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A total of 92 more COVID-19 related deaths that occurred yesterday (21) were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today pushing the death toll to 12,376.

According to the Government Information Department,41 females and 51 males are among the deceased.

A total of 71 people who are above 60 years of age are among the deceased while 19 of them are between 30 and 59 years of age.

Two deaths have been reported below 30 years of age.

The State Ministry of Consumer Protection has reportedly agreed to increase the price of imported milk powder, following a discussion held between Subject Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna and the milk powder importers yesterday (18).

Speaking at the discussion, the importers have demanded an increase of Rs. 350 per kilo of milk powder. The Minister, however, has agreed to soar the price only by Rs. 200. This has been agreed to by the milk importers as well, reports added.

Accordingly, the price of 01 kilo of milk powder, which is currently sold for Rs. 945 in the market, will be soared up to Rs. 1145. The price of a 400 g packet of milk powder will soar from Rs. 380 to Rs. 458.

Milk powder importers are of the view that the problem is due to the rapid surge in the value of the US Dollar in the market. Despite the sell price of a US Dollar being Rs. 203, the importers are compelled to pay Rs. 238 in the market, they revealed.

In the backdrop, the importation of milk powder may be carried out at a significant loss despite the Rs. 200 increase, they grieved.

Jayantha Ketagoda was sworn in as a National List MP of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) a short while ago.

He was named by the SLPP to fill the National List MP slot created after the resignation of former State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal.

Earlier, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National List MP Jayantha Ketagoda resigned from his Parliamentary seat to make way for Economic Revival and Poverty Alleviation Presidential Task Force Head, Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

Basil Rajapaksa is the present Finance Minister.

MP Manusha Nanayakkara, SJB Media Spokesman, has been summoned to appear before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), on the request of contributing to an investigation undertaken by the Department.

The MP has been summoned to appear on September 20 by the Officer in Charge of the Forensic Laboratory of the CID related to the information gathering carried out at the CID Computer Forensic Audit Unit.

MP Nanayakkara, however, has stated that his response to the request will be on the advice of a lawyer, in the event that the CID has not disclosed any information of the investigation into which he was summoned.

Government MPs should have the freedom to raise criticism over wrong decisions taken by those in the government, which cannot be violated through disciplinary inquiries, Ruling Party MP Jagath Kumara said, speaking to a briefing held today (20), following backlash over a controversial sentiment he delivered aiming two powerful government ministers a few days ago.

The Ruling Party MP in a recent briefing had accused Ministers Sarath Weerasekara and Gamini Lokuge of interfering in the appointment of the Officer In Charge of the Padukka Police Station. In response Ruling Party Secretary General Sagara Kariyawasam emphasised that MP Kumara will have to face a disciplinary inquiry for publicly criticising the ministers of the party.

In retaliation, MP Kumara stressed that another group of Ruling Party MPs are ready to stand by his side, had an attempt been made to silence him via a disiplinary inquiry.

Kumara also claimed that he has more information regarding Ministers Weerasekara and Lokuge, warning that these information will be exposed to media, had false allegations been levelled against him.

The trade union struggle by the school teachers and principals over salary anomalies continues to occur due to the conduct of Minister Weerasekara, he alleged.

LNW

The total number of COVID-19 deaths in Sri Lanka exceeded 12,000 with 84 more deaths being reported today.

A total of 84 more COVID-19 related deaths that occurred yesterday (17) were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today pushing the death toll to 12,022.

According to the Government Information Department,33 females and 51 males are among the deceased.

A total of 58 people who are above 60 years of age are among the deceased while 23 of them are between 30 and 59 years of age.

Three deaths have been reported below 30 years of age.

The Director-General of Health Services has confirmed another 93 coronavirus-related deaths on Sunday (September 19), increasing the official death toll in the country to 12,218.

According to the figures reported by the Department of Government Information today (20), the victims include 45 males and 48 females while one of the deceased is below the age of 30.

Twenty-four of the Covid-19 deaths are individuals between the ages of 30-59 and the remaining 68 are persons aged 60 and above.

SLPP MP Mahinda Samarasinghe will be stepping down as a member of the Parliament to take up the post of Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the U.S. and Mexico.

Samarasinghe is slated to replace the former Ambassador to U.S., Ravinatha Ariyasinha as he is due to retire.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) the Ruling Party has decided to call a disciplinary inquiry against Ruling Party MP Jagath Kumara for allegedly criticising two cabinet ministers at a recent press briefing.

Party Secretary MP Sagara Kariyawasam stated that the MP's sentiment cannot be approved of.

Denoting that MP Kumara has violated the party's discipline by criticising his own party members and ministers, MP Kariyawasam added that the Party, therefore, has decided to conduct a disciplinary inquiry against him. The matter will be addressed at the Party's disciplinary committee, he added.

MP Kumara in a recent briefing accused Ministers Sarath Weerasekara and Gamini Lokuge of influencing in the process of appointing an officer in charge (OIC) at the Padukka Police Station based on political affiliations.

Making the allegation, the MP resigned from the post of Chairman at the Padukka Regional Development Committee.

The decision to give the Pfizer vaccine to children between the ages of 15 and 19 was taken after lengthy discussions with medical experts and other countries around the world on the idea of ​​vaccinating children of different ages.

Channa Jayasumana, Minister of State for Drug Production, Supply and Regulation stated that the decision was taken at a meeting of the covid Suppression Task Force chaired by the President today (17).

Accordingly, it has been decided to give this vaccine to children between the ages of 15 and 19 suffering from cognitive and other disorders as the first phase.

103 COVID-19 deaths were confirmed for Saturday (18), said the Director-General of Health Services on Sunday (19).

The total number of fatalities in Sri Lanka increased to 12,125.

According to the Government Information Department,47 females and 56 males are among the deceased.

A total of 77 people who are above 60 years of age are among the deceased while 24 of them are between 30 and 59 years of age.

Two deaths have been reported below 30 years of age.

121 COVID-19 deaths were confirmed for Thursday (16), said the Director-General of Health Services on Friday (16). The total number of fatalities in Sri Lanka increased to 11,938.