Emmerdale star falls sick with Covid just days after filming with The Chase, Love Island, Loose Women and soap stars

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) approved 2-hour power cuts from 9th – 13th November as follows;Group ABCDEFGHIJKLPQRSTUVW: 1-hour during the day 1-hour during the night

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs revealed that around 7 million Sri Lankans require assistance following the economic crisis.It went on to note that  Sri Lanka continues to face a multidimensional crisis compounded by food insecurity, threatened livelihoods, shortages of vital medicines, as well as rising protection concerns. The economic crisis is the worst since Sri Lanka’s independence in 1948 and is having humanitarian consequences for the most vulnerable people in the country. A 40 per cent reduction in agricultural outputs in the 2021/2022 Maha and a 5per cent reduction during the 2022 Yala seasons have further exacerbated the situation.

₹1,854.5 crore, lower than consensus estimates. This is the first decline in Divi’s revenue in the last 20 quarters, said analysts from Nuvama. Operating deleverage coupled with high energy costs meant that the Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) margin fell fast.

Crocodile Dundee icon Paul Hogan has opened up about his debilitating health issues. In an interview for Australia's A Current Affair, the 83-year-old actor revealed that he has been diagnosed with retroperitoneal fibrosis, a rare inflammatory disorder, and a benign tumour that has wrapped around his abdominal aorta. Hogan, who lives in Los Angeles with his 24-year-old son Chance, also recently had a pacemaker implanted and claims he is now too weak to open a jar.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Maldives Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed attending the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change or COP 27 as a member of the Sri Lanka delegation sparked a regional controversy.Sri Lanka's opposition lawmakers questioned the basis of the Former Maldives President accompanying the Sri Lankan delegation, and who is bearing the cost for his travels.Former Attorney General Dr. Mohamed Munavvar has criticized former President and Speaker of Parliament, Mohamed Nasheed for attending the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 27) as a member of the Sri Lankan national delegation.Nasheed is also a climate advisor to the country’s President, Ranil Wickremesinghe.In a tweet Dr Munavvar posted, he questioned Speaker Nasheed’s loyalty to Maldives while he is a statesman paid by the taxpayers money.The former AG’s remarks against Speaker Nasheed comes while some local media reports have stated that the Speaker was not invited to take part in the Maldivian delegation to COP27 after which the former President and Speaker of Parliament decided to attend the COP27 with the Sri Lankan delegation.

NHS Lanarkshire has been recognised for its commitment to a greener future with an award.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Two Police officers and a school principal were remanded to the 16th of November for torturing grade five students at the Millaniya Primary School in Horana.The body has been accused of stealing money from teachers.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe proposed to establish an International Climate Change University in Sri Lanka with an ancillary institute in the Maldives to counter obstacles in implementing climate action plans.He was speaking at the COP-27 Conference in Egypt on Tuesday (8), and noted that the institution would be the first of its kind in the world."This seat of learning can be a global centre for green and blue studies, for scientists, environmentalists, researchers, policymakers, development practitioners, and students the world over to inter-change knowledge, transcending national and disciplinary boundaries," said the President.He went on to note that the envisaged climate change university will offer both short-term courses, and post-graduate academic awards to build capabilities on mitigating and adapting to climate change and stressed on the collaboration of multilateral institutions and organizations such as the Commonwealth, World Bank and the Asian Development Bank amongst others needs to be sought for the establishment of the institute of higher learning making it a multi-stakeholder partnership transcending national boundaries. "It is my hope that Sri Lanka's proposal will receive extensive support and endorsement from the international community.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The system failure at the Immigration and Emigration Department has been restored.Passport services will re-commence as usual from Wednesday (9), said Immigration and Emigration spokesperson Piyumi Bandara. The Department of Immigration and Emigration earlier announced that there is a delay in issuing passports on Tuesday (8) due to a system issue.Immigration and Emigration spokesperson Piyumi Bandara told News 1st that the department has suspended accepting applications for passports, adding that the system is being restored.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A Vietnamese rescue ship had docked alongside a Japanese ship to bring more than 300 Sri Lankans in distress ashore on Tuesday (8).According to reports from Vietnam, the Vietnamese Coast Guard vessel SAR 413 of the Center for Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Area 3 approached the fishing boat LADY R3311.According to a border guard commander of Ba Ria – Vung Tau province, at 6 pm on November 6th, when the fishing boat arrived in the Truong Sa archipelago, it broke water and drifted into the sea, the ship sent a distress signal.On November 7th, the Japanese cargo ship Helios Leader en-route from Japan to Singapore approached the distressed vessel and brought all 305 Sri Lankan citizens and sailors on board and proceeded to Vung Tau where it was met by the Vietnamese Coast Guard.The Vietnamese functional forces boarded the Herios Leader Vessel, a vehicle carrier, anchored off the coast of Vung Tau to receive the more than 300 Sri Lankans.It is reported that the Sri Lankans were saved by the crew aboard the Herios Leader Vessel.Accompanying the delegation on board the ship SAR 413 were representatives of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Vietnam.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says that the Ukraine and Russia wars have been a reason to act faster to tackle climate change.He told this during the UN climate summit COP27."Climate and energy security go hand-in-hand," he said in his first international appearance since taking office."Putin's abhorrent war in Ukraine and rising energy prices across the world are not a reason to go slow on climate change.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana announced to the Parliament today (08) that the appointment of 17 Sectoral Oversight Committees to be established in Parliament has been included in the Order Paper of the Parliament to obtain the approval of the House.Furthermore, regarding the committees to be established, the Speaker requested all Parliamentarians to extend necessary support to reach a conclusive decision and to begin its process.Accordingly, approval for incidental matters related to these Sectoral Oversight Committees, and the establishment of the three Committees, the Committee on Banking and Financial Services, the Committee on Economic Stabilization and the Committee on Ways and Means is to be obtained at the meetings of the Committee on Parliamentary Business and the Committee of Selection to be held today (08).

COLOMBO (News 1st) – President Ranil Wickremesinghe met Na Kyung- Won, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate and Environment and Head of the Korean delegation, on the sideline of COP 27 in Egypt on Monday (07).While appreciating the efforts taken by Sri Lanka to address the challenges of Climate change, Na Kyung- Won also commended Sri Lanka for the measures taken to reduce carbon emissions despite the country already having a low carbon emission rate.President Wickremesinghe stressed that capacity building is vital for climate action to be successful. From this perspective, he desires to establish an International Climate Change University in Sri Lanka, higher learning, multi-stakeholder institution which strengthens people’s capacities. The President said that he has already held a discussion with the Commonwealth Secretariat and the ADB in this regard and he looks forward to receiving the support and endorsement of the international community.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – MP Premnath C.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The second total lunar eclipse of 2022 will turn the moon a reddish-copper colour for 85 minutes on Nov. 8, 2022.Sri Lanka will be able to witness this spectacle from 5 PM to 7 PM on that day.Often colloquially called a Blood Moon, a total lunar eclipse, happens as the full moon (in this case November's full Beaver Moon) moves into the deep umbral shadow of the Earth and receives only light first filtered by Earth's atmosphere, will be visible from North America and parts of South America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. A partial lunar eclipse will be visible from Iceland, parts of South America, south and central Asia and Russia.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Republic of Korea through the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is investing USD 1.2 million to strengthen shrimp aquaculture in Sri Lanka. The investment is part of a global project implemented by FAO in Sri Lanka with a total investment of USD 3.9 million.The project will be implemented over a three-year period to ensure effective biosecurity in shrimp aquaculture through digital technology. Through the project, FAO will build national capacity on various aspects of health management, biosecurity, food safety, and analysis of biosecurity systems and establish robust, disease early warning and monitoring systems that will support the sustainable development of the shrimp aquaculture sector.The spread of diseases continues to be a constant constraint to sustainable aquaculture development, limiting yield, reducing profit and preventing investment. Improving the biosecurity of the aquaculture sector will enable countries to grow more food efficiently, increase incomes, improve resilience, and reduce vulnerability to the impacts of higher food prices and other threats to national food security.Speaking at the inception of the project, the Korean Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Santhush Woonjin Jeong stated “Sri Lanka is rich in human and natural resources.

Council finance chiefs are proposing to use Covid-19 response cash to ease cost of living pressures in the region.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The National Child Protection Authority has launched a separate investigation into an incident where grade 5 students from a school in Millaniya were brutally beaten for allegedly stealing money from a school teacher.Sri Lanka Police is also investigating the incident.Several Grade Five students from the Millaniya Primary School in Horana were accused of stealing money from the bag of a school teacher and were punished by the school teachers, and the teachers themselves handed over the students to the local police.Parents allege that students were taken away by police intimidated by electric shock treatment inside the Police Jeep, and dropped back at the school.The National Child Protection Authority summoned the police officers in question, the principal and the teachers to record their statements for the investigations.Two boys who were victims of the abuse told News 1st that the police officers took them away in a jeep and threatened them with electric shocks to reveal the truth, and thereafter dropped them back at school.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Minister of Education Susil Premejayantha says that the G. C.

COLOMBO (News 1st) –  Dr. Harsha De Silva is the Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance and he told the Parliament on Tuesday (8) that the state expenses would increase by Rs.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Department of Immigration and Emigration said that there is a delay in issuing passports on Tuesday (8) due to a system issue.Immigration and Emigration spokesperson Piyumi Bandara told News 1st that the Department has suspended accepting applications for passports, adding that the system is being restored.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – 217 detainees who were arrested for their involvement in the recent brawl at the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Center were remanded.Police Spokesperson & Attorney SSP Nihal Thalduwa told News 1st that the detainees were produced to the Polonnaruwa and Hingurakgoda Magistrate Courts and were thus remanded.Commissioner General of Rehabilitation Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi told News 1st that an investigation is underway over the brawl, adding that a five-member committee comprising of senior ranks will investigate the brawl at the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Center.The report prepared by this investigation body will be handed over to the Justice Minister upon completion.Sri Lankan authorities said that scores of detainees held at the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Center fled the premises following Sunday (6) night's brawl.According to reports, the cause of the brawl was a dispute over the use of a bucket used for bathing at the premises.547 detainees were at the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Center at the time of the brawl.The Commissioner General of Rehabilitation said that steps will be taken to start assessing the damage caused to the facility following the brawl, and it will be carried out by government officers.On the 29th of June 2022, a brawl broke out at the same facility resulting in the death of one detainee, while 400 others escaped.Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has called for a full report on the Kandakadu Rehab Center incident.The President's Media Division said that the necessary steps needed to be taken to avert a recurrence of such incidents have also been called for, following discussions with Justice Minister Wijeyadasa

Police in northeastern China said that seven people have been arrested following a clash between residents and authorities enforcing COVID-19 quarantine restrictions. The violence comes as China reports new cases nationwide, with 2,230 cases reported Tuesday in the southern manufacturing and technology hub of Guangzhou.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka Police said 8.34 kg of heroin was discovered hidden inside a house in Ambepitiya, Beruwala on Tuesday (8).One suspect was arrested in a joint raid carried out by the Police Narcotic Bureau and the Sri Lanka Navy.Sri Lanka Police said the value of the seized heroin is over Rs.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Fishermen are demanding the authorities increase their fuel quota along with an increase in the fuel quota for three-wheelers.Fishermen point out that the kerosene given to them is insufficient to engage in fishing activities.Over one hundred fishing boats and small vessels are engaged in fishing activities centred on the Tangalle Oruvella fishing pier.Over 500 families depend on this, and due to the current fuel crisis fishermen are facing server difficulties in heading out to sea.

Covid-19: The country's infection tally has climbed to 4,46,62,141, while the active cases have declined to 14,021, the ministry data updated at 8 am stated. India saw a single-day rise of 625 fresh Covid-19 cases, the lowest since April 9, 2020, while no death was reported in a span of 24 hours in first such instance since March 2020, the Union health ministry said on Tuesday. The country's infection tally has climbed to 4,46,62,141, while the active cases have declined to 14,021, the ministry data updated at 8 am stated.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Ministry of Power and Energy said that an investigation is underway regarding filling stations that did not issue fuel to the public in recent days.A senior official of the Ministry said that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has been notified to take action against filling stations that did NOT sell fuel in recent days.Many filling stations discontinued selling fuel over the past week.As a result, consumers were seen waiting in queues near the filling stations in multiple areas.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lankan authorities revealed that the massive haul of 300 kg of heroin seized on the high seas south of the coastal city of Hambantota was sent to Sri Lanka by a wanted criminal identified as 'Ran Malli', a close associate of underworld leader Nadun Chinthaka alias Harak Kata.Sri Lanka Police said 'Ran Malli' and 'Harak Kata' are currently in hiding in Dubai.A special operation conducted by the Navy in coordination with the Police Special Task Force and Police Narcotic Bureau off the Great Basses Reef Lighthouse Hambantota led to the interception of a local fishing trawler carrying over 331kg of heroin (Including packages), worth around Rs. 6622 – 13244 million in gross street value and apprehension of 06 suspects on 05th November 2022. The drug-carrying trawler and the suspects were brought to Galle Harbour on Monday morning (07th November).

(COLOMBO, Sri Lanka) – Sri Lanka’s navy said Monday that about 300 suspected migrants have been rescued by Singapore authorities after their boat started sinking.Navy spokesperson Indika de Silva said a Sri Lankan citizen on the boat contacted the navy Monday and said they were in distress, and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center in Colombo sought help from Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines.Singapore authorities later notified Sri Lanka that the people on board the boat had been rescued and were heading to Vietnam.De Silva said the navy is only officially aware of the presence of one Sri Lankan on board the vessel, and the identities of the others will be ascertained after they land in Vietnam.Sri Lankans in the past sometimes undertook hazardous and illegal boat journeys to escape a long civil war.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Department of Meteorology says that showers or thundershowers will occur over most parts of the island during the afternoon or night. Heavy showers of about 100 mm can be expected in some places.Showers will occur in the Eastern province and Polonnaruwa and Mullaitivu districts during the morning.The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.Condition of Rain:Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the sea areas around the island. Winds:Winds will be North-easterly or variable in direction. Wind speed will be (20-30) kmph.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe urged the Secretary-General of the UN and Egypt, as the head of the COP27, to summon a meeting of all Ministers of Agriculture of all the countries to assess the food requirements of 2023 and 2024 and submit a report on the food situation. The President also emphasized the need to work closely with multilateral, and sources of funding and formulate a sustainable debt relief plan immediately to ensure global food security.The President further said that it is essential to finalize this plan by February 2023 and should be implemented by the end of the 1st quarter of 2023, if not the damage caused to the political and social structures of countries will be irreparable.

ITV's I'm a Celebrity fans have been left shocked following Olivia Attwood's bombshell departure from the jungle after just 24 hours due to medical reasons.

responded on Instagram after her recently went viral for all the wrong reasons. “I needed to be in my studio today because this is where I ground myself and heal," Simpson captioned the clip, in which she's seen singing along to her 2020 track “Party of One.” “As much as I have learned to block out destructive noise… peoples’ comments and judgements can still hurt deeply with their incessant nagging.”This content can also be viewed on the site it from.In the ad, Simpson gives viewers a tour of her daughter Birdie's bedroom, designed in collaboration with Pottery Barn Kids. When the spot premiered on social media, however, fans began to express concern for Simpson.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The National Child Protection Authority has launched a separate investigation into an incident where grade 5 students from a school in Millaniya were brutally beaten for allegedly stealing money from a school teacher.Several Grade Five students from the Millaniya Primary School in Horana were accused of stealing money from the bag of a school teacher and were punished by the school teachers, and the teachers themselves handed over the students to the local police.Parents allege that students were taken away by police intimidated by electric shock treatment inside the Police Jeep, and dropped back at the school.Two boys told News 1st that the police officers took them away in a jeep and threatened them with electric shocks to reveal the truth, and thereafter dropped them back at school.News 1st contacted the Chairman of the National Child Protection Authority Udaya Kumara over these allegations he said the local Judicial Medical Officer confirmed the boys were tortured."Based on the facts, the National Child Protection Authority has considered this a serious offence. Any wrong committed by a child below the age of 12, according to Sri Lankan law, cannot be considered a crime," he said.The NCPA Chairman also told News 1st that on Tuesday (8) the police officers in question, the principal and the teachers have been summoned to the National Child Protection Authority to record their statements. "We will also produce them in court on Tuesday (8).

COLOMBO (News 1st) – 201 detainees at the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Center were arrested for unruly behaviour, said Police Spokesperson & Attorney SSP Nihal Thalduwa on Monday (7).The detainees who occupied a building at the facility surrendered to Sri Lanka Police on Monday evening.Military Spokesperson Brigadier Ravi Herath told News 1st that 514 detainees were under the control of the security forces by 4 PM on Monday.In addition, a manhunt is underway to locate 33 other detainees who escaped from the facility.Sri Lankan authorities said on Monday (7) that scores of detainees held at the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Center had fled the premises following Sunday (6) night's brawl.According to reports the cause of the brawl was a dispute over the use of a bucket used for bathing at the premises.547 detainees were at the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Center at the time of the brawl.A dispute had arisen between a detainee from Galle, and a detainee from Colombo over the bucket at the bathing area.Thereafter, detainees banded together as the Galle Group and Colombo Group.One of the groups thereafter attempted to approach the armoury at the premises, and that escalated the brawl. Sri Lanka Army personnel attached to the 9th Field Regiment Sri Lanka Artillery who were assigned to the security detail of the armoury had foiled the attempt, and shots were fired into the air to control the situation.One group of detainees, around 200 of them, occupied one of the buildings at the facility and defied orders to surrender.At the same time, around 300 other detainees surrendered to the security forces, while another group fled the premises.Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has called for a full

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Eight Sri Lankan sailors, who are part of a 26 member crew of MT Heroic Idun, an oil vessel, have been "illegally" detained by Equatorial Guinea since 14 August.Apart from the Sri Lankan sailors, the crew also includes 6 Indian sailors and a national each of Poland and Philippines.As per the crew, their vessel was arrested by an Equatorial Guinea naval ship on international waters on 12th August and brought to Luba port under naval escort and threat of legal action.The vessel was arrested based on a request made by Nigeria.The Nigerian Navy says it is conducting an investigation into the activities of MT HEROIC IDUN, a supertanker, arrested by Equatorial Guinea forces over alleged crude oil theft in Nigeria.The vessel and its crew were arrested on August 7th by the Central African country after it fled from Nigeria’s AKPO oilfield when its alleged activities were uncovered by operatives of the Nigerian Navy.Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, spokesperson of the Nigerian Navy, confirmed that the vessel is on it way back to Nigeria for further investigations.He said after the investigation is complete, the office of the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) will determine whether or not the vessel and its crew will be prosecuted by the federal government.The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited in September said it loses $700 million every month as a result of oil theft and vandalism at terminals.The Incident: The Heroic Idun ship was supposed to load cargo of crude oil in Nigeria’s AKPO terminal on 8 August, but as per terminal instructions the loading operation was delayed and the ship never made any operations in Nigeria.The same evening, the ship was approached by an unidentified craft claiming

COLOMBO (News 1st) – President Ranil Wickremesinghe will address the COP-27 Conference on Climate Change on Monday (7).Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe left the island on Sunday (6) for Egypt to participate in the COP-27 Conference on Climate Change which is scheduled to be held from November 6 to 18 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.President Wickremesinghe is scheduled to address the conference on Climate Change issues in Sri Lanka and around the world, on November 7th and 8th.Concurrently, President Wickremesinghe will attend the Global Food Security Forum and the World Leaders’ Forum.President Ranil Wickremesinghe met the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, upon his arrival in Egypt, Cairo on Sunday (6).The President briefed the Secretary-General on the Government’s plans on the National Environmental Policy.

₹3 lakhs to ₹5 lakhs of sum insured for any hospitalizations that may occur during the policy period. SBI General Insurance, one of India’s leading general insurance companies, has issued a group health policy to an NGO that covers individuals with Down syndrome.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lankan authorities have seized a massive haul of heroin in the high seas to the south of Sri Lanka on Sunday (6) night.Sri Lanka Navy said that 300 parcels containing 1 kilogram of heroin each were discovered from three vessels in the seas off Hambantota.The Navy spokesperson told News 1st that approximately 300 kilograms of herion was discovered from two multi-day fishing vessels, and a dinghy boat.The drug bust was carried out by the Police Narcotic Bureau, Sri Lanka Police Special Task Force, and the Sri Lanka Navy, and 10 suspects were arrested during the raid.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A special operation conducted by the Navy in coordination with the Police Special Task Force and Police Narcotics Bureau off Hambantota, led to the interception of a local fishing trawler carrying over 300kg of heroin (Including packages), worth approx. gross street value of over Rs.

Sri Lankan cricket star Danushka Gunathilaka will remain behind bars after being charged with sexually assaulting a woman in Sydney's eastern suburbs during the T20 World Cup.   Gunathilaka unsuccessfully applied for bail in Downing Centre Local Court on Monday in a hearing that was closed to the public. Police had been granted a suppression order restricting access on what could be reported about the 31-year-old's alleged crimes.The top-order batsman spent Sunday night behind bars after being charged with raping a 29-year-old Australian woman.He faces four counts of sexual intercourse without consent allegedly committed over a two-hour period at Rose Bay on November 2. Gunathilaka appeared in the Downing Centre by audio-visual link from Surry Hills police station.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has called for a full report on the Kandakadu Rehab Center incident on Sunday (6).The President's Media Division said that the necessary steps needed to be taken to avert a recurrence of such incidents have also been called for, following discussions with Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.Sri Lankan authorities said on Monday (7) that around 75 – 100 detainees held at the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Center had fled the premises following Sunday (6) night's brawl.Military Spokesperson Brigadier Ravi Herath told News 1st that around 25 of the escapees had surrendered themselves to the Sri Lanka Army Checkpoint positions on the Somawathiya – Kandakadu Road.A brawl took place between two groups of detainees at the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Center on Sunday (6) night.One injured detainee and one Sri Lanka Army soldier were admitted to the Polonnaruwa General Hospital.Military Spokesperson Brigadier Ravi Herath told News 1st that several detainees had attempted to approach the armoury at the premises, and that escalated the brawl.Sri Lanka Army personnel attached to the 9th Field Regiment Sri Lanka Artillery who were assigned to the security detail of the armoury had foiled the attempt, and the armoury of the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Center was secured by the Sri Lanka Army, said Military Spokesperson Brigadier Ravi Herath.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lankan authorities have seized a massive haul of heroin in the high seas to the south of Sri Lanka on Sunday (6) night.Sri Lanka Navy said that 300 parcels containing 1 kilogram of heroin each were discovered from three vessels in the seas off Hambantota.The Navy spokesperson told News 1st that approximately 300 kilograms of herion was discovered from two multi-day fishing vessels, and a dinghy boat.The drug bust was carried out by the Police Narcotic Bureau, Sri Lanka Police Special Task Force, and the Sri Lanka Navy, and 10 suspects were arrested during the raid.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka said on Monday (7) that around 75 – 100 detainees held at the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Center had fled the premises following Sunday (6) night's brawl.Military Spokesperson Brigadier Ravi Herath told News 1st that around 25 of the escapees had surrendered themselves to the Sri Lanka Army Checkpoint positions on the Somawathiya – Kandakadu Road.A brawl took place between two groups of detainees at the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Center on Sunday (6) night.One injured detainee and one Sri Lanka Army soldier were admitted to the Polonnaruwa General Hospital.Military Spokesperson Brigadier Ravi Herath told News 1st that several detainees had attempted to approach the armoury at the premises, and that escalated the brawl.Sri Lanka Army personnel attached to the 9th Field Regiment Sri Lanka Artillery who were assigned to the security detail of the armoury had foiled the attempt, and the armoury of the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Center was secured by the Sri Lanka Army, said Military Spokesperson Brigadier Ravi Herath.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe said Sri Lanka's second round of discussions with creditors concluded successfully.He added that legal advisers, financial advisers and major creditors including China, India and Japan joined the discussions.Several reforms were made since March, in order to obtain IMF assistance, and restructure the country's debt.The State Minister added that Sri Lanka has agreed to deal with all creditors in a transparent manner.The Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Finance have communicated that they will work with the creditors to provide them with the necessary information and clarifications.The State Finance Minister said that the IMF Board of Directors will grant its approval, as soon as Sri Lanka obtains assurance from its creditors, and these discussions are vital for the process.Sri Lanka expects to receive assistance from the IMF by the end of 2022.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – 31 year old Danushka Gunathilaka was arrested at about 1am on Sunday, according to foreign media, after a 29 year old woman made a complaint to police last week.New South Wales police said the cricketer and the 29-year-old woman first made contact via a dating app last weekend. According to Australian media the app used was 'Tinder'.In Tinder, users "swipe right" to like or "swipe left" to dislike other users' profiles.

Doctors were able to cure the man with a mix of neutralising antibodies known to be effective against early coronavirus variants A Covid patient who testest for 411 days has finally been cured. This is the longest phase a patient has suffered from the infection anywhere in the world.  As per reports, 59-year-old British man patient first tested positive in December 2020 and he continued to test positive for Covid until January 2022.

Strictly Come Dancing star Will Mellor has shared a health update on Twitter after worrying fans having been left bedbound last week.The former Coronation Street actor, 46, took to Twitter on Monday (October 17), looking jovial, recording a selfie video, and sharing some feel-good energy with his fans.In a 10-sec clip, Will said: “Morning, it’s a new day, it’s a new week, fresh start, let’s have it.”READ NEXT: Strictly's Helen Skelton breaks silence amid news ex will welcome baby with new girlfriendHe captioned the video: “Happy Monday, people!! Hope you have a great wk!” and hashtagged #positivity, #positivevibesonly and #happymonday.Will also told fans via an Instagram update: “I’m so glad to be feeling better!"Will’s upbeat posts come a few days after the BBC star was struck by a "horrible virus" that led him to miss show rehearsals.However, Will pushed through and on Saturday night (October 15), he and his partner Nancy performed a touching rumba routine to The Joker and the Queen by Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift. For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking hereThe dance aimed to shed light on the importance of men’s mental health and Will dedicated it to those who “put on a brave face” amid their mental health struggles.