Former Member of Parliament of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) K. Thurairetnasingam has passed away at the age of 80.

The Government has not yet decided to permit home care for asymptomatic patients, health officials said yesterday, and COVID-19 patients will be directed to the treatment or intermediate care centre closes to them.

Minister Gamini Lokuge says the delay to pass the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill in Parliament even by a single day, will be a great loss to the country.

The COVID-19 death toll in Sri Lanka climbed to 981 with 19 more deaths being confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today (17), the Government Information Department said.

Three police areas in the Mullaitivu District would be placed under isolation with effect from 11.00 p.m. today (17), Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said.

Army Commander General Shavendra Silva says that travel restrictions will be imposed across the island from 11.00 p.m. on Friday (May 21) to 4.00 a.m. on Tuesday (May 25).

Pradeep Gunawardena, the Chairman of Laksala and Salu Sala who was infected COVID-19, has passed away this morning (May 17).

Army Commander General Shavendra Silva announced that 70 Grama Niladhari divisions in 10 districts have been isolated with effect from 6.00 a.m. this morning (17).

The JVP says the government is attempting to direct asymptomatic COVID-19 cases to remain at home, without a stringent plan in place.

Chief Opposition Whip Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella yesterday said the government had no funds to buy vaccines for the people as the dollar reserves were extremely low.

Public Security Minister Dr.Sarath Weerasekara said yesterday (16) that a report will be called from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) regarding the Attorney General’s statement on the incomplete probe into Easter Sunday attack perpetrators.

The COVID-19 death toll in Sri Lanka climbed to 962 with 21 more deaths being confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today (16), the Government Information Department said.

The Director General of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Dhammika Wijesinghe says tourists who arrive in the island can tour the country in a bio-secure bubble as per guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene has ruled to allow MP Rishad Bathiudeen to attend parliament sittings next week if he wishes so, Parliament sources said.

A person with symptoms of the COVID-19 infections should not receive the COVID-19 vaccine, the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health said.

At least four people had died and over 42,000 others had been affected by days of strong winds and heavy rains which lashed the country due to the formation of a super cyclone in the Bay of Bengal, Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Center (DMC) said in its latest weather report Saturday.