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Sri Lanka has confirmed its first case of Omicron Covid-19 variant, the Health Promotion Bureau announced on Friday (03 December).

The virus strain was detected in a Sri Lankan national who recently returned to the island on November 24 from Nigeria, according to Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Samitha Ginige.

The 25-year-old female in question is currently under quarantine. She is reportedly a resident of Marawila area.

In a statement, Deputy Director of Health Services, Dr. Hemantha Herath said the Omicron case was detected as a result of the stringent surveillance conducted by the health authorities.

He told the general public that this is not a reason to panic or to have any undue fears.

Meanwhile, at a media briefing organized by the Presidential Media Center (PMC) yesterday, the health officials noted that Sri Lanka has an accurate understanding regarding the spread of the new Omicron variant and that laboratory facilities are available to identify the virus through genetic analysis.

South Africa alerted the World Health Organization (WHO) about a new highly mutated SARS-CoV-2 variant on 24 November. More than 30 countries, including the US, UK, Canada and Japan have since detected the variant.

Initial evidence suggested that Omicron has a higher re-infection risk. However, scientists said it would take at least three weeks to know how the heavily mutated variant impacts the effectiveness of various vaccines.

As the Omicron continued to spark serious global worry, dozens of countries moved to implement travel restrictions to guard against Omicron variant.

Sri Lanka also barred the arrival of foreign travellers who have been to six countries in the African continent. Accordingly, passengers with a travel history – including transit – to South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini (Swaziland) within the past 14 days were denied entry to the island nation with effect from midnight on 28 November.

The Director-General of Health Services has confirmed 18 new coronavirus-related deaths for November 29, increasing the death toll in the country due to the virus pandemic to 14,346.

The new fatalities include 11 males and 07 females. Among them are 07 individuals between the ages 30-59 years.

The remaining 11 are in the age group of 60 years and above.

The Director-General of Health Services has confirmed another 27 coronavirus-related deaths for December 01, increasing the death toll in the country due to the virus pandemic to 14,399.

According to the figures released by the Govt. Information Department, the deaths reported today include 16 males and 11 females.

Eight of the patients are between the ages 30-59 years while the remaining 19 are in the age group of 60 years and above.

Former Minister Sirisena Cooray has passed away at the age of 90 while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo, family sources said.

Bulathsinghalage Sirisena Cooray had served as the Mayor of Colombo from 1979 to 1989 and was elected to Parliament in the 9th parliamentary election in 1989 from Colombo.

He was appointed Minister of Housing and Construction in the Ranasinghe Premadasa cabinet and had also served as General Secretary of the United National Party (UNP) during the tenure of party leader Ranasinghe Premadasa.

Two men in the southern Indian state of Karnataka have tested positive for the Omicron coronavirus variant after returning from overseas.

The men, who are 66 years and 46 years old, are currently under observation, a government spokesperson said.

These are the first cases of the new Omicron variant to be reported in India.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Omicron poses a "high infection risk".

Officials said all primary contacts and secondary contacts of the two men have been traced and are being tested as well.

Six samples from people who tested positive for Covid-19 in the national capital Delhi, and another six samples from the western state of Maharashtra, have all been sent for genome sequencing to determine the variant. Officials are still awaiting results. Several other cities and states are following suit.

Starting Wednesday, India announced new travel restrictions for international passengers arriving from "at risk" countries a list that includes UK, South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Israel.

They will be tested on arrival and cannot leave the airport without their test results. Those who test positive will be isolated and treated, and their samples will be sent for genome sequencing. Those who test negative must quarantine at home for seven days and get tested again on the eighth day.

Different Indian states have announced different policies for travellers - all passengers flying in to Maharashtra from "at-risk" countries will have to spend seven days in institutional quarantine. Delhi and Karnataka have said all international passengers will have to undergo PCR tests on arrival.

"We are immediately checking suspicious cases and conducting genome sequencing," health minister Mansukh Mandaviya told Parliament on Tuesday.

"We have learnt a lot during the Covid crisis. Today, we have a lot of resources and laboratories. We can manage any situation," he added.

Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the country's public health preparedness, and urged people to continue following Covid safety norms.

(Source : BBC)

The Director General of Health Services has confirmed another 27 coronavirus related deaths for November 24, pushing the country’s death toll due to the virus pandemic to 14,232.

The deaths include 19 males and 08 females while seven of the victims are between the ages 30-59 years. The remaining 20 are in the age group of 60 years and above.

Former Governor Azath Salley was released and acquitted from all charges by the Colombo High Court on Thursday (2).

Salley was arrested for allegedly making a controversial statement at a media briefing on the 9th of March 2021 which allegedly aimed to create disharmony among communities.

He was arrested on the 16th of March 2021 and was since then remanded by Court.

Salley was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights (ICCPR) Act.

The Colombo High Court also ordered for MPs Mohamed Muzammil, Nimal Piyatissa, and Gamini Waleboda, who filed the complaint that led to the arrest of Salley, to be present in court on the 21st of February 2022.

This was after President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne, who appeared for the Former Governor told the court that the malicious and baseless complaint by the MPs had caused distress to his client.

The President’s Counsel pointed out that compensation is due to his client as per the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure and thereafter the court issued notice on the three MPs.

The Director General of Health Services has confirmed another 23 coronavirus related deaths for November 2, increasing the death toll in the country due to the virus to 14,205.

According to the figures released today, the deaths include 11 males and 12 females while one of the victims is below the age of 30 years.

Four patients are between the ages 30-59 years while the remaining 18 are in the age group of 60 years and above.

The Director General of Health Services has confirmed another 26 coronavirus related deaths for November 30, increasing the death toll in the country due to the virus pandemic to 14,372.

According to the figures released by the Govt. Information Department, the deaths reported today include 11 males and 15 females.

Eleven of the patients are between the ages 30-59 years while the remaining 15 are in the age group of 60 years and above.

Sri Lanka’s Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that all Sri Lankan citizens over the age of 20 will be given the COVID-19 booster shot from Wednesday (24).

The Health Ministry said the necessary programs for this purpose will be prepared in the coming days.

According to the Health Ministry, all those over the age of 60 are given the booster shot against COVID-19, while most countries have decided to administer the booster dose for those only over the age of 65.

The Health Ministry said that 380,213 Sri Lankans received the booster shot against COVID-19 as of Wednesday (24), and 74% of the total Sri Lanka population have been vaccinated.

In addition, 1.1 million children were given the vaccine, said the Health Ministry adding that another 200,000 children are yet to be given the vaccine.

Furthermore, the Health Ministry said that it was decided for Weddings, Cinemas, Restaurants, Hotels, and events to take place and operate under strict health guidelines.

However, on Friday (26), at a meeting with the President, it would decide on what restrictions need to be put in place.

The Health Ministry warned that if the guidelines are not followed, strict decisions will have to be made.

Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Finance sought ways and means of further enhancing economic cooperation with India, when he met the Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister of India Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi, today (01 Dec.)

The Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister of India and Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Finance discussed a range of issues pertaining to bilateral economic cooperation.

Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Finance had thanked for the support that India has provided to Sri Lanka in many different spheres through her economic cooperation programmes.

They discussed ways and means by which the existing bilateral economic cooperation programmes between the two countries could be further developed and enhanced.

An economist by profession, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman has been the Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister of India since May 2019.

Prior to that, she was the Minister of Defence from 2017 to 2019.

Smt. Sitharaman has also served as the State Minister of Finance and the State Minister (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

S R Attygalle, Secretary to the Treasury and Ministry of Finance, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India, Milinda Moragoda and officials were also at the discussion

The Director-General of Health Services has confirmed another 24 coronavirus-related deaths for November 22, increasing the death toll in the country due to the virus to 14,182.

According to the figures released by the Govt. Information Department, the deaths reported today include 15 males and 09 female patients.

Four of the victims are between the ages of 30-59 years and another is aged below 30 years. The remaining 20 are in the age group of 60 years and above.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has reported that another 542 persons have tested positive for the novel coronavirus today.