The Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS) has accommodated Prof. Deepika Udagama and Ambassador (Retd.) Esala Weerakoon to its Board of Directors, at its meeting held on 30 April, 2026. They succeed former Secretary to the Prime Minister, Deshamanya M. D. D. Pieris, and former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank (CB) and member of the Monetary Board of the CB, Dr. Ranee Jayamaha, who completed their terms recently.

The current members of the BoD comprise Prof. Amal Jayawardane, (Emeritus Professor of International Relations, University of Colombo), Dr. Chulani Kodikara (Feminist Researcher and activist), Dilip Kodikara, (Entrepreneur and a founding Director of the RCSS), Prof. Nazir Hussain (Professor of International Relations and former Dean, of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan), and Prof. Varun Sahni (Professor of International Relations at Ashoka University, India).

The RCSS is an independent, non-profit, policy research centre co-founded in 1992 by Prof. Shelton Kodikara – its first Executive Director, to focus on a broad range of conventional and non-conventional sources of conflict and conditions of peace. Ambassador (Retd.) Ravinatha Aryasinha, former Foreign Secretary, presently serves as the Executive Director of the RCSS.

A Diplomat Esala Weerakoon was the 14th Secretary General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) from March 2020 till September 2023. He was the Foreign Secretary of Sri Lanka (2016-2017), Senior Additional Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka (2018-2019 and from 2023- 2024). His 35-year diplomatic career, includes serving as High Commissioner to India, Ambassador to Norway, Deputy Chief of Mission to the USA and in various capacities abroad and in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He also served the Government of Sri Lanka as the Secretary, Ministry of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs; Additional Secretary, Ministry of Housing, and Additional Secretary, Ministry of Economic Development. He has an Honours Degree in Economics from the University of Kelaniya and MSc from the London School of Economics.

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 04 May 2026, valid for 05 May 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on the human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in  the  Northern, North-central, North-western and Eastern provinces and in Hambantota and Monaragala districts during the day time.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on the human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

President of the Maldives, Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who is on a State Visit to Sri Lanka at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, planted a sapling this afternoon (04) at Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Upon arrival at the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu was warmly received by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Children lined both sides of the pathway holding the national flags of the two countries and paid tribute to the visiting Maldivian President.

Among those present at the occasion were Deputy Speaker Rizvi Salih, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath and the Mayor of Colombo, Vraie Cally Balthazaar, along with several other dignitaries.

[President’s Media Division (PMD)]