The Sri Lanka Administrative Service Association (SASA) has expressed its appreciation for the 2025 budget, highlighting its development-focused approach and its alignment with efforts to strengthen state revenue within the constraints of a limited fiscal space.

In a letter addressed to President Anura Kumara Disanayake, signed by SASA Secretary Kalindra Jayaweera Fernando, the association conveyed its congratulations on the presentation of the budget. The letter emphasized that the budget has been designed to enhance government revenue streams while maintaining a development-oriented outlook.

Furthermore, SASA affirmed its commitment to providing the government with maximum support in achieving a stable public financial system. The letter also acknowledged the significant efforts made through the budget to ensure fairness for government employees, particularly by substantially increasing the basic salaries of those with low wage levels. This measure was recognized as a commendable step towards addressing salary disparities within the public sector.

The letter emphasizes key fiscal measures, particularly the government’s commitment to curbing tax evasion by implementing digital financial transaction systems. It also highlights efforts to enhance investor confidence and ensure transparency through the introduction of internationally recognized legal frameworks aimed at preventing fraud and corruption.

Additionally, the government’s dedication to improving the efficiency of tax collection institutions is reaffirmed by setting high performance targets. The letter further notes that the budget accurately reflects public concerns regarding tax related entities.

Moreover, the SASA reiterates its commitment to supporting the President and the government in effectively and efficiently implementing policy decisions that contribute to the development of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

Chamari Athapaththu is set to miss the final phase of the WPL for UP Warriorz (UPW) to join Sri Lanka on a white-ball tour of New Zealand starting March 4 in Napier. Athapaththu’s departure will be the second big blow for UPW who are already without their full-time captain Alyssa Healy because of injury.

ESPNcricinfo has learnt that as of now, Athapaththu is going to be available for UPW until February 26, which is four more games for them, before she tends to national duties. After their game on February 26, against Mumbai Indians in Bengaluru, UPW will fly to Lucknow for the final league phase of the tournament where they will play three home matches. They left Athapaththu out of the XI in the clash they lost to Gujarat Giants.

Athapaththu was named captain of Sri Lanka’s 16 member side released by SLC on Monday and the squad is scheduled to leave for New Zealand on February 22 for three ODIs and as many T20Is.

Allrounder Amelia Kerr is the only New Zealand player in the WPL this season and she, unlike Athapaththu, is going to miss the bilateral series next month to play the entire WPL, including the knockouts if MI qualify for those again. If MI make it to the final, scheduled for March 15, Kerr will also miss the first two T20is slotted for March 14 and 16 in Christchurch. Last year too, Kerr had skipped the home bilateral T20Is against England to be available for the entire duration of the WPL.

In 2024, the calendar clash between the final leg of WPL and the T20I series in New Zealand had become a much bigger issue when England captain Heather Knight (RCB) and Lauren Bell (UPW) had opted out of WPL completely to represent their national team. Coincidentally, Athapaththu had replaced Bell for UPW then.

However, since then boards like the ECB have assured their players they won’t schedule international games during the WPL, which is set to move from the current February-March window to January-February 2026 onwards, according to the new women’s Future Tours Programme (FTP). To avoid such clashes between international series and other T20 leagues, the Hundred (August) and the WBBL (November) have also been given separate windows in the FTP that runs till 2029.

[Cricinfo]

WEATHER FORECAST FOR 20 FEBRUARY 2025 
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 20 February 2025 by the Department of Meteorology

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva, North-western, Northern and North-central provinces during the morning.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Galle, Matara, Kaluthara and Rathnapura districts in the evening or night. Mainly dry weather will prevail elsewhere over the island.

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

WEATHER FORECAST FOR SEA AREAS AROUND THE ISLAND DURING NEXT 24 HOURS
[Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 20 February 2025]

Mainly fair weather will prevail over the sea areas around the island.

Winds will be north-easterly and speed will be (20-30) kmph. Wind speed can increase up to 40 kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Colombo to Mannar via Puttalam.

The sea areas off the coasts extending from Colombo to Mannar via Puttalam can be fairly rough at times. Other sea areas around the island will be slight.