Category: Local News

In order to further strengthen the economic cooperation between two countries, the Government of Republic of Korea has agreed to provide concessional loans from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) of the Export Import Bank of Korea (KEximbank), Sri Lanka’s Finance Ministry said.

The United Arab Emirates will bar entry to non-UAE resident travellers from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka starting on Wednesday to try to contain the spread of the coronavirus, it said today.

Validity period of all driving licenses that expire from 01 April to 30 September is valid for another six months from the expiration date, Commissioner General of Motor Traffic Sumith Alahakoon stated.

The 2020 Central Bank annual report presented to Parliament last week is a testimony to the fact that the country’s economy is in dire straits, says the JVP.

Six COVID-19 variants have been identified from the samples sequenced from positive patients across the country till 30 April.

Another sixteen Grama Niladhari divisions and areas in five districts have been isolated with immediate effect, Army Commander General Shavendra Silva announced.

The COVID-19 death toll in Sri Lanka climbed to 801 with 15 more deaths being confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services, the Government Information Department said.

A decision has been taken to carry out only the essential services with minimum staff in all government establishments, the Ministry of Public Administration stated.

Education Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said he would meet with a group of leading doctors and educational sector experts in Sri Lanka next Wednesday to seek advice on the opening of schools, pre-schools, Pirivenas and universities.

21 Grama Niladhari divisions in Ratnapura and Kalutara districts as well as one estate in Nuwara-Eliya District isolated with immediate effect, Army Commander General Shavendra Silva announced.

The COVID-19 death toll in Sri Lanka climbed to 786 with 22 more deaths being confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services, the Government Information Department said.

A COVID-19 patient with Indian Variant (B.1.617) was found from a Quarantine facility in Sri Lanka for the first time, Director of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine of Sri Jayewardenepura University Dr. Chandima Jeewandara said.

The Government yesterday announced that steps would be taken to provide Cabinet-approved relief with effect from April to the dependents of war heroes who were killed or disabled due to terrorist activities.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday stated that irrespective of obstacles, challenges and difficulties, the Government will always remain committed to policies and development programmes it has put forward until they become realities.

The Government has decided to convert closed garment factories to COVID treatment centres as the hospitals and treatments centres in the country are running out of capacity due to the third COVID wave.

More areas in Kalutara, Gampaha and Jaffna districts have been placed under a state of isolation with immediate effect, the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) announced.