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Afghanistan openers solid after Sri Lanka take 241-run lead
Afghanistan had perhaps their strongest session of the match on the third morning, claiming three Sri Lanka wickets for 29 runs to end the first innings, before their openers took them to 35 for no loss in the 12 overs they faced before lunch.
Although Afghanistan remain 206 runs behind, the surface at the SSC remains largely good for batting, with only the occasional ball taking turn, and the seamers largely unable to extract the zip off the surface they had found on the first day. Both Vishwa and Asitha Fernando did test the Afghanistan openers’ outside edges with their early overs, but seam movement already seemed to be disappearing as lunch approached.
Sri Lanka’s attack is also without debutant Chamika Gunasekera for the rest of the match. Gunasekara was struck on the helmet by a Naveed Zadran bouncer, which ended up flying away for four leg byes. Although he seemed well enough to continue when the initial concussion checks were administered, he began to show visible signs of pain in his head a couple of overs later, and left the field. Kasun Rajitha was quickly approved as a concussion substitute, and has already bowled three overs.
The most important wicket of the morning was the first – that of Sri Lanka’s last recognised batter Sadeera Smarawickrama. Afghanistan’s seamers had kept the first few overs largely quiet, and eventually Naveed tempted Samarawickrama into a drive well away from his body, and drew a thick edge that traveled straight to gully. Samarawickrama was out for 27, having added only six to his overnight score.
The two next wickets were not long in falling. Naveed hit the top of Prabath Jayasuriya’s off stump to claim his fourth wicket, before, next over, Nijat Masood bowled Asitha Fernando first ball, with Asitha having come in after Gunasekara retired hurt.
Naveed’s take for the innings was 4 for 83. Masood and Qais Ahmed claimed two wickets apiece.
Scores: (at lunch)
Afghanistan 198 and 35 for 0 (Ibrahim Zadran 21*, Noor Ali Zadran 12*) trail Sri Lanka 439 (Angelo Mathews 141, Dinesh Chandimal 107, Naveed Zadran 4-83, Nijat Masood 2-76) by 206 runs
(Cricinfo)
The Paddy Marketing Board has approximately 115,000 metric tonnes of paddy stocks purchased from farmers, which are currently stored in the Board’s warehouses, and it has been planned to retain a sufficient buffer stock from these reserves and sell the remaining quantity in order to provide the necessary storage space and financial resources for the purchase of paddy from farmers during the upcoming Yala season.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation to sell the aforementioned paddy stocks
following a formal tender procedure.
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Ms. M.K.D.N. Madampe, appointed as Director General of the Department of Management Services
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, to appoint Ms. M.K.D.N. Madampe, an officer of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service in the Special Grade who is currently serving as an Additional Director General of the Department of Management Services, to the post of Director General of the Department of Management Services with immediate effect.
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Cabinet approval for Implementation of a Project for the Joint Exchange of Genetic Resources between Sri Lanka and Vietnam and the Development of High-Yielding and Salinity-resilient Rice Varieties.
With the objective of improving the productivity of paddy cultivation, a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the agricultural sector was entered into on 2025-05-05 between the Department of Agriculture of Sri Lanka and the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
Under the afore Memorandum of Understanding, both parties have agreed to implement a project titled “Joint Exchange of Genetic Resources and Development of High-Yielding and Salinity-resilient Rice Varieties through Hybridization between Sri Lanka and Vietnam.”
The activities proposed to be carried out under the said project include the exchange of germplasm materials of rice varieties between the two countries, the conduct of joint breeding and hybridization programmes, the evaluation and selection of advanced breeding lines under local conditions, the establishment of field trials, the training of research officers, and the exchange of knowledge.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation for the implementation of the proposed project
Cabinet approves sale of Paddy stocks held by the Paddy Marketing Board
Amendment to the Promotion of Export Agriculture Act, No. 46 of 1992 to be gazatted
Ms. M.K.D.N. Madampe, appointed as Director General of the Department of Management Services
Cabinet approves collaboration agreement between Sri Lanka and Brazil for the implementation of the “Sugarcane Project in Sri Lanka”
Cabinet approval for Implementation of a Project for the Joint Exchange of Genetic Resources between Sri Lanka and Vietnam and the Development of High-Yielding and Salinity-resilient Rice Varieties.
Landslide Early Warnings issued to the Districts of Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura extended till1600 hrs on Wednesday [27]
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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