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COVID death toll passes 10,000 mark in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 death toll pass the 10,000 mark with 189 deaths confirmed for Saturday (4). The total fatalities increased to 10,140.
According to the Government Information Department, 93 females and 96 males are among the deceased.
A total of 154 people who are above 60 years of age are among the deceased while 34 of them are between 30 and 59 years of age.
One death has been reported below 30 years of age.

Sri Lanka’s Covid-19 death toll crosses 9,000 with another 194 deaths
The COVID-19 Death Toll in Sri Lanka passed the 9,000 mark on Tuesday (31) with 194 confirmed deaths for Monday (30).
The total fatalities in Sri Lanka increased to 9,185.
According to the figures reported by the Department of Government Information today (31), the victims include 100 males and 94 females while three of the deceased are below the age of 30.
Forty-five of the Covid-19 deaths are individuals between the ages of 30-59 and the remaining 146 are persons aged 60 and above.

Gazette declaring MRP for oximeters issued
A gazette notification has been issued today (5), setting a maximum retail price of Rs. 3,000 per oximeter.
The recent demand for oximeters had increased with the rise of COVID-19 cases in the country.
The Minister of Health, Keheliya Rambukwella has issued the relevant gazette notification under the Section 142 of the National Drug Regulatory Authority Act No. 5 of 2015.
First twin baby elephants born at Pinnawala
For the first time in the history of the country, twin baby elephants were born at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage today.
A spokesman from the Pinnawala Orphanage said the female elephant 'Surangi' had given birth to twin baby elephants.
He said both baby elephants are male elephants and the first was born at 4.00a.m and the second was born at 12.00 p.m.
Meanwhile, a senior official of the Wild life Department said this twin elephant birth was the first birth in Sri Lankan history among registered domesticated elephants.
In 2020, Sri Lanka for the first time recorded the birth of twin elephant calves in the country’s Minneriya National Park.
Vaccinating 20 to 29 group kicks off in four districts tomorrow
Vaccination rollout for people aged between 20 and 29 is to commence in Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Galle Districts from tomorrow, Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) Army Chief General Shavendra Silva said today.
He said vaccination of those above 20 in these Districts would take place at the same vaccination centres operating at present.
He said vaccination of those aged between 20 and 29 would take place at Viharamahadevi Park, Diyatha Uyana, Panagoda Army Camp and Werahera Army Camp in Colombo District apart from the current vaccination centres.
He said People only in Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Galle Districts would be vaccinated under the vaccination drive initiated tomorrow.
CUT IT OUT! ORDERS Basil Rajapaksa
Joint-Cabinet Spokesperson & Minister (Dr) Ramesh Pathirana says that Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa has urged the Cabinet to limit government spending and cut down on unnecessary expenses.
The Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa has clarified the economic situation of the country at the Cabinet meeting yesterday (30).
Accordingly, the Minister of Finance has instructed to review the progress of projects that have not already commenced and to take a decision on them, and to stop non-essential recruitments and unnecessary allowances if they are given.
Minister (Dr) Ramesh Pathirana said that the Finance Minister had instructed that strict financial discipline should be maintained.
145 COVID-19 deaths reported
145 COVID deaths were confirmed for Friday (3), Total fatalities increased to 9,951.
According to the Government Information Department, 68 females and 77 males are among the deceased.
A total of 117 people who are above 60 years of age are among the deceased while 24 of them are between 30 and 59 years of age.
Four deaths have been reported below 30 years of age.

Dr. Jayaruwan Bandara to appear at CID on Tuesday (31)
Dr. Jayaruwan Bandara, the Former Health Ministry Spokesperson has been summoned to appear at the Criminal Investigations Department on Tuesday (31).
Police Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa told News 1st that he is being summoned with regard to an investigation on misleading the general public by stating false information during an interview with a journalist.
The Chairmen of the State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation and the State Pharmaceutical Corporation had recently filed complaints over the comments made by Dr. Bandara.
Islandwide lockdown extended till Sept. 1
The Sri Lankan government has decided to further extend the quarantine curfew orders, currently enforced across the island, by another week.
Accordingly, the restrictions will be in effect until 4.00 a.m. on September 13 (Monday).
The decision to further extend the quarantine curfew was taken during the virtual meeting of the Special Committee on COVID-19 Control convened under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa this morning (September 03).
GOLD for Sri Lanka at Tokyo Paralympics
Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Priyantha won the first Gold Medal for Sri Lanka at the Tokyo Paralympics after he set a new World Record in the Men’s F46 Javelin Throw with a distance of 67.79m.
Sergeant Dinesh Priyantha Herath sustained injuries in enemy fire on 16 December 2008 when he was fighting against LTTE terrorists in Kilinochchi area.
He enlisted to the Army on 18 March 2004 as a recruit and completed basic training at Gajaba Regiment at Saliyapura. After his injuries, he actively took part in Army-organized Para Athletic training events at the GR Regimental HQ.
In 2012, he won Gold in Javelin Throw (52 m) in Army Para Athletic Meet, First place in Malaysia’s Para Athletic Meet (52.95 m) in 2012, Second Place in Germany’s Para Athletic (Qualifying) Meet (53.09m) in 2017 and again the Second Place in London Para Athletic Meet-2017 recording 59.90m in the same Javelin Throw event.

215 more COVID-19 deaths reported
215 COVID-19 deaths were confirmed for Tuesday (31), said the Director-General of Health Services and the total number of COVID-19 fatalities in Sri Lanka increased to 9,400.
According to the Government Information Department, 100 females and 115 males are among the deceased.
A total of 167 people who are above 60 years of age are among the deceased while 46 of them are between 30 and 59 years of age.
Two deaths have been reported below 30 years of age.

Sri Lanka records 192 new COVID-related deaths
192 COVID-19 deaths were confirmed for Saturday (28), said the Director General of Health Services on Sunday (29).
The total number of COVID-19 deaths in Sri Lanka increased to 8,775.

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