Sri Lanka has halted all arrivals from India with immediate effect, says the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Philippines has banned the entry of travellers from Sri Lanka.

A security officer attached to a private bank has sustained injuries in a shooting incident that unfolded during an attempted robbery in Anuradhapura this morning (May 05), the police said.

Isolation orders have been imposed in two more Grama Niladhari areas, with immediate effect, Commander of Army General Shavendra Silva said.

Ruling out claims made by the Opposition to go for a complete lockdown, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said yesterday that the policy of the government was to combat the COVID-19 pandemic while securing the economy.

Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekara yesterday (05) requested the Speaker not to allow MP Rishad Bathiudeen, who is detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to attend Parliament until the investigations relating to his arrest are completed.

The Ministry of Health has decided to absorb around 1,000 nurses, both male and female, to the Intensive Care Units (ICUs) of hospitals countrywide, due to the sudden upsurge in the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who also serves as minister of finance, was on Wednesday elected chair of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Board of Governors for the year 2021/2022 during the bank’s 54th annual meeting held virtually

The inoculation of the Sputnik V vaccine to residents of Gothatuwa will begin tomorrow.

An Intermediate Care Centre for COVID-19 has been established at the Boossa Navy Camp in Galle.

The trend of identifying COVID patients in the country seemed to be going out of hand at present, Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) President Dr. Padma Gunaratne said.

75 people have been taken into custody by the police during raids conducted yesterday at night clubs, gaming centres and spa centres in the Western Province for violating quarantine regulations.

Former Health Minister and SJB MP Rajitha Senaratne yesterday called on the Government to utilise the Nelum Pokuna Theatre as a COVID-19 treatment centre.

Former MP Ranjan Ramanayake has signed papers seeking a Presidential Pardon and the documents have been submitted to Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa through Ramanayake’s Attorney.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN) stand ready to support in any way possible to save lives and to control the spread of COVID-19, WHO Sri Lanka Officer-In-Charge Dr. Olivia Nieveras said.

Twelve more Grama Niladhari divisions in Colombo, Gampaha, Ratnapura and Vavuniya districts have been placed under isolation orders with immediate effect, the Army Commander General Shavendra Silva announced this morning (May 05).