The Bangladesh Bank (BB) board on Sunday approved in principle a draft $200 million currency swap deal with Sri Lanka, which is struggling to maintain a moderate foreign exchange reserve.

The Government today (24) introduced a new hotline 1965 for the public to inquire about essential services that are in operation during the travel restrictions currently in effect in the country.

Bahrain is suspending entry of travelers from countries on its “Red List”, which includes India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal, from today (May 24), state news agency BNA reported.

Sri Lanka government has decided to extend the travel restrictions imposed in the country owing to the COVID-19 till the 7th of June, Minister Johnston Fernando said.

One of Sri Lanka’s biggest fears, the presence of the “black fungus” in the island which has stirred quite a storm in India, was allayed today.

Warning of the rapid rise of the COVID-19 situation, Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday said the decision to lockdown or not must be made by health professionals and not politicians.

There is a need to formulate a new programme to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to bring down more vaccines into the country, UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday (23).

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, on Friday, monitored steps being taken for the construction of the new Kurunegala Hospital.

The COVID-19 death toll in Sri Lanka climbed to 1,210 with 32 more deaths being confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today (23), the Government Information Department said.

The travel restrictions imposed on the island will only be relaxed on May 25, and not removed, Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and his wife Jalani Premadasa have tested positive for COVID-19.

A person from Ampara has been diagnosed to have been infected with the Black Fungus that is spreading among COVID-19 patients in India.

All liquor stores must remain closed on the 25th of May, even though travel restrictions will be lifted on that day, Sri Lanka’s Excise Department stated.

The Central Bank has inspired that fuel prices should be revised to conform to spikes in the world market, a Minister said today.

The COVID-19 death toll in Sri Lanka climbed to 1,178 with 46 more deaths being confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today (22), the Government Information Department said.

The controversial plaque at the newly-declared open Smart Library of the Attorney General’s Department, by an inadvertent omission did not contain the script in the Tamil Language, has been removed, says State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne.