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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.

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.

Ruling Party MP Mahinda Samarasinghe on Tuesday (23) told the Parliament that he will be stepping down as a member, to take up the vacant post of Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the United States of America.

He said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has requested him to take up the position, and he accepted that request.

“I plan on resigning from the post of Member of Parliament in the coming days and leave for the United State of America on the 29th of November,” he said.

Samarasinghe said it is important for Sri Lanka be present at the United Nations Human Rights Council, at a time when the United States of America is to sit at the UNHRC as a member from 2022.

“It is important for us to have good relationships with the US. I am heading over there to ensure that it is achieved,” he told the house.

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.

With 31 more Covid related deaths confirmed by the Director General of Health Services yesterday (21) the death toll due to the Covid-19 contagion in Sri Lanka has climbed up to 14,158.

This notably the first time the daily number of Covid related deaths has increased over 30 since the pandemic's decline upon the third wave.

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.

Minister of Power Gamini Lokuge has tested positive for Covid-19.

The Minister is currently being treated at a private hospital in Colombo, according to reports.

LNW