Claiming that no HMPV cases have been detected in Sri Lanka recently as reported by certain media, Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said today that the Health Ministry is on alert and assured to inform the people if any person infected with the virus was detected in the country.

The Minister told Parliament that twenty locations have been named to carry out tests for the virus and that all precautions have been taken.

He said the Epidemiology Unit is constantly providing details on the virus to the Health Ministry and that the President has also paid special attention to the matter.

The Minister said one suspected case was reported but the test was negative.

He said some media had misquoted immunologist Prof. Neelika Malavige, who had said that an HMPV case had been detected in Sri Lanka some time back, and he requested the media to act with responsibility when reporting sensitive issues.

Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara extended an apology for inadvertently addressing the Speaker as ‘Your Honour’ in Parliament today.

Claiming that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has not made any objections to the proposed public sector salary increment, Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe said today the government will go ahead with the proposal and provide a significant salary increment in the upcoming budget.

While Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekera alleged that the President's Secretary had issued a circular prohibiting Ministers from meeting heads of foreign missions without the permission of Foreign Affairs Minister, Leader of the House Bimal Ratnayake denied the claim and said he had met a diplomat yesterday.

The Appropriation Bill for 2025 was presented to Parliament by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya a short while ago.

The members of Trishaw Operators Associations in Dambulla, Sigiriya, and Habarana areas yesterday staged a massive protect against the arrest of six trishaw drivers on charges of assaulting a car driver transporting a tourist and over robbery of a gold chain.

A two day debate on the 'Clean Sri Lanka' programme will be held in Parliament on January 21 and 22, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya told the House today. She said more information on the 'Clean Sri Lanka' programme will be communicated to MPs during this debate.

The free distribution of 20 kilos of rice per person by the previous government before the Presidential election has resulted in the shortage of red rice in the market, Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe said today.

According to the Examinations Department, the evaluation of the answer scrips of the 2024 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination is scheduled to begin today (08).

The government will formulate a mechanism to stop foreigners who engage in business activities while on tourist visas, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya said today.

The family of assassinated Sri Lankan journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge has expressed hope that the Anura Kumara Dissanayake-led government will find the truth behind the incident and provide justice.