News

Elections Chief says all systems go for Prez Poll

Published

2 years 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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Advisory for Severe Lightning issued to the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and Galle and Matara districts

Published

3 hours ago

2026/03/12

Priyan

Advisory for Severe Lightning Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 12.30 noon 12 March 2026 valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 12 March 2026

Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts after 2.00 p.m.

There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.

ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
 Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
 Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
 Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
 For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.

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Nasa spacecraft weighing 1,300lb due to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere

Published

4 hours ago

2026/03/12

Priyan

The two Van Allen Probes were launched in 2012 [BBC]

A Van Allen Probe spacecraft weighing more than 1,300lb (600kg) is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere almost 14 years after its launch, Nasa says.

The spacecraft is projected to re-enter around 19:45 EDT (23:45 GMT) on Tuesday the US Space Force predicted, according to Nasa, though there is a 24-hour margin of “uncertainty” in the timing.

The Van Allen Probe A, which launched in 2012, is expected mostly to burn up as it travels through the atmosphere, though some components may survive.

The space agency said there is a one in 4,200 chance of being harmed by a piece of the probe, which it characterised as “low” risk.

The spacecraft and its twin, Van Allen Probe B, were on a mission to gather unprecedented data on Earth’s two permanent radiation belts.

It was not immediately clear where in Earth’s atmosphere the satellite is projected to re-enter. The BBC has contacted Nasa for further detail.

Nasa and the US Space Force have said they will monitor the re-entry and update any predictions.

The mission, which was originally designed to last two years, went on for almost seven. It ended after the spacecrafts ran out of fuel and were no longer able to orient themselves toward the Sun.

The probes flew through rings of charged particles trapped by Earth’s magnetic field from 2012 to 2019, in order to study how particles were gained and lost, per Nasa.

Those rings, called the Van Allen belts, shield Earth from cosmic radiation, solar storms and streaming solar wind, which are harmful to humans and can damage technology.

The mission made significant discoveries, including the first data that show the existence of a transient third radiation belt, which can form during times of intense solar activity, Nasa said.

Van Allen Probe B is not expected to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere before 2030.

[BBC]

News

PM Visits the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

Published

6 hours ago

2026/03/12

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya visited the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines, on 11 March 2026, and held bilateral discussions with Yvonne Pinto, Director General of IRRI, focusing on strengthening cooperation in the field of rice research and sustainable agricultural development.

During the meeting, discussions centered on rice cultivation in Sri Lanka, including the key challenges faced by Sri Lankan paddy farmers. The Prime Minister highlighted issues affecting the sector such as productivity constraints, climate-related impacts, and the need to support farmers through improved agricultural practices and technological innovations.

Both sides also discussed the importance of introducing modern techniques and research-driven approaches to rice cultivation in order to enhance productivity and ensure long-term food security. In this regard, IRRI shared insights on ongoing global research initiatives aimed at improving rice varieties, strengthening climate resilience, and promoting sustainable farming practices.

The discussion further focused on the potential for expanded collaboration between Sri Lanka and IRRI, particularly in areas such as research partnerships, knowledge sharing, and capacity building for Sri Lankan agricultural institutions and farmers. The Prime Minister emphasized Sri Lanka’s interest in strengthening cooperation with IRRI to support the development of the country’s rice sector and to improve the livelihoods of paddy farmers.

The visit reaffirmed the importance of science-based agricultural innovation and international collaboration in addressing food security challenges and enhancing sustainable rice production in Sri Lanka.