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Following a summons issued by the CID, Samagi Jana Balawega MP Manusha Nanayakkara is currently at the CID. The MP appeared before the CID at 9 am today.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and a group of UNP MPs were also present near the CID headquarters.

The MP has been summoned to make a statement regarding the disappearance of several files in the database of the National Drug Regulatory Authority.

Speaking to the media on this occasion, the Leader of the Opposition said that instead of investigating corruption and fraud, they are trying to hunt down politicians and journalists who expose corruption.

A software engineer of the Epic Lanka Technologies company has been arrested over the deletion of data from the database of the National Medicine Regulatory Authority (NMRA).

The arrest has been made by the Criminal Investigations Department at around 11 am this morning (September 28).

Interrogation of the said software engineer has revealed that he had erased the relevant data from the database using a special command.

CID investigations have revealed that the IP address of the source of the command and the IP address of the software engineer’s computer is the same.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed for the existing Quarantine Curfew will be lifted at 04:00 AM on the 01st of October, said Army Commander General Shavendra Silva on Wednesday (29).

The necessary health guidelines that need to be followed will be announced in due course, he added.

The total number people who fell victim to COVID-19 infection in Sri Lanka moved up as 51 more fatalities were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services on Sunday (Sep. 26).

The new development has pushed the official death toll from the virus outbreak in Sri Lanka to 12,731.

As per the data released by the Department of Government Information, the latest victims include 29 males and 22 females.

As many as 41 deaths were reported among the elderly people aged above 60 years. In addition, 10 individuals aged between 30-59 years have also fallen victim to the virus infection.

The software engineer of Epic Lanka Technologies who was arrested in connection with the erasure of National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) data has been remanded until October 06.

The case was taken up before Colombo Additional Magistrate Shalani Perera earlier today after the suspect was directed to the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO).

Presenting submissions, Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris had sought the court to remand the accused as investigations into the matter are yet to be completed while the defence attorney requested his client to be granted bail.

The additional magistrate stated that a reasonable period of time is needed to further investigate the incident due to the subtlety of the manner in which the crime was committed and the complexity of the probe.

Accordingly, she ordered to place the suspect under remand custody for a week and rejected his request to be released on bail.

The Criminal Investigation Department had taken the software engineer in question into custody in the area of Wellapita in Divulapitiya yesterday (Sep. 28).

During interrogations, the suspect has divulged that he had erased the relevant data from the database using a special command.

The investigating officers have uncovered that the IP address of the source of the command and the IP address of the software engineer’s computer is the same.

Minister Namal Rajapaksa says that signing the Kerawalapitiya Yugadanavi power plant agreement at midnight is not an issue. He told the media that in dealing with countries around the world, they have to be on time in those countries and that this is not a problem for a government like theirs that works 24 hours a day. “The Minister of Power and Energy has replied to that. He said the signing was not at an auspicious time, but at a time convenient to both parties. So he has signed it at a convenient time. It is better to sign at midnight with a government that can work 24 hours a day. There is no problem with that. When dealing with other foreign countries you have to deal with the time in those countries. 12 midnight in our country is about one o clock in the afternoon in America. Therefore, it can be signed when both parties agree,” said Mr Namal Rajapaksa.

The representative of the American company that signed the agreement to transfer 40% of the shares of the Kerawalapitiya Yugadanavi power plant to the New Fortress Energy Company had left for the United States at 2 in the morning.

There was a serious problem with the quality of organic fertilizers which were being prepared to import from China. This is due to the fact that the fertilizers were found to be substandard when tested.

The relevant investigations were carried out by the National Plant Quarantine Unit of the Department of Agriculture.

A former Governor says only nine agrochemicals are seized by the Registrar of Pesticides.

He also says that the Registrar of Pesticides has ordered to seize and take legal action against the sale of only 9 of the nearly 30 pesticides being sold illegally islandwide.

Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon, the former Governor of the Southern and Central Provinces has revealed this information in a recent press release.

''It is ridiculous to tout 'Organic Agriculture' while allowing the sale of more than 30 banned pesticides'' - Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon

"The government, which has turned a blind eye to the situation for a long time, issued this order on September 24, 2021, following my revelation on September 23. It is gratifying to see the arrest and prosecution of those selling illegal agrochemicals under the Pesticides Act, but the government has created the environment for the free sale of highly toxic chemicals by seizing only nine illegal pesticides," the former Governor said in a statement.

Tennakoon further stated:

"Even the highly toxic monocrotophos, malathion and carbofuran, which were banned in Sri Lanka some time ago, are being imported in unlimited quantities. They are packaged under various names and are currently being sold in the market. The government's plan is to portray to the country and the world that it is promoting organic farming and to cultivate in the Maha season using agro chemicals instead.”

He accused Udaya Jayasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Prof. Priyantha Yapa, Jayampathi Molligoda, Chairman of the Tea Board and others acting as if this illegal smuggling of agro chemicals was a blessing to the Ministry of Agriculture.

Organic farming has now been created in name only. They are using agrochemicals smuggled into the country by boat which is then smuggled across the country and sold illegally.

"The short sighted policy of the Ministry of Agriculture has pushed Sri Lanka's agriculture to a point where it is completely dependent on the black market. Agrochemicals worth Rs. 6000 are now being sold for Rs. 12,000," he alleged.

The Registrar of Pesticides, under the Pesticides Control Act No. 33 of 1980, has directed all authorised officers, all prosecuting officers and litigation officers to search and prosecute only those selling nine types of illegal agrochemicals.

Thereby, all other illegal agrochemicals have been given an open unofficial license for sale.

Former Governor Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon has called for the government to take immediate action to seize all illegal agrochemicals being sold in the country and to prosecute the smugglers.

The photographs show unregistered and banned agrochemicals that have been ordered to be seized.

With directions and guidance of commander of the Army and under the supervision of General Officer Commanding 54 Infantry Division Major General Darshana Wijesekera, participation of Commander, Security Forces- Wanni, Major General Hemantha Bandara conducted a donation program on 28 September 2021 for ex - LTTE Carders who received special presidential general pardon.

The purpose of the program was to uplift their living standard and income level. The Event was sponsored by the Yapahuwa Kingdom Lions club.

The new Delta branch spreading in Sri Lanka has been officially named as AY.28, an alias of the Sri Lanka lineage which is B.1.617.2.28 .

Dr. Chandima Jeewandara, the head of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology at the Sri Jayewardenepura University stated this in a Twitter message.

Our new delta branch with 701S is now officially AY.28Alias of B.1.617.2.28, Sri Lanka lineage @GMalavige @diyanath_r @DinukaAri @dinuguruge @Thushan_deSilva @Deshnicj

— Chandima Jeewandara (@chandi2012) September 26, 2021

The total number people who fell victim to COVID-19 infection in Sri Lanka moved up as 55 more fatalities were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services on Monday (September 27).

The new development has pushed the official death toll from the virus outbreak in Sri Lanka to 12,786.

As per the data released by the Department of Government Information, the latest victims include 29 males and 26 females.

As many as 39 deaths were reported among elderly people aged above 60 years. In addition, 16 individuals aged between 30-59 years have also fallen victim to the virus infection.

MP Chandima Weerakkody has tested positive for COVID-19.

He was confirmed to have been infected with the virus after a RAT was conducted on him at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital last evening.

The MP is currently under quarantine at a treatment centre in Hikkaduwa.