The Severe Cyclonic Storm “MICHAUNG” (PRONOUNCED AS “MIGJAUM”) over West-Central Bay of Bengal has crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast of India and this system is gradually weakening.

Showers will occur at times in Western, Southern and North western provinces, particularly during the morning.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in Sabaragamuwa, Central, Eastern and Uva provinces after 02.00 p.m.

Misty Condition can be expected in Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces during the morning.

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

Colombo (LNW): In accordance with the resolution outlined in the letter No. NPC/ED/ACT/SSP/01/09/2023 from the National Police Commission dated 01/12/2023 and as stipulated in Section 135 of the Public Service Commission Rules of Procedure on 23/11/2023, the Police personnel listed below have been designated to the position of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) for a term lasting until 22.11.2024 or until the appointment of a permanent officer to the vacant position, whichever occurs earlier.

Colombo (LNW): The budget proposal of the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha, currently under the governance of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), encountered a substantial defeat today (05), with a majority of 09 votes opposing it.

Chairman Karunasena Ponnamperuma presented the budget proposal to the council, with only 10 councilors from the SLPP casting affirmative votes.

Conversely, 19 councilors voted against the proposal, comprising 7 MPs from the SLPP itself, 7 MPs from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), 3 MPs from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), and 2 MPs from the National Peoples’ Power (NPP).

Colombo (LNW): The Court of Appeal has rescheduled the hearing on the petition related to the appointment of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) interim committee and the stay order inhibiting its functions. The court will address the case on Wednesday, December 13, 2023.

The postponement occurred as the new Sports Minister, Harin Fernando, requested additional time to communicate his stance regarding the Gazette issued on the interim committee.

Minister Fernando assured the court that no further action would be taken regarding the Gazette notification issued by the former Sports Minister until the specified date.

The case revolves around a motion filed by former Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe, seeking an order to revoke the stay order imposed on the recently appointed SLC Interim Committee. The stay order was initiated following a motion filed by SLC President Shammi Silva.

Former Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe appointed the interim committee, alleging financial malpractices in cricket administration, a claim refuted by the SLC.

The dispute between Ranasinghe and SLC gained parliamentary attention, resulting in the International Cricket Council (ICC) imposing a ban on Sri Lanka Cricket.

Consequently, President Ranil Wickremesinghe removed Roshan Ranasinghe from his ministerial portfolio and appointed Tourism and Lands Minister Harin Fernando to the post.

Colombo (LNW): November 2023 witnessed a surge in tourist arrivals, surpassing 150,000 and marking the highest for the year, according to Sri Lanka’s Tourism Ministry.

The month recorded a total of 151,496 tourist arrivals. India remained the leading source market, contributing 20 per cent , followed by Russia at 16 per cent and Germany at 8 per cent.

Other notable contributors included the United Kingdom, Australia, China, the United States, and France.

With these November arrivals, Sri Lanka’s total tourist count for the initial 11 months of the year reached 1.27 million.

Colombo (LNW): The Central Province Civil Appellate High Court has handed down a death sentence to two individuals, Saman Kumara Dissanayake and Samarakoon Bandara Wijekoon, residents of Gurubedda, Kandy, who were found guilty of the murder of a person in 2010.

The verdict was delivered by High Court Judge Sumudu Premachandra, who emphasised that the prosecution successfully established the allegations against the accused beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Attorney General had brought forth the case before the Kandy High Court, charging the duo with murdering Samy Aiya Dhana Balasinham by assaulting him in July 2010 in the Kande Handiya area of Kandy, using punches, kicks, and clubs. The case had 14 witnesses, including seven eyewitnesses.

Colombo (LNW): Defence State Minister Premitha Bandara Tennakoon today (05) announced plans for the government to empower women to lead the tri forces in the country.

Currently, women in Sri Lanka can only attain the rank of major, particularly in the army.

Accordingly, the government intends to amend military laws to facilitate the promotion of women, ultimately allowing them to head all three forces, Minister Tennakoon said.

Emphasising the historical roles women have played in Sri Lanka, Tennakoon stressed the need for greater efforts to ensure gender equality and equal status for women.