News
Two veteran officers assume duties as new Army & Navy CofS respectively
Two veteran Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) officers were appointed as the new Chief of Staff of the respective military establishments last week.
Major General Wasantha Senarath Bandara assumed duties as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army recently on Monday.
He served as the Commander of the Security Forces Headquarters, Jaffna until his new appointment.
Educated at Vidyartha College, Kandy, he joined Sri Lanka Army in January 1986 as an Officer Cadet. He was later promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant and attached to the Gemunu Watch.
Major General Bandara is a highly decorated infantry officer. He has been awarded with the elite ‘Rana Wickrama Paddakkama’ on three occasions, with ‘Rana Sura Paddakkama’ two times and with ‘Desha Putra Sammanaya’ three times in recognition of his gallantry invaluable and selfless dedication in facing the enemy in the battle field.
He has served as Commanding Officer 5th Gemunu Watch, C/O Infantry Training Centre, Colonel General Staff 57 Division, Commander 572 Offensive Brigade during the Humanitarian Operations, Commander 111 Brigade, Director Independent Directorate at Army Headquarters and General Officer Commanding 61 Infantry Division and 54 Infantry Division.
From 2015 to 2017, he served as Defence Advisor to the Sri Lanka’s High Commission in Pakistan.
Sri Lanka Navy’ new Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Sumith Weerasinghe, assumed duties last week.
He is an old boy of Badulla Central College, joined the Sri Lanka Navy executive branch in 1985 as an Officer Cadet of 13th intake. He completed his basic training at the Naval and Maritime Academy in Trincomalee and was commissioned as an Acting Sub Lieutenant in May 1987.
He followed the Sub Lieutenant Technical Course in India in 1988 and since then had been gradually promoted to subsequent ranks in his naval career, finally being elevated to the rank of Rear Admiral on October 16, 2016.
He had commanded Fast Attack Craft as well as Sri Lanka Naval Ships such as Jayasagara and Sayurala. Apart from that, among the prominent appointments he held were: Director Naval Welfare, Commandant SLNS Nipuna, Deputy Area Commander Southern and Northern Naval areas, Director Naval Personnel, Commander Southeastern and Eastern Naval Commands, Director General Services and Commandant Volunteer Naval Force. He also served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Commander Western Naval Area.
He followed advanced courses in India, the United States and Bangladesh and has specialized in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) at INS Venduruthy in Kochi, India. He is an alumnus of Bangladesh University of Professionals from which he was conferred the Master’s Degree in Strategy and Development Studies.
He has been awarded a several medals including ‘Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya’ for distinguished service, ‘Uttama Seva Padakkama’ for valuable service and dedication to duty.
Latest News
Heat index, is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 27 April 2025, valid for 28 April 2025
The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Mullaitivu and Vavuniya 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.
Latest News
People have now started to think of themselves as Sri Lankans sans ethnic or religious divisions- PM
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that for the first time in history, mosques in Kandy had opened their doors to accommodate the needs of devotees visiting the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and that people have now started to think of themselves as Sri Lankans beyond dividing into ethnicities and religions.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing a public gathering held in the Paragahadeniya area in Kurunegala.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya further stated:
“This country is undergoing a transformation we expected,so accordingly, we must operate in new ways. People are beginning to feel that we must work towards a new transformation. We can see this change even within our ministries. These days, sometimes when we visit ministries even after 5 PM, and ask if it is possible to have discussions, the officials are always open. Today, public officials are willing to work late into the night, until 9 or 10 PM. Officials have now started working without fear.
Remarkably, for the first time in history, Muslim mosques in Kandy remained open throughout the night to accommodate pilgrims visiting the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. They even provided space for devotees to rest. There were no ethnic or religious tensions. What we saw was respect for other ethnicities and religions. This is happening because there is now a sense of a government that represents all Sri Lankan people, not just Sinhalese, Muslims, or Tamils”.
The event was attended by the candidates for the local government election including the residents of the area.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) has urged the NPP government to prevent Japan’s Onomichi Dockyard Company from selling its 51% ownership stake in the Colombo Dockyard Limited (CDL) to Indian government-owned Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai, a leading shipbuilder.
FSP spokesman Pubudu Jayagoda told The Island yesterday (27) that the move seemed to be in line with the overall India-Sri Lanka understanding on the basis of the recently signed memorandum on defence cooperation.
Against the backdrop of deteriorating financial situation, the Japanese company has informed the board of directors of CDL of its plans to divest its 51 percent ownership stake in the international shipbuilding and repair company. The Japanese shipbuilder made the announcement in early Dec last year.
Alleging that an agreement has been reached on the sale of Onomichi’s controlling ownership stake to the Indian ship builder, Jayagoda questioned
the move as Mazagon primarily built a range of warships and attack submarines. Jayagoda pointed out that according to Mazagon’s profile, the Indian government-owned business undertaking was involved with European companies engaged in ship and submarine construction.
Addressing a Local Government election meeting at Weeraketiya, Pallekanda, in support of those contesting the May 6 election on the ticket of Jana Aragala Sandhanaya (JAS), the executive committee member of JAS Jayagoda emphasized that in terms of the agreement between Sri Lanka and Japan, Onomichi couldn’t sell its stake without the Sri Lankan government’s approval. Therefore, the NPP government should intervene to halt the Japanese-Indian move, the FSP spokesman said while urging the parliamentary opposition to publicly oppose the planned sale of the Japanese stake.
Among other stakeholders are Sri Lanka Insurance, Sri Lanka Ports Authority and EPF.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Heat index, is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts
People have now started to think of themselves as Sri Lankans sans ethnic or religious divisions- PM
Heavy showers about 100 mm are likely at some places in Central, Sabaragamuwa, Uva, Eastern and North-central provinces and in Vavuniya, Mullaittivu and Kurunegala districts.
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