News
South-west monsoons increasingly active: Met Dept.
The Department of Meteorology says the southwest monsoon conditions are becoming increasingly active, and as a result, an increase in rainfall is expected over the coming days in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, North-Western, Central, and Northern provinces, as well as in the Galle and Matara districts. No disaster situations had been reported as of Saturday (17), officials said.
Most parts of the country are currently experiencing overcast skies, with intermittent showers or thundershowers expected in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, North-Western, Northern, and North-Central provinces, and in the Galle and Matara districts. Showers or thundershowers are also likely in other parts of the country, particularly during the evening or night.
Certain areas in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, North-Western, Northern, and North-Central provinces, as well as Galle and Matara, could receive heavy rainfall exceeding 75 mm.
As of 6:00 a.m. yesterday (18), rainfall measurements recorded 86 mm in Paththalagedara (Gampaha), 73 mm in Minuwangoda, 79 mm in Nawalapitiya (Kandy), and 68 mm in Warakapola (Kegalle).
Meanwhile, the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) issued Level 1 landslide early warnings for the districts of Colombo, Galle, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, and Ratnapura as of yesterday.
To respond to any emergency, Disaster Relief Centres have been set up in all 25 districts under the Disaster Management Centre (DMC). People can report any disaster-related incidents by calling the emergency hotline ‘117’.The DMC has also alerted its district offices with instructions to coordinate rapid response efforts with the armed forces and police, who are fully equipped for emergency rescue operations.
by Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon
The Indian Navy Ship (INS) NIREEKSHAK arrived in Sri Lanka for Operational Turnaround (OTR) and a training visit on 21 Apr 26.
The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship at the port of Colombo in accordance with time-honoured naval traditions.
Commanded by, Commander Sailesh Kumar Tyagi, this Diving Support Vessel is set to conduct a training programme with the diving professionals of the Sri Lanka Navy.
The crew is also scheduled to participate in several activities organized by the Sri Lanka Navy and visit some tourist attractions within the country.
Latest News
Advisory for Severe Lightning issued to the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, North-central, Southern, Uva provinces, and Mannar, Vavuniya, Ampara, Batticaloa districts
Advisory for Severe Lightning
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 12.00 noon 21 April 2026 valid for the period until 11.30 p.m. 21 April 2026
Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, Northcentral, Southern, Uva provinces, and in Mannar, Vavuniya, Ampara, Batticaloa districts 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
Two High Commissioners, three Ambassadors and an Apostolic Nuncio-designate of the Holy See presented their credentials to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (20).
The ceremony, held at 10.00 a.m., followed the formal order of precedence, with the envoys representing Papua New Guinea, Somalia, Luxembourg, the Holy See, Pakistan and Kuwait.
Accordingly, diplomats who presented their credentials were:
01. Vincent Sumale, High Commissioner-designate of Papua New Guinea (Based in New Delhi)
02. Abdullahi Mohammed Odowa, Ambassador-designate of Somalia (Based in New Delhi)
03. Christian Biever, Ambassador-designate of Luxembourg (Based in New Delhi)
04. Monsignor Andrzej Józwowicz, Apostolic Nuncio-designate of the Holy See
05. Major General (Retd) Nayyar Naseer, High Commissioner-designate of Pakistan
06. Saleh Mubarak Al-Sarawi, Ambassador-designate of Kuwait
Following the presentation of credentials, the President engaged in a cordial discussion with them. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, and the Secretary to the President, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, were also in attendance.
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