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Ambassador Ajward and Regional Director UN Tourism explore cooperation in ‘rural tourism promotion’
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Saudi Arabia Ameer Ajwad recently met Director of the UN Tourism Regional Office for Middle East based in Riyadh, Samer Al Kharashi to discuss ways and means of promoting rural tourism industry in Sri Lanka.
The text of the press release issued by the Foreign Ministry regarding the meeting: “Director Al Kharashi extended a warm welcome to the Ambassador and his delegation to the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Regional Office in Riyadh and presented an overview of their activities with particular emphasis on the Rural Tourism Development Programme. He also pointed out that Sri Lanka as a high profiled tourist destination, holds a huge potential to contribute to the global tourism industry.
Ambassador Ameer Ajwad highlighted that uplifting the rural economy is one of the priorities of the Government of Sri Lanka and that the UN flagship initiatives such as “Best Tourism Villages (BTV)” which aims to promote sustainable and inclusive rural tourism, will potentially support the rural economic development in Sri Lanka. Jost Neuman made a comprehensive presentation on the BTV initiative, STAR services, and the technical assistance and capacity-building opportunities available to the Member States. Ambassador Ajwad proposed organising information sharing sessions between the UN team handling rural tourism development and Sri Lanka tourism development authorities in Colombo.
Both sides agreed to strengthen collaboration in areas such as technical assistance, capacity building, and to explore opportunities for Sri Lanka’s active participation in the forthcoming UN Tourism programmes and conferences.
The UN Tourism Regional Office for the Middle East hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, is the first regional office of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UN WTO) outside Madrid. The Office serves as a hub to coordinate and promote tourism-related initiatives across the Middle East, in line with the UN Tourism mandate to foster sustainable, inclusive, and resilient tourism development globally.
Saudi Arabia will be hosting the 26th General Assembly of the UN World Tourism Organisation in November 2025 in Riyadh.
The Ambassador was accompanied by HoC/Minister Mohammed Anas and First Secretary/Commerce, Tashma Vithanawasam of the Sri Lanka Embassy in Riyadh.
News
Police officers donate LKR 9,687,462 from day’s salary to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund
A sum of LKR. 9,687,462, raised from day’s salary officers of the Police Department, has been donated to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, established to support the recovery of communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah and to assist in rebuilding the country following the disaster.
To date, officers of the Police Department have contributed over LKR. 74 million to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund through three such contributions of one day’s salary.
The donation was presented on Wednesday (22) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat by the Personal Assistant to the Inspector General of Police, Senior Superintendent of Police C. C. Bamunuarachchi, to the Secretary to the President, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Chief Inspector Udaya Kumara, Officer-in-Charge of the Police Secretariat, was also present on the occasion.
[Presidents Media Division]
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Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 26 April 2026, valid for 27 April 2026.
The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district 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 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.
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Opposition asks for PSC to probe Treasury theft
Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa has called for the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to investigate the illegal diversion of Treasury funds, amounting to US$2.5 million to a third-party account.
Premadasa has said both the chairmanship and a majority of the Committee’s membership should be held by the Opposition to ensure impartiality.
The government has not only failed to account for the loss of US$2.5 million but also deliberately withheld information from Parliament, the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) and the public, Premadasa has told the media, accusing the ruling party of seeking to deflect responsibility by initiating an internal departmental inquiry, which he describes as a biased process designed to justify predetermined conclusions.
The Opposition Leader has said only a transparent and independent probe could establish the facts, adding that such an investigation could be effectively carried out through a Parliamentary Select Committee led by the Opposition.
He has also warned that the alleged failure to inform Parliament about the missing funds amounted to a serious breach of accountability.
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