June 26, Colombo (LNW): A slice of Sri Lanka’s cultural identity has officially found its way into the global linguistic stage, as several uniquely Sri Lankan words have been incorporated into the Oxford English Dictionary’s (OED) June 2025 update.

The inclusion represents a growing international recognition of the island’s rich culinary traditions, music, and socio-cultural heritage.

One of the standout additions is the term asweddumize, a word deeply rooted in the country’s colonial-era agricultural history. Originally documented as far back as 1857, asweddumize refers to the process of converting forest or uncultivated land into irrigated paddy fields—a cornerstone of traditional land reform initiatives in Sri Lanka.

The word’s admission into the dictionary follows decades of lobbying by Sri Lankan academics, who have long argued for its historical and cultural significance to be acknowledged on a global platform.

Beyond agrarian terminology, the OED’s latest update also embraces the island’s vibrant food culture. Kottu roti, a beloved street food made from shredded flatbread stir-fried with vegetables, egg, and meat, has become a celebrated symbol of urban Sri Lankan life and now takes its place in the English lexicon.

Also making the list is vatalappam, a rich, spiced coconut custard dessert often served during festive occasions, particularly within the Muslim community.

A number of other words reflecting everyday Sri Lankan experiences have also been recognised. These include mellum—a simple yet nutritious dish of finely chopped leafy greens sautéed with coconut and spices; kiribath, or milk rice, which is a ceremonial food served during auspicious events; and avurudu, the traditional New Year celebrated jointly by the Sinhalese and Tamil communities in April.

Cultural expressions have not been overlooked either. The word baila, denoting an energetic form of dance music with Portuguese roots, and papare, the name for lively brass band performances often heard at local sporting events and public celebrations, are also among the new additions.

Linguists and cultural commentators have welcomed the update as a meaningful gesture of inclusivity that highlights Sri Lanka’s growing cultural footprint on the world stage. It also mirrors a broader trend in global lexicography: the recognition of regional and non-Western vernacular as essential contributors to the richness of modern English.

June 26, Colombo (LNW): A collective of Tamil political parties and civil society organisations in Sri Lanka have made a fresh appeal to the United Nations, urging a principled and results-oriented international response to long-standing grievances over wartime accountability and post-war reconciliation.

The call was made through a jointly signed letter handed to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, during his visit to the island’s Northern Province on Wednesday.

The letter, endorsed by key Tamil political formations—including the Illankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), All Ceylon Tamil Congress, Tamil National People’s Front, and Democratic Tamil National Alliance—expressed deep frustration over the absence of meaningful progress on justice for victims of the country’s brutal civil war, which officially ended in 2009. Civil organisations representing war-affected communities also lent their support to the appeal.

In their communication, the Tamil representatives voiced concern that the Sri Lankan government may attempt to exploit the UN official’s visit as a means of burnishing its international image, rather than engaging in substantive reform.

“There is a very real fear that your presence will be used to lend legitimacy to a government that has repeatedly evaded its responsibility to deliver justice,” the letter stated, urging Mr Türk not to allow his engagement to be manipulated into a mere symbolic gesture.

This visit marks the first time in nine years that a sitting UN human rights chief has set foot in Sri Lanka, the last being Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein in 2016. Mr Türk is in the country for a three-day visit, during which he is expected to meet government officials, civil society representatives, and victims’ families.

Since the end of the civil conflict in May 2009, Sri Lanka’s efforts to address war-era human rights violations have been consistently scrutinised by the international community. Despite a number of promises made in the years following the war’s conclusion, Tamil groups argue that little has been achieved in practice, particularly with respect to criminal accountability and institutional reform.

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has, since 2012, passed four separate resolutions urging Sri Lanka to ensure justice for grave human rights violations committed by both state forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). These resolutions have included calls for the establishment of a credible, internationally supervised judicial process to investigate and prosecute those responsible for wartime abuses.

International engagement with Sri Lanka’s post-war legacy was first heightened following the 2009 visit of then UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, just days after the armed conflict concluded with the military defeat of the LTTE. His visit set in motion a decade and a half of diplomatic pressure, much of which remains unresolved.

With Mr Türk’s arrival renewing global focus on the country’s human rights record, Tamil leaders say there is now an opportunity—but also a risk. “Our communities have waited too long for truth and justice,” the letter noted. “We hope this visit marks not another missed opportunity, but a renewed commitment by the international system to ensure Sri Lanka does not escape accountability once again.”

June 26, Colombo (LNW): Over 50 senior officials have been reassigned to new postings, with changes set to take effect from July 02, 2025.

The extensive reshuffle impacts both the Police Service and the Department of Prisons, and is aimed at improving institutional efficiency and aligning roles with operational needs.

The Police Media Division has confirmed that 32 senior police personnel, among them nine Deputy Inspector Generals (DIGs) and 16 Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs), have been transferred with immediate effect. These decisions have been sanctioned by the National Police Commission.

Amongst the prominent changes, DIG Nihal Thalduwa, who previously oversaw the Central Crimes Investigation Bureau (CCIB), has been assigned to head the Monaragala District. In a concurrent appointment, DIG J.R. Dias, presently serving as DIG (Staff), will now also assume responsibility for the CCIB, maintaining his current portfolio alongside the new charge.

Two Superintendents of Police and five Assistant Superintendents of Police are also being relocated under the new directives.

Simultaneously, the Department of Prisons has announced the transfer of 16 senior officials, including two Special Grade Superintendents, one Superintendent, eight Assistant Superintendents, and five Acting Superintendents.

These changes have been authorised by the Secretary to the Ministry of Justice and National Integration.

June 26, Colombo (LNW): Showers will occur at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Galle and Matara districts, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (26).

Fairly heavy falls about 50 mm are likely at some places.

A few showers may occur in the Anuradhapura and Matale districts.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva and Eastern provinces during the afternoon or night.

Fairly strong winds of about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Trincomalee and Hambantota 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 will occur at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Hambantota via Colombo, Galle and Matara.

Winds:
Winds will be 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 Chilaw to Kankasanthurai via Mannar and from Matara to Pottuvil via Hambantota.

Wind speed can increase up to (45-50) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Chilaw to Matara via Colombo and Galle and from Kankasanthurai to Vakarai via Mullaittivu.

State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coast extending from Chilaw to Kankasanthurai via Mannar and from Matara to Pottuvil via Hambantota will be rough at times.

The sea areas off the coast extending from Chilaw to Matara via Colombo and Galle and from Kankasanthurai to Vakarai via Mullaittivu will be fairly rough at times.

The wave height may increase about (2.0 – 3.0) m in the sea areas off the coast extending from Mannar to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle and Hambantota.

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

World leaders were gathering in the Netherlands on Tuesday for the start of a historic two-day NATO summit that could unite the world’s biggest security organization around a new defense spending pledge or widen divisions among the 32 allies.

The allies are expected to endorse a goal of spending 5% of their gross domestic product on their security, to be able to fulfil the alliance’s plans for defending against outside attack.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s first appearance at NATO since returning to the White House was supposed to center on how the U.S. secured the historic military spending pledge from others in the security alliance — effectively bending it to its will.

But in the spotlight instead now is Trump’s decision to strike three nuclear enrichment facilities in Iran that the administration says eroded Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, as well as the president’s sudden announcement that Israel and Iran had reached a “complete and total ceasefire.”

Past NATO summits have focused almost entirely on the war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte insisted that it remains a vital topic.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in The Hague for a series of meetings, despite his absence from a leaders’ meeting aiming to seal the agreement to boost military spending.

It’s a big change since the summit in Washington last year, when the military alliance’s weighty communique included a vow to supply long-term security assistance to Ukraine, and a commitment to back the country “on its irreversible path” to NATO membership.

In a joint tribune on the eve of this year’s summit, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said they backed U.S. peace efforts that should preserve Ukraine’s sovereignty and European security.

“For as long as the current trajectory lasts, Russia will find in France and Germany an unshakeable determination. What is at stake will determine European stability for the decades to come,” they wrote in the Financial Times newspaper.

“We will ensure that Ukraine emerges from this war prosperous, robust and secure, and will never live again under the fear of Russian aggression,” the two leaders wrote.

Ahead of the official program, Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof. Later in the day, Zelenskyy will address the Dutch parliament.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) informed the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court yesterday (June 24) that it has commenced an investigation into the overseas trips made by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe during his time in office.

According to CID officials, the inquiry is being conducted under the provisions of the Public Property Act, which governs the use and protection of state resources.

Details of the investigation were officially presented to the court, but further specifics regarding the nature or scope of the alleged misuse have not yet been disclosed.

U.S. President Donald Trump has accused both Israel and Iran of violating the recently declared ceasefire, but expressed particular frustration with Israel, urging it to cease airstrikes and “bring your pilots home now!”

Speaking on Tuesday, Trump said he was “really unhappy” with Israel’s actions, despite calling it a “great honour” to have destroyed Iran’s nuclear facilities and then mediated an end to the war initiated by Israel on June 13.

Tensions escalated further when Iran launched a missile attack on a U.S. military base in Qatar on Monday, in retaliation for the strikes that destroyed key nuclear sites within its territory a day earlier.

According to Iranian officials, more than 400 people, including 13 children, have been killed and over 3,000 woundedsince Israel began its military campaign on June 13. In contrast, at least 28 Israelis have reportedly died in Iranian retaliatory strikes.

The rapidly evolving conflict has drawn global concern, with pressure mounting on all sides to restore calm and abide by the ceasefire agreement.

The UN secretary-general has called on Iran and Israel to fully adhere to the ceasefire.

Posting on X, António Guterres said he “welcomed President Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran” and urged both sides to respect it in full.

“The fighting must stop,” he wrote, adding that “the people of the two countries have already suffered too much”.

“It is my sincere hope that this ceasefire can be replicated in the other conflicts in the region,” said Guterres.