Quarantine measures for all incoming passengers/tourists issued

The Health Ministry today issued quarantine measures for all incoming passengers or tourists arriving from overseas during the pandemic of COVID-19, Director General of Health Services Dr Asela Gunawardana said.

Ex UL official fails to appear before Indian judge for sentencing

A former SriLankan Airlines official, found guilty of insulting the modesty of an employee, failed to appear before an Indian Magistrate today for sentencing.

Resolution on SL to be taken up at UNHRC on March 22

The resolution on Sri Lanka will be taken up at the United Nations Human Rights Council next Monday with a vote expected the same day or the following day, Daily Mirror learns.

No construction projects within the locale of Sinharaja: CEA

Replying to the claims that ecological destruction is going on in the Sinharaja Rainforest Reserve due to unauthorised construction of buildings, Chairman of the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), S. Amarasinghe said there are currently no construction projects especially for hotels within the locale of the Rainforest.

UK police clash with pro-LTTE demonstrators

The UK Metropolitan Police officers clashed with a group of LTTE supporters in Kenton North-West London, on Sunday, British media reported.

Former PM and five other ex-Ministers responsible

The report of the Presidential Commission which probed political victimisation had held former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and five other Ministers responsible for political victimisation.

Final version of resolution on SL after Wednesday

The core group of countries working on Sri Lanka’s issue at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) will be ready with the final version of the resolution after another session of informal consultations with the states interested in the issue, an official said yesterday.

China to donate 600,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine

China has promised to gift another 300,000 doses of its Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccines to Sri Lanka, in addition to 300,000 pledged previously, an official said.

Sri Lanka ready to consider single-shot vaccine

Sri Lanka is ready to consider a singleshot vaccine which has been given approval in the US.

Technical committee gives clearance; ban on COVID-19 burial revoked

The government decided today to allow the burial of Muslim COVID-19 victims after the technical committee appointed in this regard gave clearance, a Minister said today.

18 countries pledge to speak on behalf of SL at UNHRC

Eighteen countries have pledged to speak on behalf of Sri Lanka during the ongoing session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), a top source said.

Ad hoc vaccinations to stop; health officials to get tough

Following complaints that several people who were not under the ‘vulnerable groups’ had received the Astra Zeneca vaccinations against COVID-19 in recent days, health officials at a meeting yesterday decided to get tough and strictly implement the programme according to the groups officially allocated.

Lack of people’s cooperation cause for major concern: HSDG

Health Services Director General Dr. Asela Gunawardene who expressed concern over the lack of public cooperation to bring the pandemic under control, said it was left to the people to decide whether they would hold wedding receptions, parties, public functions and enjoy as in the past, or reduce merry making events to the barest minimum to pave way for the reopening of schools and universities.

Compelled to call for intl. tribunal to probe Easter Sunday Mayhem - Cardinal

Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith today said he will be compelled to call for a probe by an international court over the Easter Sunday attacks, if justice is not meted out to victims of the mayhem and their families.

AstraZeneca COVID jab ‘less effective against S Africa variant’

The COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford appeared to offer only limited protection against mild disease caused by the South African variant of the coronavirus, a spokesman for the British drugmaker has said.

Prez, PM meet Indian High Comm. over container terminal issue

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday met with Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay and conveyed the government’s interest in developing the West Container Terminal of Colombo Port together with India and Japan, informed sources said.

India insist on developing ECT jointly

In the immediate aftermath of the government’s decision that the East Container Terminal (ECT) of Colombo will be operated totally by Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), India reiterated its expectation for the expeditious implementation of the Trilateral Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed in May, 2019 among the governments of Sri Lanka, India and Japan.

Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi detained by military: Ruling party

Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other top government figures have been detained ’’by the military,’’ a spokesman for the governing National League for Democracy told CNN on Monday.

SL confirms its intent on revisiting provisions of PTA

The Sri Lankan Government confirmed its intent on revisiting the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) with a view to making the appropriate amendments, a joint statement by the Sri Lanka-EU said.

Officials insist situation under control

The Health Ministry insisted that the Covid situation was under control despite a high number of infected persons being detected in the country over the last couple of days.

India awaits regulatory clearance from SL to supply COVID-19 vaccine

India awaits regulatory clearance from Sri Lanka for the supply of Indian manufactured COVID-19 vaccines to Sri Lanka.

Hidden hands’ trying to meddle with police probes; IGP notifies all top cops

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) has issued a special circular to officers-in-charge of all police stations and all senior ranked officers to take legal action against the persons who are interfering with investigations conducted by the police.

Not ready for bad politics: Prez

Even though he was ready for the character of Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa or Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said today he was not ready to resort to bad politics just as the opposition.

US charges 3 Sri Lankans over Easter attacks

The US Justice Department charged three Sri Lankans on Friday with supporting terrorism for their participation in the 2019 Islamic State Easter attack that killed 268 people, the AFP reported.

Fmr. Directors of Swarnamahal Jewellers Ltd re-arrested

The Criminal Investigation Department re-arrested Jeewaka Edirisinghe, Anjalee Edirisinghe and Asanka Edirisinghe, the former directors of ETI Finance Limited a short while ago on charges of Criminal Misappropriation, Cheating, Money Laundering & other offences, Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said.

Cremating COVID-19 remains will stay: No changes in experts’ decision: Health Minister

Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi today asserted that the decision taken by the experts’ committee to cremate all COVID-19 related dead bodies will not be changed on any social, religious, political or personal grounds.

US Congress in turmoil as violent Trump supporters breach building

Violent supporters of President Donald Trump have breached the Capitol in Washington, as lawmakers met to confirm President-elect Joe Biden’s poll win.

SL seeks access to Covid-19 vaccine from India

Sri Lanka has expressed interest in procuring COVID-19 vaccines from India, visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar said.

Spreading, emerging of COVID sub-clusters away from WP critical: PHI Union

A critical situation of spreading and emergence of COVID-19 sub-clusters has been observed away from the Western Province, Public Health Inspectors’ (PHI) Union Secretary M. Balasuriya said.

Random Rapid Antigen Tests to be conduct in vulnerable areas in the country

Random Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) will be conducted on persons who live in vulnerable areas in the country to identify COVID-19 patients and treat them, Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said.