The Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and the Foreign Minister Professor G.L. Peiris will shortly make a visit to Bologna, Italy, to participate in an international event which is to be graced by the Prime Minister of Italy and other dignitaries from Italy and other European countries. The Foreign Minister, at his media briefing described the
purpose of the scheduled visit by stating that the Prime Minister will be delivering the keynote address at the opening session of the international symposium which will be held in one of Europe’s oldest seats of learning, the University of Bologna. The foreign Minister stressed that at no stage has the Prime Minister requested nor has he received an audience with His Holiness, the Pope. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister will be leaving Italy, at the conclusion of events in Bologna.

General Shavendra Silva, Head, National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army on Friday (27) presented HE the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa with a cash cheque to the value of Rs 10 million, to be credited to the ‘Itukama’ COVID-19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund after it was delivered to the Security Force HQ-Jaffna by the Founder and Chairman of ‘Thiyahie’ Charitable Trust, Mr Vamadeva Thiyagendran, a well-known philanthropist cum donor.

Sri Lanka has extended the current island-wide quarantine curfew orders by a week, in a bid to curb the increasing COVID-19 figures in the country prompted by the rapid spread of the Delta variant. Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella tweeted that the extended quarantine curfew orders are effective until 4.00 am on the 06th of September. He urged the members of the public to continue to work from home and to abide by the curfew orders while refraining from unnecessary travel.

Army Commander General Shavendra Silva says that essential and other services which are currently functioning will be permitted to continue until the quarantine curfew is lifted. The decision had been taken by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa during the meeting of the Special Committee on COVID-19 Control which convened at the Presidential Secretariat this morning. He said Curfew passes will not be required for those engaged in essential services including apparel, industries, and agricultural activities during the quarantine curfew. The Commander said essential services, other sectors and those who report for duties are allowed to operate while pharmacies will remain open during the quarantine curfew period. General Silva said the vaccination program will also continue and urged the public to avoid unnecessary travel and adhere with health instructions to prevent the further spread of Covid-19.

The president’s media division says that State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation has planned to produce one new medicinal drug each month and to provide those to the national hospital system. So far 8 medicines have been produced. Importation of those medicines has been stopped. Constructions of 3 pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities which are to be completed in 2023, are now taking place. All facilities are built according to European standards.

The High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay called on the new Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris after his assumption of duties. Foreign Minister Peiris expressed appreciation and continuous support being provided by India for combatting the COVID-19 pandemic. Minister Peiris thanked the Government of India for supplying emergency consignments of liquid oxygen from east Indian ports, even by using Indian naval ships.

Former Minister Mangala Samaraweera has passed away at a private hospital due to COVID-19.

Former Matara District Parliamentarian has previously served as Minister of Mass Media, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Finance in previous governments.

The new education channel Vision FM launched yesterday by Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation with the aim of uplifting education of children. The channel is broadcast on FM 102.1 and on FM 102.3. It is broadcast daily from 4.00 am to midnight for 20 hours. 65 percent of air time will be used to teach subjects and 35 percent to non-subject matters. The channel is broadcast jointly with media and education ministry. The radio channel was officially launched today under the patronage of secretary to the ministry of mass media Jagath Wijeweera. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse extended his greetings to the new channel. Ministers Keheliya Rambukwella, G.L Peris, State ministers Seetha Arambepola, Susil Premajayantha and Piyal Nishantha also extended their greetings. Secretary to the mass media ministry Jagath Wijeweera said that children should move forward with radio. Chairman of Rupavahini Corporation Reginald Coorey said that Rupavahini is also telecasting educational programmes for children. Director General of Rupavahini Corporation Jayampathi Bandara Heenkenda said that Rupavahini Corporation is telecasting educational programs with SLBC. Director General of SLBC Chandrapala Liyanage said that air time will be allocated for educational programs in future as well. He said that studio 02 has been allocated for the purpose. The programs are implemented under the guidance of SLBC Chairman Hudson Samarasinghe.

Mayor of Colombo Rosy Senanayake has issued an urgent message to residents of the City of Colombo and those visiting the city, in view of the prevailing Covid-19 situation.

She says that Sri Lanka is at a critical point in the battle against the spread of Covid-19 and that it’s no secret that the number of Covid patients and related fatalities are at the highest levels since the epidemic hit the country.

The Mayor said that the government is doing its best to manage the situation, but the health system is severely stretched, and health officials are struggling to cope.

“This is not unique to Sri Lanka as we have seen how the health systems of even the most developed economies struggled to cope with the epidemic.”, the mayor added.

The mayor also requested the public to be extremely vigilant and cautious in their activities.
She stated that the authorities will, and are, doing their best to keep the people safe. “But they cannot succeed if individuals and institutions act irresponsibly. It is shocking to see people putting the lives of many at risk by acting with sheer disregard for the current situation.”

National operation center to prevent covid 19 says that quarantine curfew will be imposed island wide from 10.00 pm to 4.00 am. Army Commander General Shavendra Silva says that it will be effective daily until further notice. Only persons involved in essential services are permitted to travel during that time. Meanwhile weddings have been prohibited until further notice from today. Weddings will not be permitted at homes or halls. The Army Commander has requested the public to support the measures taken to prevent the spread covid 19.

The Financial Consumer Relations Department (FCRD) established under the provisions of Section 33 of the Monetary Law Act No. 58 of 1949, as amended, continues to serve as the single point of contact to handle complaints against financial service providers (FSPs) regulated by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).

FCRD introduced a complaint submission form for financial consumers who wish to submit a complaint against a FSP regulated by CBSL. This will streamline the complaint handling process in an efficient manner and financial consumers are encouraged to submit a clear and concise complaint with accurate information using the complaint submission form.

Another 15,000 doses of Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine has arrived in Sri Lanka this morning.

The vaccines have been handed over to the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake