Category: Local News

The National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) has issued an updated announcement on the isolation orders.

Sri Lanka’s central bank on Monday called for further import restrictions to address a crippling foreign exchange crisis, following a string of loans from Asian neighbours including impoverished Bangladesh.

Two currency swap arrangements in the pipeline with India’s Reserve Bank are key components in the immediate work plan of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to boost its reserves, bank’s chief WD Lakshman said.

According to the COVID-19 guidelines issued by the Director General Health Services, all parties, tamashas and public and private gatherings have been banned with immediate effect, Police Media Spokesman Acting Senior DIG Ajith Rohana said yesterday (28).

Sri Lanka has decided to temporarily ban air passengers with a recent travel history to several countries in the Middle East during the last 14 days, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced.

Several localities in Colombo and Gampaha districts have been isolated with effect from 6.00 am today (June 29), the Army Commander General Shavendra Silva announced.

The Ministry of Health has said asymptomatic COVID-19 patients can be treated in their own homes.

Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila has reportedly informed the last Cabinet meeting that what had forced the Government to increase the domestic fuel price had been the scarcity of US dollars.

The United National Party (UNP) yesterday charged that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s speech last Friday failed to address the key issues faced by the country, indicating lack of direction and attempting to shift blame to the public for national woes.

Several areas in Ratnapura and Monaragala districts have been isolated with immediate effect, Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said.

State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Channa Jayasumana says three COVID-19 vaccines that have been approved by the World Health Organisation for emergency use and haven’t been used in Sri Lanka thus far, will arrive in the country within the next two weeks.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has informed the Maha Sangha that he will not take back the decision to use organic fertilizer towards endowing a healthy future generation to the country, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said today (27).

There will be no inter-provincial bus services as the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) has not recommended resuming public transport service in this situation, Transport State Minister Dilum Amunugama said.

Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa says the President through his address to the nation has revealed to the country the inability and the failure of the present government.

The Central Bank has told banks not to request dollars from the banking regulator’s depleted foreign currency reserves, and instead find it in the cash-short market as the country faces a major scarcity of dollars in the forex market.

Speculation is rife in political circles that SLPP strongman Basil Rajapaksa will be appointed Minister of Finance and Economic Development after he takes oaths as a National List MP on July 6.