News

Elections Chief says all systems go for Prez Poll

Published

1 year ago

2024/08/28

Sahan Weerasooriya

Rathnayake

By Saman Indrajith

Election Commission Chairman R. M. A. L. Rathnayake said yesterday that the process of conducting the presidential polls was progressing smoothly with fewer election law violations, compared to previous presidential elections.

“We see almost no decorations, posters, or banners in town this time, which helps save money and reduces environmental pollution. This is thanks to the efforts of both the people and the police. It appears that electoral literacy among the public has significantly improved, and this will certainly help maintain electoral integrity,” Rathnayake said during a meeting at the Election Secretariat in Rajagiriya with the Executive Committee members of the Sri Lanka Press Association.

Rathnayake noted that the electorate had matured and was committed to ensuring free and fair elections, despite several recent attempts to delay the presidential polls. He said that very few complaints of election violence had been received so far, with the majority of the complaints concerning violations of election laws, totaling just over 1,000.

Rathnayake attributed the calm atmosphere during this critical election period to the minimal presence of campaign propaganda materials, such as party decorations, particularly in the Colombo District.

“The police are effectively removing unlawful campaign materials, such as posters and cutouts. The Commission has provided three labourers to each police station nationwide to assist in this task. “You see hardly any posters, flags, or symbols on the roads, or cutouts of politicians, unlike in the past. This contributes to a peaceful and calm environment for the public.

I personally visit each district to monitor the situation, and the support from the Assistant Commissioners and law enforcement authorities has been commendable,” Rathnayake said.

The Chairman also mentioned that all preparations, including selecting venues for polling stations and counting centres, had been completed, and the management of polling officials was well under control.

He said that the Postal Department had on Monday received ballot papers for postal voting and commenced their distribution. Ratnayake said that 736,589 applications had been received for postal voting in the 2024 Presidential Election. Out of these, 24,268 applications were rejected, leaving 712,321 applicants eligible for postal voting.

Postal voting will take place on September 4, 5, and 6 at District Secretariats, Election Offices, and Police, to mark postal votes. Additional dates, September 11 and 12 have been allocated for those unable to mark their postal vote on the earlier dates. He said polling cards for the upcoming Presidential Election would be distributed from 03 Sept. to 08 Sept.

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Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya

Published

9 hours ago

2026/01/8

Priyan

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.

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Warning for deep depression over South-east Bay of Bengal Sea area

Published

14 hours ago

2026/01/8

Priyan

Deep depression Track. [Source: RSMC]

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

Published

20 hours ago

2026/01/8

Priyan

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.