July 14, Colombo (LNW): The Department of Meteorology has issued a high-level weather warning for coastal regions, cautioning of hazardous maritime conditions due to intensifying winds and turbulent seas.

The red alert specifically covers sea areas stretching from Chilaw to Mannar via Puttalam, as well as from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota—regions that are expected to experience particularly severe conditions over the next 24 hours.

According to forecasts, wind speeds in these coastal belts could reach up to 50 to 60 miles per hour, creating dangerous conditions for maritime activities. The seas are expected to become rough to very rough, with the added risk of swell waves rising between 2.5 to 3.0 metres in offshore zones spanning from Puttalam to Pottuvil, including the waters off Colombo, Galle and Hambantota.

As a result, the authorities have strongly advised fishing vessels and small craft to avoid setting out from ports located in the affected areas, particularly between Galle and Pottuvil via Matara and Hambantota. Communities that rely on fishing for their livelihoods have been urged to exercise maximum caution and monitor official updates.

In regions from Galle to Puttalam via Colombo, where fishing and naval operations are more frequent, the Meteorological Department has called for heightened vigilance. Mariners operating in these zones are advised to stay informed through regular weather bulletins and cooperate with local safety guidelines to prevent potential accidents at sea.

Officials warn that sudden changes in weather patterns remain a possibility and have urged both coastal residents and those planning to travel by sea to remain alert.

July 14, Colombo (LNW): Sweeping changes are on the horizon for Sri Lanka’s school system, with the Ministry of Education confirming a reduction in the number of daily classroom periods from eight to seven, effective from January 01 next year.

As part of the restructuring, each period will be extended to 50 minutes, prompting a comprehensive overhaul of existing school timetables across the country.

Education Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa outlined the reforms during a high-level briefing with education officials held at the North Central Provincial Council last week. The session marked the first in a series of awareness programmes intended to prepare school administrators and educators at provincial, zonal, and divisional levels for the ambitious overhaul of the national curriculum.

Kaluwewa stressed that the reduction in periods is not a cutback in content but a recalibration designed to promote more meaningful learning experiences within each session. The move, he said, aims to ease the pressure of fragmented timetables and improve the overall quality of instruction.

In preparation for the full-scale launch of curriculum reforms in 2026, special attention is being directed toward grades 1 and 6, which will serve as the starting points for implementation. To that end, an extensive training initiative is being rolled out to equip over 100,000 teachers with updated pedagogical tools and methodologies suitable for the reformed system.

This training is being led collaboratively by the Ministry of Education, the National Institute of Education, and the Provincial Councils.

July 14, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has witnessed a disturbing rise in road-related fatalities during the first half of 2025, with official police data revealing a total of 1,274 fatal accidents that claimed 1,351 lives between January and July.

This marks a significant year-on-year increase, with 129 more lives lost and 108 additional fatal incidents compared to the same period in 2024.

The figures paint a troubling picture not only in terms of fatal outcomes but also broader road safety. In the first six months of the year, authorities recorded more than 2,600 serious accidents, 4,642 minor collisions, and 2,018 cases of property damage stemming from road-related incidents.

The most devastating incident so far occurred in May, when a passenger bus travelling along the Nuwara Eliya–Gampola main road veered off course at Gerandi Ella in Ramboda, plunging down a steep incline.

The crash left 22 people dead and over 30 others seriously injured, shocking the nation and prompting urgent calls for action.

In the aftermath of the Ramboda tragedy, law enforcement authorities moved swiftly. A special committee was tasked with investigating the root causes of the crash, and their findings led Police Headquarters to issue a directive holding police leadership accountable.

Officers-in-Charge (OICs) of police and traffic units across the country now face disciplinary measures if they fail to identify, report, and address hazardous road zones within their jurisdictions.

The Acting Inspector General of Police has reinforced this directive, instructing all 607 police divisions to coordinate closely with the Road Development Authority (RDA) and local governing bodies. The focus, he said, must shift from reactive policing to proactive prevention, particularly in regions known for frequent or severe traffic incidents.

Authorities have so far identified 779 high-risk locations across the national road network. Police confirm that a detailed set of safety recommendations has already been handed over to the RDA, aimed at addressing these danger zones through infrastructure improvements, better signage, and stricter enforcement of road laws.

Police Headquarters has made it clear that further negligence will not be tolerated. Divisions failing to implement safety measures or respond adequately to known risks may face serious internal consequences.

By: Staff Writer

July 14, Colombo (LNW): New Commissioner General takes charge with plans to recover missed revenue and boost digitalisation

The Sri Lanka Excise Department has exceeded its revenue collection target for the first half of 2025, recording Rs. 120.5 billion — 102.6% of the projection set by the Ministry of Finance. This milestone comes at a time of transition in leadership, with retired Sri Lanka Navy Commodore M.B.N.A. Premarathne assuming duties as the new Commissioner General on Friday, July 11.

This revenue achievement marks a positive continuation of the department’s rising contribution to state finances in recent years. In 2023, the department collected Rs. 226.7 billion, up from Rs. 178.6 billion in 2022 and Rs. 170.3 billion in 2021 — reflecting consistent growth and improved collection efficiency.

At the official ceremony held to mark his assumption of duties, Premarathne pledged to align the Excise Department’s operations with the government’s overarching national priorities, including poverty alleviation, digitalisation, and the “Clean Sri Lanka” initiative. He emphasised the department’s vital role as a key state revenue generator and acknowledged longstanding gaps in revenue collection.

“There are areas where we have missed out on potential revenue for years. We must collectively act to recover these losses and strengthen our overall performance,” he said, underlining the need for renewed collaboration and efficiency across all divisions.

Premarathne also stressed the importance of modernising the department through digital tools and automation to enhance transparency and reduce inefficiencies. The Excise Department has already taken initial steps in this direction, aligning with the government’s broader public sector digital transformation agenda.

In addition to focusing on revenue optimisation, the new Commissioner General committed to fostering a disciplined, rule-abiding, and transparent institutional culture. “We must become a department that our staff can take pride in and that earns the respect of the public,” he noted.

The Cabinet of Ministers approved Premarathne’s appointment earlier this week, following the scheduled retirement of U.L. Udaya Kumara Perera, a Special Grade Officer of the Sri Lanka Inland Revenue Service, who had been serving as the Commissioner General.

As the Excise Department continues to face challenges such as illicit alcohol trade, enforcement issues, and loopholes in taxation, the new leadership brings both a mandate and an opportunity to drive institutional reform, broaden the revenue base, and recover missed dues — all while enhancing public trust.

July 14, Colombo (LNW): Former Cabinet Minister Duminda Dissanayake, who was recently taken into custody following the discovery of a gold-plated T-56 assault rifle at a residential complex in Havelock Town, Colombo, has been released on bail under stringent conditions.

The arrest, which drew significant media attention due to the high-profile nature of the individual involved and the unusual nature of the weapon, came after law enforcement authorities uncovered the firearm during a raid at an upscale apartment.

Following his arrest, Dissanayake was remanded pending further inquiries. Following bail, he was subject to a set of strict conditions aimed at ensuring his cooperation with the ongoing investigation.

July 14, Colombo (LNW): Showers will occur at times in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Galle and Matara districts, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (14).

Several spells of showers may occur in the North-western province.

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

Strong winds of about (40-50) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, North-western and North-central provinces.

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 several places in the sea areas off the coast extending from Colombo to Matara via Galle.

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 Chilaw to Mannar via Puttalam and 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 Chilaw to Galle via Colombo and from Manna to Vakarai via Kankasanthurai and Trincomalee.

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

The sea areas off the coast extending from Chilaw to Galle via Colombo and from Manna to Vakarai via Kankasanthurai and Trincomalee may be fairly rough to rough at times.

The wave height (about 2.5 – 3.0 m) may increase in the sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle and Hambantota. Therefore, there is a possibility that nearshore sea areas extending from Puttalam to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle and Hambantota, may experience surges due to sea waves.

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