November 27, Colombo (LNW): The deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal, located approximately 190 km southeast of Trincomalee as of 11:30 p.m. on November 26, 2024, is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm today (November 27). The system is projected to move north-northwestwards, nearing Sri Lanka’s eastern coast, the Department of Meteorology announced.

Weather Impacts:

• Cloudy Skies: Predicted across most parts of the island.
• Rainfall:
  • Very Heavy Showers: Above 150 mm are likely in Northern, North-Central, Eastern, North-Western, and Central provinces.
  • Heavy Showers: Above 75 mm are expected in other regions.
• Wind Gusts: Strong winds ranging from 40-50 kmph can be expected across Northern, North-Central, Central, Western, North-Western, Southern, and Eastern provinces.

Affected Areas:

• Frequent showers or thundershowers will impact Northern, North-Central, Central, Western, and North-Western provinces, as well as the Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Kegalle districts.

Residents in vulnerable areas are urged to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to ensure safety. Those in low-lying regions should be prepared for possible flooding and landslides.

The public and naval communities are advised to follow updates and warnings from the Department of Meteorology and coordinate with local disaster management authorities for assistance.

November 26, Colombo (LNW): Vice Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Sun Haiyan, paid a courtesy visit to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (25).

Congratulating President Dissanayake on his recent electoral victories, Sun Haiyan commended the transformative political changes in Sri Lanka under his leadership. She noted the emergence of a progressive political culture and reaffirmed China’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.

During the meeting, the Chinese delegation expressed their readiness to collaborate with Sri Lanka on long-term, mutually beneficial initiatives. Discussions focused on areas such as investments, technological exchanges, digitalisation, and rural economic development. The delegation also pledged support for enhancing human resource development, particularly by offering training programs for Sri Lankan education officials.

President Dissanayake expressed his gratitude for China’s steadfast support and emphasized his administration’s dedication to fostering stronger cooperation with Beijing.

The Chinese delegation included Lin Tao, Deputy Director General of the IDCPC, Li Jinyan, Director of the IDCPC, Jin Yan, Secretary to the Vice Minister, and Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong, among others.

Representing Sri Lanka were Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath and President’s Secretary Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

November 26, Colombo (LNW): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $200 million loan to improve Sri Lanka’s power infrastructure, focusing on modernising transmission and distribution networks and integrating renewable energy sources.

ADB Country Director for Sri Lanka, Takafumi Kadono, emphasized the importance of power sector reforms and infrastructure upgrades to facilitate renewable energy development and reduce power generation costs. The project aligns with the Government of Sri Lanka’s targets of 70% renewable electricity by 2030 and carbon neutrality in electricity generation by 2050.

The initiative includes expanding 220-kilovolt and 132-kilovolt transmission infrastructure, upgrading grid protection systems, and modernising the medium voltage distribution network. Notably, the project will introduce Sri Lanka’s first grid-scale battery energy storage system and establish a renewable energy centre to forecast and monitor energy generation.

In addition to infrastructure improvements, the project supports institutional capacity building for the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and Lanka Electric Company (LECO), incorporating digital solutions and enhancing their ability to manage renewable energy systems. It also includes career development programmes for female employees and training for women-led businesses in adopting clean energy solutions.

Of the $200 million, $150 million is allocated to CEB and $50 million to LECO, with both amounts guaranteed by the Government of Sri Lanka.

The project is a significant step towards enhancing Sri Lanka’s energy security and reliability while supporting its transition to a sustainable energy mix.

November 26, Colombo (LNW): The Commissioner General of Examinations, Amith Jayasundara, has announced measures to support G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination candidates affected by the ongoing adverse weather conditions.

Candidates unable to reach their designated examination centers are permitted to sit for their exams at the nearest available centers. To facilitate this process, students can seek assistance by contacting the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) via its hotline, ‘117’.

In collaboration with the DMC, special arrangements have been made to ensure students can access necessary facilities despite the challenging circumstances.

The Commissioner General also emphasized that examination centers have been instructed to accommodate students facing delays due to traffic disruptions caused by flooding and other weather-related challenges.

These provisions aim to ensure that no student’s academic progress is hindered due to the ongoing weather conditions, and authorities are committed to offering full support during this critical period.

November 26, Colombo (LNW): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake underscored the necessity of practical, grassroots-level approaches to disaster management, emphasizing that institutional frameworks alone are inadequate for addressing the country’s vulnerabilities. His remarks came during the swearing-in ceremony of Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekara today (25), as per a statement by the President’s Media Division (PMD).

Highlighting the role of local government institutions, the President called for their empowerment to both prevent disasters in high-risk areas and develop innovative, localized solutions. He reiterated that while Sri Lanka’s disaster management laws were drafted after thorough study, their effective implementation lies in the hands of government officials.

“I pledge my full support to officials who execute their responsibilities with integrity. At the same time, I urge them to suggest enhancements to the legal framework where necessary,” President Dissanayake said.

He further noted the substantial financial burden disaster management imposes on the government but pointed out that strict enforcement of existing laws could significantly mitigate these costs.