Passengers from Qatar, Bahrain and Canada will not be permitted to land in Sri Lanka, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced.

Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva said that establishing of several more quarantine centers to quarantine persons arriving in this country from abroad, has already commenced.

Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will address the nation at 8.00 pm today (17) to deliver a statement on the prevailing pandemic situation in the country, President Media Division said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has described the coronavirus pandemic is the “defining global health crisis of our time”, and urged countries to test all suspected cases of COVID-19.

The government announced a three-day holiday period upto Thursday, March 19 excluding essential services involving health, transport, food supplies, banks and district secretariats.

A First Officer of SriLankan Airlines tested positive for Coronavirus and some of the staff members asked to undergo self-quarantine process, SriLankan Airlines said.

A total number of 28 patients tested positive for Covid-19 in Sri Lankan as of now, says the Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe.

The 22nd Coronavirus patient in the country has been identified, according to the Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe.

Three more confirmed cases of Coronavirus (Covid-19) have been identified in the country bringing the total number of patient to 21.

Two individuals have been arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for spreading false information regarding Coronavirus (Covid-19) on social media.

All services related to the issuance of driving license at the Werahera Branch and other district offices would be suspended until March 31, the Department of Motor Traffic said.

All the JVP contestants facing the forthcoming general election under the compass symbol of the National Movement for People’s Power signed off their nomination papers today.

Ministry of Buddhasasana Cultural and Religious Affairs has decided to temporarily close all 11 museums in the country for viewers until further notice.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, yesterday, said the general election would be held on 25 April, as scheduled. He said so, participating in a video conference of SAARC leaders on Sunday evening. Pakistan was represented by the Health Minister of that country.

The Ratana Sutta will be chanted for one week starting from Wednesday (18) at Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy to seek blessings for the country amidst the threat of the Coronavirus spread.

Leaders and officials from the eight South Asian nations held a video conference Sunday calling for closer cooperation to combat the spread of the coronavirus in the region, which is home to a fifth of the world’s population.