Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa has requested the government to call an all party conference and formulate a plan to safeguard the public from the coronavirus pandemic.

No decision has been taken yet with regard to the administering of only the first dose of Sputnik V vaccine, State Minister of Production, Supply, and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa Jayasumana said on Tuesday.

Even if the ill-fated MV X-Press Pearl did not reveal the goods it was carrying before reaching Sri Lankan waters, the responsibility still lies with the Government for failing to ensure that the ship complies with international laws, claimed JVP Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath.

The COVID-19 death toll in Sri Lanka climbed to 1,566 with 39 more deaths being confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today (02), the Government Information Department said.

Islandwide travel restrictions will be further extended until June 14, Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said.

A chemical-laden X-Press Pearl cargo ship is sinking off the coast of Sri Lanka amid fears of a major environmental disaster.

All Post offices and Sub Post offices across the country will function from tomorrow (03), to provide limited services.

A burnt-out container ship that has already caused Sri Lanka’s worst maritime environmental disaster was in imminent danger of sinking on Wednesday with several hundred tonnes of oil still in its fuel tanks, the navy said.

The Health Trade Union Confederation (HTUC) comprising over 20 trade unions in the health service will go on a strike tomorrow (3), making 15 demands including safety facilities during the battle against COVID-19 and risk allowances to all health services.

The Government yesterday denied speculations on a possible salt shortage due to the contamination of the seas caused by the X-Press Pearl.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has ordered the wrecked X-Press Peral container ship to be towed into deep seas off the coast of Colombo.

The COVID-19 death toll in Sri Lanka climbed to 1,527 with 43 more deaths being confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today (01), the Government Information Department said.

The Colombo Additional Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday (01) issued an order preventing the Captain, Chief Engineer, and the Second Chief Engineer of MV X-Press Pearl ship from leaving the country.

Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for the construction of the new Sri Lanka Police Headquarters in Attidiya Road, Dehiwala.

The Police will carry out a special investigation on the authenticity of the letters issued by work places requesting employees to report to work during the travel restrictions imposed by the Government, DIG Ajith Rohana yesterday (31) said.