News
Closing ceremony of the Oxonian Heart Foundation (OHF) Sri Lanka
The Oxonian Heart Foundation, Sri Lanka was recently closed, a noble endeavour that was spearheaded by renowned cardio-thoracic surgeon Dr. Ravi Pillai. The objective of setting up the not-for-profit Oxonian Heart Foundation was to help men, women, and children suffering from heart-related diseases in the Northern, North Central, and the Eastern provinces.
With the remaining funds in OHF Sri Lanka, a few of the Trustees, namely, Dr. Naomali Amarasena, Mr. Ananda Atukorala, and Mrs. Jeeva Perumapillai together with Mrs. Shanthi Jayawardena Pillai handed over a cheque to the Trustees of the Heart To Heart Trust Fund, Dr. Rajitha Y De Silva, Dr. Aruna Kapuruge, Dr. Kumudini Ranatunga and the Chairman of Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital, Dr. Nihal Jayathilaka at the Chairman’s office, Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital. The hospital’s Director, Dr. Ratnasiri Hewage, Deputy Director, Dr. Chandraguptha Ranasinghe, and Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr. Catharine Sudarshan from the UK and Shanti Fernando, Executive Coordinator were also at the function.
The OHF – UK will remain and will assist cardiothoracic surgeons planning to go on training to the UK.
Dr. Ravi Pillai was a great friend of the cardiac surgical community of Sri Lanka. He was instrumental in training several of Sri Lanka’s current pool of consultant cardiothoracic surgeons, giving them refuge under his wings, in Oxford, UK. As Dr. Rajitha De Silva prepared to launch the Heart To Heart Trust Fund, Dr. Pillai became his guide, graciously sharing his experiences of setting up OHF – Sri Lanka, and sharing the fundamentals of setting up a trust fund as envisaged by the young cardio surgeon. As he looks back, Dr. De Silva is grateful to Dr. Pillai, who had stood by him like a father figure in those early days of the burgeoning Trust Fund. As a founder trustee of the Heart To Heart Trust Fund, Dr. Pillai will always be remembered with gratitude as an immense pillar of strength.
Dr. Pillai passed away on December 09, 2018. He was a great man who will be fondly remembered for his enormous service to Sri Lanka. In remembering Dr. Pillai on his birth anniversary in April, the Heart To Heart Trust Fund will continue to conduct a free heart surgery in Jaffna.
The Heart To Heart Trust Fund organized an alms-giving on Dec 09 at the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital Nursing Training School.
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Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya
The Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya for the next 24 hours commencing at 1200hrs today [08]
Accordingly
LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Ududumbara in the Kandy District, Wilgamuwa in the Matale District, and Nildandahinna and Walapane in the Nuwara Eliya District.
LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Meegahakiwula, Welimada, Kandaketiya, Lunugala, Badulla, Passara, Uva Paranagama and Hali_Ela in the Badulla District, Ambanganga Korale in the Matale District, and Mathurata and Hanguranketha in the Nuwara Eliya District.
Warning for deep depression over South-east Bay of Bengal Sea area.
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre, Department of Meteorology at 10.30 a.m. on 08 January 2026 for the period until 10.30 a.m. 09 January 2026
The depression in the Bay of Bengal to the southeast of Sri Lanka has intensified into a deep depression and is centered near latitude 5.4°N and longitude 85.3°E, about 420 km southeast of Pottuvil at 05.30 a.m. today (08th). The above system is currently (10:00 a.m.) located about 300 km southeast of Pottuvil.
It is very likely to move west-northwestwards across the southwest Bay of Bengal and cross the Sri Lanka coast between Hambantota and Kalmunai between 5.30 p.m. to 11.30 p.m. on Friday [9th January 2026].
Hence, showery, and windy condition over the island, particularly in the Northern, NorthCentral, Eastern, Uva and Central provinces is expected to enhance from today (08th).
For the Land area:
DAMAGE EXPECTED:
• Damage to huts, temporary shelters and light structures
• Destroy the roof tops/ sheets etc.
• Damage to power and communication lines.
• Breaking of tree branches and uprooting of large avenue trees.
• Damage to paddy crops, banana, papaya trees and orchards.
• Damage to harbor yachts
• Flash flood
• Sea water inundation in low lying areas in the near coast.
Action suggested for the Land area:
• Coastal hutment dwellers are advised to move to safer places. Other people in the affected areas to remain indoors.
• People living in hilly areas (particularly landslide prone areas) and low lying areas in river basins are requested to be vigilant.
• Drivers and people using roads in the hilly areas are requested to be vigilant.
• Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
• Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
• General public is requested to be vigilant regarding impending extreme weather situation.
• For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
• Requested to be attentive about future advisories issued by the Department of Meteorology in this regard.
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Showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern and Uva provinces and showers about 50-75 mm in other areas
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 08 JANUARY 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 08 January 2026 by the Department of Meteorology
The depression over the Bay of Bengal, located to the southeast of Sri Lanka, was centered near latitude 5.3°N and longitude 86.0°E, about 490 km southeast of Pottuvil, at 11:30 p.m. yesterday (07). It is expected to move west-northwestwards and towards the eastern coast of the island during next 24 hours. This system is likely to intensify further into a deep depression during the next 12 hours.
Cloudy skies can be expected over most parts of the island.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Uva, Central and Southern provinces. Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places elsewhere in the Island after 1.00 p.m. Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern and Uva provinces. Fairly Heavy showers about (50 – 75) mm are likely at some places in the other areas of the island.
Strong winds about (50-60) kmph can be expected at times over the Eastern slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Eastern provinces and in Hambantota, Gampaha, Colombo and Monaragala districts.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
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