I’m trying to keep election costs below Rs.10 Bn: EC Chief

Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said yesterday he was trying his best to keep the costs for the August 5 general election below Rs.10 billion amid the challenges posed by COVID-19.

Govt. considering opening of BIA before August 1: Minister

The government is considering the reopening of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake prior to August 1,Tourism and Aviation Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said.

30 police officers including Kollupitiya OIC sent for quarantine

At least 30 police officers including the Kollupitiya Police OIC, who were on duties near the US embassy in Colombo to disperse the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) protesters, have been sent for quarantine, the Police said.

Preferential numbers of candidates gazetted

The extraordinary gazette with preferential numbers of candidates contesting the General Elections 2020 was published by the Government Printing Department a short while ago.

Printing of preferential numbers underway: Govt. Printer

The printing of candidates’ preferential numbers is in progress, Government Printer Mrs. Gangani Liyanage said, adding that the printing of preferential numbers in six districts and of dual ballot papers had already been completed.

UNP-SLPP main contenders in forthcoming poll: Ranil

There will be only two main political parties to contest this year’s general election, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told several UNP-led trade union members this morning at the party headquarters in Sirikotha.

SLTD issues tourism operational guidelines

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTD) has issued tourism operational guidelines as a move to resume tourism sector.

Ranil says Govt. not conducting adequate PCR tests

Former Prime Minister and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe charged that serious problems have arisen regarding the government’s programme to control the spread of Covid-19 especially due to lack of testing.

Diplomat issue at BIA became a learning moment: Colombage

The incident of a senior US diplomat being given the green light to enter into the country sans a PCR test became a learning moment and resulted in the issuance of revised instructions for diplomats to be followed when arriving in Sri Lanka due to Covid-19, Admiral Professor Jayanath Colombage, the Additional Secretary to the President for Foreign Relations, said today.

No decision yet to impose nationwide curfew on Sunday

The islandwide curfew which was imposed yesterday morning will be relaxed on Saturday morning at 4 am and there is no decision as yet to impose an islandwide curfew on Sunday, a senior official from the President’s Office told the Daily Mirror yesterday.

COVID-19 threat within society ’basically over’, says Army Chief

The threat from the COVID-19 within the society is almost basically over in Sri Lanka and authorities have formulated a plan to prevent a fresh threat emerging within the public from the infected persons who are being repatriated from overseas, Army Commander. Lt. General Shavendra Silva told Daily Mirror yesterday.

Dissolution of Parliament and election date: SC dismisses FR petitions

The Supreme Court Bench comprising Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya as Chairman and Justices Buwaneka Aluvihare, Sisira de Abrew, Priyantha Jayawardene and Vijith Malalgoda today on a unanimous decision refused to grant leave to proceed to the seven fundamental rights petitions challenging the dissolution of Parliament and on the general election date.

I placed signature 21,000 times to extradite Mahendran from Singapore: MS

Former President Maithripala Sirisena said that as the head of state, he placed his signature 21,000 times, over a period of three days, on documents compiled by the Attorney General in order to prepare for the extradition of the former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran from Singapore.

Gaffoor Building in Colombo isolated

The Gaffoor Building in Colombo Fort which is used by the navy has been isolated after a navy driver was tested positive for COVID-19, Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe said.

Islandwide curfew to be imposed on Sunday

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, after consulting health authorities and the tri force commanders on Wednesday night has decided to impose a nationwide curfew on Sunday to avoid the unnecessary congregation of people amidst a sudden spike in the number of COVID-19 patients.

We must never lower our guard Just because Govt. relaxed curfew

The health guidelines and advisories issued early this month to be effective from May 11 for the state and private sector establishments and their employees will be applied to the entire country after curfew is relaxed countrywide from tomorrow onwards, a top health official said.

Security beefed across SL as nationwide curfew comes into effect

Security has been beefed across Sri Lanka as a 2 day nation wide curfew came into effect from 8pm on Saturday with nearly 1000 road blocks set up in all districts, the police said.

Not possible to hold election on June 20 under current situation: EC

The Elections Commission informed the Supreme Court today that it is not possible to conduct the General Elections on June 20 under the current situation in the country.

SC commences hearing FR petitions against General Election date

Consideration of seven Fundemental Rights petitions challenging the election date, commenced before a five-judge Supreme Court bench.

HC sets aside Magistrate’s bail order on Rajitha

The Colombo High Court has set aside a bail order issued by the Colombo Chief Magistrate on former Minister Rajitha Seneratna over the ’white van’ press conference case.

President underscores importance of random sample testing

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has highlighted the importance of conducting random sample PCR tests in areas where people frequent regularly, the Presidential Media Division (PMD) said.

Set of guidelines issued on restoring normalcy in civilian life

Police has issued a set of guidelines to be followed by the people on restoring normalcy in civilian life while the quarantine curfew is being implemented.

FR petitions: Not in position to appear for EC, AG informs court

Attorney General Dappula de Livera has informed the Supreme Court that he is not in a position to appear for the Elections Commission and its members in the Fundamental Right petitions filed challenging the date of the Election, AG’s co-ordinating officer, State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne said.

Govt yet to categorize who can open on May 11

Despite the government stating that curfew will be relaxed for public and private sector businesses to re-open from May 11, the Daily Mirror learns that this has caused severe confusion among the public on which businesses can function from Monday as no specific categories has been listed to date.

Cabinet nod to provide land to install statue of Nelson Mandela

The Cabinet has granted permission to provide space from the land owned by the Colombo Municipal Library premises to install a statue to respect Nelson Mandela, a former President of South Africa.

President optimistic that economy could be re-built

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is optimistic that the economy adversely affected by the COVID – 19 pandemic could be re-built on a solid basis, the President’s Media Division said.

Legal actions against 20 fmr ministers for not handing back their official residences

The Public Administration Ministry will file a lawsuit order against 20 minsters and two officials of the previous government for not vacating the official residences assigned to them during the office, an official said today.

EC should follow procedure established by law: AG

The Attorney General has informed the Election Commission that it is required to follow the procedure established by law for the conduct of Parliamentary Elections 2020, AG’s Coordinating Secretary said.

SriLankan to bring Lankan students in UK, Australia

SriLankan Airlines would operate repatriation flights to bring Sri Lankan students from London, UK and Melbourne, Australia, the Airlines said.

21,000 PCR tests so far, only 3% tested positive - PMD

A total of 21,000 PCR tests have been conducted so far and only 3% out of this figure has been confirmed as infected, Presidential Media Division said.