News

Preshanthi Navaratnam – Continuing where the parents stopped

Published

12 months ago

2025/05/4

Preshanti with Mayor of Doncaster Julie Grace and the Lord Lieutenant of South Yorkshire Professor Dame Hilary Chapman

Those of us of an advanced age and living in Kollupitiya remember the ministrations of two exceptional human beings both doctors – Doctors A.T and Vimala Navaratnam

They worked every day of the week except on Poya Days. Their consultation rooms were overflowing. The highest and the lowest of the land including diplomats consulted them. To every patient the consultation fee was restricted to three hundred rupees

Even to pay that, the doctors had often to be persuaded with great tact. Medicine, the art of healing, and service were the primary objectives of their lives. There are many accolades and stories related to them. One of them was an honour which the French Government conferred on Dr A.T.Navaratnam when they made him a Chevalier in 1987.

Dr A.T.Navaratnam and his wife Dr Vimala after he was conferred the title of a Chevalier by the French Government in 1987

Preshanthi Navaratnam, Executive Assistant, Department for Education.

For Public, Voluntary and Charitable Service, is their daughter. Sri Lanka can be proud that she has been recognized by Britain with the British Empire Medal (BEM)

BEM is made for achievement contribution of a very ‘hands-on’ service to the community in a local geographical area. This might take the form of sustained commitment in support of very local charitable and/or voluntary activity; or innovative work tht has delivered real impact but that is relatively short (three to four years) in duration.

Presentations of BEMs are made locally.

Preshanthi has worked in the charitable sector as a volunteer over the past 20 years. She has raised money performing concerts to fund charitable organizations in London, Trinidad and Tobago and Sri Lanka. In 2005 she with three other singers started the fund, raising money for a baby scanning unit in Sri Lanka.

During the COVID pandemic she along with many others cooked meals for the homeless and women’s refuges to support and make sure the vulnerable were taken care of during a very uncertain and difficult time. She was also part of the team at the Department for Education who made sure that ministerial and public correspondence was concisely answered on time during this period.

She has conducted well-being sessions and taken care of her team at the department for Education. She has been a very pro-active and productive member of this team since she joined it seven years ago.

She continues to pursue her voluntary work now in the north east since her move there.

Preshanthi is well known in Sri Lankan music circles as an outstanding operatic singer.

Arjuna Hulugalle

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Advisory for Severe Lightning issued for all provinces of Sri Lanka

Published

5 hours ago

2026/04/20

Priyan

Advisory for Severe Lightning
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 12.00 noon 20 April 2026 valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 20 April 2026

Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur most places in the island after 1.00 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.

News

Indian Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan meets Prime Minister

Published

6 hours ago

2026/04/20

Priyan

The Vice President of India, C.P. Radhakrishnan, who is currently on a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka, held a bilateral discussion with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Sunday (19) morning at Temple Trees.

Upon his arrival at Temple Trees, the Indian Vice President was received by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. The Prime Minister also extended her congratulations to C.P. Radhakrishnan on his appointment as the Vice President of India.

During the meeting, the Vice President noted that this is his first official visit to Sri Lanka and expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to him during his stay.

The occasion was attended by the Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel; Members of Parliament Dr. K. Laxman and Dr. Medha Vishram Kulkarni; Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri; and the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, and representing the Government of Sri Lanka the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath; Minister of Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage; Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj; Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri; Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Harshana Suriyapperuma; Secretary to the Ministry of Education Nalaka Kaluwewa; and several other officials.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

Latest News

Heat Index at ‘Caution level’ in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and Southern provinces and in Monaragala district

Published

18 hours ago

2026/04/20

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 19 April 2026, valid for 20 April 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern
and Southern provinces and in Monaragala district.

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