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English education should not be limited to the rich: Kandy Bishop

Published

3 years ago

2023/02/16

His Lordship Bishop Valance Mendis at the Kalpitiya event

Bishop of Kandy, His Lordship Bishop Valance Mendis, recently stressed the pivotal importance of providing quality education to children of those long suffering people of Kalpitiya peninsula, including those who live on the islands, if they are to protect their rights.

Bishop Mendis, who is also Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Chilaw, said that English education should not be limited to the rich. Bishop Mendis highlighted the importance of valuebased education for which the Church is committed.

Bishop Mendis was addressing a gathering after the opening of a new branch of the John Paul II English Medium College, and blessing of the newly built Convent for the Sisters of Perpetual Help, on Feb. 10. The events coincided with Rev. Fr. Sampath Prasanga taking over the reins as the new Parish Priest of Kalpitiya.

Bishop Mendis said that social and environmental injustices couldn’t be successfully overcome without improving education. Referring to the daunting challenges, faced by the Kalpitiya population over the past few decades, Bishop Mendis pointed out how the coal-fired power plant, at Norochcholai, caused serious health issues. There were plans to sell some of the fisheries islands of Kalpitiya to foreign countries for tourism. Then, there was the corrupt garbage dumping project, at Aruwakkau, which was promoted by former governments, which became a severe environmental hazard, even to the people in Kalpitiya. In all those instances, the Church came forward to protect the rights of the people and, as a result, their right to life, and livelihood, in the islands, is protected today.

The Branch School of St. John Paul II College and the newly built Convent were blessed by Bishop Mendis.

The school building was constructed, under the supervision of Rev. Fr. Sampath Prasanga, who received appointment as its first principal.

The Procurator General of Chilaw Diocese, Rev. Fr. Nelson Samantha Fernando, saw to it that the Convent building was ready, to coincide with the opening of the School. The services of the Perpetual Help Sisters will be a blessing to Kalpitiya, the Bishop said.

The proceedings of the day was marked by the farewell accorded to Rev. Fr. Arosh Priyanga, the outgoing Parish Priest, and welcome to the new Parish Priest, which was held in the Church of Our Lady of Good Voyage, in Kalpitiya.

The Bishop appreciated the yeomen service rendered by Fr. Arosh to the people of Kalpitiya.

The Parish of Kalpitiya is now having three priests for the first time. Bishop Mendis said that they would serve 14 churches in Kalpitiya, which includes the 10 islands, namely, Battalangunduwa, Palliyawatta, Siinagunduwa, Karativu, Mohottuwarama, Utchimune, Palugahathurai, Pukkulam, Bottuwadiya and Keerimundel.

The Sunday Masses are celebrated in all the islands and one Priest resides in Battalangunduwa Island, from Friday to Monday, looking after their spiritual needs.

At the end of the ceremony, a short meeting was held with the representatives of the islands where they expressed their love and gratitude to the Rev. Fathers who serve them with love and generosity, bracing all challenges.

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

Published

2 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

8 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

13 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.