The Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the National Building Research Organization has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of  Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Ratanapura, Badulla , Nuwara Eliaya ,Kalutara, Kurunegala and Matara valid up to 5.30am tomorrow [12].

Accordingly,
Level II landslide early warnings have been issued to the divisional secretaries divisions and surrounding areas of  Seethawaka in the Colombo district, Elpitiya, Neluwa, Baddegama and Nagoda in the Galle district, Attanagalla in the Gampaha district, Bulathsinhala, Horana, Walallawita, Mathugama, Dodangoda and Ingiriya in the Kalutara district,  Warakapola, Ruwanwella, Dehiowita, Yatiyanthota and Bulathkohupitiya in the Kegalle district and Eheliyagoda and Kiriella in the Ratnapura district.

Level I landslide early warnings have been issued to the divisional secretaries divisions and surrounding areas of Ella, Hali Ela and Passara in the Badulla district, Yakkalamulla and Niyagama in the Galle district, Beruwala and Palindanuwara in the Kalutara district, Narammala in the Kurunegala district, Akuressa in the Matara district, Ambagamuwa in the Nuwara Eliya district, and Kalawana, Kuruwita, Elapatha and Ratnapura in the Ratnapura district

Warning for strong winds and rough seas issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 07.00 a.m. 11 October 2024 for the period until 07.00 a.m. 12 October 2024 for the sea areas off the coasts extending from Puttalam to Hambantota via Colombo and Galle

PLEASE BE AWARE
The sea areas off the coasts extending from Puttalam to Hambantota via Colombo and Galle will be very rough at times with very strong gusty winds up to (60-70) kmph

The wave height (about 2.5–3.0 m) (this is not for land area) may increase in the sea areas off the coast extending from Colombo to Hambantota via Galle and Matara.

Naval and fishing communities are advised not to venture into the above seas, until further notice.

By Chaminda Silva

The Election Commission (EC) is not empowered to reject the nominations of candidates with past or present court verdicts against them, Chairman of the Election Commission, R.M.A.L. Rathnayake has said.Rathnayake, contacted by The Island, noted that the EC could not reject the nomination of actor and politician Ranjan Ramanayake if he submitted it.

“If anyone wishes to challenge Ramanayake’s participation in the election, he or she will have to seek a court order against him,” Ratnayake said.

“Individuals with past or present court verdicts may have decided to contest after receiving legal advice. We do not have the power to reject their nominations,” he added.

Rathnayake also told The Island that the EC had confirmed the dates for postal voting in the 2024 general election.

Postal voting for the parliamentary election will take place on 20 October, 01 and 04 November at all District Secretariats and District Election Offices.

For those who are unable to cast postal votes on the aforementioned dates, alternative voting opportunities will be available on 07 and 08 November at the same locations, according to the EC. The certification of postal voter lists will be completed by 16 October, and these lists will be handed over to the postal department for distribution on 23 October.

Rathnayake said that the delivery of official ballot papers to post offices will commence on 26 October.

Additionally, 27 and 31 October, as well as 03 November, have been designated as special days for the distribution of official polling cards. The final date for distributing ballot papers is set for 07 November 2024, according to the EC.