A warrant has been issued for the arrest of State Minister Jayantha Samaraweera after he failed to appear for a Court hearing.

Parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen’s brother, Rifkan Bathiudeen, who was arrested and remanded for allegedly forging a deed for a 78-acre plot of land in Mannar has been released on bail.

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday cautioned against panic over COVID-19 but also urged governments to step up their efforts to prepare for the virus, saying “it’s impossible to predict which direction this epidemic will take.”

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has restrained the Centre and the State from deporting a woman to Sri Lanka, the Hindu reported.

Minister of Small & Medium Business and Enterprise Development, Wimal Weerawansa yesterday denied allegations made by JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti that he had purchased a chair worth Rs. 600,000 for his use.

The United States of America (USA), by restricting Army Commander Shavendra Silva and his immediate family members from entering the United States without making any inquiry from Sri Lanka, could harm diplomatic ties between the two countries, Investment Promotion State Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

Imposition of a travel ban on Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva and his immediate family members is regrettable and unfortunate, Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa said today.

The United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alaina B Teplitz met with Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on the travel restriction imposed on Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva.

The Government will not conduct any investigations against the Forest Department Officer who refused to break the law and release conservation land, Minister of Environment and Wildlife Resources S.M. Chandrasena told The Sunday Morning.

Gampaha District Assistant Conservator of Forests, Devani Jayatilleke was able to withstand political pressure and refuse to release a mangrove for the construction of a playground in Negombo because of the independence that the 19th Amendment to Constitution had conferred on government servants, the UNP said yesterday.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed relevant officials to expedite the completion work of Central and other expressways.

The United National Party has sought the stance of the Election Commission pertaining to the new alliance led by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa using the symbol of the elephant.

Sri Lanka takes strong objection to the imposition of travel restrictions on Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva and his immediate family by the US.

The United States said Friday it would refuse entry to Sri Lanka’s army chief over what it called credible evidence of human rights violations in the 2009 war against LTTE terrorists.

Former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga has been remanded until February 17 by the Fort Magistrate.

The 33 Sri Lankan students, who returned from Wuhan, China and quarantined at the Diyatalawa Army Camp were released this morning, Army spokesman Brigadier Chandana Wickramasinghe said.