Namal visits bed assembling factory in Kolonnawa

Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Namal Rajapaksa is seen inspecting the assembling of hospital beds for COVID patients at a state-owned factory in Kolonnawa. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Administering Sinopharm Vaccine

The Chinese Sinopharm COVID-19 Vaccine rollout began for people living in the Minuwangoda area. The vaccination got underway at Nalandarama temple in Minuwangoda today. More than 40 vaccination centres have been established in the Western Province to provide the first dose of China’s Sinopharm vaccine. Accordingly, the first dose of the vaccine is being given to individuals between the ages of 30 and 59. Pix By Pradeep Pathirana.

Special Waterborne Operations Squadron unveiled

The Special Waterborne Operations Squadron comprising 16 officers of the Special Task Force of Police (STF) was established yesterday in order to thwart illegal sand mining, deforestation, smuggling and other crimes across the country.

Educating people to wear facemasks

The Mulleriyawa police today initiated an awareness programme within the Mulleriyawa police jurisdiction to educate the people who use public transport, working in shops and visit shopping outlets on the importance of wearing facemasks. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Kolonnawa residents get Sputnik-V jab

Pictures show the residents of the Kolonnawa area are being jabbed with the Russia-made Sputnik V vaccine at the Sri Piyadassinaramaya in Kolonnawa. Around 1,000 individuals were given the vaccine. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

600 families in Yakkala area vaccinated with Sinopharm

A total of 600 families of four Grama Niladhari Divisions in the Yakkala area were vaccinated with China’s Sinopharm vaccine yesterday. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Sinopharm vaccination begins

Administering the Sinopharm vaccine for local nationals has begun today, soon after the World Health Organization (WHO) approved it for emergency use worldwide. The vaccination started at the Sithumina Reception Hall in Kirulapana targeting 300 individuals. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Army Chief supervises largest COVID-19 Hospital

Army Commander General Shavendra Silva together with several Senior Officers undertook an inspection tour yesterday in order to find whether the country’s biggest Army-improvised COVID-19 Hospital in Seeduwa, now receiving final touches needs any more fine-tuning.

COVID Treatment Centre in Gampola

The Gampola Youth Corps Centre was converted to a COVID Treatment facility through the intervention of Irrigation Development related to Rural Paddy Fields State Minister Anuradha Jayaratne.

Inoculation of Sinopharm vaccine gets underway

Inoculation of the China’s Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine got underway for the first time in Sri Lanka today. People in Jinthupitiya, Colombo are seen queuing to get the vaccine at the Jinthupitiya, District 02 MOH office. The vaccine had been given to 150 individuals in the area. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Cab lands on Police motorcycle in Ampara

Two police officers including the traffic OIC of the Ampara Police Station were injured after a vehicle driven by a drunk driver landed on top of a Police motorcycle in Ampara yesterday.

Welisara Economic Centre closed

The Dedicated Economic Centre in Welisara was closed for ten days from today after identifying 28 COVID-19 positive persons. The officials of the Wattala Health authority had advised to close the Economic Centre and to conduct another PCR tests on the tenth day. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Lessons learnt came handy....

After stringent action taken by the police yesterday to take those who did not wear face masks to quarantine centres, many people are seen here wearing face masks and buying them with a lot of concern. Shops too are seen covering their entrance with polythene curtains to prevent the virus getting in. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Largest COVID treatment hospital inaugurated

The largest COVID treatment hospital in the country was opened in Seeduwa yesterday by the Army Commander, Gen. Shavendra Silva. The hospital has a capacity of treating 1,200 patients. (Army Media)

Wear your face masks...or face this

The Wella Veediya (Sea Shore) police division in Colombo today arrested 51 people who were not wearing face masks and ignoring the primary health guidelines. A special police team has been deployed to arrest those violators. The picture shows a man who does not wear a face mask is being carried by the cops quarantine centres. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

’Sputnik V’ gets off the ground

The first phase of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine inoculation began at Gothatuwa for Colombo district residents aged between 30 and 60 years. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

’’Vishva Agamika Horawa’’

’’Vishva Agamika Horawa’’ a religious programme organised to invoke blessings and speedy recovery to those who were infected with the coronavirus will be held at all temples and other religious places tomorrow at 5.46 pm. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Pamunuwa road closed after swelling COVID infections

Having recorded more than 40 COVID positive cases from the Pamunuwa area in Maharagama, the Medical Health Officer of the area has isolated the Pamunuwa Grama Niladhari division. Accordingly, the road leading to Pamunuwa Church and to the Sri Jayewardenapura hospital is shut. Pix by Nisal Baduge

PCR tests done at Hiripitiya temple

PCR tests are being done at the Hiripitiya temple in Kottawa by health officials after records showed several people were infected with COVID virus in the Kottawa area. Pix by Nisal Baduge

PCR tests at Sugathadasa Stadium

PCR tests were carried out near the Sugathadasa Outdoor Stadium, Colombo by health officials. People are seen cooperating with health officials. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Health workers jabbed!

The programme to administer the second dose of the AstraZeneca Covishield vaccination was given to the Health Workers of the Municipal Council yesterday at the Campbell Park Ground. Pic by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

President attends Parliament sitting

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrived in Parliament today. He was accorded a warm welcome by the Chief Government Whip Johnston Fernando along with State Ministers Kanaka Herath and D. V. Chanaka at the main Parliament entrance.

Mission to Dartmoor

US Marines have been pictured practising manoeuvres on Dartmoor after arriving from a warship anchored off the coast of Ireland. (Daily Mail)

Less crowded...

Very few people are seen on the roads in Piliyandala and Panadura town areas as certain Grama Niladhari divisions in those areas have been isolated. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Sputnik-V vaccine consignment arrives in SL

A consignment of 15,000 Russian-made Sputnik-V vaccines arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport this morning. (Pix by T.K.G. Kapila)

Sudeva Hettiarachchi, Kingsley Ratnayake assume duties

Veteran journalists Sudeva Hettiarachchi and Kingsley Ratnayake, who has been appointed as the Director-General of Presidential Media, assumed duties this morning at the President’s media premises. Pix by President’s media unit

Tree planting programme in Fort & Pettah

A tree-planting programme was launched yesterday by the Pettah police in a bid to make Fort and Pettah a green city under the patronage of SSP Nishantha Chandrasekara, in charge of Colombo Central area. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

130th remembrance of A.E. Gunasinghe

The 130th remembrance of the man who pioneered the labour movement in Sri Lanka, A.E. Gunasinghe was held near the statue of the late Gunasinghe in Pettah today.Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Less crowds in Colombo

Several areas in Colombo city including Pettah and Fort, which are busy areas on normal days, looked less crowded yesterday probably yesterday being the May Day holiday and owing to the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the country. Pix by Samantha Perera

A worker pulling a hand-cart laden with goods

Ahead of May Day, a masked worker pulls a hand-cart laden with goods. May Day activities are marred by the pandemic. It seems there is no respite for these workers toiling daily.