News
Prez discusses trade, tourism and education with foreign leaders
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had held several fruitful discussions with foreign leaders on promoting trade, tourism and education, the President’s Media Division said.
The President, who is in Glasgow to attend COP 26 UN Climate Change Conference, held these discussions on 02 November.
President Rajapaksa and the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, held discussions on further strengthening the long standing friendship between Sri Lanka and the Kingdom of Bahrain. Both leaders discussed a wide range of fields, including the possibility of receiving employment opportunities for Sri Lankan professionals instead of domestics.
The President also met the Prime Minister of Nepal, Sher Bahadur Deuba and discussed increasing the number of flights and promoting tourism and education between the two countries. SriLankan Airlines operates four flights a week between Nepal and Sri Lanka.
The meeting between Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa took place at the Merchants House in Glasgow. Secretary-General Scotland informed the President that the Commonwealth helps member countries to expand market opportunities.
The President also met with Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, Director General of the World Trade Organization Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as well as Heads of State and Representatives of several Middle Eastern and Western countries and held discussions on enabling new opportunities in tourism, financial and several other sectors in Sri Lanka.
Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in the UK Saroja Sirisena were also present.
News
Police officers donate LKR 9,687,462 from day’s salary to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund
A sum of LKR. 9,687,462, raised from day’s salary officers of the Police Department, has been donated to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, established to support the recovery of communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah and to assist in rebuilding the country following the disaster.
To date, officers of the Police Department have contributed over LKR. 74 million to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund through three such contributions of one day’s salary.
The donation was presented on Wednesday (22) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat by the Personal Assistant to the Inspector General of Police, Senior Superintendent of Police C. C. Bamunuarachchi, to the Secretary to the President, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Chief Inspector Udaya Kumara, Officer-in-Charge of the Police Secretariat, was also present on the occasion.
[Presidents Media Division]
Latest News
Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 26 April 2026, valid for 27 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, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time.
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.
News
Opposition asks for PSC to probe Treasury theft
Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa has called for the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to investigate the illegal diversion of Treasury funds, amounting to US$2.5 million to a third-party account.
Premadasa has said both the chairmanship and a majority of the Committee’s membership should be held by the Opposition to ensure impartiality.
The government has not only failed to account for the loss of US$2.5 million but also deliberately withheld information from Parliament, the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) and the public, Premadasa has told the media, accusing the ruling party of seeking to deflect responsibility by initiating an internal departmental inquiry, which he describes as a biased process designed to justify predetermined conclusions.
The Opposition Leader has said only a transparent and independent probe could establish the facts, adding that such an investigation could be effectively carried out through a Parliamentary Select Committee led by the Opposition.
He has also warned that the alleged failure to inform Parliament about the missing funds amounted to a serious breach of accountability.
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