In the backdrop where COVID-19 outbreak has turned out to be pandemic across the world, Sri Lanka Navy shouldering the national responsibility has swiftly set up a quarantine centre at the Boossa naval premises on 16th March 2020 to accommodate the influx of passengers from affected countries.

Due to the spread of the Covid-19 virus, the Department of Immigration and Emigration has decided to extend the validity of all types of visas currently issued to foreigners in Sri Lanka.

The Tamil National Alliance has called for the postponement of the April 25 parliamentary election.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa addressing the Special Task Force to combat the global pandemic COVID-19 sternly said stringent measures must be put in place, including restriction of all arrivals at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for the next two weeks, over concerns that many passengers from COVID-19 affected countries might be unaccounted for.

The validity period of driving licences expiring between March 16 and April 15 has been extended, says the Minister of Transport.

Nine more persons have tested positive for coronavirus in Sri Lanka bringing the total number of patient to 43, the National Operation Centre for Prevention of Covid-19 has announced.

The number of COVID-19 positive cases in Sri Lanka has climbed to 34, says Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi.

All passenger arrivals at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake would be suspended with effect from today for two weeks, the Government said.

Commander of Sri Lanka Army, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva has been tasked to spearhead the National Operation Center for Prevention of COVID- 19 Outbreak, says the President’s Media Division (PMD).

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.