August 05, Colombo (LNW): In a recent meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office, Australia renewed its pledge to support Sri Lanka’s ongoing development efforts, with a particular focus on educational reform and institutional renewal.

The discussion marked a formal farewell for outgoing Australian High Commissioner Paul Stephens, whose tenure has seen a period of deepened engagement between the two nations.

High Commissioner Stephens met with Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya, who conveyed her appreciation for Australia’s consistent partnership and the High Commissioner’s personal role in enhancing diplomatic and development cooperation.

She noted that his efforts had contributed to a more robust and collaborative relationship across multiple sectors.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister outlined the government’s key priorities, including reviving long-dormant development projects, modernising public institutions, and pushing forward a comprehensive education reform agenda aimed at equipping the next generation with the skills and knowledge needed in a rapidly evolving world.

Australia’s support in these areas, particularly in education and capacity building, has been instrumental in driving forward several grassroots and national-level initiatives.

As the High Commissioner prepares to depart, both sides reaffirmed their mutual commitment to maintaining momentum and building upon the progress achieved in recent years.

The farewell meeting was seen not only as a moment of reflection on past collaboration but also as a reaffirmation of the long-standing ties between Australia and Sri Lanka, grounded in shared values, regional cooperation, and a common vision for inclusive growth.

August 05, Colombo (LNW): An extensive public hearing is set to take place today to investigate the island-wide power failure that occurred on February 09, 2025, leaving millions without electricity and triggering a cascade of disruptions across the country.

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), the national regulator, has announced that the inquiry will run from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo.

This inquiry comes in response to mounting public concern following the major blackout earlier this year, which halted day-to-day activities, disrupted vital services, and inflicted serious economic costs. Businesses, households, hospitals, and critical infrastructure all felt the impact of the sudden and prolonged outage.

PUCSL has stated that the hearing will delve into both the immediate technical failures and the chain of events that exacerbated the situation. According to preliminary findings, transmission operators were unable to supply approximately 5.5 gigawatt-hours of electricity on the day in question, forcing emergency load shedding measures that resulted in an additional shortfall of 4.6 gigawatt-hours. The blackout caused notable financial losses to electricity distribution entities, and raised questions about the overall preparedness of the national grid.

Beyond the technical scope, the Commission is expected to consider the wider social and economic implications of the blackout, including the impact on public trust, commercial activity, and essential services.

The hearing is open to public scrutiny, and citizens who wish to learn more have been invited to contact the PUCSL for further details.

August 05, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s top defence official has confirmed that the country is not facing any active threat to its national security at present, despite a noticeable increase in underworld-related violence in recent months.

Speaking at an event marking China’s contribution of disaster response equipment to Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre, Secretary of Defence Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Sampath Thuyacontha sought to reassure the public, stating that the overall security situation remains stable and under control.

“There is no disruption to national security,” he remarked during the ceremony. “If there were, you wouldn’t have been able to come here today so easily.”

He emphasised that criminal elements operating within the underworld do not fall under the umbrella of national security threats, and that such matters are being dealt with by the Ministry of Public Security.

The Defence Secretary explained that whilst his ministry supports operations related to maintaining law and order, it does so strictly within its designated responsibilities and legal limitations.

“We work closely with the police and other enforcement agencies, but our involvement is bound by the roles assigned to us,” he said.

Addressing the recent rise in gang-related shootings, Thuyacontha acknowledged that the ongoing violence appears to stem from internal turmoil within criminal networks, largely due to the removal of previous political patronage that may have once shielded these groups from prosecution.

“The criminal underworld is in a state of disarray because it no longer enjoys the political protection it once did. That disruption has left them vulnerable, and what you’re seeing now is the fallout from that shift,” he explained. “The Ministry of Public Security has implemented a strategy to deal with these groups, and arrests are being made. The system is responding.”

August 05, Colombo (LNW): A large-scale security operation carried out across Sri Lanka has resulted in the detention of over 3,500 military personnel who had been absent from their posts without official leave, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Defence.

Between February 22 and August 03 this year, a total of 3,504 individuals from the Army, Navy, and Air Force were apprehended as part of a concerted effort to address prolonged unauthorised absences within the armed services.

The majority of those taken into custody—2,937 in total—were members of the Army. In addition, 289 Navy personnel and 278 from the Air Force were also detained during the coordinated operations.

The Ministry revealed that a formal amnesty period had been granted in the previous year, providing an opportunity for those who had gone awol to return to their respective units without facing disciplinary action.

However, many failed to make use of this clemency offer, prompting authorities to launch a systematic campaign to locate and detain defaulters starting in late February.

Defence authorities have reiterated the importance of upholding service obligations and have warned that those who neglect their duties without valid cause will face strict consequences.

August 05, Colombo (LNW): In a move aimed at cultivating a deeper appreciation for Sri Lanka’s rich cultural legacy among younger generations, the government has approved a policy granting free access to minors at a range of nationally significant historical sites.

Children below the age of 18 will now be able to visit heritage locations maintained by the Central Cultural Fund (CCF) without any entry charge.

The initiative has received the green light from the CCF’s Board of Governors, signalling a commitment to improving cultural education through direct exposure to the island’s archaeological treasures.

Under this new scheme, 26 major sites overseen by the CCF will be accessible to Sri Lankan children at no cost. These include iconic destinations such as the ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya, the historic citadel of Yapahuwa, and the cave temples of Dambulla—each a cornerstone of the island’s civilisational narrative.

Authorities view this policy not only as a way to encourage educational outings and family visits to cultural landmarks but also as a long-term investment in the preservation of heritage through public engagement.

By sparking interest in the nation’s past at a young age, officials hope to nurture a generation that is more inclined to value and protect these irreplaceable assets.

In addition to domestic children, Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Gamagedara Dissanayake, has indicated that provisions are being explored to extend similar concessions to foreign children, subject to specific guidelines.

August 05, Colombo (LNW): Several spells of showers will occur in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-Western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (05).

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in Northern, North-Central, Uva and Eastern provinces after 1.00 p.m.

Fairly heavy falls above 50 mm are likely at some places in Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts.

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

Marine Weather:

Condition of Rain:
Showers may occur at several places in the sea areas off the coast extending from Colombo to Matara via Galle. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in other sea areas around the island during the evening or night.

Winds:
Winds will be westerly to south-westerly and wind speed will be (30-40) kmph.

Wind speed can increase up to (50-60) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota.

Wind speed can increase up to 50 kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Galle via Colombo.

State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coast extending from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota will be rough at times.
The sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Galle via Colombo will be fairly rough at times.

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

Naval and fishing communities are requested to be vigilant in this regards.