News
Floods strong possibility with turbulence in Bay of Bengal
By Ifham Nizam
The Meteorological Department yesterday said that there could be heavy showers in the southwestern parts of the country in the coming days due to the prevailing turbulence in the Bay of Bengal.
The Irrigation Department has warned of possible floods. Director General of the Irrigation Department S.P.C. Sugeeshwara said that low lying areas adjoining rivers could be inundated.
Sugeeshwara said that due to the recent rains, some parts of the country had been flooded. The Deduru Oya and the Udawalawe and Inginimitiya reservoirs were brimful and their sluice gates would have to be opened anytime.
The Department also said if the sluice gates were opened, the low lands on both sides of the Deduru Oya, the lowlands on both sides of the Walawe River and the lowlands on both sides of the Mee Oya would be inundated.
The Irrigation Department also warned the public to remain vigilant about flood warnings.
The Director General of the National Building Research Organisation Asiri Karunawardena said that there was a risk of landslides in Badulla, Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Kurunegala, Colombo and Gampaha districts.
Low pressure in the East Central Bay of Bengal was very likely to develop into a cyclone today, the Department of Meteorology said.
It is very likely to move north-northwestwards and reach near the west Bengal coast on Wednesday (May 26).
According to the Department, forecast showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, and Southern provinces.
Fairly heavy falls of about 75mm could be expected at some places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.
Several spells of showers will occur in the Northern and North-central provinces. Showers or thundershowers will occur at a few places in Eastern and Uva provinces during the evening or night.
Wind speed can increase up to 40-50 kmph at times over the country and reach 50-55 kmph at times in the Western slope of the Central hills, Northern, North-central, North-western, and Uva provinces and in Hambantota district.
Winds will be south-westerly in the sea areas around the country. Wind speed will be 30-40 kmph.
Wind speed can increase up to 55-60 kmph in the sea area extending from Chilaw to Trincomalee via Puttalam, Mannar, and Kankesanturai and in the sea area extending from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota.
Advisory for strong winds and rough seas for Multi-day boats in the Bay of Bengal deep sea areas
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 05.00 p.m. 18 September 2026, valid for the next 24 hours.
PLEASE BE AWARE!
The atmospheric disturbance to the North of the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal, is likely to develop into a low pressure area within the next 24 hours.
Due to its influence, wind speed over the Bay of Bengal sea areas will increase during the next few days starting from
tomorrow (19th).
The wind speed in the sea areas marked under the “Advisory” category on the map below will increase to 55-65 kmph at times and those sea areas will be rough or very rough at times.
Navel and fishing communities engaging the activities over this sea area are advised to be vigilant and be attentive to the future forecasts and bulletins issued by the department of Meteorology in this regards.
Text and Pic by Priyan de Silva
Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) Ranga Dissanayake has questioned whether some promises contained in the National People’s Power (NPP) manifesto, A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life, could be fulfilled even if the government wanted to implement them.
Dissanayake raised the issue during a discussion following the release of the third biannual report on manifesto monitoring by the March 12 Movement, at the BMICH, on Wednesday.
He questioned whether the report had taken into account legal and institutional constraints affecting the implementation of certain pledges.
Citing the proposal to establish Anti-Corruption Investigation Offices in each district, Dissanayake said such offices could be established only with the agreement of CIABOC and that amendments to the Anti-Corruption Act would be necessary.
He also referred to the pledge to abolish the Executive Presidency, noting that successive governments had made similar commitments since 1994. He questioned whether there had been adequate consideration of where the powers vested in the Executive President would be transferred if the system were abolished.
On the proposal to establish a Public Prosecutor, Dissanayake questioned whether the Government intended to maintain the office alongside the Attorney General, who currently performs prosecution-related functions.
Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) Manjula Gajanayake said Dissanayake’s remarks should be regarded as his personal views and not as Government policy.
Monitoring and Evaluation Consultants M. Thilakarajah and D.D. Mataharaarachchi presented the third-phase findings, covering January to June 2026.
The corruption case filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) against former Navy Commander, Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, and Yoshitha Rajapaksa was set for a pre-trial conference by the Colombo High Court.
The case was taken up before the Colombo High Court on Thursday (17), when the accused, who are currently out on bail, appeared before the court. After considering the submissions made, the court ordered that the case be called for a pre-trial conference.
The CIABOC had filed the case against the accused, alleging that a corruption offence was committed by sending Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, for training at the Royal Naval College in the United Kingdom despite him not having the required qualifications.
Advisory for strong winds and rough seas for Multi-day boats in the Bay of Bengal
Showers in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya Districts
Some NPP manifesto promises may be difficult to fulfil – CIABOC DG
Yoshitha and ex-Navy chief Karannagoda’s case fixed for PTC
Court orders probe into Wimal’s rally speech
Court to rule on Dilith’s writ petition on September 30
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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