COLOMBO (News 1st): In a letter to former Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Secretary to the President Dr. P.B. Jayasundara said that the dissolved Parliament will not be reconvened. The letter has been drafted under the instructions of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. “The dissolved Parliament cannot be reconvened as the election that was to be held on […]
Dissolved Parliament will not be reconvened: President’s Secretary
COLOMBO (News 1st): Sri Lanka administering Hydroxychloroquine to COVID-19 patients although there is limited evidence available on the effectiveness of the medicine, authorities said adding that country’s 2/3rd of coronavirus positive patients are “Asymptomatic”. “Out of the cases that tested positive, about 2/3rd were Asymptomatic, so we have a large number of asymptomatic cohort maybe because […]
Sri Lanka’s 2/3rd of COVID-19 positive patients “Asymptomatic”
COLOMBO (News 1st): Sri Lanka has conducted more than 20,000 PCR tests and the number of tests are being increased with the number of COVID-19 cases in the country, while experts pointed that authorities should rely on the PCR testing instead of antibody testing for diagnosis of COVID-19 patients. Professor Malik Peiris at the School […]
Over 20,000 PCR Tests conducted in Sri Lanka – Health Official
COLOMBO (News 1st): As of 6:30 pm on Thursday, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has risen to 653. The Ministry of Health said 04 new cases were confirmed today among people quarantined from Suduwella. Based on data at the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health, as of Thursday evening, there are 507 […]
COLOMBO (News 1st): The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka in a letter addressed to the Acting Inspector General of Police said the arrests made over critisizing public sector officials and policies across social media is in violation of the constitution. In a letter titled, “Limiting Freedom of Expression in a Democracy: The Need to Strike […]
Sri Lanka Human Rights commission: police violate constitution by arresting social media critics
COLOMBO (News 1st): The cabinet of ministers met on Wednesday and took several decisions including measures to revive the Covid-19 impacted economy with several relief measures to farmers and industries. One of the decisions was to establish a special loan scheme to assist artistes who lost their jobs owing to the COVID – 19 outbreak […]
Cabinet decisions taken to revive the COVID-19 impacted economy
COLOMBO (News 1st): China on Wednesday reaffirmed its support for Sri Lanka to overcome its future challenges that arise due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to rebuild the island nation’s economy in the post-pandemicic situation. The Acting Ambassador and Chargé d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Colombo Hu Wei made this comment when he met with […]
Colombo (News 1st); 14 people who tested positive for COVID-19 so far were found to have been addicted to drugs and narcotic substances. Deputy Police Chief Ajith Rohana speaking at the National Operations Centre for Preventing COVID-19 said the situation which was detected from Suduwella in Ja-Ela spread to Nagalagama Street through the drug addicts and […]
14 drug addicts among those who tested positive for COVID-19 in Sri Lanka
COLOMBO (News 1st): Sri Lanka Police reached a decision to direct all police officers present at a particular site, for PCR tests in the event a police officer comes in to contact with a COVID-19 patient. Police Spokesperson, SP Jaliya Senaratne speaking at the Police Headquarters said officers who were assigned to high risk areas […]
COLOMBO (News 1st): National carrier SriLankan Airlines requested students in United Kingdom and Australia who wish to be repatriated to register. “Students holding Sri Lankan passports in the United Kingdom or Australia who wish to be repatriated to Sri Lanka, are kindly advised to register themselves with the Sri Lankan High Commission in their respective […]
SL Airlines issues travel notice for students in Australia and UK
COLOMBO (News 1st): The Civil Aviation Authority has extended an invitation to drone operators to join the fight against COVID-19. Accordingly, the CAA invites drone operators having the potential capability and interest to offer drone technology services at this hour of need, to contact the authority. The drone operators invited to join in the formation of […]
Civil Aviation Authority invites Drone Operators to join the fight against COVID-19
COLOMBO (News 1st): Post offices island-wide will open on Monday the 04th of May for official purposes. “It is mandatory to bring a pen when coming to the post office to sign relevant papers,” said Ranjith Ariyaratne, the Post Master General on Thursday (30th April). Once post offices open on the 4th of May, payment […]
COLOMBO (News 1st): The government has imposed restrictions on the importation of some agricultural crops amid the sharp depreciation of the rupee currency. The government has restricted the importation of Corn, Green gram, Peanut, Dried chilli, Black gram (Undu), Turmeric, Ginger, Black-eyed pea (cowpea), Big onion and Red onion among other crops. “Restrictions have been […]
Government to Restrict Importation of some Agricultural Crops
COLOMBO (News 1st): U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his fiancé Carrie Symonds announced the birth of a son yesterday. A spokeswoman for the Premire and his partner said both mother and baby are “doing very well”. The newborn son of Boris Johnson, whose name has yet to be made public, is only the third […]
Can U.K. Prime Minister’s new born baby be infected with the Coronavirus?
COLOMBO (News 1st): India has said millions of people stranded by a nationwide lock down can now return to their home states. According to a notice issued by India’s Home Ministry, people will need to be screened for symptoms at both source and destination, and be quarantined. However, the movement of people will be only […]
COLOMBO (News 1st): Total number of COVID-19 recoveries worldwide has exceeded the 1 Million mark. Total number of cases on a global scale is at a staggering 3,222,392. 228,270 people worldwide has succumbed to the virus. Meanwhile, in Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Health said 03 more COVID-19 patients were discharged on Thursday, following complete […]
Update: Total recoveries in Sri Lanka at 139 – Global recoveries exceed 1 million
COLOMBO (News 1st): The Prime Minister has invited all former members of the 8th Parliament for a meeting at Temple Trees on Monday, 04th May. The meeting which is scheduled to held at 10 am will be headed by Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa. “The prevailing situation of the country and the future course of action will […]
COLOMBO (News 1st): “Countries, where people had been administered the BCG vaccination, have better immunity to fight against the Virus,” says Joint Cabinet Spokesperson, Dr. Ramesh Pathirana. He was speaking at the cabinet media briefing today. Medical professionals have opined that people who have been given the BCG vaccination have better immunity against the respiratory […]
BCG Vaccine boosts immunity: Joint Cabinet Spokeserperson Dr. Pathirana
COLOMBO (News 1st): Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor, famed for his romantic roles, has died at the age of 67 due to a cancer. He was part of the Kapoor acting dynasty which has long dominated Bollywood, the Hindi film industry. The actor made a huge splash in 1973 with his first lead role in “Bobby” […]
COLOMBO (News 1st): Health authorities warn that there is a possibility, the risk of Dengue may increase in the coming days, especially in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern and North Western provinces. “The risk of Dengue has intensifed as the South-West Monsoon rains have activated,” said Dr. Aruna Jayasekera, the Director of the National Dengue […]
The risk of Dengue to intensify in the coming days: Health Authorities
(UN News): International health experts will convene on Thursday to evaluate the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic and advise on updated recommendations, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday during his latest virtual press conference from Geneva. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus explained that the Emergency Committee meeting will mark three months […]
World health experts will meet Thursday to assess COVID-19 pandemic
COLOMBO (News 1st): The National Election Commission will convene on Saturday (2nd May). “The meeting will convene at 10:00 am,” said Saman Sri Rathnayake, the Commissioner General of the National Elections Commission. Secretaries of Politicals parties have also been called to attend the meeting at 11:00 am. Matters concerning the upcoming general election will be […]
COLOMBO (News 1st): The government’s ability to make financial allocations will not be interrupted under the provisions of Article 150 part 3 of the constitution, Former Minister Susil Premajayantha said. Premjayantha said that there is no need for parliament to be reconvened adding that the president has the power to allocate funds for a period […]
Former Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera addresses a letter to the President
COLOMBO (News1st): The number of COVID-19 patients in Sri Lanka rose to 649 on Wednesday, health officials said, after 30 people tested positive for the virus. Seven people have died after contracting the disease which started spreading in the country on March 11, while 136 people have recovered so far. Accordingly, there are 506 active […]
COLOMBO (News1st): The burden of the leptospirosis disease in Sri Lanka has been underestimated by a massive discrepancy in government figures, a medical study that can be confirmed by News1st, has shown. This week, a navy officer died due to leptospirosis, thrusting the disease into the spotlight amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, despite not being discussed […]
Burden of leptospirosis severely underestimated in Sri Lanka – study
COLOMBO (News1st): The government has announced that a curfew will be imposed in all districts except for the high-risk zones from Thursday until May 4, sending the country into an island-wide curfew. “The curfew which will be imposed at 8 pm on April 30 will be in effect until 8 am on May 4,” the […]
Colombo (News 1st); DIG Ajith Rohana said on Wednesday, it was observed by the Intelligence Services and health officials that many of those who tested positive for COVID-19 from congested areas in Colombo were addicted drugs and other illegal substances and they were the main carriers of the virus. He urged those living in housing complexes […]
Colombo (News 1st) 41,700 people were arrested by Sri Lanka Police, ever since the curfew was first imposed, for curfew violations while 10,700 vehicles were seized. Deputy Police Chief Ajith Rohana speaking at the National Operations Centre for Preventing COVID-19 said 92 people were arrested from 06 AM to 12 noon on Wednesday for violating the […]
41,700 arrested so far, for violating the curfew & 10,700 vehicles seized
COLOMBO (News1st): A 62 million dollar auction of Sri Lanka Development Bonds was undersubscribed on Wednesday with only bids worth USD 18 million coming from investors, Central Bank data showed. In March, a similar Sri Lanka Development Bonds of 220 million dollar auction was also undersubscribed and received only bids worth 22 million dollars while […]
Colombo (News 1st); Three people tested positive for COVID-19 and they are sailors from the Welisara Naval Complex of the Sri Lanka Navy. Director-General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe speaking at the National Operations Centre for Preventing COVID-19 said a majority of those who are undergoing treatment for COVID-19 are not showing symptoms but have […]
Homagama Base Hospital added to list of hospitals providing treatment for COVID-19
Colombo (News 1st); 226 sailors from the Sri Lanka Navy tested positive for COVID-19 and 147 of them were detected from the Welisara Naval Complex and the other 79 were sailors who had gone on leave. Acting Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva said 184 people who […]
226 sailors tested positive for COVID-19 & 3609 people undergoing quarantine
COLOMBO (News1st): Sri Lanka’s regulatory body for imports and exports has relaxed the import restrictions announced this month, to assist in bringing down raw materials from overseas. The finance ministry suspended the importation of 156 products in mid-April to curtail foreign outflows amidst an economic crisis which has troubled the country. Businesses “can obtain special […]
Colombo (News 1st); Defence Secretary Retired Major General Kamal Gunaratne requested the public not to discriminate against security forces personnel and their families. The Defence Secretary said naval personnel who are now confined to the Welisara Naval Complex were exposed to the virus when they were engaged in the task of preventing the virus from spreading […]
Don’t discriminate security forces personnel and their families, request from Defence Secretary
Colombo (News 1st); The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team said an online credit card scam is taking place in Sri Lanka under the guise of home delivery. SL-CERT said it is receiving continuous complaints regarding such websites and requests the general public to refrain from making purchases from websites that are not reliable. It added […]
Only use your credit card to make purchases from a reliable website; SL-CERT
COLOMBO (News1st): The government has drawn attention towards developing a locally manufactured robot that can provide medical advice, as part of efforts to combat COVID-19. This was after Pamuditha Premachandra, the founder of Nextbots – a robotics company, had demonstrated the capabilities of the robot before Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday. “We are still […]
Robot which can diagnose 200 diseases presented to the Prime Minister
Colombo (News 1st); The Medical Officer of Health or MOH for the Central Colombo Number 02 Office and 09 Public Health Inspectors were directed to self-quarantine. The move was as they were involved in the detection of COVID-19 patients from Bandaranaike Mawatha in Colombo 12. CMC’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni speaking to News 1st […]
COLOMBO (News1st): Sri Lanka has removed the ceiling imposed on wholesale and retail prices on sugar to assist importers as the Sri Lankan rupee depreciated amidst a spike in world market prices. The consumer affairs authority (CAA), on Tuesday, reversed maximum prices imposed in 2018. Under the regulations, importers were instructed to sell sugar at […]
COLOMBO (News1st): Four private hospitals have agreed to conduct 100 tests daily to detect COVID-19 patients, upon a request made by the government, amid calls to scale up testing. These tests “will be confined to samples sent by the government only”, the Association of Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes said in a statement. “We, the […]
Indian National Award-winning actor and cancer warrior Irrfan Khan, died in Mumbai after battling a medical complication arising from colon infection. He was 53 and is survived by his wife Sutapa Sikdar and two sons Babil and Ayan. News of his death was confirmed by Khan’s publicist.
Colombo (News 1st); The Ceylon Teachers’ Union raised concerns over the health security at schools which would be used to house returning military personnel. Joseph Stalin, General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers’ Union said at a time when military personnel and health workers are exposed to the coronavirus, special attention should be drawn towards schools, especially […]
Schools will only be opened after all necessary health measures are implemented
Colombo (News 1st); The Special Presidential Task Force to ensure health security at tri-forces camps decided to inspect all military installations in the country. Governor of the Western Province Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Goonetileke who leads the Task Force speaking to News 1st said special attention will be drawn towards the health and security […]
All military camps to be inspected by Special Presidential Task Force
Colombo (News 1st); A total of 31 people tested positive for the Coronavirus on Tuesday in Sri Lanka. Acting Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva speaking to News 1st said 08 gallant navy sailors who were on leave were among those who tested positive for COVID-19 […]
31 people including 21 sailors tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday
Colombo (News 1st); Sri Lanka Police arrested 554 people during the 24-hour window which ended at 06 AM today for violating the curfew and seized 159 vehicles. Police Spokesperson SP Jaliya Senaratne said in total 41,557 people were arrested for curfew violations and 10,719 vehicles were seized.
More than 41,500 arrested, since curfew was imposed, for violations
COLOMBO (News1st): Lawyers have been granted special provisions to attend court sessions when the curfew is lifted, the President’s Office said, relaxing measures to limit people on the streets during this period. Last week, the government announced a mechanism which would allow people to leave their homes on days the curfew is not in effect, […]
COLOMBO (News1st): Sri Lanka’s central bank has predicted that the country’s economic growth will decline to 1.5 percent in 2020, due to the impact of the novel coronavirus, recording the decline for the fifth consecutive year. “…the economy is likely to be impacted severely in terms of its growth, fiscal, external, and financial sector performance,” […]
Sri Lanka’s economic growth to slide for fifth successive year : CBSL
Colombo (News 1st); The second batch of Chinese Government Aid was handed over to Sri Lanka by Chargé d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy Hu Wei. This includes 20,000 test kits, 10,000 KN95 masks, 100,000 surgical masks, 10,000 PPE coverall, 1,000 protective goggles and 50,000 surgical gloves for fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Hu Wei stressed at the […]
Second batch of Chinese Aid to combat COVID-19 handed over to Sri Lanka
Colombo (News 1st); 08 people tested positive for the Coronavirus on Tuesday, 05 of them are Sri Lanka Navy Sailors who were on leave and the other 03 are from the Punani Quarantine Facility. Director-General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe speaking at the National Operations Centre for Preventing COVID-19 said the total number of Sri […]
206 Sri Lanka Navy sailors and contacts tested positive for COVID-19; DG Health Services
Colombo (News 1st); The Aeronautical Engineering Support Wing at Sri Lanka Air Force Base Ratmalana developed, fabricated, and installed a “Passenger Disinfection Chamber” at the Arrivals Terminal of the Bandaranayake International Airport. This new “Passenger Disinfection Chamber” was officially commissioned by the Chairman of the Airport & Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd, Major General (Retd.) G. […]
SLAF designed “Passenger Disinfection Chamber” commissioned at BIA
Colombo (News 1st); 164 Sri Lankans returned to the island from India aboard a special repatriation flight operated by SriLankan Airlines today. Admiral Jayanath Colombage, the Additional Secretary to the President for Foreign Relations speaking to News 1st said the flight left for Bangalore this morning and returned with passengers this afternoon. The group of […]
164 Sri Lankans return from Bangalore, India and directed to 21-day quarantine
Colombo (News 1st); The Pakistan High Commission in Colombo coordinated with the Government of Pakistan and local Sri Lankan Authorities for the successful return of 50 stranded Pakistanis via Sri Lankan Airlines flight UL-1185. The group left Colombo on Tuesday morning. Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Tanvir Ahmad was present on behalf of the High Commissioner […]
The Department of Meteorology says showers or thundershowers are likely in parts of the Northern, North-central, Eastern and Uva provinces t...
