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High costs dampen Vesak celebrations
Commemorating Vesak this year has been hard hit by electricity costs and soaring prices hikes resulting in pruning down the number of Vesak pandals and decorations as well as Dansals in Colombo, organizers said.
Most of the decorations to be seen were organized by the police and security forces as private parties were not willing to erect Vesak pandals at sites they are normally seen in Colombo, they said.
Several programmes planned in the Metropolis beginning from May 3 to May 6 to celebrate the Buddha Rashmi National Vesak Festival were succesfully concluded. The events were held at Galle Face Green, Shangri-La Green, and Presidential Secretariat premises
A Bakthi Geetha recital took place on the steps of the Presidential Secretariat on May 3 and 4 and President Ranil Wickremesinghe attended the event. The same recital was scheduled to be held at the same location on May 4.
A stage built on the Shangri-La green grounds was used for distributing school supplies to 40 novice monks and 1,200 school children on May 5.At 7.00 pm at the same venue, the Maha Karuna Buddhist Association of Singapore and Willing Hearts Foundation of Singapore were due to hold a Rice Dansala on May 5 and 6.
The Sri Lanka Navy, Civil Security Department, Youth Service Council, and Sri Lanka Army were due to hold Bakthi Geetha recitals and light Vesak illuminations at the stage built on the Shangri-La Green on May 5, Vesak day.
Police spokesman, SSP Nihal Thalduwa said on Friday that police would strictly enforce traffic laws during the Vesak period. He added that in recent years, motorists expected leniency from the police during festive seasons.
“Although only two people can ride a motorbike, we see several people on bikes coming into Vesak zones. They often drive recklessly. It’s the same with three wheelers. Five- six people travel in them. We will fine them and take legal action against such individuals this time,” he said.
He said that young people are seen wearing Guy Fawkes masks and they annoy and disturb others who have come to enjoy Vesak.
“Also, we would like to ask motorists not to park their vehicles in a way that obstructs the roads. Don’t park on pavements and don’t park in any way that bothers others. We will tow your vehicles away,” he warned.
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Showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern and Uva provinces and showers about 50-75 mm in other areas
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 08 JANUARY 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 08 January 2026 by the Department of Meteorology
The depression over the Bay of Bengal, located to the southeast of Sri Lanka, was centered near latitude 5.3°N and longitude 86.0°E, about 490 km southeast of Pottuvil, at 11:30 p.m. yesterday (07). It is expected to move west-northwestwards and towards the eastern coast of the island during next 24 hours. This system is likely to intensify further into a deep depression during the next 12 hours.
Cloudy skies can be expected over most parts of the island.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Uva, Central and Southern provinces. Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places elsewhere in the Island after 1.00 p.m. Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern and Uva provinces. Fairly Heavy showers about (50 – 75) mm are likely at some places in the other areas of the island.
Strong winds about (50-60) kmph can be expected at times over the Eastern slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Eastern provinces and in Hambantota, Gampaha, Colombo and Monaragala districts.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala told Parliament yesterday that information uncovered during ongoing investigations indicated that Pulasthini Mahendran, also known as Sara Jasmine, linked to the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks, was not dead.
Responding to a question raised by Opposition MP Mujibur Rahuman, the Minister said there was no confirmation that Sara Jasmine was currently in India, despite speculation to that effect. He added that investigators suspected she may have fled the country and stressed that further inquiries were underway to establish her whereabouts.
“If necessary, the government will take steps to obtain a warrant,” Wijepala said, noting that legal action related to the Easter attacks had already been initiated, based on available evidence.
Minister Wijepala said the new government had launched an thorough probe to determine whether a political or other conspiracy had been behind the attacks that killed more than 270 people in 2019. However, he declined to disclose certain details in Parliament, citing the risk of hampering investigations.
Sara Jasmine, Mohammed Hashtun, who bombed St. Sebastian’s Church, in Katuwapitiya, in 2019, was long presumed to have died in a suicide blast in Sainthamaruthu, days after the attacks. Wijepala said attempts by previous administrations to establish her death had failed, with recent reports indicating that DNA tests conducted at the time were inconclusive.
During the debate, MP Rahuman recalled that senior figures, including then-Opposition MP Nalinda Jayatissa, had previously claimed Sara Jasmine was in India. He questioned why authorities had not sought an open warrant for her arrest whether the issue had been raised in talks with Indian officials.
Wijepala, responding on behalf of Deputy Minister of Defence Arun Jayasekara, said the government would not hesitate to pursue legal action, including warrants, if necessary.
By Saman Indrajith
The Chief of the Indian Army Staff (COAS), General Upendra Dwivedi arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday (07). On arrival, the COAS was accorded a Guard of Honour by the Sri Lanka Army.
The Indian HC said that: “He will engage with senior military and civil leadership, including the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Deputy Minister of Defence and the Defence Secretary; and hold detailed discussions on matters of mutual interest, including training cooperation, capacity building and regional security.
During the visit, the COAS will address officers at the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) and interact with officers and trainees at the Army War College, Buttala, reflecting India’s strong commitment to defence education and professional military exchanges with Sri Lanka.
General Dwivedi will also pay homage at the IPKF War Memorial, honouring the supreme sacrifice of Indian soldiers.”
General Dwivedi arrived here from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where he attended several events during 05 to 06 January.
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