All schools to reopen tomorrow except 52 in Sabaragamuwa

All government and semi-government schools in the country will be re-opened from tomorrow (23) except for 52 schools in the Sabaragamuwa Province, Education Ministry stated.

Pakistan sends field hospital, relief items

The Pakistan Government has sent a 30 bed fully equipped modern field hospital and relief materials for the flood victims in Sri Lanka.

SL donates a replica of Avukana Buddha to Telangana

Sri Lanka has donated a replica of the Avukana Buddha statue to India’s Telangana state. It will be installed in a Buddhist themed park.

Five more bodies recovered in Aranayake

Five more bodies had been recovered from the Aranayake landslide site making the total number of death 35, the Aranayake Divisional Secretary said today.

Death toll increases to 82: DMC

The number of deaths caused by floods and landslides increased to 82 while 118 individuals have been reported missing, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said today.

Water level in Kelani River dropping

The water level in the Kelani River is falling and should return to less than five feet during the next few days, the Irrigation Department said.  

Will continue to support SL: UN

The United Nations continues to support the Sri Lankan Government in its efforts to respond to the needs on the ground, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Stephane Dujarric said yesterday.

US, Australia to provide relief for affected people

The United States Government has provided 7.2 million Sri Lankan Rupees ($50,000 U.S. dollars) for immediate disaster assistance for non-food items such as blankets, mattresses, clothing and hygiene kits in view of the serious flooding in Sri Lanka, the United States Embassy in Colombo said in a statement.

Another landslide reported in Aranayake

Another landslide was reported in Kabaragala-Kanda at Aranayake this afternoon, Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said.

PM congratulates Jayanthi

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe congratulated Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala on her achievement as the first Sri Lankan to summit Mount Everest this morning.

Jayanthi becomes first Sri Lankan to summit Mount Everest

Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala sumitted Mount Everest this morning becoming the first Sri Lankan to do so.

Use of obscene language: Speaker vows to take action against Harin

Joint opposition MP Dinesh Gunawardane yesterday urged speaker Karu Jayasuriya to take action against Minister Harin Fernando whom he accused of using abusive words on MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage.

Two flights from Japan, India arrive at BIA with humanitarian aid

Two flights from Japan and India arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning carrying humanitarian aid needed for the affected people.

PM’s Vesak message: Live as Lord Buddha taught you

As we celebrate the thrice blessed Wesak once again, we are reminded of the true values Lord Buddha enshrined – Metta, Muditha, Karuna and Upekkha- which must be the ideals that are upheld in a sincere spiritual awakening towards building social goodwill and harmony.

‘Real Buddhist is one who works for betterment of masses’ – President

The real Buddhist is the one who works for the betterment and the contentment of the masses, President Maithripala Sirisena said in his Vesak message.

Special unit to handle major disasters: Ruwan

The government is planning to set up a unit to handle special disaster situations under the Defence Ministry, State Minister f`or Defence Ruwan Wijewardene said yesterday.

Flood relief distribution: needs attention

Even though lorry loads of dry rations, food and other requirements were pouring into the flood affected areas in Kelaniya and other areas in Colombo, people complained that there was no proper ground level mechanism to ensure that they reached to the people who were actually affected and in need of assistance.

Boat capsize kills two

A forty seven year-old man and a 15 –year-old boy were killed after a boat capsized at Ambulgama in Hanwella this evening, police said.

540 inmates to be released for Vesak

Five hundred and forty prison inmates from Prisons Island wide would be granted Presidential pardon tomorrow in view of the Vesak Poya Day, Prisons Department said.

This is why dogs are called ‘man’s best friend’

Another loyal dog that was looking for its owners was captured by cameras at the landslide site in Samassarakanda hill in Aranayake.

15 elephants released to owners on bond

The Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya today released 15 elephants to their owners till August 31 over the inquiry on forged elephant licenses and alterations made to the wild elephant registration book, on a Rs. 30 million bonds on each.

Magistrate Thilina Gamage interdicted

Judicial Service Commission has today interdicted Colombo Additional Magistrate Thilina Gamage after he was named a suspect by the Attorney General over the alleged possession of an elephant without a valid license, sources said.

Rising water levels may shut down Ambatale

Rising sea levels will cause an increase in the water levels in the Kelani Ganga resulting in the shutting down of the new Ambatale water intake, Town Planning and Water Management Minister Rauff Hakeem told Parliament today.

No fuel shortage: CPC

There will be no fuel shortage in any part of the country, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Chairman T.G. Jayasinghe said.

EgyptAir wreckage found in Mediterranean

Egypt's military said its search teams found wreckage today from the EgyptAir plane that crashed in the Mediterranean with 66 people on board.

Govt. waives import duty on flood relief

Government has decided to waive the import duty on the goods being sent to Sri Lanka as flood relief, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake told Parliament today.

Upcountry trains still only to Rambukkana

Train services on the upcountry line from Colombo Fort will end at Rambukkana, the Railway Control Room said.

Air-sea search intensifies for missing EgyptAir plane

A massive search was under way Thursday for the wreckage of an EgyptAir plane that plunged into the Mediterranean with 66 people on board, in what the Egyptian authorities said may have been an act of terrorism.

Indian naval ships rushed to SL with relief materials

India on Friday rushed two naval ships with relief materials to cyclone-hit Sri Lanka, the Indian Express reported. INS Sunayna, an NOPV (Naval offshore patrol vessel) and INS Sutlej, a survey vessel with relief material have been rushed to Colombo from Southern Naval Command Kochi.

Harin and cousin decide to settle brawl case

The Magisterial inquiry, involving Minister Harin Fernando and his cousin over an alleged brawl between them, was yesterday terminated by Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne after the both parties decided on a settlement.