Isolation centre under construction at IDH

Sri Lanka Air Force commenced construction of a pre-fabricated building as an isolation centre at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (IDH) Angoda. It has been planned for this centre to consist of 16 isolation rooms. Constructions commenced on March 20 and is expect to be completed within a period two weeks, Commander of the Air force, Air Marshal Sumangala also visited the site. Pics courtesy

China to donate more masks

Acting Chinese Ambassador Hu Wei met Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi and pledged to donate another 100k Masks(incl. 10k N95) and 20k Test Kits to Sri Lanka shortly.

Preparing for curfew…

People were seen busy buying goods for consumption during the period of curfew.

Waiting...

The Fort Railway Station, Colombo is seen stagnant after the government requested the general public to remain at homes as a precautionary measure to prevent the COVID-19 spread in the country. However, some people including foreigners could be seen at the railway station waiting for trains to reach their destinations. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Army Chief inspects Welikanda Hospital

Army Commander Shavendra Silva visited the Welikanda Hospital which is being converted as a treatment centre for Coronavirus patients.

Disinfecting of BIA continues

Election postponed

The Elections Commission (EC) today postponed the Parliamentary polls scheduled to be held on April 25th indefinitely considering the uncertain situation prevalent in the country with the spread of COVID 19, viral infection. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Nominations submitted for Gampaha District

Several political parties including United National Party (UNP) and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) handed over nominations for the general election at the Gampaha District Secretariat today. Former UNP MPs Ruwan Wijewardene and Arjuna Ranatunge are seen at the District Secretariat. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Air force fumigates Fort Railway Station

Sri Lanka Air force personnels fumigate outside the Fort Railway Station in Colombo today as per the decision made by the government to do so to prevent the spread of CORVID – 19 in the country. Sri Lanka confirmed 43 cases in the country while over 7,500 had died from the disease worldwide according to WHO. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Astonishing landscapes of South America

The diversity of South America’s landscapes is perhaps the greatest of any continent. It’s hard to fathom that both the driest hot desert in the world, the Atacama in Chile, and our planet’s most biodiverse region, the Amazon rainforest, can be found within the same landmass. (Daily Mail)

Fighting the spread of COVID-19

Commuters at Fort Railway Station, Colombo are seen wearing face masks as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It was also seen that washbasins have been fixed outside the railway station to promote handwashing. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel and Kushan Pathiraja

Selfless sacrifice

Several pictures of army personnel taking a break from work while completing construction at quarantine facilities, went viral on social media.

Fumigating buses

Health officers fumigating buses at the Central Bus stand Pettah yesterday as per the decision taken by the government to prevent the spread of COVID – 19 in the country. Sri Lanka confirmed 28 cases in the country while nearly 6000 had died of the disease worldwide according to WHO. Several areas in Colombo were deserted yesterday. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Taking precautionary measures

Several State and privates institutes and centres in the Colombo City seen taking precautionary measures to avoid the spread of Covid-19. The picture shows an individual being inspected at the entrance of the World Trade Centre. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Deserted…

Several places in the Colombo area were seen deserted due to the fears of the prevailing Covid-19 in the country.

Navy to prevent COVID-19 entering the country from ships

Sri Lanka Navy, in collaboration with the Suwaseriya Ambulance Service, Firefighting Unit of Colombo harbour, Harbour Health Service and doctors from National Quarantine Unit conducted a drill at the harbour yesterday to rehearse Standard Operational Procedure that could be adopted in the event of transferring a suspected COVID-19 contracted patient from a ship to the relevant hospital ashore and quarantining a particular area on the land.

Against university ragging...

A protest was staged by parents, university students and many other citizens at the Agitation Site near the Presidential Secretariat yesterday against university ragging.

Lengthy queues at fuel stations

Long queues were seen at fuel stations in Colombo and its suburbs today due to the fear of COVID-19 among people. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Appeared...

Former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake and other suspects of Central Bank bond scam appeared in the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today.

Expressway bus on fire

A bus plying from Colombo to Galle on the Southern Expressway (E-01) caught fire between Kottawa and Kahathuduwa Interchanges at the 3.6-milepost this morning. (Pix by Bimal Shyamal)

Stunning moment

Three USAF B-2 stealth bombers landed in Britain today as they continued to conduct military drills in NATO airspace amid heightened tensions with Russia. (Daily Mail)

COVID-19 awareness for state employees

An awareness programme on COVID-19 is underway for the staff members of Ministries, Departments and Corporations and the first in the series was held at the Presidential Secretariat today. Pix by President’s Media Division

US World War II submarine discovered

Researchers have found the resting place of a World War II submarine wreck 11,000 feet below the surface. (Daily Mail)

141st Battle of the Blues

Students and old boys of St. Thomas’ College and Royal College took to the streets of Colombo for the annual pre-match cycle and vehicle parade. The Thomian parade began outside S. Thomas’Preparatory School Kollupitiya, while the Royal College parade began outside the school. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja and Waruna Wanniarachchi

MR signs nomination papers

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday signed nomination papers at the Wijerama Residence in the presence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and former President Maithripala Sirisena to contest the upcoming Parliamentary Elections from the Kurunegala Electorate.

Promoting women’s representation

An advocacy event to promote representation of women in the upcoming parliamentary elections organized by the Gender and Elections Working Group (GEWG) was held at Taj Samudra hotel today with the participation of representatives of GEWG and other iconic women in the country. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Leaving just ONE in the world

Kenya’s only female white giraffe and her calf have been killed by poachers on Tuesday, in a major blow for the rare animals found nowhere else in the world, conservationists said.

What an expression!

The election campaign of ex-UNP MP Hirunika Premachadra was kicked off yesterday with Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa and former Ministers Patali Champika Ranawaka and Harsha de Silva gracing the occasion.

Quarantine Centres now ready

Chief of Defence Staff and Army Commander Shavendra Silva said the tri-services once again shouldering the national responsibility of containing any possible transmission of deadly ’Covid-19’ (Corona virus) in the country.

SJB headquarters opened

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa today declared open the SJB headquarters in Ethul Kotte. SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara, former MP Gayantha Karunatileke, JHU Leader Patali Champika Ranawaka and former MP Chandrani Bandara participated in the event. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana