Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe

Sri Lanka needs well-designed political and economic policy changes for long-term recovery

The government has taken steps to address shortages of fuel and gas to some extent when compared to the earlier situation which had long queues that stretched for kilometres outside fuel and gas stations. But a well-planned recovery plan still cannot be seen that can address the long-term food security issues. 

More on REGION

Bangladesh's coronavirus death toll hits 250, case count surges to 16,660

Bangladesh has registered 11 more fatalities from the novel coronavirus in a daily count, raising the death toll to 250

Coronavirus outbreak: Japan provides 2,000 PPEs to Bangladesh

Japan handed over 2,000 sets of high quality personal protective equipment to the health and family welfare ministry today as part of its support to Bangladesh in fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic

Maldives reports 35 new COVID-19 cases

35 new COVID-19 patients have been reported in the Maldives

Over 200 Maldivians repatriated from India

Over 200 Maldivians were brought back on two flights of the national airline, Maldivian. The first flight arrived on Monday afternoon, while a second one landed at night. They were evacuated from 16 cities in India

With 3,604 new cases, India's Covid tally surges past 70K; 2293 deaths

The COVID-19 tally in India surged past 70000 cases, with 3,604 new cases reported in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday

Plan for new reality, PM to CMs

In a clear message to the Chief Ministers that Indians must plan for the new world reality, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that public activities should be increased while reducing the chances of the transmission of coronavirus

No new COVID-19 cases reported in Sri Lanka Monday

No new COVID-19 cases reported in Sri Lanka Monday and the total number of COVID–19 infections in Sri Lanka remained at 863, the Health Ministry said

Pakistan's reconstituted commission for minorities has Hindu bizman as chairman

Pakistan's Min­is­try of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has notified the reconstituted National Comm­ission for Minorities and its terms of reference which include ensuring that worship places of non-Muslim communities are preserved and kept in a functional condition

Pakistan reports 39 new deaths; nationwide tally stands at 32,081

Pakistan's nationwide tally of Covid-19 patients stands at 32,081 with 11,869 cases in Punjab, 12,017 in Sindh, 4,875 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 2,061 in Balochistan, 457 in Gilgit-Baltistan, 716 in Islamabad and 87 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Pakistan imported medicines and vitamins from India, shows ministry document

While a directive has been issued by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to probe the import of over 450 medicines from India, a document of Pakistan's Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) shows that a number of vitamins, drugs and salts were imported from India, reported Dawn

Indian Navy ship brings back Sri Lanka Navy personnel training in India

An Indian Navy warship has brought back ten Sri Lankan Navy personnel, who were in India attending a training course conducted by the Indian Navy, after the conclusion of the course, Colombo Page reported

JSQM-A, two separatist outfits in Sindh banned

The Pakistan government has banned a nationalist and two separatist organisations of Sindh, bringing the total number of the proscribed outfits in the country to 76

Indian envoy summoned by Nepal foreign office

Nepalese Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali summoned India’s Ambassador to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Monday over a new road being built through Lipulekh and handed over a protest note over the road, foreign ministry spokesman Bharat Raj Poudyal said

Bangladesh COVID 19 infection tally crosses 15,000

The country reported a record single-day surge of detected coronavirus cases -- 1,034 -- as the tally crossed the 15,000 mark, while 11 new deaths took the death toll to 239

Infections rise above 4,687 in Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s coronavirus cases exceeded 4,687 as the outbreak shows no sign of slowing down even with draconian lockdowns in the main cities