Minister Udaya Gammanpila slams SLPP General Secretary for demanding his resignation over fuel price hikes. Samagi Jana Balawegaya says it is ready to support the Government to reform the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Ranil Wikeremesinghe says Government’s duty is to retain the European Union’s GSP+ trade concessions.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/srilankannewspodcast/message

Bouquets and brickbats from China- Sri Lanka’s biggest investor. New guidelines to be introduced after lifting the travel restrictions. Both the Alpha and Delta variants of the Covid-19 virus have been found in Sri Lanka.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/srilankannewspodcast/message

.27,000 arrested for violating quarantine restrictions. State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal invites global firms to be part of Sri Lanka’s growth story. Prime Minister instructs to recall retired nurses to service to augment the Covid fight.  Prisoners rights group the Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners makes an urgent appeal to the United Nations. 67 COVID-19 related deaths reported yesterday.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/srilankannewspodcast/message

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750 French naval personnel arrive in Sri Lanka under the bio bubble system. UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe calls for a Parliamentary Select Committee to be appointed to look into the MV XPress Pearl incident. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/srilankannewspodcast/message

President says the economy should not collapse despite the spread of COVID-19. Government denies fault over the X-Press Pearl. Sri Lankan foreign ministers responds to the US House of Representatives Resolution H. RES 413. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/srilankannewspodcast/message

Trace restrictions within the country extended till June 14. MV X Press Pearl starts to sink raising fears about a potential oil leak. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/srilankannewspodcast/message

A team at the Sri Jayawardenepura University commences research on the Sputnik V vaccine's efficacy. President directs the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) to tow the MV X-Press Pearl into the deep seas off the coast of Colombo. Multiple properties in Colombo are to be opened up for investments under a Private Public Partnership model.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/srilankannewspodcast/message

President appoints members to the Port City Commission. Former Prime Minister to enter the parliament on the sole UNP seat. Russia informs Sri Lanka that Sputnik V vaccine can be used as a single shot. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/srilankannewspodcast/message

Sri Lanka plans to sue the owners of MV XPress Pearl. SJB MP Marikkar alleges that the government is paying more than Bangladesh for Sinopharm vaccines. Nurses go on sick leave today. JVP alleges that the government plans to bring in urban waste from China as carbonic fertilizer. Tvoao8yjnxtJbiz57547fs4Wxg59l21jxu743do1 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/srilankannewspodcast/message

Armed forces deployed to clean up the environmental damage caused by the MV X-Press Pearl. The Port City Economic Commission Bill comes into force. Astra Zeneca writes to SPC warning about procuring vaccines from sources other than the company. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/srilankannewspodcast/message

Temporary travel restriction on inbound travelers to be lifted on 1 June. New Attorney General takes oaths. COVID-19 vaccination drive extended to Kurunegala, Galle and Matara. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/srilankannewspodcast/message

Another 500,000 Sinopharm vaccines arrive in Sri Lanka. US Embassy says advisory on terrorist threat level has not changed. Chinese government to fully sponsor the manufacture of Sinovac vaccine. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/srilankannewspodcast/message

Travel restrictions extended till June 7. Government desperate to procure 600,000 doses of Astra Zeneca vaccines. US issues a level 4 travel advisory on Sri Lanka. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/srilankannewspodcast/message

COVID-19 to be contained by June end. Government officials expects to complete inoculation of all by end of December. A future SJB government will amend the Port City Bill, says an SJB MP. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/srilankannewspodcast/message

No more big foreign loan projects. Government slams breaks on private Astra Zeneca imports. Parents of ex-Tiger combatants should be allowed to grieve. Chinese foreign minister to visit Sri Lanka next month. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/srilankannewspodcast/message

Government calls on all global and local businesses to invest in the Port City. JVP claims that the government is using the quarantine laws to witch-hunt the opposition. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/srilankannewspodcast/message

Port city bill passed in Parliament. Calls to lockdown the country for two weeks. UK minister of state for South Asia cancels planned visit to Sri Lanka. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/srilankannewspodcast/message

Sri Lanka at risk of reporting 1 million COVID-19 cases within the next 100 days. SJB offers conditional support to the Port City Bill. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/srilankannewspodcast/message

Parliamentary supremacy ensured over the Port city. Sri Lanka marks the 12th anniversary since the end of the war with the LTTE.

Country wide travel restrictions from Friday. Supreme Court says some sections of the Port City bill are inconsistent with the constitution.

Sri Lanka in discussions with more than 15 companies to secure AstraZeneca vaccines. No final decision on home quarantine yet.

Home quarantine to be allowed for asymptomatic COVID-19 patients from tomorrow. One year since the arrest of poet Ahnaf Jazeem.