President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, at a discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat Thursday morning (29) said that Sri Lanka would be the first in the world to eliminate the use of chemical fertilizers.

Intelligence Bureau and Kerala Police have started to dig into Kerala connections of All Ceylon Makkal Congress leader and Parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen after he was arrested by Sri Lankan Police on April 24 in connection with April 2019 Easter Sunday attacks that killed 279 people and injured hundreds, The New Indian Express reported.

A clear, well-defined economic plan has been formulated and implemented to eradicate poverty, which is the biggest burden faced by a substantial segment of the working class, states President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in his May Day message.

Sri Lanka announced Friday that its economy shrank 3.6 percent last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making it the worst downturn since independence from Britain in 1948.

Sixteen Grama Niladhari Divisions were isolated with immediate effect, Army Commander Shavendra Silva said.

The Public Health Inspector’s Union of Sri Lanka says considering the prevailing COVID-19 situation, the entire country should be placed under lockdown or at least the attention should be drawn towards imposing strict travel restrictions.

All events, including weddings will not be allowed to be held for a period of two weeks from Monday (03 May), Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said.

Sri Lanka Police arrested a 31-year-old male for obstructing the duties of police officers and organizing unlawful assembly, when the motorcade of the Chinese Defence Minister was passing through the Borella Junction on 27th April.

The Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar yesterday decided to proceed with the case, in connection with the 2016 Central Bank Treasury Bonds auction scam, sans the presence of two accused, ex-CBSL Governor Arjuna Mahendran and a former director of Primary Dealer Perpetual Treasuries Limited, Ajahn Gardiya Punchihewa.

A 28-year old Razik Raza who is at present in remand custody over aiding the suspects in the Easter Sunday blasts, admitted he was aware of the experimental bomb blast in 2018, prior to the suicide attacks.

More areas in Matale, Kurunegala and Monaragala districts have been placed under isolation orders with immediate effect, the Commander of Sri Lanka Army General Shavendra Silva announced.

Italy on Thursday extended for 15 days COVID-19 restrictions already in place on travellers from other European countries, the health ministry said, adding that it had also imposed a ban on people coming from Sri Lanka.

The World Bank yesterday approved US$ 80.5 million additional financing to help Sri Lanka access and distribute fairly COVID-19 vaccines and to strengthen the country’s vaccination system and pandemic response.

Six Grama Niladhari Divisions in Trincomalee District have been placed under isolation order with immediate effect, says the Commander of Sri Lanka Army General Shavendra Silva.

The Army is ready to set up more COVID-19 treatment centres as required, if the number of patients increase in future due to the prevailing pandemic situation, said Army Commander, General Shavendra Silva.

Chinese Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe met President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat this morning.