Health authorities say people diagnosed with COVID-19 are likely to develop depression and other mental health issues after recovering from the disease.

Sri Lanka has cut back on imports of farm chemicals, cars and even its staple spice turmeric as its foreign exchange reserves dwindle, hindering its ability to repay a mountain of debt as the South Asian island nation struggles to recover from the pandemic.

Three persons have been arrested for stealing money and gold jewellery from persons while posing as police officers.

Skyrocketing cost of living and rising unemployment are part of the Government’s legacy as they complete two years in office, main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) alleged yesterday.

The Government yesterday (11) criticised the principals and teachers who have stopped online teaching and called them a ‘worthless group.’ Addressing the weekly Cabinet Media briefing at the Department of Government Information, Cabinet Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said the teachers refusing to teach the children should be taken very seriously.

President’s Secretary P. B. Jayasundera yesterday said that imports should be relaxed instead of imposing restrictions, in a manner that it would not be harmful to the government policy framework.

Sri Lanka will receive 1.5 million doses of Moderna vaccines this Friday (July 16), says State Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana.

Japan will make additional donations of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to Sri Lanka and other Asian neighbours, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Tuesday.

Cardinal Malclom Ranjith together with several bishops of the Catholic church in Sri Lanka in a letter addressed to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has requested him to provide a credible answer to all the questions that the church has raised on Easter Sunday attacks and take action against those who are responsible for it within one month.

The Cabinet has granted approval to pay an incentive of Rs. 12,500 per hectare not exceeding 02 hectares (05 acres) to encourage the farmers who produce and use organic fertilizer for their own cultivation.

Up to 20 dedicated TV channels will be set up to facilitate online education to overcome the problems faced by children in online education during school closures during the pandemic, said Minister of Mass Media and Information, Cabinet Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella.

Justice Minister Ali Sabry, PC, yesterday said it had been decided to retain an international law firm to make claims for the damage caused by the MV X-Press Pearl fire in Sri Lankan waters.

A 41-year-old individual has been arrested by the Terrorism Investigation Division for promoting the LTTE organisation.

Teachers in Sri Lankan government-run schools withdrew from online teaching Monday to protest the detention of union leaders and others in quarantine centers under pandemic laws.

A special operation carried out by the Navy in seas off the Analathivu island, Jaffna in the wee hours today (12) led to the seizure of about 344kg and 550g of Kerala cannabis along with 03 suspects and a dinghy used for the racket.

Chairman of the Chilaw Urban Council and another were arrested for physically assaulting two youth in Chilaw last night, Police Spokesman SDIG Ajith Rohana said.