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Students of Girls’ High School, Kandy meet President Wickremesinghe
Students from Girls’ High School, Kandy who embarked on a field trip to Colombo, had the unique opportunity to meet President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat.
The field trip is part of President Wickremesinghe’s vision to offer schoolchildren educational experiences at significant locations in Colombo, including the Presidential Secretariat, the President’s House, Port City, the Central Bank, and Parliament.
Despite his busy schedule, the President took time to engage with the students, discussing their educational and extracurricular activities, as well as their involvement in the student parliament.
He also posed for a group photo with the students and the teachers.
Millions in Japan are voting in a snap election called by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, whose coalition is predicted to clinch a decisive win.
Just months after she was elected by lawmakers, Takaichi decided to go to the polls to seek the public’s mandate.
Polls show her Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) coalition with the populist Japanese Innovation Party could bag up to 300 of the 465 seats in the Lower House, marking a turnaround for the LDP which lost control of both chambers of Japan’s parliament last year.
The conservative leader has won over some voters by offering tax cuts and subsidies, but critics say these will deal a heavy blow to Japan’s sluggish economy.
Nearly 4.6 million people had cast early ballots as of a week ago, down 2.5% from the previous election in 2024, with the decline attributed to heavy snow in the northern and western regions.
Observers say Takaichi’s personal popularity may help boost the LDP’s showing in this election.
An admirer of former UK leader Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi has long pursued the ambition of becoming Japan’s “Iron Lady”. A known ally of Japan’s late former PM Shinzo Abe, she advocates similar positions including strong defence and nationalist policies.
Despite her traditional views on gender and family, Takaichi has proven especially popular among young voters between the ages of 18 and 30, polls show. Approval ratings for her government have mostly hovered above 70% since she first took office in October.
She has garnered a strong following on social media, with 2.6m followers on X. The LDP’s campaign video which she fronted was streamed over 100 million times in less than 10 days.
The 64-year-old has also become an unlikely fashion icon as “sanakatsu” – which roughly translates to “Sanae-mania” – has spread. The black leather tote bag she is often seen carrying has sold out and the pink pen she used at her first press conference has gone viral.
Sociologist Yuiko Fujita from Tokyo University sets this enthusiasm against the backdrop of how Japanese politics has traditionally been dominated by older men.
“The fact that the prime minister is now a woman, someone with a different background from what people are accustomed to, creates a feeling that something is shifting,” she told Nikkei Asia.
However, some are not convinced her popularity will translate into votes.
“This is not a presidential election but a parliamentary election, in which the LDP’s candidates are mostly men tainted by past scandals,” political science professor Koichi Nakano, from Sophia University, told the BBC.
Since 2023, the LDP had been mired in a fundraising scandal, which led to the resignation of four cabinet ministers and a corruption investigation.
The snap election is a gamble for Takaichi as her party now faces a more unified opposition. The LDP’s former longtime coalition partner Komeito has joined forces with the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan to form the largest opposition bloc in the Lower House.
Another major hurdle the LDP faces is how to convince voters that its spending-heavy measures will not exacerbate Japan’s financial fragility.
The government’s policy package may offer households short-term relief, but “fails to address the underlying problems of weak productivity and stagnant real wages”, Masahiko Takeda, a senior fellow focusing on Asia at the Australian National University, wrote in an article this week.
Moreover, Takaichi has dug herself into “a deep hole in foreign and security policy by antagonising China”, said Nakano.
Takaichi angered Beijing, Tokyo’s largest trading partner, late last year with her suggestion that Japan could respond with its own self-defence force if China attacked Taiwan.
The rift has plunged the historically tense relationship to its lowest point in more than a decade.
Meanwhile she has pursued closer ties with US President Donald Trump as Tokyo seeks more stability in its relationship with Washington, its closest ally.
On Friday, Trump endorsed Takaichi in a rare move for a US leader.
[BBC]
Afghanistan vs New Zealand in the early stages of a T20 World Cup. Sounds familiar? The memories of their clash in 2024 will be very pleasant or downright horrific depending on who you support. It proved a pivotal result with the teams going in vastly opposite directions after Afghanistan’s stunning 84-run hammering in Guyana.
It kick-started Afghanistan’s fairytale semi-final run, fuelling an outpouring of revelry in the streets back home. For New Zealand, it was effectively the beginning of the end as they flamed out in a rare early exit at a global tournament.
The teams have not played in any format since, creating even more anticipation for a rematch with big stakes. Group D is considered the ‘group of death’ with South Africa also in its ranks, amplifying the importance of this match for teams considered dark horses in the tournament.
New Zealand will be keen to banish the demons, but enter with plenty of question marks following a 4-1 series pummelling to India ahead of the World Cup. Of most concern, injury and illness have swept the squad and a strong start to the tournament could prove difficult.
But New Zealand should be at least familiar with the conditions, with some players having been in India for about a month. They should be match-hardened, and there will be confidence that the team can build through the tournament if they can weather this early storm.
They will need to muster one of their famed backs against the wall efforts, although there is no shortage of talent with New Zealand boasting a powerful batting order and several speedsters threatening to do damage if conditions are conducive.
Given the uncertainties over New Zealand, Afghanistan might just enter the match as favourites as they eye a strong start to a campaign they hope will go even further than their 2024 breakout.
Afghanistan will arrive confident having won six straight matches in the format before a 15-run defeat to West Indies in their series finale in Dubai last month.
They will unleash a formidable spin-heavy attack that should relish favourable conditions. While other Asian countries are hogging the spotlight, for various reasons, Afghanistan will go in under the radar but internally there should be optimism that they can inflict damage on high-profile opponents.
New Zealand Cricket has taken a pragmatic approach to the proliferation of T20 leagues by allowing players to take up casual agreements to have flexibility with their international commitments. Finn Allen has been one to take up the offer and it meant he missed most of the white-ball tour against India due to the BBL. But he has stated a strong desire to keep playing international cricket, music to the ears of New Zealand’s hierarchy. He clubbed 80 off 38 balls in his return in the fifth T20I in his first international match in 10 months. After a long layoff last year due to a foot injury, Allen ignited title-winners Perth Scorchers and he rewrote the six-hitting records during his destructive rampage. Such is the brutality, he even sometimes made opening partner Mitchell Marsh look relatively sedate by comparison. If he continues his heater – there is some doubt over his fitness for the opener – then New Zealand will get off to flyers.
Rashid Khan, obviously, is Afghanistan’s talisman and looms large over their campaign. There isn’t much more that can be said about the leggie who has taken the most wickets in T20I history with an economy of just six. The burden on his shoulders is even greater these days with the captaincy responsibilities but he should absolutely relish the likely drier surfaces. Rashid, of course, was at the heart of Afghanistan’s famous victory over New Zealand at the last T20 World Cup with a mesmerising 4 for17 from four overs and he’ll fancy something similar here.
New Zealand enter the tournament in disarray as they battle injury and illness. Batters Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway have been struck down with illness, while Allen is nursing a shoulder injury he sustained against India. Allrounder Michael Bracewell and fast bowler Lockie Ferguson have been dealing with calf issues. There is optimism from the New Zealand camp that they will have a near full-strength squad to choose from although Ravindra appears unlikely to recover in time.
New Zealand XI (Probable): Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra/Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (capt), Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry Ish Sodhi
Unlike New Zealand, Afghanistan have few concerns and should field a full-strength line-up which includes their favoured spin-heavy attack.
Afghanistan XI (Probable): Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan (capt), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad
[Cricinfo]
There was a time when Sri Lanka were among the most consistent T20I sides. Between 2009 and 2014, they made the semi-finals of four successive T20 World Cups. But since then, they haven’t qualified for the knockouts even once.
This time, they are the co-hosts. But that may not be a huge advantage. Their captain Dasun Shanaka isn’t happy with the Sri Lankan pitches, which he feels are too slow for T20 cricket. At the R Premadasa Stadium, where they start their campaign and later play against Zimbabwe, their win-loss record in T20Is is 8-24 – the worst among the four home venues. Having recently been swept 3-0 at home by England, their confidence may not be high either.
So, can Ireland, their opponents today [Sunday], take advantage of that? At the 2024 T20 World Cup, Ireland had failed to win even one match. But they come into this edition on the back of two series wins, albeit against Italy and UAE but in Dubai, where the conditions might not have been too different from what they will get in Sri Lanka. If they are to qualify for the Super Eights, they will have to beat at least one of Sri Lanka and Australia.
Pathum Nissanka, Sri Lanka’s leading run-getter in T20Is, has a career strike rate of only 127.25. But don’t get fooled by that. In the last couple of years, he has really upped his game. Since the start of 2025, he has scored 717 runs at a strike rate of 147.22 . He also scored his maiden T20I hundred during this period: 107 off 58 balls against India in the Asia Cup. Sri Lanka will need more blazing starts from him at the World Cup.
Just like Nissanka, Ireland captain Paul Stirling is the leading run-scorer for his team. But unlike Nissanka, he hasn’t been in great form. Since 2025, he has scored only 233 runs in 14 T20Is, at an average of 19.41, a strike rate of 133.14 and a best of 45. Can he find his mojo and lead by example?
Sri Lanka may decide to go in with an extra batter, possibly in the form of Janith Liyanage. But the nature of the pitch will decide that. Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka, and Pavan Rathnayake are also competing for two spots.
Sri Lanka (probable): Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake/Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis/Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana
Josh Little is the only Ireland player to have played in the IPL, but given his recent struggles with form and fitness, he is not assured of a spot in the first XI.
Ireland (probable): Paul Stirling (capt), Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Curtis Campher, Ben Calitz, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy/Josh Little, Matthew Humphreys
[Cricinfo]
Japan votes in snap election as PM Takaichi takes a gamble
Injury-hit New Zealand eye revenge as Afghanistan look to run it back
Vulnerable Sri Lanka present Ireland opportunity for an upset
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