News
Cricket board sacked; Interim Committee appointed
by Rex Clementine
Following the national cricket team’s shocking display in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup in India, Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe sacked the Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) headed by Shammi Silva and appointed a seven-member Interim Committee headed by former Test captain Arjuna Ranatunga.
Other members of the panel are retired Supreme Court Judges S.I. Imam, Rohini Marasinghe, retired High Court judge Irangani Perera, former board chairman Upali Dharmadasa, Attorney-at-Law Rakitha Rajapakshe and businessman Hisam Jamaldeen.
The Minister acted according to the powers vested on him by the Sports Law.
The national cricket team had suffered new lows during Shammi Silva’s tenure as President as they were forced to play three Qualifying Tournaments in three years after failing to earn automatic qualification for ICC events.
Discipline among cricketers too had eroded significantly but on most occasions the players were let off with a slap on the wrist.
There are also allegations of mass scale corruption during Shammi Silva’s tenure and s everal irregularities were pointed out by a forensic audit done last year.
The Minister has been under intense pressure to sack the Executive Committee and there were public protests as well. Ranasinghe had resisted moves to sack the Ex Co but had requested on a few occasions to stay out of trouble.
The board has been accused of lack of planning for mega events like the World Cup, diluting domestic cricket and not having suitable individuals at key positions like for example Selection Committee and support staff for the national team.
Shammi Silva’s Executive Committee also took on the media cancelling accreditation for journalists who were critical of the board while at occasions entire media organizations were denied entry to venues to cover games.
Several activities of SLC will be probed as well as to how much money the board had spent as legal fees and conducting the Lanka Premier League where the board is believed to have not received the money that was due from the organizers.
Three Sri Lankan leopard cubs that were born at the Singapore Zoo on Jan 1 have now made their public debut at the facility.
The two males and one female, born to mother Yala and father Asanka, are the first of their species yo be born at the Singapore Zoo. The last successful birth in Singapore was recorded at the Night Safari three decades ago.
The triplets, which are the pair’s first litter, are among around 80 Sri Lankan leopards in zoos worldwide.
The species is listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, with fewer than 800 individuals estimated to remain in the wild.
Visitors can now see the triplets at the Wild Africa exhibit, said the Mandai Wildlife Group in a statement on April 16.
The cubs can be found in the exhibit with their mother daily until mid-May and, subsequently, every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
Yala with her cubs in their nest box, a month after their birth on Jan 1. (Straits Times)
A leopard cub investigating a piece of meat suspended from a tree – one of the several enrichment items in the Wild Africa exhibit designed to keep the cats mentally and physically stimulated. (Straits Times)
Mandai Wildlife Group curator Anand Kumar said it took nearly three years and close collaboration across continents to bring together a compatible pair of Sri Lankan leopards.
(Straits Times)
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-zoos-first-sri-lankan-leopard-cubs-make-their-public-debut?ref=top-stories
The Sri Lanka Navy has seized a local multi- day fishing trawler, it’s four man crew together with a consignment suspected to be narcotics off the Southern Coast of the island.
The vessel is presently being escorted to the Dikowita fisheries harbour for further investigations and legal proceedings.
Latest News
Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and Southern provinces and in Monaragala district
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 15 April 2026, valid for 16 April 2026.
The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern
and Southern provinces and in Monaragala district.
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
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