News
Govt. moves to modernise National Cadet Corps
A plan is underway to modernise the National Cadet Corps (NCC) to meet current national needs, Parliament was informed last week.
Responding to a question raised by Moneragala District NPP MP Ruwan Wijeweera, Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General (Retd) Aruna Jayasekera said the modernisation drive would include legal reforms, curriculum upgrades, expanded training facilities and increased welfare benefits for cadet officers and instructors.
The Deputy Minister said the National Cadet Corps had been established under the Mobilisation and Supplementary Forces Act, No. 40 of 1985. The Act provides for manpower mobilisation, the establishment and maintenance of the National Armed Reserve, the National Cadet Corps, the National Auxiliary Force and other supplementary forces deemed necessary, along with matters incidental to those objectives.
He told the House that at present, 3,092 cadet officers are serving under the NCC, while 148 officers had been released by the Ministry of Education for active service as at December 5, 2025.
According to the figures presented, cadet activities are currently carried out in 2,256 schools islandwide, with a total of 4,599 cadet platoons in operation.
Answering a specific question about whether NCC activities were being modernised in line with contemporary requirements, the Deputy Minister confirmed that the government had already begun implementing such plans.
Deputy Minister Jayasekera outlined several key measures, including proposed amendments to the existing Act to facilitate increased recruitment and the overall modernisation process, the development of updated training schedules, and the expansion of training programmes at the Rantembe and Mullaitivu training centres.
Additional steps include allocating more time for cadet training and academic activities, reducing the personal financial burden borne by cadets during training, and modernising the cadeting curriculum to incorporate technical education components.
The Deputy Minister also said that the Government planned to resume the National Cadet Games Meet, which had been scheduled to be held as a national sports meet in Jaffna in December 2025 but was postponed due to inclement weather and the disaster caused by the Cyclone Ditwah.
Further welfare and infrastructure measures include increasing camp allowances for teachers and cadet officers, providing free uniforms and equipment for officers, and developing infrastructure at cadet camps.
“These initiatives are aimed at strengthening the National Cadet Corps and ensuring it remains relevant, inclusive and effective in contributing to national development and discipline among schoolchildren,” Jayasekera said.
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Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura
The National Building Research Institute [NBRI] has issued Landslide Early Warnings to the Districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura valid upto 0900 AM on 23rd May 2026.
Accordingly,
LEVEL I [RED] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Deraniyagala, Ruwanwella and Dehiowita in the Kegalle district and Ratnapura, Ayagama, Kuruwita and Eheliyagoda in the Ratnapura district.
LEVEL II [AMBER] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka and Padukka in the Colombo district, Attanagalla in the Gampaha district, Horana, Bulathsinhala, Ingiriya and Palindanuwara in the Kalutara district, Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district and Pelmadulla, Kiriella, Elapatha, Kalawana and Nivithigala in the Rathnapura district.
LEVEL I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Mirigama and Divulapitiya in the Gampaha district, Agalawatta and Mathugama in the Kalutara district, Bulathkohupitiya in the Kegalle district and Ambagamuwa in the Nuwara Eliya district.
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Minor flood situation likely to occur within the next few hours in the low-lying floodplain areas of the Kalu River
Based on the heavy rainfall currently being received in the Kalu River Basin and the analysis of water level data recorded at hydrological gauging stations maintained by the Irrigation Department within the Kalu River Basin, it is hereby warned that a Minor Flood Situation is likely to occur within the next
few hours in the low-lying floodplain areas of the Kalu River.
The affected areas include the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Ratnapura, Kuruwita, Ayagama, Elapatha, Kiriella in Ratnapura District.
The public residing in these areas, as well as motorists and passengers travelling through the affected regions, are strongly requested to act with utmost vigilance and to take all necessary
precautions. Disaster Management Authorities are requested to take necessary actions in this regard.
A considerable rainfall has occurred in the catchment areas of the Aththanagalu Oya Basin as atb5.00 AM today (22).
By analyzing the current rainfall situation and river water levels of Hydrological Stations on the Aththanagalu Oya, there is a possibility of a flood situation occuring in some low lying
areas of the Aththanagalu Oya and Uruwal Oya valleys situated in Diwulapitiya, Mirigama, Attanagalla, Mahara, Gampaha, Minuwangoda, Ja-ela, Katana and Wattala Div8sional Secretaries Divisions within next 48 hours.
Owing to this situation, there is a possibility of some of the roads running through these lowlying areas being inundated at some places.
The public residing in these areas, as well as motorists traveling through these regions, are requested to exercise extreme caution regarding this situation.
Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura
Minor flood situation likely to occur within the next few hours in the low-lying floodplain areas of the Kalu River
Flood warning issued to low lying areas of the Aththanagalu Oya and Uruwal Oya valleys
Flood warning issued to low lying areas of the Kelani River valley
Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Gampaha, Kalutara and Ratnapura
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