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Negombo to host month-long MMR 25 – Together festival celebrating music, culture, and community
The coastal city of Negombo is set to come alive this July with MMR 25 – Together, a landmark month-long cultural festival organized by the Old Boys’ Association (OBA) of Maris Stella College. Far more than a musical celebration, the festival promises a fusion of entertainment, environmental action, and civic engagement, marking a new chapter in the city’s cultural evolution.
Launching with site cleanups at the Negombo Jetty and Old District Courts on July 4–5, and closing with a post-event beach cleanup on July 27, the festival places sustainability at its heart. A major plastic awareness campaign and citywide beach cleanup from July 12–19 will further highlight environmental responsibility.
“Our goal with MMR 25 – Together is not only to celebrate our shared musical legacy but to leave behind a lasting footprint of community pride, environmental action, and economic uplift,” said Dhammika Fernando, President of the Maris Stella College OBA. “This is a new chapter for Negombo—where local culture meets global standards of engagement.”
The excitement peaks with the MMR TSD Rally Championship on July 26, where 100 top drivers will navigate a 60 km course across Negombo and its scenic suburbs in a precision motorsport event.
MMR 25 will feature jazz nights, techno raves, food pop-ups, and open-air concerts, with thousands expected to attend. Through its One Pass digital system, visitors can access events, earn rewards, and enjoy local discounts—blending culture with tech.
The festival will also honour Sri Lanka’s musical legends through the Timeless – Together Hall of Fame, spotlighting icons like Rukmani Devi, Nevil Fernando, Los Caballeros, and Jaya Sri.
Lakbima Rice Mills (Pvt) Ltd, based in Polonnaruwa, has contributed Rs. 100 million to the Government’s ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, established to provide relief to communities affected by Cyclone Ditwa.
The donation cheque was handed over this morning (13) at the Presidential Secretariat to Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President, by Dudley Sirisena, Chairman of the Araliya Group of Companies.
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Advisory for severe lightning issued to the Districts of Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara
Advisory for Severe Lightning
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
at 12.30 p.m. 13 December 2025 valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 13 December 2025 for Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara Districts
The public are warned that thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur at some places in the Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara Districts.
There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.
ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
Based on the prevailing disaster situation and the upcoming festive season, arrangements have been made to provide a nutrition allowance worth Rs. 5,000 to pregnant mothers.
This allowance, which will be provided only once, will be given to pregnant mothers who were registered at maternal clinics on or before 30 November 2025.
The distribution will take place through the Divisional Secretariat offices from 16 December, as a program of the National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.
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