News
Dayasiri makes plea not to be shut out of Committee on Parliamentary Business
Dissident SLPP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera yesterday urged Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to give them an opportunity to join the Committee on Parliamentary Business. Jayasekera said that Uttara Lanka Sabhawa, too, had been barred from those meetings.
“This is a big problem for us. We don’t know what is happening. We are not aware of the decisions made at these committees,” he said. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said the Business Committee had agreed to ensure the participation of all Opposition parties at its meeting
“I don’t understand why these parties are not allowed in after we agreed that they, too, should be there. We all agreed to let them in. Allow each party to send one representative. The government can increase their representation in proportion,” he said.
Meanwhile, leader of the house, Minister Susil Premajayantha, told Parliament that when a new Parliament is convened, a gazette on what parties are in Parliament, who are the MPs, etc., is published.
“As far as I know, the leaders of political parties that are in the above-mentioned gazette are recognized as party leaders. However, this has changed. There might be breakaways. When a section of government MPs sit in Opposition, they, too, want recognition as Opposition MPs. I think this is the basis of the requests by the SLFP and Uttara Lanka Sabawa. The Speaker can decide. There is no need for us to be involved,” he said.
The Speaker said that there are 33 MPs in the business committee and that there are usually only 16 MPs in this committee. However, the Opposition leader said the number of MPs is immaterial and that the Speaker must entertain the request made by MP Jayasekera.
Uttara Lanka Sabawa MP Mohamed Muzammil said that both the Leader of the House and the Opposition Leader have agreed to allow all Opposition parties to be represented in the business committee.
“The Speaker has promised twice to give a verdict on this. There are 13 MPs with us. There are five SLFP MPs. Our rights have been violated. Please make a decision today. You only have to give us two slots and two slots to the government,” he said.
Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said a party with three MPs has representation at the business committee.
“So, two parties with 18 MPs deserve representation. So the Speaker can make a decision,” he said.
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
Singapore Zoo’s first Sri Lankan leopard cubs make their public debut
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