Raj Mishra, the mayor of Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, called for people to come together as he announced the deaths of three people from his community.

Among those lost were Raxa Modha, infant Rudra Modha, and Ms K Mistri, all from our Wellingborough community. I extend my deepest condolences to their families, friends and all those affected by this heartbreaking event.”

The Gloucester Muslim Community group offered “sincere and deepest condolences” after Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa and their daughter Sara were reported to be among the victims.

During this moment of overwhelming sorrow, our hearts go out to all those left behind. No words can truly ease the pain of such a profound loss, but we pray that the family may find solace in the tremendous outpouring of compassion and solidarity from communities across the world.”

Fiongal and Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, who run a spiritual wellness centre, were also said to be among the dead. Mr Greenlaw is said to have appeared on ITV’s This Morning earlier this year to talk about wellness and video online shows the pair laughing and joking as they filmed a video of themselves at the airport before taking off.

Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who is believed to be the only survivor of the crash, was on board the flight with his older brother Ajay.

One of their relatives said Vishwash had spoken to his father after the crash and asked after his brother.

Air India confirmed yesterday that 241 people were killed in the crash of Flight AI171. The airline said the sole survivor is currently being treated in hospital.

In a statement posted to X, the airline said:

Air India offers its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. Our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of all those affected, their families and loved ones.

A team of caregivers from Air India has been deployed to Ahmedabad to support grieving families and assist local officials. The airline added that it is fully cooperating with authorities leading the investigation.

The aircraft, a Boeing 787 en route to London Gatwick, was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew when it crashed into a residential area, with further deaths reported on the ground.

The Government is set to formulate a national policy outlining standard criteria for student hostel facilities at State universities, following a high-level discussion held at the Ministry of Education.

The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, included the nine-member committee appointed to review student hostel conditions across Sri Lanka’s State university system.

During the session, the committee formally presented its report on current challenges and deficiencies in university hostel infrastructure, prompting the Prime Minister to stress the urgent need to address these issues and improve facilities.

In response to the findings, Dr. Amarasuriya proposed the creation of a comprehensive national policy that would establish clear criteria and standards for hostel accommodation. The policy is expected to be developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the University Grants Commission (UGC), and representatives of university student bodies.

Committee Chairman Prof. K.L. Wasantha Kumara, along with other members, participated in the meeting, which is viewed as a significant step toward ensuring safe, adequate, and equitable housing for university students across the country.

The proposed policy is intended to guide infrastructure development, resource allocation, and future planning to support the growing student population in higher education institutions.

Colombo, June 13 — The National Animal Census, conducted on March 15, 2025, has revealed significant population figures for several key wildlife species in Sri Lanka. The official report was released yesterday at the Ministry of Agriculture by the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute.

According to the Institute’s CEO and Director, Prof. A. L. Sandika, the census estimates that Sri Lanka is home to:

• 5.17 million Toque monkeys (Rilawa)
• 1.74 million purple-faced langurs (Wandura)
• 4.24 million peacocks
• 2.26 million giant squirrels (Dadu Lena)

The census was carried out as part of a national initiative to support wildlife management, ecological research, and agricultural planning, given the frequent interactions between these species and human habitats and farmland.

Prof. Sandika also detailed the expenditure of the project, noting that Rs. 2.4 million was spent on printing seven million information leaflets, while a total of Rs. 2.7 million was allocated for leaflet-related expenses. These materials were distributed as part of the data collection and awareness campaign surrounding the census.

Authorities say the updated wildlife statistics will assist in developing more targeted conservation efforts, as well as in creating land use policies that minimize human-wildlife conflict—particularly in rural and agricultural areas.

The findings mark a critical step forward in data-driven environmental policy and reaffirm the importance of regular national monitoring of species populations.

Colombo, June 13 — The National People’s Power (NPP) Government has rolled out a comprehensive relief programme targeting small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) affected by the Parate Law, Finance and Planning Deputy Minister Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma announced yesterday.

Speaking at a special media briefing held at the Department of Government Information, Dr. Suriyapperuma said the relief initiative, which commenced in December 2024, aims to support SMEs that faced financial distress due to the application of the Parate Law.

“With the expiration of the Parate Law in December 2024, a one-year extension was granted, during which the Government introduced several structured relief mechanisms for struggling businesses,” the Deputy Minister said.

He outlined a tiered support programme based on the size of the loan:

• Businesses with loans under Rs. 25 million were allowed to negotiate with banks before March 31, and if an agreement was reached by June 15, they were given a 12-month repayment period ending December 31, 2025.
• Businesses with loans between Rs. 25 million and Rs. 50 million were granted a similar negotiation window. Those who secured agreements before June 15 were given time until September 30, 2025 to settle outstanding amounts.
• Enterprises with loans over Rs. 50 million were provided a grace period until June 30 to reach settlements and begin repayments.

Additionally, Dr. Suriyapperuma noted that agreements with the banking sector include interest waivers:

• For loans under Rs. 10 million, 65% of the interest may be waived if the loan is settled within six months.
• A 40% interest waiver applies if the repayment is made within a five-year period.

“These measures are aimed at ensuring the survival of SMEs, which form the backbone of the economy, while maintaining financial discipline through structured negotiations with banks,” he added.

The Government has also instructed banks to provide further guidance and flexibility to eligible borrowers under this programme.

The relief package marks a significant intervention in post-Parate Law recovery efforts, with the Government pledging continued support for the SME sector in the coming months.

The Colombo High Court has ordered the confiscation of more than Rs. 201 million held in a private bank account belonging to a Chinese national who was found guilty of engaging in the gem trade without a valid licence.

Delivering the verdict, High Court Judge Adithya Patabendige also imposed a two-year rigorous prison sentence on the accused, suspended for a period of 15 years.

According to the prosecution, the accused had been operating in the gem trade for nearly 12 years without a licence issued by the National Gem and Jewellery Authority. Although he eventually obtained a legal licence, investigations revealed that he conducted unlicensed transactions between October 19, 2017, and February 28, 2018.

The case was filed by the Attorney General’s Department based on an investigation by the Financial Crimes Investigation Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The accused faced three charges, including operating without a licence and depositing proceeds from the illicit gem trade into a private bank account.

While the court acquitted the accused of two charges, he was found guilty of money laundering—specifically, depositing funds obtained through unlicensed gem trading.

As part of the sentence, the court ordered the forfeiture of Rs. 201,664,274.20, determined to be the earnings from illegal trading activity.

The case marks a significant ruling in Sri Lanka’s efforts to clamp down on unregulated gem trading and financial crimes involving foreign nationals.

The Lanka Wharf Services Union has rejected recent allegations surrounding the release of 324 containers by Sri Lanka Customs, describing the claims as politically driven attempts to discredit standard customs procedures.

Speaking at a press briefing held yesterday at the Sambodhi Vihara in Colombo, Union President Ranjith Liyanarachchi, a veteran of over 34 years in customs operations, assured that all container releases are carried out under strict protocols involving scanning, documentation, and risk-based inspections.

“Containers are never released without proper scrutiny,” Liyanarachchi emphasized. “Out of the nearly 1,500 containers arriving daily, only selected units are inspected based on documentation and risk assessments. Conducting a physical check on every single container is impractical and would lead to severe congestion and delays in port operations.”

He noted that Customs retains the authority to re-inspect any container even after release and that each consignment’s documentation and importer history are thoroughly reviewed. “We are confident in the systems we have in place. The containers in question were released according to procedure, and the goods inside matched the declared contents,” he said.

Union Secretary Irshad Niyas backed Liyanarachchi’s remarks, asserting that the criticism currently being directed at the Minister in charge is misinformed. “These decisions are not made by individuals. They are collective decisions by Customs teams based on operational needs and protocols,” Niyas explained.

He also dismissed speculative reports circulating in media and on social platforms, which claimed that the containers held illegal items such as firearms, explosives, or gold. “These are completely false and sensational. If there truly were weapons or illegal goods, the proper authority to contact would be the CID, not social media,” he stated.

Niyas further refuted claims that the containers were linked to political figures, including the Western Province Chief Minister. “There is no truth to that. Customs has functioning scanning systems and follow-up protocols. If necessary, any container can be inspected again,” he reiterated.

Responding to a list of container numbers made public by former Minister Udaya Gammanpila, Niyas said, “According to our operational knowledge and experience, none of those containers raise red flags.”

Union Vice President Nilantha Kumara and Treasurer H. Irshad also addressed the media, stressing that Customs operations continue to run smoothly despite efforts to politicize routine procedures.

The union urged the public to place trust in the established processes and to avoid being misled by misinformation and unverified claims.

Showers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern and North-western provinces. Heavy falls about 100 mm are likely at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Galle and Matara districts.

Several spells of showers may occur in the Northern province and in Anuradhapura district.
Strong winds of about (50-60) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central, Western, Sabaragamuwa, North-western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds.

June 12, Colombo (LNW): The government of Sri Lanka has extended its deepest sympathies to the families of those who lost their lives in a tragic air accident that occurred near the Indian city of Ahmedabad earlier today.

The catastrophe unfolded as an Air India aircraft, bound for London, crashed shortly after beginning its take-off at approximately 1.17 PM local time. Initial reports emerging from Indian news outlets suggest that at least 133 people have perished in the incident. The ill-fated flight was reportedly carrying 232 passengers and ten members of the flight crew.

The scale of the disaster has prompted an outpouring of grief across the region, with Sri Lanka joining the international community in offering condolences and solidarity. In a statement issued via its official channels, the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its profound sorrow and alarm at the loss of life, describing the incident as deeply distressing.

“Heartfelt condolences are extended to the families and loved ones of those affected by this heartbreaking tragedy,” the Ministry said in a message shared on the social media platform ‘X’.

While the cause of the crash remains under investigation by Indian aviation authorities, the event has already been marked as one of the deadliest aviation disasters in the country’s recent history. Emergency services and rescue operations have been working tirelessly at the crash site, with efforts underway to identify the deceased and provide medical assistance to any possible survivors.

The aviation industry, shaken by the scale of the loss, is also facing renewed calls for a thorough review of safety protocols and aircraft maintenance practices. Questions are being raised over possible mechanical failure or other contributing factors, though officials have yet to confirm any definitive cause.

Back in Sri Lanka, the news has prompted moments of silence in several official settings, with messages of condolence coming from across the political spectrum. The President’s Office is also expected to issue a formal statement acknowledging the tragedy and reaffirming solidarity with India during this period of mourning.