Colombo (News 1st); Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said, all necessary measures will be taken to control the spread of the new COVID-19 variant on the instructions of the Health Sector.

He said, studies on this new COVID-19 variant are underway.

The Army Commander said there is no truth to any rumor on a possible island-wide lockdown, however, the necessary precautionary measures will be taken on the directive given by the health sector.

• The State and Public service trade unions collective plans to go on sick leave tomorrow.
• A person who illegally imported a consignment of foreign cigarettes into the island arrested at BIA.
• A fire has broken out at the Methsiri Sewana building in the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital
• State Minister of Defence says security at the Mihintale sacred site was not removed
• IPG Mediabrands Expand Asia-Pacific Footprint