Colombo (LNW): The President has granted his approval to import chicken for food industrial purpose, revealed Trade Minister Nalin Fernando today (31).

Speaking to media this afternoon, the Minister added that the decision to import chicken has been taken in a move to control prices in the market.

Colombo (LNW): The Fort Magistrate Court has issued an order barring a group of people including Leader of the National People’s Power (NPP) Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Secretary of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Tilvyn Silva and several others from staging demonstrations within several areas in Colombo, after taking into consideration certain facts presented by the Fort Police.

These areas are;

The Presidential Secretariat,
The President’s House,
The Ministry of Finance,
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka,
The Police Headquarters,
Olcott Street from Colombo Fort Railway Station to CTO Junction,
Lotus Road from CTO Junction to Ceramic Junction NSA Roundabout,
York Street,
Bank Street,
Chatham Street,
Mudalige Street,
Baron Jayathilaka Street,
In front of the Police Headquarters,
Scouts Street
Temple Road,
President’s Street,
The Galle Road from the Gallface Roundabout to the NSA Roundabout and the Galleface Green premises up to the Presidential Secretariat

Accordingly, the order stands in effect barring the NPP activists from staging this demonstration from 12 pm noon to 06 pm today (31).

Colombo (LNW): More than 56,000 cases of dengue have been identified in Sri Lanka this year, with the highest number of cases being detected in the Western Province, revealed the National Dengue Control Unit,

Over 50 per cent of the cases were found in the Western Province, and the risk of the contagion still remains, warned Director of the Unit, Dr. Nalin Ariyaratne.

He added that a large number of dengue cases were also found in the Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Puttalam districts, with a considerable account of cases being traced in the Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts as well.

Colombo (LNW): Employees of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses attached to several depots have launched a strike action this (31) morning, in objection to an assault of a depot inspector at the Horowpathana depot, Lankadeepa reported.

Accordingly, the strike action has been endorsed by employees attached to the depots in Dambulla, Anuradhapura, Kekirawa, Horowpathana, Polonnaruwa, Kebithigollewa, and Kantale, according to the report.

The strike action has reportedly affected public transportation in the said areas.

Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka firmly stands against terrorism and will not tolerate any form of support or actions that contribute to terrorist activities, said State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon, addressing a meeting with Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler.

The Turkish government commended the Sri Lankan government and its security forces, including intelligence agencies, for their significant efforts in combating the Fethullah Terrorist Organisation (FETÖ) led by the Fethullah Gulen groups.

Colombo (LNW): A special discussion will be held on August 04 under the patronage of Public Security Minister Tiran Alles.

The discussion will focus on the government’s drug eradication policy, and is expected to be attended by about 100 government officials involved in drug eradication in Sri Lanka.