2026-01-12

Published

4 weeks ago

2026/01/12

Thilina Walpola

All News Advertisement

Weather

Shower may occur in the Western, Uva and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Matale, Nuwara-Eliya, Ampara, Batticaloa, Galle, Matara and Polonnaruwa districts

Published

1 hour ago

2026/02/8

Priyan

WEATHER FORECAST FOR 08 FEBRUARY 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 08 February 2026 by the Department of Meteorology

The prevailing showery condition over the island is expected to be temporarily reduced from 08 to 11 February.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Badulla districts during the early hours of the morning.

A few shower may occur in the Uva province and in Matale, Nuwara-Eliya, Ampara, Batticaloa and Polonnaruwa districts.
Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts after 2.00 p.m.

Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over the Eastern slopes of the central hills, Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Matale, Trincomalee and Hambantota districts.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Foreign News

King Charles to host Nigeria’s first UK state visit in 37 years

Published

2 hours ago

2026/02/8

Priyan

King Charles (left) will host Nigerian President Bola Tinubu (right) in March [BBC]

King Charles III and Queen Camilla will host Nigeria’s president in the country’s first state visit to the UK in 37 years, Buckingham Palace has announced.

Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu have accepted an invitation to be guests of the King at Windsor Castle from 18 to 19 March.

State visits are considered a form of soft-power diplomacy, using the pomp of royal hospitality to strengthen relations with important international partners.

The last Nigerian state visit to the UK took place in 1989, when military ruler Gen Ibrahim Babangida travelled to meet the late Queen Elizabeth II for a four-day trip.

Although this will be Tinubu’s first formal state visit to the UK, he has already met the King since taking office following Nigeria’s disputed election in 2023.

Tinubu and his wife were received at Buckingham Palace in September 2024 and also held a bilateral meeting with the King on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai.

But a state visit allows for ceremonial pageantry aimed at elevating the occasion and demonstrating the importance with which the UK views those visiting.

The visit comes at a time of improving diplomatic and economic links between the UK and Nigeria – with trade between the two worth more than £8bn in the year to October, government figures show. This makes the African nation one of the UK’s most important partners in the continent.

In 2024, the two countries signed a new trade and investment partnership designed to expand opportunities for business.

The agenda for the March visit has not been disclosed, nor details of the events planned for it – but state visits typically include carriage processions and a state banquet, and usually coincide with visiting leaders having political meetings.

Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images The late Queen Elizabeth II wears a navy suit jacket, white and blue scarf, with a matching hat as she rides in a red velvet lined carriage alongside former Nigerian ruler General Ibrahim Babangida who wears a blue outfit. The background behind them is lined with on-lookers, whilst two men dressed in red and gold livery coats sit behind the carriage. — *The last Nigerian state visits to the UK took place in 1989 [BBC]*

In 2025 alone, the King presided over three state visits – those of French President Emmanuel Macron, US President Donald Trump and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier – the first time the UK had held such a number in a single year since 1988.

The King has longstanding ties to Nigeria, a Commonwealth country, having expressed a love for Pidgin English and Nigerian Afrobeats music.

Before becoming monarch, he visited the country four times as the Prince of Wales – in 1990, 1999, 2006 and 2018. Camilla, then the Duchess of Cornwall, joined him on the latter trip.

In 2023, the King’s Trust International – formerly the Prince’s Trust – officially launched in Nigeria, announcing a project aimed at tackling youth unemployment.

***[BBC]***

News

Health authorities on high alert over Nipah Virus threat

Published

2 hours ago

2026/02/8

Thilina Walpola

Sri Lanka has stepped up efforts to detect and respond to a potential outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus (NiV), with health authorities enhancing surveillance and laboratory readiness amid growing concerns in the region.

The Medical Research Institute (MRI), the country’s premier laboratory, has upgraded its testing capacity with the latest technology to identify the Nipah virus, enabling early detection of suspected cases, an MRI source said.

Nipah virus is a highly infectious zoonotic disease that can spread from animals

to humans and also through human-to-human contact. Fruit bats are the natural hosts of the virus.

First identified in Malaysia in 1988, the virus has since caused deadly outbreaks in countries including India and Bangladesh. Experts warn that Sri Lanka, with its close human-animal interactions and tropical climate, must remain vigilant against such emerging infectious diseases.

The case fatality rate of Nipah virus ranges from 40% to 75%, making it one of the most lethal viral infections affecting humans. There are currently no specific drugs or vaccines, with treatment relying mainly on intensive supportive care, health specialists say.

Symptoms of infection initially include fever, headaches, muscle pain, vomiting, and sore throat, followed by dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness, and neurological signs indicating acute encephalitis. Severe cases may progress to atypical pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, seizures, and coma within 24 to 48 hours.Authorities continue to urge heightened awareness and precautionary measures, emphasizing that early detection and rapid response are key to preventing outbreaks.

by Chaminda Silva ✍️