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.

A total number of 28 patients tested positive for Covid-19 in Sri Lankan as of now, says the Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe.

The 22nd Coronavirus patient in the country has been identified, according to the Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe.

Three more confirmed cases of Coronavirus (Covid-19) have been identified in the country bringing the total number of patient to 21.

Two individuals have been arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for spreading false information regarding Coronavirus (Covid-19) on social media.

All services related to the issuance of driving license at the Werahera Branch and other district offices would be suspended until March 31, the Department of Motor Traffic said.