COLOMBO (News1st): The total number of coronavirus cases in Sri Lanka rose to 771 after 20 people tested positive on Tuesday, with one death being reported during the day.

Fifteen navy personnel from Welisara were among the infected, along with civilians from the Kandakadu quarantine centre in the north central region and certain areas in Colombo.

The infected person from the quarantine centre was identified as a residence of Bandaranayake Mawatha in Colombo which is under lockdown.

“…from Bandaranayake Mawatha we have got 100 now,” army chief lieutenant general Shavendra Silva, who heads the national operation centre for the prevention of COVID-19 told News1st.

Health ministry figures show that nine people have died from the virus since it started spreading in the country on March 11, while 213 have recovered.

• Parliament approves decision of Committee on Ethics and Privileges regarding incident between MP Diana Gamage and two opposition MPs
• Appeals related to 2022/2023 academic year to be accepted until 30th December
• Vehicular movement to be limited at Nugegoda railway crossing
• President Ranil Wickremesinghe meets with Indian PM at COP28
• Sri Lanka: Ad Hoc Bondholders welcomes OCC agreement; But calls for transparency