News
“Maha Sangha and religious institutions bear irreplaceable responsibility in building a morally upright country.” – President
The ceremonial awarding of the ‘Sri Sannas Patra’ to the newly appointed Supreme Mahanayaka Thero of the Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Nikaya, Most Venerable Karagoda Uyangoda Maithree Moorthi Maha Nayaka Thero, Chief Incumbent of the Rassagala Chapter and Balangoda Sri Dharmananda Vidyayathana Pirivena, was held on Monday (10) at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Disanayake.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake presented the ‘Sri Sannas Patra’ to the newly appointed Supreme Mahanayaka Thero of the Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Nikaya.
Additionally, Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi offered the ‘Vijinipata’ to the Supreme Mahanayaka Thero.
Most Venerable Karagoda Uyangoda Maithree Moorthi Maha Nayaka Thero was born on October 1, 1948, in Kamburupitiya, Matara, and entered the noble monastic life in 1962 under the guidance of Aggamaha Pandita Balangoda Ananda Maithriya Thero. In recognition of his more than six decades of dedicated service to Buddhism, religion, society, and education, the Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Nikaya has appointed him as the new Supreme Mahanayaka Thero.
Addressing the ceremony, President Anura Kumara Disanayake stated that in the process of restoring a morally upright nation, the Maha Sangha and religious institutions of this country bear an irreplaceable and profound responsibility.
The President further emphasized that no matter how many economic and political victories are achieved, they would be meaningless if a just and virtuous society is not established.
The President highlighted that the restoration of the nation’s fractured society cannot be achieved through law alone and stressed the need to build a compassionate society. He further stated that the country urgently requires a strong national dialogue on the essence of liberation, as preached by the Buddha and other religious leaders, for the well-being of its citizens.
The President also mentioned that discussions are currently underway with the Mahanayaka Theros regarding the Buddhist Dialogue Act. The President further noted that amendments to Sections 41 and 42 of the Viharagam and Dewalagam Ordinance have been drafted, and steps will be taken to present them to the Cabinet soon. Once approved, they will be submitted to the Parliament for enactment, ensuring the formal establishment of the Sangha Council and granting the necessary authority to the Mahanayaka Theros and the Sangha Sabha.
During the ceremony, commemorative publications, including the biography of the Mahanayaka Thero, were also presented to President Anura Kumara Disanayake.
The event was attended by the Maha Sangha representing the tri-Nikaya, former Presidents and Prime Ministers, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Ministers, MPs, foreign Ambassadors and High Commissioners, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, government officials, members of ‘Dayaka Sabha’, and a large gathering of devotees.
[PMD]
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Heat Index at ‘Caution level’ in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Anuradhapura, Mannar, Vavuniya and Monaragala districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology
at 3.30 p.m. on 25 March 2026, valid for 26 March 2026.
The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in
Anuradhapura, Mannar, Vavuniya and Monaragala 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.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
A spokesperson for the US Embassy in Colombo declared that the United States and Sri Lanka maintain a long-standing defence partnership, grounded in transparency, mutual respect, and shared interests.
The official said so in response to The Island query regarding President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent bombshell disclosure, in Parliament, that his government declined to allow the US Air Force to use the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, following the eruption of the latest West Asia war.
We sought views of the US on President Dissanayake’s claim against the backdrop of Sri Lanka being a party to the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) since 2007. Sri Lanka extended the ACSA in 2017, for another 10-year period, and its extension comes up next year.
The President revealed that the US had requested permission to use Mattala, between 04 and 08 March.
Claiming that the request had been made on 26 February, two days before the war began, President Dissanayake said that the US had sought to land two aircraft, carrying eight anti-ship missiles, but that the request had been turned down to maintain Sri Lanka’s neutrality. The President revealed that the aircraft were to come from a US base in Djibouti.
The US embassy pokesperson explained that questions related to operational movements, including ‘Operation Epic Fury’, should be directed to the Department of War (DOW) in Washington.
Camp Lemonnier is the primary base of operations for US Africa Command in the Horn of Africa. China, too, has its only overseas military base in Djibouti in the vicinity.
Military sources said whatever various interested parties said about US-Sri Lanka relations, the former provided significant intelligence support during last phase of the conflict that enabled the Navy to hunt down floating LTTE arsenals in international waters. Of the eight LTTE vessels sunk, the US backed four hits with specific intelligence, sources said.
News
No decrease in remittances from workers due to Gulf conflict, but significant drop in tourist arrivals – CB Governor
Sri Lanka’s worker remittances had not seen a decrease despite the ongoing conflict in West Asia, Central Bank (CBSL) Governor, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said yesterday.
“Based on currently available data, they have not seen a decline in remittances. In fact, according to that we have observed, is a slight increase in remittances in the past few days, ” the Governor said at a media conference held at the Central Bank head office in Colombo.
Governor Weerasinghe also mentioned that he had not seen any reports about Sri Lankans returning to the country from the Middle East due to the ongoing conflict.
The Central Bank Governor, however, acknowledged that there had been a decrease in tourist arrivals. He confirmed that tourist arrivals had decreased by around 17 percent due to the current volatile situation in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has decided to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at the current level of 7.75%, following its latest Monetary Policy Board meeting.
By Hiran H Senewiratne
UN votes to recognise enslavement of Africans as ‘gravest crime against humanity’
Meta and YouTube found liable in landmark social media addiction trial
Showers expected in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts after 2.00 pm.
Heat Index at ‘Caution level’ in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Anuradhapura, Mannar, Vavuniya and Monaragala districts
US dodges question on AKD’s claim SL denied permission for military aircraft to land
No decrease in remittances from workers due to Gulf conflict, but significant drop in tourist arrivals – CB Governor
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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