crab is crawling on the sun-bathed sandy beach looks for a dwelling place among the strewn debris washed ashore from the burnt MV X-Press Pearl freighter. These small creatures make a fragile pile around them with sea sand and dwell inside. Also in the picture, security personnel work round the clock in the Pamunugama beach to remove heaps of debris. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe
Amidst Police Chief C. D. Wickramaratne’s recent instruction to all police officers carrying out the COVID-19 duties to refrain from harassing the public whilst doing so, scores of policemen were seen even yesterday deployed in numerous road blocks in and out of the city checking the movements of commuters during the lockdown, including this one at Colombo and Welisara on the Colombo – Negombo Main Road.
The officers attached to the Vavuniya Army Defence Headquarters provided food for the paupers who became helpless due to travel restrictions. They began their benevolent act today upon the instruction of Wanni Security Forces Head Maj. Gen. D.M.H.D. Bandara. All paupers in Vavuniya were given food rations. Pix by Romesh Madushanka
CBSL further eases monetary policy stance
CBSL’s single policy interest rate mechanism comes into effect today
Sri Lanka Economic Summit in January 2025
Industries Ministry public day re-launched after four years