Sri Lanka has decided not to allow weddings to take place at homes or reception halls with effect from midnight on Tuesday (17).

There is a major discrepancy in the COVID-19 case numbers being issued by two units of the Health Ministry.

Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith requested all Catholics in the archdiocese and others to raise black flags on August 21 in protest against the failure to mete out justice to Easter Sunday victims by the authorities.

Sri Lanka yesterday recorded the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in a single day.

The Sri Lankan government has decided to purchase 100 metric tonnes of oxygen from India every week for COVID-19 treatment centres.

At current levels of mobility restrictions, the number of cases would increase up to 6,000 cases per day by mid-September and deaths up to early October coming to a peak around 220 deaths per day.

The milk powder importers still insist on a price hike of at least Rs. 260 for a packet of one kilo despite tax exemptions and by the slight drop of world market prices.

An Extraordinary Gazette Notification has been issued imposing a Special Commodity Levy on several items, including Sprats, Dried fish, Kurakkan flour, mustard seeds and salt.

The JVP yesterday said that the government’s failure to prevent COVID-19 deaths was worse than the Yahapalana government’s lapses that led to the Easter Sunday terror attacks.

155 COVID-19 deaths were confirmed for August 12, increasing the death toll to 5,775.

Travel between the provinces will be restricted for two weeks from midnight today (13), Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said.

Country will not go for a lockdown but travel restrictions could be further tightened, State Minister Professor Channa Jayasumana said.

The Railway Station Masters’ Association has withdrawn from services in a one-day token strike, over several concerns including failure by authorities to ensure the health safety of employees.

The family of a Sri Lankan woman who died in March following mistreatment at a Japanese immigration center said she was “treated like a dog” after the government disclosed Thursday security camera footage of her final days.

Introducing further guidelines for travellers from overseas, Director General of Health Services, Dr. Asela Gunawardena said it was mandatory for travellers aged two years or above arriving in Sri Lanka to carry a negative PCR test report in English done 72 hours prior to embarkation.

Sri Lanka yesterday recorded the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in a single day.