Category: Local News

The government has rejected media reports that had claimed there is a shortage of essential food items in the country, including rice and sugar.

The Commissioner General of Essential Services Major General N.D.S.P. Niwunhella said yesterday that 29,900 metric tons (MT) of hoarded sugar found in warehouses had been confiscated by the Government following the investigations and operations carried out.

State Minister of Money and Capital Market and State Enterprise Reforms Ajith Nivard Cabraal says that in spite of pressure mounting on the government to extend the current lockdown further, it should tread cautiously.

215 COVID-19 deaths were confirmed for August 31, increasing the death toll to 9,400.

The Chief Justice has appointed a special three-member panel of judges to hear the case regarding the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks.

Cutting down expenditure and distribution of essential food items under emergency laws will not help the current financial crisis, an SJB MP said yesterday.

An ongoing probe by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the recent seizure of narcotics, weapons and ammunition has led to speculation that an international drug running and weapon trading racket is aimed at reviving the Sri Lankan Tamil separatist group LTTE, Indian media reported on Tuesday (Aug. 31).

It is the duty of everyone to maintain financial discipline at a time when the country is in a financially difficult period, Co-Cabinet Spokesman, Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said.

Sri Lankan reserves have been strengthened by the receipt of an influx of USD 787 Million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and USD 150 Million from Bangladesh Central Bank as a swap arrangement, says Finance Secretary S.R. Attygalle.

194 COVID-19 deaths were confirmed for August 30, increasing the death toll to 9,185.

The Sri Lankan rupee has depreciated to the lowest value against the US dollar in history today (31).

Our country became a victim of the world economic crisis due to the Central Bank Treasury Bond scam and other acts of corruption during the previous regime, State Minister Shehan Semasinghe said yesterday.

Former Western Province Governor Azath Salley who was arrested for making a controversial statement, further remanded until September 14.

The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to issue a gazette notification before the 20th of November declaring teacher service, teacher advisory service and principal service as closed services.

The Government Medical Officers’ Forum says information in the National Medicines Regulatory Authority data system being reported missing cannot be considered an incident which took place without anyone’s knowledge.

Former Health Ministry Spokesperson Dr. Jayaruwan Bandara has been summoned to appear before the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) today to record a statement regarding information that he had revealed during an interview.