Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa, who had presented the cabinet paper on the 500 outdoor gyms, defending the proposal. The Rs 625 to be allocated for the project was not going to be taken from the COVID-19 fund or any other funds reserved for containing the epidemic.
Sri Lanka Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa informed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in parliament on Wednesday of alleged reports that USD 50 million has been allocated to repair Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF)’s Kfir fighter jets at a time when COVID-19 is raging in the country.
SLAF Spokesman Dushan Wijesinghe explained that the Russian government has agreed to provide the loan at a very low interest rate as well as a long-term repayment structure. He said it will procure four MI – 17 Helicopters under the Russian Military Credit Facility as a result of years of negotiations between the Government of Russia and Sri Lanka.The spokesman said the four aircraft are expected to be procured by the SLAF for future UN peacekeeping operations.
The Mattala Interchange of the Southern Expressway has been temporarily closed after several of its employees were identified as close contacts of a COVID-infected individual.
Accordingly, motorists are instructed to exit the Southern Expressway from the Sooriyawewa Interchange for the time being. In the meantime, the entrance at Imaduwa has also been temporarily closed after several of its employees were tested positive for novel coronavirus, the Expressway Operation Maintenance & Management Division said.
