News
Flood and landslide death toll rises to 19
By Ifham Nizam
Extreme weather pattern causing floods and landslides countrywide had claimed the lives of 19 people, while five others were injured, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said adding that the Gampaha District was the worst affected with nearly 40, 000 families living in evacuation centres or with their relatives.
Ten people have drowned due to floods while another seven lost their lives during mudslides, DMC said.
Landslides and flood warnings are still in place in Gampaha, Kalutara and Kegalle districts.
DMC Assistant Director Pradeep Kodippili said inclement weather had affected 271,110 people belonging to 67, 000 families, of which more than 26,800 persons remain displaced in 104 emergency shelters.
In addition, around 22,932 persons belonging to 5,700 families are staying in the homes of relatives. Nearly 980 homes were partly damaged, while some houses were completely damaged .
Some 10 districts have been battered by torrential rains since last Thursday, including Colombo and suburbs where many houses, paddy fields and roads have been inundated. A total of 88 divisional secretariat divisions have been affected.
Among the victims was a family of four who died when a mound of earth crashed into their house in the Kegalle district. Two others remain missing.
Meanwhile the Department of Meteorology says that
showers will occur today at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Nuwara-Eliya and Kandy districts.
Fairly heavy rainfall of about 50 mm can be expected at some places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at a few places in Uva and Eastern provinces during the evening or night, while mainly fair weather will prevail elsewhere.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) relating to the project to provide technological solutions to prevent wild elephants from being hit by trains was signed yesterday (01) afternoon at the President’s Media Centre, under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Coordinated through the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, the project is being implemented as a public-private partnership, with the Railway Department, the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Forest Conservation Department working together, with full financial support from People’s Bank.
The system consists of three-beam detection, passive infrared (PIR) sensors, automatic temperature sensors and a tamper alarm system to detect animals weighing more than 20 kilogrammes and unauthorised interference. Signal lights (red/yellow/green) installed on either side of the railway tracks, together with a special screen installed inside the locomotive cab, will alert the driver in advance to the exact location of an elephant.
A demonstration test of the system was successfully conducted at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage premises in the presence of the relevant officials, following which a report on the system was prepared.
The system will be implemented as a pilot project from next month at 13 locations where wild elephant accidents are frequent. A newly developed website is also scheduled to be launched to enable the progress of the project to be viewed live.
Additional General Manager of Railways P.D.S.B. Chandrasena, Director General of Wildlife Conservation M.S.L.R.P. Marasinghe, Conservator General of Forests S.C. Palamakuumbura and Chairman of People’s Bank Chandana Guniyangoda signed the relevant MoU. Officials from the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, including Presidential Additional Secretary (Clean Sri Lanka) Engineer S.P.C. Sugeeshwara, as well as senior officials from the Railway Department, Department of Wildlife Conservation, Forest Conservation Department and People’s Bank, were also present.
[President’s Media Division]
The Commissioner General of Examinations has announced that the results of the 2026 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination have been released online, and can be viewed on the department’s official website: www.doenets.lk
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya departed Sri Lanka on Monday, 31 August, to undertake an official visit to Bhutan to participate in the Global Conscious Food Systems Summit, scheduled to be held in Bhutan.
During her visit, Prime Minister Dr Amarasuriya participated in the opening plenary of the Summit on 1 September, where she delivered a keynote address under the theme “Rising to the Moment: Igniting Consciousness to Address the Polycrisis.”
The Prime Minister will also engage in discussions with international leaders and representatives on strengthening cooperation towards sustainable food systems, food security and resilient communities.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Malta businessman acquitted of plotting journalist Caruana Galizia murder
Nilakshika fifty, Athapaththu seven-for rescue Sri Lanka against Indonesia
Winners to receive medals at Western Province School Games after many years
MoU signed for technology to prevent wild elephant-train collisions
Grade 5 scholarship exam results released
Prime Minister participates in Global Conscious Food Systems Summit in Bhutan
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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