All schools, pre-schools and Pirivens in the Western and North Western Provinces will remain closed with immediate effect until April 30, Education Minister Prof. GL Peiris said.

A decision has been taken to isolate Several Grama Niladhari (GN) divisions in three districts with effect from 8.00 p.m. tonight (26) to control the spread of COVID-19, said Commander of the Army General Shavendra Silva.

The main office of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment at Battaramulla will be closed on April 27 and 28.

The JVP says the government has not taken the coronavirus seriously.

The Health Ministry said that 580 ICU beds are currently available throughout the country for treatment of critical COVID-19 patients.

The Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) yesterday (25) protested against the arrest of its Vanni District member Rishad Bathiudeen and his brother, Riyaj in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

The government has decided to suspend all state functions over the next two weeks from today (25), the President’s Media Division said.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa says that only vaccination is the final solution to the COVID-19 pandemic and that the government has a strong programme is place to vaccinate the people of the country.

Colombo continues remain the hotspot for COVID-19 cases in Sri Lanka as 218 new infections were confirmed from the district yesterday.

Parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen and his brother Riyaj Bathiudeen have been arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department this morning in relation to the Easter Sunday attacks.

The opposition today accused the government of attempting to arrest Parliamentarian Harin Fernando based on a statement made in Parliament.

Three persons including the father-in-law of Easter Sunday attack mastermind Zahran Hashim were arrested by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) at Kekunagolla in Kuliyapitiya for having attended extremist ideology lessons conducted by Zahran.

Former Prime Minister and leader of the UNP Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday urged the Government to ensure broader discussion on the proposed Port City bill to make necessary changes.

With the recent surge in COVID-19 figures in Sri Lanka, the number of admissions to the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) has reached a level beyond its capacity, sources revealed.

Kuliyapitiya Police area will be isolated with effect from midnight today, Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said.