121 COVID-19 deaths confirmed for Thursday (16)

121 COVID-19 deaths were confirmed for September 16, increasing the death toll to 11,938.



Rishad Bathiudeen further remanded; wife and father-in-law granted bail

Parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen has been further remanded until October 01 in connection with the death of a teenage domestic worker who was serving at his residence.



Island-wide quarantine curfew in Sri Lanka further extended

The ongoing island-wide quarantine curfew orders will stay in effect until 4.00 a.m. on October 01 (Friday), the President’s Spokesman said.



Sarath Fonseka encourages prison inmates to thrash politicos if they are harassed and intimidated

Inmates in prisons should break the bones of State Ministers if they storm into prisons and harass them by keeping pistols on their heads, an SJB MP said yesterday.



Specialist doctors urge extension of lockdown

The Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) has urged the government to extend the current lockdown until the beginning of next month.



Reopen schools prioritising A/Level and O/Level students – Patali

Samagi Jana Balawegaya Parliamentarian Patali Champika Ranawaka says the government must take action to reopen schools prioritising Ordinary and Advanced Level students.



“Acts of gross impunity”: BASL calls for independent, impartial probe into Ratwatte’s conduct

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) says it is “deeply disturbed” at the reports of the alleged criminal conduct on the part of former State Minister of Prisons Management and Prisoners’ Rehabilitation Affairs Lohan Ratwatte.



118 COVID-19 deaths confirmed for Wednesday (15)

118 COVID-19 deaths were confirmed for September 15, increasing the death toll to 11,817.



EU delegation to visit Sri Lanka for talks on GSP+ concessions

A delegation of the European Union is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka on September 27, the Foreign Secretary Admiral (Prof.) Jayanath Colombage said.



Paddy Marketing Board Chairman resigns

Paddy Marketing Board Chairman, Dr. J.D. Mannapperuma, tendered his resignation yesterday (15), saying he was “inconvenienced” the way the board has been functioning lately, with no policy in paddy and rice pricing. He said he “cannot function” the way he had been working earlier in such a backdrop.



Enough petroleum resources in Mannar to settle country’s foreign debt – Gammanpila

Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila says that Sri Lanka has enough petroleum resources in Mannar to sort out the country’s USD 47 billion debt many times over.



Moderna says COVID-19 vaccine protection wanes, makes case for booster

New data from Moderna Inc’s (MRNA.O) large COVID-19 vaccine trial shows that the protection it offers wanes over time, supporting the case for booster doses, the company said in a news release on Wednesday.



UN office in Colombo condemns ill-treatment of prisoners

The United Nations (UN) office in Sri Lanka says it condemns any ill-treatment of prisoners.



132 COVID-19 deaths confirmed for Tuesday (14)

132 COVID-19 deaths were confirmed for September 14, increasing the death toll to 11,699.



State Minister Lohan Ratwatte resigns from his portfolio

State Minister of Prison Management & Prisoners’ Rehabilitation Lohan Ratwatte has resigned from his position over the incidents at the Anuradhapura and Welikada prisons.



Ajith Nivard Cabraal assumes duties as the 16th Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka

Ajith Nivard Cabraal has assumed duties as the 16th Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.