News

Kiriella warns govt. of time bomb in Kandy City

Published

5 years ago

2020/11/18

By Saman indRajith

The government has placed the Kandy City and lives of its people in danger by keeping inmates afflicted with COVID-19 in the Bogambara prison, says Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella.

Addressing the media at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Colombo, yesterday, MP Kiriella said that the quarantine centre at former Bogambara prison in the middle of the Kandy City posed health risks and urged the government to shift the infected inmates.

“During Yahapalana government we decided to shut down the Bogambara prison and converted it into a cultural park. We shifted prisoners to other places such as Pallekele and started to develop the premises that had been a prison since colonial times. Now, the incumbent government put the project on hold and brought infected inmates from all prisons to the Bogambara facility. First about 100 inmates were brought, but now as per the latest reports there are over 800 persons in the Bogambara prison quarantine centre. This place is in the middle of the city.”

Kiriella said that the prison premises were to be converted into a tourist attraction with an open-air theatre to promote upcountry handicraft industry and create employment opportunities for about 5,000 people. “Now, all that is over. The place has been turned into a quarantine centre and is like a primed time bomb.”

Kiriella accused the government of having mishandled the COVID-19 pandemic and let it develop into a national health crisis. “During the recent months, the government was preoccupied with winning the general election and having the 20th Amendment ratified by Parliament. Controlling COVID-19 pandemic was third on its list of priorities. The government should have thought of people’s lives rather than consolidating its power. Look at Taiwan, an island nation like ours with a population number closer to ours located very close to China. Since January there have been only 602 infected cases and only seven deaths. There had been no reports of new cases for the past 200 days. The main reason for that was the decision by Taiwan to shut down its airports. We too told the government on or around Jan 22 to close down the airport. They did not listen to us. They acted arbitrarily then and now blame the people for the spread of the virus. It is so sad to notice that there is not a single world leader blaming his country’s people for the spread of the virus but we have one. When the first wave of the pandemic was controlled to some extent, the government got the credit for it, but after the failure to control the second wave the blame was shifted on to the people.”

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

Published

8 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

9 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

11 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.