Latest News
Landslide early warnings issued to the district of Badulla , Kandy , Kurunegala and Matale
The National Building Research Organization [NBRO] has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala and Matale at 0800 hrs today valid until 0800hrs on Monday 20th January 2025.
Accordingly,
Level II [Amber] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Ududumbara in the Kandy district and Rattota, Yatawatta, Ukuwela and Wilgamuwa in the Matale district.
Level I [Yellow] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Badulla, Passara and Hali Ela in the Badulla district, Meda Dumbara, Phatha Dumbara and Doluwa in the Kandy district and Laggala Pallegama, Ambanganga Korale, Pallepola, Naula and Matale in the Matale district
TikTok has gone offline in the US, hours before a new law banning the platform was due to come into effect.
A message appearing on the app for US users said a law banning TikTok had been enacted, meaning “you can’t use TikTok for now”.
“We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office,” it read.
It comes after the social media platform warned it would “go dark” on Sunday unless the outgoing Biden administration gave assurances the ban will not be enforced.
President-elect Donald Trump has said he would “most likely” give TikTok a 90-day reprieve from a ban once he takes office on Monday.
Users reported the app had also been removed from both Apple and Google’s US app stores and TikTok.com was not showing videos.
“The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it’s appropriate,” Trump told NBC News on Saturday.
“If I decide to do that, I’ll probably announce it on Monday.”
The White House said that it was up to the incoming administration to take action.
“We see no reason for TikTok or other companies to take actions in the next few days before the Trump administration takes office on Monday,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
A Supreme Court ruling on Friday upheld the law, passed in April last year, banning the app in the US unless its China-based parent company, ByteDance, sold the platform by Sunday, which it has not done.
TikTok challenged the law, arguing that it violates free speech protections for its 170 million users in the country.
In the hours leading up to the social media platform going offline, content creators had been posting videos to say goodbye to their followers.
Creator Nicole Bloomgarden told the BBC that not being on TikTok would result in a significant salary cut.
Another user, Erika Thompson, said educational content on the platform would be the “biggest loss” for the community.
TikTok users were met with a message earlier on Saturday that said the law would “force us to make our services temporarily unavailable. We’re working to restore our service in the U.S. as soon as possible.”
[BBC]
Latest News
It is the Government’s intention to provide justice to the grieving people – Prime Minister
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said that it is the Government’s intention to provide justice to the people who are deprived of the same due to rewards and sponsorships.
The Premier made this statement at the occasion of handing over the renovated Court of Appeal building to the public on Saturday (18). The renovations was a donation from the People’s Republic of China.
Further she mentioned that the investment made in a country’s judicial system and in the provision of facilities for the delivery of justice to the people is a reflection of the commitment made towards the country and its people. “This is not just a building, but a symbol of the delivery of justice, fairness of law, equality and dignity. Our country has suffered for decades because many were denied justice under systems of rewards and sponsorships. Our intention is to resolve those deficiencies, bring forth fairness and ensure that everyone has access to justice”, she added.
“The people must be able to keep trust and rely on the judicial system by exemplifying that the legal powers granted to judges by the Constitution are exercised fairly and providing independent and fair judgment to the parties concerned. Everyone, including women, children and the disabled community, expects justice. Their aspiration is that such a system will ensure that no one faces hardships, an attention will be paid to their mental conditions, protection from the consequences they may face when seeking justice for them or defending their rights. All actors in this process must be treated with respect. There are people who have faced hardships for years in the pursuit of justice. We ensure that they are treated fairly. They should not be subjected to intimidation, harassment or threat in the pursuit of justice”, the Premier highlighted.
The Prime Minister further expressed her gratitude to the People’s Republic of China for their generosity and support.
A group of invitees including the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong, Chief Justice Murdu Fernando and many others participated in this event.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Thousands of mostly female demonstrators took to the streets of Washington DC on Saturday to rally against President-elect Donald Trump two days ahead of his inauguration.
The People’s March – previously known as the Women’s March – has taken place every year since 2017.
A coalition of groups organised the movement with the stated aim of confronting “Trumpism”, according to its website. Smaller protests against Trump were held in New York City and on the other side of the country in Seattle.
The rallies coincide with Trump’s arrival to the nation’s capital for a series of weekend events in the lead-up to his swearing-in ceremony on Monday.
Saturday’s People’s March in Washington DC drew smaller numbers than its predecessors.
Organisers had expected 50,000 people. About 5,000 turned up.
The protesters gathered at three parks before marching to the Lincoln Memorial for the rally.
Saturday’s People’s March in Washington DC drew smaller numbers than its predecessors.
Organisers had expected 50,000 people. About 5,000 turned up.
The protesters gathered at three parks before marching to the Lincoln Memorial for the rally.
(BBC)
Landslide early warnings issued to the district of Badulla , Kandy , Kurunegala and Matale
TikTok goes offline in the US hours before ban due to come in
It is the Government’s intention to provide justice to the grieving people – Prime Minister
-
News6 days agoSri Lanka’s passport third strongest in South Asia
-
Features6 days agoBackstreet Boys’ Nick Carter to perform in Colombo!
-
Opinion7 days agoTribute to late Commander (MCD) Shanthi Kumar Bahar, RWP Sri Lanka Navy
-
News5 days agoFSP warns of Indian designs to swamp Sri Lanka
-
News4 days agoLatest tax hike yields Rs. 7 bn profit windfall for tobacco companies
-
Editorial7 days agoJekylls and Hydes
-
News6 days agoElectricity regulator contradicts Minister; tariff reduction certain
-
Opinion7 days agoMore about Dr. Anton (Kara) Jayasuriya