News
Adverse weather: 92,471 affected; two deaths reported so far
By Rathindra Kuruwita and Norman Palihawadane
A total of 92,471 people from 27,751 families have been affected by the adverse weather conditions prevailing since January 13, according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC).The Eastern Province is the worst affected, with 56,878 people from 17,952 families is distress in the Ampara, Batticaloa, and Trincomalee districts due to heavy rains.
In the Northern Province, 29,299 people from 7,970 families in Kilinochchi, Jaffna, Vavuniya, and Mannar have been adversely affected.
Meanwhile, in the North Central Province, 4,599 people from 1,369 families in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa have been affected.
Additionally, 319 houses have been partially damaged due to the extreme weather conditions.
Two persons had died owing to floods in Welikanda in Polonnaruwa and Hali Ela in Badulla.
As of yesterday, a total of 438 people from 142 families in several provinces had been relocated to safe locations, the DMC said.
The Meteorological Department predicted that showers or thundershowers would occur at times in the Uva and Southern provinces and in the Ampara and Batticaloa districts today (27).
A few showers are likely in the North-Central, North-Western, and Central provinces, as well as in the Trincomalee district. Showers or thundershowers are also expected in a few places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces during the evening or night.
Fairly strong winds of 30-40 kmph can be expected at times over the eastern slopes of the central hills, and in the Northern, North-Central, and North-Western provinces, as well as in the Matale and Hambantota districts.
Misty conditions may occur in some areas in the Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in the Galle and Matara districts during the morning.
The public is advised to take adequate precautions to minimise damage caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
In its Marine Weather Forecast, the Department has stated that winds will be north-easterly with speeds of 25-35 kmph. Wind speeds may increase up to 50-60 kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast stretching from Colombo to Kankasanthurai via Puttalam and Mannar, and from Matara to Pottuvil via Hambantota.The seas off those coasts are expected to be rough at times, and temporarily strong gusty winds with very rough seas can be expected during thundershowers.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation to provide the required provisions to purchase the green gram harvest in a competitive manner with the private sector by expanding the program initiated by the National Food Promotion Board, on the advice of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation,
Green gram has been cultivated in an area of about 16,500 hectares in the 2025 Yala Season and intermediate season and a harvest of about 14,600 metric tons of green gram is expected. Currently, green gram harvesting has started in the Hambantota district, and it has been reported that middlemen are buying the harvest for a low price of Rs. 450/- per kilogram.
Approval has been granted at the cabinet meeting held on 08-02-2021 to award 326 bridge construction contracts to the State Development and Construction Corporation for the construction of bridges across the island under the Rural Bridges Program.
The construction of a further 23 bridges has been assigned to the Road Development Authority.
It had been decided in the year 2022, to stop the construction of 184 bridges, where construction had not been initiated. The construction of 45 bridges from the 142 remaining bridges have already been completed.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban
Development to recommence the construction of the remaining 74 bridges by the State Development and Construction Corporation and to complete the construction expeditiously.
Policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 16.06.2025 to repeal the Parliamentary Pension Act No. 1 of 1971 of the State Council.
In keeping with the promise given to all Sri Lankans who supported the vision of ‘A wealthy country – A beautiful life’ which appeared in the policy declaration of the Government, a draft bill has been prepared by the Legal Draftsmen for
repealing the Parliamentary Pension Act with the objective of cancelling pensions rights given to elected members of the Parliament and their spouses.
As the Attorney General has given clearance to the draft bill, the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Justic and National Integration to publish the said draft bill in the government gazette notification and subsequently to be presented to the Parliament for its concurrence.
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Purchasing of 2025 green gram harvest
Cabinet approves the completion 74 bridges under the Rural Bridge Program
‘Heartbroken’ Alcaraz pulls out of Davis Cup Finals
Parliamentary Pension Act No. 1 of 1971 to be repelled
Cabinet nod to appoint Dr. (Eng.) K. Waligepolage as Director General of Irrigation
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