News
Ban on travel outside Western province disrupts postal services
by Suresh Perera
The government’s move to prohibit travel outside the Western province has hampered postal services with the regular sorting of mail disrupted due to inadequate manpower, a senior official said.
“With the imposition of the travel ban, most of our employees cannot report for duty at the Central Mail Exchange (CME) as they live outside the Western province”, says Postmaster General, Ranjith Ariyaratne.
As a considerable segment of CME employees traveled from the Kurunegala, Kandy, Galle and Matara districts, they are now unable to return to Colombo due to the restrictions enforced, he noted.
“They traveled to work by train, and we don’t have the facilities to provide transport to them though their services are badly needed”, he outlined.
“Until Wednesday, we were doing fine with routine mail sorting continuing on a regular basis. However, that’s no longer possible due to the lack of sufficient employees at the CME”, the PMG said.
Asked whether mail had piled up due to the temporary closure of the CME earlier after two Covid-19 positive patients were found, Ariyaratne said there was no backlog as sorting was done at divisional level, though there were practical difficulties as the available small groups of workers had to shoulder the task.
He further said that mail delivery services have resumed in all areas, except those still under lockdown, after the 10-day quarantine curfew in the Western province.
The ban on travel outside the Western province is expected to lifted on November 15 (Monday) based on a review of the coronavirus transmission threat.
“If the situation warrants it, we will have to extend the prohibition to prevent the virus spreading to other provinces through cross border travel”, health officials said.
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Heat index, is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Northern, Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala and Hambantota districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 29 April 2025, valid for 30 April 2025
The general public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Northern, Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala and Hambantota districts
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.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will undertake a four-day state visit to Vietnam on 03 May, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said. Since the presidential election, President Dissanayake has so far visited India, China and the UAE.
The 5th annual Sri Lanka-Pakistan Bilateral Defence Dialogue commenced on Monday (April 28) in Islamabad, Pakistan, marking a continued commitment to strengthening defence cooperation between the two nations.
The MoD statement: “The Sri Lankan delegation is led by Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (retd.) Sampath Thuyacontha accompanied by Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, and Additional Secretary (Defence) of the Ministry of Defence Jayantha Edirisinghe. The Pakistani delegation is headed by Lieutenant General (retd.) Muhammad Ali, Secretary Defence of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
In conjunction with the on-going defence dialogue, Defence Secretary Thuyacontha held a side-line meeting yesterday (April 29) with Defence Minister of Pakistan, Khawaja Muhammad Asif.
These high-level engagements aim to enhance bilateral cooperation, foster mutual understanding on regional security dynamics and explore opportunities for defence collaboration. Both nations share a longstanding relationship rooted in mutual respect and strategic cooperation. The dialogue reflects the growing importance of partnerships in maintaining stability and promoting peace in the South Asian region.
The three-day dialogue, which concludes today (April 30), is expected to reinforce bilateral defence ties and contribute to broader regional security objectives.
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