Number of coronaviris patients in Sri Lanka continues to rise

Smoking ban to be expanded to all public places

The ban on smoking is to be expanded to all public places, the Chairman of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) Dr. Samadhi Rajapaksa said. The Health Ministry quoted Dr. Samadhi Rajapaksa as saying that at the moment smoking is banned only in certain public places while in other areas it is restricted. Rajapaksa said that most public places have not been covered by law to strictly enforce the no smoking ban. As a result, steps are to be taken in future to amend the law so the

24 Aug, 2020

Proposal to be submitted to ban plastic straws, bottles

By Indika Sri Aravinda A proposal is to be submitted to ban plastic straws, plastic bottles and plastic plates. The proposal is expected to be drafted and submitted to cabinet next year. Director General of the Central Environmental Authority Hemantha Jayasinghe told Colombo Gazette that plastic sachet packets, plastic straws, plastic bottles and plastic plates are harmful to the environment. He said that steps will be taken to phase-out the production and import of such products. Jayasingh

23 Aug, 2020

Dance teacher arrested for sexually abusing teenage boy

A 42-year-old dance teacher has been arrested on charges of sexually abusing a 17-year-old boy. The National Child Protection Authority said the dance teacher had been practising in the?Western Province. He was arrested based on a complaint filed on the incident which is reported to have taken place in 2019. The abused teenager is reported to be facing mental trauma as a result of the incident, the NCPA said. The suspect is said to have sexually abused the boy following practice held in the

24 Aug, 2020