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Lyon spins Australia to big win in Wellington
Nathan Lyon took a second-innings six-fer and registered a 10-wicket match haul for the fifth time in his illustrious career as Australia romped home to victory by 172 runs on the fourth morning of the series-opening Wellington Test.
New Zealand had shown admirable resistance on the third day after being pushed so far behind in the game and even teased the possibility of an incredible come-from-behind win but eventually the turn and bounce accorded by the pitch at the Basin Reserve was enough for Lyon to rubber-stamp his influence on the game.
Lyon’s feat was the first 10-wicket match haul by a spinner in New Zealand since 2006 and extended the hosts’ misery in Test matches against Australia, who they have beaten just once since 1993 now.
The hosts, playing in front of a near-capacity Sunday crowd, began sedately in pursuit of the 258 runs they needed at the start of the day’s play. The overnight pair of Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell were largely untroubled in the first half-hour leading to a switch in strategy from Pat Cummins. To shackle the free-flowing Ravindra, Australia stationed three fielders on the off-side and got Lyon to swap to the RA Vance bowling end. The move took only three balls to pay off as Ravindra cut a short ball straight to point and was dismissed for 59.
That was enough for the veteran offspinner, who struck two more times over the next four balls, to dismiss Tom Blundell and Glenn Phillips. The former was forced to lunge forward in defence and inside-edged his attempt on to his thigh-pad and into the hands of short-leg. Phillips, in Lyon’s next over, was pushed back in his crease and defeated by an sharp turner that missed his flick and struck him in front of the stumps.
The hosts, whose hopes were snuffed in a matter of two Lyon overs, found brief resistance through Mitchell and Scott Kuggeleijn, but it was always a matter of time before Australia opened up one end. First-innings centurion Cameron Green found a delivery to misbehave off a good length and kick up onto Kuggeleijn, who could only glove it to the ‘keeper.
The end came quickly thereafter as Josh Hazlewood bagged a pair of wickets while Lyon had the home skipper miscuing a slog to long on for his sixth wicket. It capped off a thoroughly impressive show from the visitors, who completed an impressive victory despite being put into bat on a green-top on the first morning, found a way to move into the ascendancy and stayed there through the course.
Brief scores:
Australia 383 and 164 beat New Zealand 179 and 196 (Rachin Ravindra 59, Daryl Mitchell 38; Nathan Lyon 6-65) by 172 runs.
(Cricbuzz)
In the recent past, factors such as population growth, expansion of development activities, and deforestation in Sri Lanka have resulted in the loss of traditional migratory routes and the destruction of habitats of wild elephants.
Consequently, a continuous and rapid escalation of the human-elephant conflict has been observed over a long period, spanning 19 out of the 25 districts and 134 out of the 341 Divisional Secretariat Divisions in the country.
According to the wild elephant census conducted in 2024, the wild elephant population in the country is estimated to be approximately 7,450. It is reported that the human-elephant
conflict accounts for a significant number of human fatalities and wild elephant deaths annually.
Furthermore, over a thousand incidents of property damage caused by wild elephants are recorded each year.
Although a ‘National Action Plan to Mitigate Human-Elephant Conflict in Sri Lanka’ was formulated in 2020, the dynamics of the current human-elephant conflict have evolved substantially since then, necessitating the formulation of a new national action plan.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Environment to take the necessary steps to draft a new National Action Plan for Human-Elephant Conflict Management.
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Cabinet green light to host 21st Steering Committee Meeting of the Cooperative Aviation Security Programme – Asia Pacific and the 14th Regional Aviation Security Coordination Forum – Asia and Pacific Regions from 23 – 26 June in Sri Lanka
Hosting the 21st Steering Committee Meeting of the Cooperative Aviation Security Programme – Asia Pacific and the 14th Regional Aviation Security Coordination Forum – Asia and Pacific Regions in Sri Lanka
An invitation has been extended to Sri Lanka to host two major regional aviation security summits: the 21st Steering Committee Meeting of the Cooperative Aviation Security Programme – Asia Pacific (CASP-AP) and the 14th Regional Aviation Security Coordination Forum (RASCF).
The Steering Committee of the Cooperative Aviation Security Programme – Asia Pacific serves as the primary decision-making body for the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) cooperative aviation security program in the Asia-Pacific region.
Sri Lanka is scheduled to assume the chairmanship of the said Steering Committee for the 2026-2027 term during this summit.
The Regional Aviation Security Coordination Forum for the Asia and Pacific regions serves as a regional platform to deliberate on emerging threats, the implementation of ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), capacity-building activities, and coordination among member states and international
organizations.
Approximately 80 delegates, including representatives from 41 member states, international organizations, and observers, are expected to participate in these two summits.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation to host the 21st Steering Committee Meeting of the Cooperative Aviation Security Programme – Asia Pacific on the 23rd and 24th of June 2026, and the 14th Regional Aviation Security Coordination Forum – Asia and Pacific Regions on the 25th and 26th of June 2026 in Sri Lanka.
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Committee to examine the feasibility of operating all functions related to the Employees’ Provident Fund and the Employees’ Trust Fund under an integrated governance framework
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Labour to appoint a Committee comprising Senior Officials to examine the feasibility and submit recommendations on bringing all operations of the Employees’
Provident Fund and the Employees’ Trust Fund under an integrated governance framework managed by a tripartite board representing the Government, employers, and employees.
This initiative aims to align with international best practices while ensuring comprehensive legal and financial security for the assets of the members
Report on the Final Budgetary Condition (Annual Report) – 2025 submited to parliament
Cabinet nod to accept increased Loan Grant provided by the Asian Development Bank under Policy Based Loan Facilities – 2026
Submission of Revenue Protection Order Prepared under the Provisions of the Revenue Protection Act No. 19 of 1962 to the Parliament for its approval.
Resettlement of unauthorized settlers affected by the Land Acquisition process for the implementation of Phase III of the Baseline Road Extension Project
Cabinet approves project to modernize school hostel facilities during the 2026–2028 period at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,008 million
New National Action Plan for Human-Elephant Conflict Management to be drafted
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