Colombo (LNW): The historic Esala Perahera of the Holy Temple of Tooth Relic in Kandy commences the first ‘Kumbal’ Perahera today (21) and will walk the streets till August 25.
Following Kumbal Perahera, the first ‘Randoli’ Perahera will commence walking on August 26 and will be touring till August 30, later to conclude on August 31 simultaneous to the ‘Diya-Kepime Mangalyaya’ ceremony at the Getambe pier of the Mahaweli River.
Thereafter, the Perahera officially mark its conclusion after the Diyawadana Nilame of the Tooth Relic Temple informs the President that the Esala Perahera has been successfully concluded.
The Sri Lanka Navy on Saturday (19) resumed the cruises to visit the peaceful and calm waters of Trincomalee harbour premises and the Pigeon Island, Nilaveli.
The initiative which formally commenced at the Trincomalee harbour, will allow tourists, school children, naval personnel and their families to once again experience cruises in the alluring waters of Trincomalee.
Going by the directives of the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera and under the supervision of Commander Eastern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara project re commenced to provide this thrilling experience at reasonable prices and incorporating safety protocols.
Deputy Area Commander Eastern Naval Area, Commodore Anil Bowatte and a group of officers, sailors and tourists were also present on this occasion.
Colombo (LNW): The Police Special Task Force (STF) yesterday (20) arrested a Navy solider who was on active duty over the killing of a person in Kudawella area by shooting.
The arrestee is a Navy soldier attached to the Navy Camp in Pulmude and was taken into custody in Balapitiya area.
The arrest was made based on findings that the shooting was committed by the suspect.
Earlier, the Police arrested the motor vehicle on which the killer arrived and its driver.
Colombo (LNW): A few showers will occur in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts, and showers or thundershowers will occur at a few places in Mullaitivu district during the evening or night, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (21).
Mainly fair weather will prevail elsewhere over the Island, the statement added.
Fairly strong winds about (40-45) kmph can be expected at times in western slopes of the central hills, North-Central and North-Western provinces, and in Trincomalee, Hambantota and Monaragala districts.
Marine Weather:
Condition of Rain:
Showers may occur at a few places in the sea areas off the coast extending from Colombo to Matara via Galle.
Winds:
Winds will be south-westerly and speed will be (25-35) kmph. Wind speed may increase up to (45-55)kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Hambantota to Pottuvil and Puttalam to Trincomalee via Kankasanthurai and Mannar.
State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coast extending from Hambantota to Pottuvil and Puttalam to Kankasanthurai via Mannar can be rough at times.
PMD: President Ranil Wickremesinghe is set to depart the country tomorrow morning (21) for a two-day official visit to Singapore. Throughout this visit, President Wickremesinghe has a series of significant meetings planned, including discussions with Singapore’s President, Mrs. Halimah Yacob and talks with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, and Sustainability and Environment Minister Grace Fu Hai Yien. The latter will engage in bilateral talks with President Wickremesinghe.
Under the provisions of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, countries have the opportunity to collaborate effectively with the objective of reducing global greenhouse gas emissions through international carbon trading. Accordingly, a cooperative understanding concerning carbon neutrality within the framework of the Paris Agreement will be established between the governments of Sri Lanka and Singapore. The signing of this agreement is anticipated after deliberations between President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Prime Minister of Singapore.
Joining the President on this visit will be Mr. Sagala Ratnayaka, Chief of Presidential Staff and Senior Advisor on National Security; Mr. Ruwan Wijewardena, Senior Advisor on Climate Change; and Dr. R.H.S.Samaratunga, Senior Advisor on Economic Affairs.
Simultaneously, during President Wickremesinghe’s absence from the country, four Acting Ministers have been designated to oversee the ministries under his purview. The appointments include Minister of State for Defence Mr. Pramita Bandara Tennakoon as the Acting Minister of Defence; Minister of State for Finance Mr. Shehan Semasinghe as the Acting Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization, and National Policy for the duration of the President’s absence; Minister of State for Technology Mr. Kanaka Herath has been appointed as the Acting Minister of Technology; and Minister of State for Social Empowerment Mr. Anupa Pasqual has been appointed as the Acting Minister of Women, Child Affairs, and Social Empowerment.
In an electric shock-like turn of events, Spain have won the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 after defeating England, who many have thought would win.
Spanish player Olga Carmona, who played under much pressure in the final match, won the match 1 – 0 by having the advantage of the goal scored in the first half of the game.
Proving many predictions before the conclusion of the game that England may secure victory wrong, the burden of pride did not let the England team to play freely. Until the last few minutes of the game, the England team seemed to have been reluctant to achieve the target.
The turning of tables was taken by the Spanish for their advantage and the team began to show a different style of play, and stepped ahead of the England team in directing the ball, ultimately winning the game.
Kandy (LNW): Day Two of the “Study in Malaysia” Education Fair hosted by EDUCATION MALAYSIA GLOBAL SERVICES under the Ministry of Education in Malaysia was held at the Queens Hotel Kandy, Sri Lanka today (20).
EDUCATION MALAYSIA GLOBAL SERVICES is an organisation that takes Malaysian education to the world under the Malaysian Ministry of Education and currently 09 Malaysian higher education institutions have come to Sri Lanka. Their main objective is to spread Malaysian education in Sri Lanka and provide higher education for Sri Lankan students in Malaysia.
Sponsored by: Mr. Mueen Masakeen, owner of MWAY STUDY ABROAD
The Spain team is ahead of England by 1.0 at the end of the first half of the final match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, our correspondent said.
Spain is currently winning the hearts of the spectators, demonstrating a more ‘free-flowing’ and attacking style of play than the England team, who has been on a very defensive approach since the beginning of the game.
Colombo (LNW): ‘Wayama’, a biography remembering the second year anniversary of the demise of former Minister Mangala Samaraweera written by renowned writer Sujith Akkarawatta will be launched on August 24, 2023.
The book will be launched and distributed to the public at 3.30 pm at the Lakshman Kadiragamar Centre.
The launching event is to be addressed by Dr. Mahesh Hapugoda, Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga, former Chairman of Lakehouse Krishantha Cooray and Akkarawatta.
Singer Niranjala Manjari will also be joining the event via a performance.
Colombo (LNW): The Department of Agriculture is expected to immediately submit a report on the cultivation of big onions in the country to the Ministry of Agriculture, in the backdrop where the b-onion cultivation has largely failed for the past seven – to – eight years.
The b-onion cultivation, which was successfully carried out in Sri Lanka for a long period of time, is now failing and a report, therefore, is expected immediately, emphasised subject Minister Mahinda Amaraweera.
The Department of Agriculture, accordingly, has been assigned to probe the matter and submit a report to the Ministry as soon as possible.
In the meantime, Ministry data pointed out that the annual requirement of b-onions in Sri Lanka is 300,000 metric tonnes, and the amount of b-onions imported during the period is 131,795 metric tonnes due to the national production being only 4,716 metric tonnes.
