With the objective of improving the productivity of paddy cultivation, a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the agricultural sector was entered into on 2025-05-05 between the Department of Agriculture of Sri Lanka and the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

Under the afore Memorandum of Understanding, both parties have agreed to implement a project titled “Joint Exchange of Genetic Resources and Development of High-Yielding and Salinity-resilient Rice Varieties through Hybridization between Sri Lanka and Vietnam.”

The activities proposed to be carried out under the said project include the exchange of germplasm materials of rice varieties between the two countries, the conduct of joint breeding and hybridization programmes, the evaluation and selection of advanced breeding lines under local conditions, the establishment of field trials, the training of research officers, and the exchange of knowledge.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation for the implementation of the proposed project

The National Building Research Institute [NBRI] has extended the landslide early warnings issued to the districts of Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura until 1600 hrs on Tuesday 27th May 2026.

Accordingly,
The LEVEL II [AMBER] landslide early warnings issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Ayagama, Eheliyagoda, Ratnapura and Kuruwita in the Ranapura district and

The LEVEL I [YELLOW]  landslide early warnings issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Mathugama and Bulathsinghala in the Kalutara district, Deraniyagala, Yatiyanthota, Dehiowita, Ruwanwella and Bulathkohupitiya un the Kegalle district, Ambagamuwa in the Nuwara Eliya district and Elapatha, Nivithigala, Pelmadulla, Kiriella and Kalawana in the Ratnapura district have been extended.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru [RCB]  might look at Gujarat Titans [GT] across the ring in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2026, and wonder if they helped create this monster. When GT went to Bengaluru on April 24, they were still a conservative side straddling the middle of the table, and happy with a 57-ball hundred from their opener. But they have been a changed unit since RCB cruised to that chase of 206 against them that day.

Since that match, the halfway point for GT, their run rate has increased by nearly a run per over. That is 20 runs per innings. By the time they faced RCB next, they were giving more importance to balls remaining than to wickets in hand while chasing. When batting first, GT were looking to score above par; there has been a pair of 229s in the two matches they have batted first in since that Bengaluru debacle.

The thing with GT is that they have a team with such strong basics that they don’t need to make only subtle changes to their approach. Their control rate has gone from 80% to 75%. A little more risk, a lot more rewards. Their bowling has only become more streamlined over this period with Jason Holder adding constant threat to an already good attack. The result is a 6-1 win-loss record in the second half of their tournament.