Cabinet approval was granted to ban all face coverings including the burka and niqab, Public Security Cabinet Minister Dr. Sarath Weerasekara said.

The Cabinet of Ministers has decided to close all schools and tuition classes across the island until the 30th of April, says Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.

The second dose of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine will be administered from Wednesday (April 28), says State Minister of Production, Supply, and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa Jayasumana.

Although COVID-19 patients in the past were asymptomatic, patients identified with the recently discovered proportion of SARS-CoV-2 samples exhibit symptoms and have a higher risk of developing pneumonia as a result of several complications

State Minister of Money and Capital Markets Ajith Nivard Cabraal said yesterday that there was no relationship between money printing by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the depreciation of the local rupee in the foreign currency market.

Imbulagoda and Katudampe Grama Niladhari (GN) divisions in Rathagama police area in Galle District will be isolated from 8.00 p.m. tonight, according to Army Commander General Shavendra Silva.

Sri Lanka’s Intensive Care Units (ICUs) are reaching full capacity, said State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control, Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle on Monday (26).

All schools, pre-schools and Pirivens in the Western and North Western Provinces will remain closed with immediate effect until April 30, Education Minister Prof. GL Peiris said.

A decision has been taken to isolate Several Grama Niladhari (GN) divisions in three districts with effect from 8.00 p.m. tonight (26) to control the spread of COVID-19, said Commander of the Army General Shavendra Silva.

The main office of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment at Battaramulla will be closed on April 27 and 28.

The JVP says the government has not taken the coronavirus seriously.

The Health Ministry said that 580 ICU beds are currently available throughout the country for treatment of critical COVID-19 patients.

The Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) yesterday (25) protested against the arrest of its Vanni District member Rishad Bathiudeen and his brother, Riyaj in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

The government has decided to suspend all state functions over the next two weeks from today (25), the President’s Media Division said.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa says that only vaccination is the final solution to the COVID-19 pandemic and that the government has a strong programme is place to vaccinate the people of the country.

Colombo continues remain the hotspot for COVID-19 cases in Sri Lanka as 218 new infections were confirmed from the district yesterday.