Rear Admiral Priyantha Perera assumed Northern Naval Command

COLOMBO (News 1st); Rear Admiral Priyantha Perera assumed duties as the Commander Northern Naval Area at the Command Headquarters on Friday (30th April 2021). He held office as Commander Southern Naval Area prior to taking over the command of Northern Naval Area. The incoming...

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02 areas in Polonnaruwa placed in isolation with immediate effect

COLOMBO (News 1st); 02 Grama Niladhari Divisions in the Polonnaruwa District were placed in isolation with immediate effect on Friday (30), said Army Commander General Shavendra Silva. These areas are the Elahera and Sarubima Grama Niladhari Divisions. 02 areas in Polonnaruwa...

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JSC issues instructions on operating courthouses during pandemic

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Judicial Services Commission issued a series of instructions on Friday (30) to all High Court Judges, Judicial Officers, and Presidents of Labour Tribunals, taking into account the present COVID-19 pandemic situation in the island. The instructions...

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Rishad Bathiudeen to attend parliament session from detention?

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Parliament Serjeant-at-Arms informed the Director of the Criminal Investigations Department to take necessary measures for detained MP Rishad Bathiudeen to attend parliament sessions. A letter was addressed to the Director of the CID of the matter, on...

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Rs. 317 Million worth Gold Biscuits & Jewellery seized at BIA

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Customs seized 36 kg of Gold Biscuits and Jewellery valued at over Rs. 317 Million following an operation carried out at the Bandaranaike International Airport on Friday. Sri Lanka Customs said it managed to uncover a new technique used to smuggle...

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Central Bank Releases its Annual Report for 2020

COLOMBO (News 1st); In terms of Section 35 of the Monetary Law Act No. 58 of 1949, the seventy-first Annual Report of the Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka was presented to Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance, by Deshamanya Professor...

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Three ICUs at KDU Hospital reserved for critical COVID patients

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Health Ministry decided to reserve three ICUs at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Hospital to provide treatment for critical COVID-19 patients. The Health Ministry said the Intensive Care Units of the KDU contained 21 ICU beds...

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India unlikely to resume ‘Vaccine Maitri’ for neighbours before July

NEW DELHI: India is unlikely to resume its Vaccine Maitri programme for the neighbourhood, including Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, until at least July, given the sudden crunch in the availability of vaccines amidst a surge in COVID-19 cases, and the government’s plan for...

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CID probe launched over fake letter using police logo

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Police said the Computer Crimes Division of the Criminal Investigations Department has launched an investigation with regard to a document published in social media using the Sri Lanka Police logo. Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana said Sri...

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Bail granted to man arrested for organizing Honk Protest

COLOMBO (News 1st); The individual who was arrested for obstruction of duties and unlawful assembly during the Chinese Defence Minister’s visit to Sri Lanka released on personal bail on Friday (30). Sri Lanka Police arrested a 31-year-old male for obstructing the duties of...

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Shots fired in Jaffna to stop speeding lorry; no injuries reported

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Navy personnel had opened fire at a lorry that defied orders to stop in Wadamarachchi, Jaffna. Sri Lanka Police said no injuries were reported in Thursday (29) evenings shooting adding the Sri Lanka Navy had ordered the lorry to stop, but...

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Police arrest two people over Wellawaya businessman’s murder

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Police arrested two people over the murder of a businessman from Ethiliwewa, Wellawaya. Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana speaking to News 1st said 46-year-old Rajapaksa Mudiyanselage Thilak Chandana Rajapaksa of Veherayaya, Wellawaya – a building...

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All Events Cancelled For Two Weeks; Army Commander

COLOMBO (News 1st); All public events in the country including weddings will be suspended for a period of two weeks after Monday (03), said Army Commander Shavendra Silva on Friday (30). All Events Cancelled For Two Weeks; Army Commande...

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Don’t delay visiting LRH for treatment of Children

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children (LRH) has requested parents NOT to delay visiting the hospital for treatment of children, due to fears of contracting COVID-19. Director at the LRH, Dr. G. Wijesuriya, on Friday (Apr. 30) URGED parents NOT to delay...

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ICUs and Wards will be dedicated for COVID cases: MoH

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Ministry of Health has instructed all Hospital Directors to obtain Intensive Care Units (ICU) and wards reserved for general patients to treat the increasing number of COVID-19 patients, taking into account the spike in cases reported from all districts...

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533 people from Colombo COVID positive; 145 each from Gampaha & Kalutara

COLOMBO (News 1st); 533 people from the Colombo District tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday (29) said the National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO). Gampaha and Kalutara Districts recorded 145 COVID-19 cases each while 107 infections were...

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22,919 people given second dose of COVID vaccine

COLOMBO (News 1st); A total of 22,919 people including Frontline Health Workers and Military personnel received the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine from the 27th to the 29th of April, said the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health on Friday (30). 22,919 people given...

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Govt. decides on 01-day debate on Port City Bill; turns down Opp. request

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lankan Government had disregarded the requests from the opposition and decided to proceed with a one-day debate on the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill, alleged JVP Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Friday (30). Speaking to News 1st, Dissanayake...

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TID arrests suspect connected 2018 Saithamaruthu Test Explosion

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Police said an individual who provided the raw materials to test explosives to Mohamed Rilwan, the brother Zaharan Hashim, was taken into the custody of the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID). Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana said the suspect...

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COVID Penumonia ruled as COD among Thursday’s (29) COVID fatalities

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Director General of Health Services confirmed six (06) deaths caused by Covid-19 virus infection on Thursday (29). The total number of deaths due to Covid-19 infection in Sri Lanka is 667. 1. The deceased is a 49 year old female resident in Boralesgamuwa....

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‘Media Urged to Mobilize Masses to Support Preventive Mechanism’:

COLOMBO (News 1st); A specially-summoned meeting of visual/social Media Heads, chaired by General Shavendra Silva, Head, NOCPCO, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army on Thursday (29) at the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO)...

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Multiple areas in Matale, Kurunegala and Moneragala isolated with immediate effect

COLOMBO (News 1st); Multiple areas were placed in isolation with immediate effect, said Army Commander General Shavendra Silva on Friday (30). The isolated areas are : Matale District: Matale, Dambulla, Galewela & Naula Police areas Kurunegala District: Pannala Police area,...

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Man who organized vehicle honk protest against road closure, arrested.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Police arrested a 31-year-old male for obstructing the duties of police officers and organizing unlawful assembly, when the motorcade of the Chinese Defence Minister was passing through the Borella Junction on 27th April. Police Spokesperson DIG...

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Over 1,500 COVID-19 cases on Thursday (29); another record high in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka reported a record 1,531 COVID-19 cases on Thursday (29), making it the highest number of infections reported in a single day in the island nation. 1,491 of these cases were from the New Year Cluster while the remaining 40 are those who returned...

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COVID numbers rise in SL with new cases from ‘New Year Cluster’

COLOMBO (News 1st); COVID-19 cases in Sri Lanka continued to rise on Thursday (29) with 1077 infections being reported by 06:45 PM, said the Department of Government  Information. Notably, until Wednesday (28) all infections were classified as ‘Peliyagoda Cluster’, ‘Prison...

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Sri Lanka will become first country to be free of chemical fertilizer; President

COLOMBO (News 1st); President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has stated that he will take up the challenge in making Sri Lanka the first country in the world to eliminate the use of chemical fertilizers without reversing any of the steps that have been taken. The absence of any country...

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(PICTURES) Indian High Commissioner meets PM Rajapaksa for talks

COLOMBO (News 1st); Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay called on Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday (29) where matters of mutual interest were discussed, sources said. According to the Indian High Commission, the High Commissioner thanked the Sri...

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(VIDEO) Chief Epidemiologist confronted over spike in COVID cases

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera was confronted during a media briefing in Colombo on Thursday (29) over the country’s spike in COVID-19 cases. (VIDEO) Chief Epidemiologist confronted over spike in COVID case...

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Navy seizes Indian boats with smuggled dried turmeric & cardamom

COLOMBO (News 1st);  Sri Lanka Navy on 27th and 28th April 2021 apprehended 02 Indian dhows, loaded with about 2790kg of dried turmeric, about 803 kg of cardamom, and several other consumer goods, in northwestern waters of the island, across the...

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Multiple long distance and inter-city trains suspended from May 01st

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Railways decided to suspend multiple Inter-City & Long Distance train operations due to a low number of ticket bookings, given the present COVID-19 situation in the country. The canceled train services are:  1001 – Fort, Colombo to Badulla...

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Michael Collins, Apollo 11 astronaut, has died at age 90

(CNN) Michael Collins, the NASA astronaut who was the command module pilot for the Apollo 11 mission to the moon, has died at age 90 after battling cancer. His family shared the news Wednesday after his passing on Collins’ Facebook page. “We regret to share that our beloved...

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Kingsly Rathnayake appointed President’s Spokesperson

COLOMBO (News 1st); Senior Journalist Kingsly Rathnayake was appointed as the President’s Spokesperson on Thursday (29). Kingsly Rathnayake appointed President’s Spokesperso...

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Lifetime salary allowance for widows of fallen military & police officers

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lankan Cabinet of Ministers had given the green light to provide a lifetime salary allowance to the widows of fallen military personnel and police officers. Defence Secretary Gen. Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) speaking to reporters on Thursday (29) said...

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Wakfs Board instructs to limit activities at Mosques due to COVID-19

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Wakfs Board of Sri Lanka has issued instructions with regard to operations at mosques across the island. Wakfs Board instructs to limit activities at Mosques due to COVID-1...

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25-year-old gets life sentence for heroin possession

COLOMBO (News 1st); A 25-year-old male was sentenced to life in prison for heroin possession by the Colombo Chief High Court. The Attorney General had filed a case against the accused of the possession of 04 grams and 580 milligrams of heroin. The accused was arrested by the...

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Navy recovers Kerala cannabis worth Rs. 72 million in northern seas

COLOMBO (News 1st); A special operation conducted by the Navy in the seas off Sillalai, Jaffna on 28th April 2021, made way to get hold of over 240kg of Kerala cannabis. Accordingly, the operation carried out by the Northern Naval Command in the seas off Sillalai, led...

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Repatriation Rate must drop to convert QCs to ICCs

COLOMBO (News 1st): If quarantine centres are to be converted to Intermediate Care Centres, the rate of repatriations will have to be restricted, Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, the State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics, and COVID Disease Control said on Thursday (Apr....

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Sri Lanka to convert Quarantine Centers to COVID Care Centers

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka is preparing to convert quarantine centers to Intermediate Care Centers if hospitals exceed the capacity to treat COVID-19 cases, said Army Commander General Shavendra Silva on Thursday (29). “We have already earmarked such facilities for the conversion,”...

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228 people from Colombo COVID positive on Wednesday (28) : NOCPCO

COLOMBO (News 1st); 228 people from the Colombo District tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday (29) said the National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO). 209 people from the Gampaha District and 172 people from the Kurunegala District also tested...

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29 areas in 08 districts currently placed in isolation: NOCPCO

COLOMBO (News 1st); 29 areas across 08 districts have been placed in isolation said the National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO). The full list : 29 areas in 08 districts currently placed in isolation: NOCPC...

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Sri Lanka & China sign Military Assistance Protocol during defence dialogue

COLOMBO (News 1st); A bilateral discussion between Sri Lanka and People’s Republic of China (PLA) on the sidelines of official visit by Chinese State Councillor and Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe was held in Colombo on Wednesday (28), where the official signing of...

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(PICTURES) Chinese Defence Minister visits BMICH

COLOMBO (News 1st); Chinese Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe visited the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall on Wednesday (28).   (PICTURES) Chinese Defence Minister visits BMIC...

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Several GS Divisions in Trincomalee isolated: NOCPCO

COLOMBO (News 1st): Several Grama Niladhari Divisions in the Trincomalee district were placed under isolation with immediate effect on Thursday morning (Apr. 29), the National Operations Centre on Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) said. Sumedhagampura, Mudovi, Koviladi,...

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Roadblocks at Western Province Exits to detect COVID-19 infections; Police

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Police with health authorities and the armed forces will enforce special road blocks at 12 Entry & Exit points of the Western Province with effect from 12 noon on Thursday (29). The roadblocks will be set up in the following locations, said...

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19-year-old arrested for posting fake content to create disharmony; Police

COLOMBO (News 1st); A 19-year-old male was arrested by the Gampola Police for posting fake information on social media to create disharmony among communities, said Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana on Thursday (29). ‘The suspect was arrested in Kahatapitiya for spreading...

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Random COVID-19 tests at Western Province borders; Army Commander

COLOMBO (News 1st); Random COVID-19 tests will be carried out on individuals who enter and exit the Western Province with effect from Thursday (29), said Sri Lanka’s Army Commander General Shavendra Silva. Random COVID-19 tests at Western Province borders; Army Comman...

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Navy fixes a defunct ferry connecting Punguduthivu and Nainativu

ÇOLOMBO (News 1st); The ferry used by the Road Development Authority (RDA) to transport goods and passengers from Kurikattuwan Jetty of Punguduthivu Island to Nainativu Island in Jaffna was in a state of poor shape for several months and was recently fixed with the contribution...

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WEATHER: 2021 southwest monsoon season likely to begin in June

COLOMBO (News 1st); Normal to above normal rainfall is most likely during the 2021 southwest monsoon season (June – September) over most parts of South Asia, according to an authoritative seasonal forecast from the South Asian Climate Outlook Forum (SASCOF) released on...

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(VIDEO) Former First Lady comes forward to give hope to vision impaired boy

COLOMBO (News 1st): Former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa came to aid of a 13-year-old boy from Galenbindunuwewa who made a request during a Gammadda program recording, for an eye donation to improve his sight. In 2015, Jeewantha Rathnayake made a plea during the Gammadda Pradeshiya...

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3,445 health workers & military personnel given second dose of COVID vaccine

COLOMBO (News 1st): A total of 3,445 frontline health workers and military personnel were administered the second dose of the COVISHIELD vaccine, said the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health on Wednesday(28). According to the Epidemiology Unit the second dose of the...

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