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Gampaha District MP Hemali Weerasekera elected Deputy Chairperson of Committees

Published

1 year ago

2024/11/21

Priyan

Gampaha District Member of Parliament Hemali Weerasekara was unanimously elected as the Deputy Chairperson of Committees. Her nomination was proposed by Minister Sunil Handunnetti, and was seconded by Member of Parliament Samanmalee Gunasinghe.

The new Deputy Chairperson of Committees is a former member of the Mahara Pradeshiya Sabha and a professional laboratory technician. She completed her education at Yasodara Vidyalaya, Colombo and Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo. She has been an active member of the NPP’s district and women’s executive committees.

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India hit back but Sutherland, Hamilton impress to give Australia the edge

Published

2 hours ago

2026/03/7

Priyan

Lucy Hamilton produced an impressive debut with three wickets [Cricinfo]

Retiring skipper Alyssa Healy fell cheaply late on a bowler-dominated opening day that saw debutants Lucy Hamilton and Sayali Satghare produce spectacular starts to their Test careers.

Thirteen wickets fell on a grassy WACA surface, including Healy who on 13 hit Satghare straight to backward point with 30 minutes left before stumps. Healy trudged off the field – perhaps not for the final time – to a loud ovation as India, fielding four debutants, hit back after being bowled out in 62.4 overs.

Annabel Sutherland, backing up her earlier standout bowling effort, steadied before the close alongside Elllyse Perry, who is playing as a specialist batter after recovering from a quad strain.

After Healy elected to bowl to kick-start her swansong, left-arm quick Hamilton ignited Australia by clean bowling Smriti Mandhana for 4 in a brilliant start to her Test career.

She also claimed the wickets of Jemimah Rodrigues, who top-scored with 52, and Sneh Rana to finish with 3 for 31 off 11 overs in an impressive first up effort after earning selection over uncapped Maitlan Brown.

Australia’s seamers relished the conditions as they swung the pink ball menacingly to cause nightmares for an India side returning to Test cricket for the first time since mid-2024.

Sutherland was unplayable for long stretches as she hooped the ball around to finish with 4 for 46 off 17 overs, figures that could have been even better if not for four dropped catches off her bowling.

Australia’s sloppy performance in the field prolonged India’s first innings and meant they had the tough task of fronting up to bat under lights. Satghare lifted India by knocking over Georgia Voll with a menacing delivery that pitched well outside off-stump before swinging back to hit leg stump.

Fellow debutant Kranti Gaud also had a first wicket to remember when she dismissed Phoebe Litchfield, largely thanks to a brilliant catch from Rodrigues at backward point.

It led to Healy walking out to a mighty ovation, but India weren’t in a generous mood as they clawed back into a contest they must win if they are to draw the multi-series format.

Healy’s day had started brightly when the coin fell in Australia’s favour for the first time in the multi-format series. Her decision to bowl caused a groan in the terraces with fans itching to watch her bat.

But the supporters were soon in full voice when Hamilton, 19, was introduced into the attack in the second over. She came close to a wicket on her fourth delivery but a reviewed lbw shout on opener Shafali Verma was unsuccessful due to an inside edge.

Hamilton only had to wait until her third over to get through Mandhana with a cracking full-pitched delivery that comprehensively beat the bat and smashed into middle stump.

She was mobbed by her teammates before bowling a fierce short delivery to fellow debutant Pratika Rawal, who streakily opened her account through the slip cordon.

Hamilton, who earlier received her baggy green from Beth Mooney, returned the impressive figures of 1 for 12 from five overs in her first spell. But India hung tough with Shafali – maturely resisting her attacking instincts – and Rawal combining well in a rearguard to get through the new ball.

Sutherland entered the attack and started a fabulous bowling performance by cutting short Shafali’s blossoming knock on 35 with a terrific delivery that was caught behind.

It was a reward for Sutherland who had earlier been desperately unlucky not to pick up the wicket of Rawal after Hamilton fumbled in the gully. In what proved to be a costly missed chance, Rodrigues was reprieved by Voll at short-leg on 0 when she fended a fierce short delivery from Sutherland.

But Sutherland was not to be denied after she enticed Rawal into edging to gully where Hamilton hung onto her first catch at Test level. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur started swiftly before her off-stump was knocked by a pearler from Darcie Brown as India entered the tea break in trouble at 99 for 4.

Sutherland continued to be irrepressible after the resumption and dismissed Deepti Sharma with a length ball as the pressure heightened on Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh, who was purely in survival mode early in her innings.

Local hero Alana King was held back until the 40th over and Rogrigues decided it was time to put the foot down, counterattacking to devastating effect with four consecutive boundaries.

She sped to her half-century off 74 balls with the milestone reached in fitting style with a gorgeous drive as she continued to take a liking to King’s legspin.

Just when the partnership started to gather momentum, Ghosh threw it away when she hit a dragged down delivery from Ashleigh Gardner straight to short midwicket before Rodrigues tamely flicked a loose delivery from Hamilton to square leg.

Hamilton bagged Rana as India spiraled to 157 for 8 before debutant Kashvee Gautam attacked just like she had done during the ODI series. She eventually ran out of support with Sutherland claiming her fourth wicket when she dismissed Satghare.

The hectic day’s play also launched a new era at the revamped WACA ground with most spectators nestled in the rare shaded areas – still an issue even after the redevelopment – as the temperature peaked at 37 degree Celsius with a similar forecast set for day two.

Brief scores: [Stumps Day 1]
Australia Women 96 for 3 in 27 overs (Ellyse Perry 43*, Annabel Sutherland 20*; Kranti Gaud 2-28) trail India Women 198 in 62.4 overs (Shafali Verma 35, Jemmimah Rodrigues 52, Kasnvee Gautam 34*; Darcie Brown 2-41, Annabel Sutherland 4-46, Lucy Hamilton 3-31) by 102 runs

[Cricinfo]

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Heat Index at ‘Caution Level’ in the Sabaragamuwa province and, Colombo, Gampaha, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Vavuniya, Hambanthota and Monaragala districts

Published

2 hours ago

2026/03/7

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. on 06 March 2026, valid for 07 March 2026.

The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Sabaragamuwa province and in Colombo, Gampaha, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Vavuniya, Hambantota and Monaragala districts.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and 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

Latest News

Prompt solutions will be provided for the salary anomalies prevailing within the teacher and principal services — PM

Published

2 hours ago

2026/03/7

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the government has paid close attention to the salary anomalies prevailing within the teacher and principal services and that prompt solutions will be provided following extensive discussions held with trade unions.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while responding to questions raised in Parliament on Friday (06).

Presenting data on existing vacancies in the education sector, the Prime Minister explained the current situation.

There are 903 vacancies existing in the Sri Lanka Education Administrative Service (SLEAS) and 3,790 vacancies in Sri Lanka Principals’ Service (SLPS).

In order to fill the vacancies which still remain due to various reasons, including selected officers not accepting appointments after the examinations and interviews conducted since 2021, interviews are scheduled to be held in the second week of March 2026.

Further, in order to fill the vacancies for the years 2021 and 2025, competitive examinations will be conducted in the future with the approval of the Public Service Commission.

At present, entry into the Principals’ Service is considered as a new recruitment. As a solution to the salary-related issue arising in this regard, a new Cabinet paper is being prepared seeking approval to consider appointments to the Principals’ Service as a promotion, thereby enabling appropriate salary conversion.

The Prime Minister also emphasized that sustainable solutions are required not only for salary issues in the education sector but also for salary-related concerns in several other sectors. Accordingly, the government plans to appoint a new Salary Commission. Through this commission, the government expects to provide lasting solutions to the issues faced by teachers and principals within this year.

In accordance with the service minute of the Principals’ Service, several training programmes have been made mandatory for the professional development of principals.

These include, Induction training at the beginning of service, capacity development training prior to promotion to Grade II and Grade I, and periodic awareness programmes conducted at provincial and zonal levels.

The Prime Minister further stated that discussions are undertaking with the Department of Management Services regarding the proposals submitted by principals’ associations. Based on the responses received, the government is prepared to take the necessary steps through the Cabinet of Ministers.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]