An extraordinary gazette notification issued by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday (07) detailing the duties and functions of the Finance Ministry which comes under the preview of Minister basil Rajapaksa.

31 persons including Ven. Rathkarawwa Jinarathana Thera and Ceylon Teachers’ Union General Secretary Joseph Stalin have been arrested for staging a protest at the Polduwa Round-about violating quarantine order this morning.

Newly-appointed Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa took oath as a Member of the Parliament this morning (July 08).

Basil Rajapaksa was sworn in as the Minister of Finance before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa a short while ago.

Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Chairman MP Charitha Herath yesterday directed SriLankan Airlines Chairman Ashok Pathirage to submit a complete business plan within a month to make the National Carrier profitable.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Parliamentarian Harshana Rajakaruna claimed the Government was using COVID-19 health guidelines to suppress anti-government views.

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

The Health Ministry has issued a new set of quarantine measures applicable for the travellers arriving in Sri Lanka during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sri Lanka on Wednesday issued its most expensive gold coin ever to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party, underscoring the close ties between the countries.

Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers Service Union Mahinda Jayasinghe and another individual have been arrested in Pamunugama for staging a protest in violation of quarantine regulations.

Propaganda Secretary of the Frontline Socialist Party Duminda Nagamuwa and four others have been arrested by the Police this morning (07) for organising a protest at Ramanayake Mawatha in Slave Island violating quarantine order.

The Extra-Ordinary gazette notification declaring Basil Rajapaksa a Member of Parliament has been issued by the Election Commission today (07).

Five including Namal Karunaratne and Samantha Vidyarathna were arrested for organising a protest over the fertiliser crisis, in violation of quarantine laws.

A 52-year old man was killed in a shooting incident in Kataragama last night, Police Spokesman SDIG Ajith Rohana said.

Another batch of 50,000 vials of the Russian made Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccines reached Sri Lanka this morning at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).

The Government Medical Officers Association says they will launch trade union action, if the government follows the current method of solving unjust issues raised by certain trade unions.