Five more COVID-19 related deaths have been reported in Sri Lanka, the Director General of Health Services confirmed a short while ago.

Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva has expressed confidence that the Sri Lanka Army is ready to conduct PCR tests within the next month.

The programme to distribute medicine for those who are undergoing regular clinical attention from government hospitals to commence from today, the Health Ministry said.

The government had to set up a national mechanism to collect all information about COVID-19 to make its anti-pandemic drive more effective, says JVP-led National Intellectuals’ Association.

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA), said an audit was warranted, to monitor the capacity, capability and efficiency of PCR testing, which provide the basis of COVID-19 related public health decision-making.

In spite of widespread speculation that SLPP National List MP Jayantha Ketagoda was to resign this week to make room for SLPP National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa to enter Parliament, the move has been delayed.

The government has decided to set maximum retail prices for several varieties of rice.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa stresses that the country cannot be kept under a lockdown until a cure is discovered for COVID-19.

Another patient who tested positive for the COVID-19 has died today, marking the 24th death reported in Sri Lanka due to COVID-19.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya has introduced three hotlines for the general public to lodge complaints pertaining to challenges faced in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the SJB hopes to intervene on behalf of the public.

Ruling party MP Jayantha Ketagoda said yesterday that Basil Rajapaksa, who is the founder of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) would enter Parliament only at the opportune time.

India’s Adani Group is the front-runner to develop Sri Lanka’s stalled East Container Terminal in Colombo port, people with knowledge of the matter said, helping billionaire Gautam Adani expand his port business overseas.

State Minister Channa Jayasumana yesterday (3) said in Parliament that he never claimed to use Ayurveda medicine Sudarshana Churna in forms of syrup, tablets or capsules in State western hospitals to prevent COVID-19.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament yesterday that the country’s anti-COVID-19 campaign would have been stronger if the government had not got its priorities mixed up during the recent past.

Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, yesterday (3) told Parliament that she is even ready to sacrifice herself to the sea, if such an act can wipe out the COVID-19 pandemic from the country.