August 04, Colombo (LNW): The Postal Department is set to deploy approximately 8,000 staff members to distribute polling cards to voters across the country for the upcoming Presidential Election.
In a circular issued by Deputy Post Master General Rajitha Ranasinghe, all post offices nationwide have been informed of this initiative.
The circular also mentions that special arrangements are being made to handle regular postal letters by employing additional personnel.
August 04, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) has been honoured with the Best International Tourism Board award at the Global Tourism Awards 2024.
Tourism and Sports Minister Harin Fernando, who attended the ceremony in New Delhi on 2 August, returned to Sri Lanka via Katunayake Airport on 3 August.
The SLTPB has demonstrated remarkable progress, achieving 100 percent growth from a standing start two years ago.
Their global promotional efforts have significantly boosted Sri Lanka’s tourism industry.
Last month alone, 187,000 foreign tourists visited Sri Lanka, contributing to a total of 1.2 million international arrivals from January to 1 August.
August 04, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s preparations for the second match against India have been severely impacted with the news that cricketer Wanindu Hasaranga is ruled out due to injury.
Hasaranga sustained a hamstring injury during the first ODI, rendering him unavailable for the remainder of the home series.
Experienced spinner Jeffrey Vandersay has been named as his replacement and may feature in the playing XI on Sunday.
“Hasaranga will miss the rest of the ODI series due to a left hamstring injury,” stated Sri Lanka Cricket. “He felt pain in his left hamstring while bowling his 10th over in the first ODI. An MRI confirmed the injury. Jeffrey Vandersay joins the squad in his place.”
This injury follows the loss of fast bowlers Matheesha Pathirana and Dilshan Madushanka, who were sidelined a day before the first match.
Despite these setbacks, Hasaranga showcased an outstanding performance by taking three wickets and contributing valuable runs, helping Sri Lanka post a competitive 230-run total at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium.
August 04, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka Police are requesting public assistance to locate three suspects involved in a shooting incident in Athurugiriya on July 08, 2024, which resulted in two fatalities and injuries to four others.
Photographs and details of the suspects have been released.
Information on the suspects can be provided through the following contact numbers:
Suspect details:
The shooting incident went viral across Sri Lanka due to it being the cause of death of Surendra Wasantha Perera alias ‘Club Wasantha’.
August 04, Colombo (LNW): Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment, Manusha Nanayakkara, announced that 24 Sri Lankans, including event organisers and musicians, were arrested by Kuwaiti authorities at a gathering organised by the JVP-affiliated ‘Ethera Api’ organisation.
The minister stated on ‘X’ that he has reached out to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Kuwait, which is collaborating with Kuwaiti officials to secure their release promptly.
Further details regarding the arrests have not been disclosed.
August 04, Colombo (LNW): A naval operation in the Iramathivu sea area of Kilinochchi on August 03 2024 resulted in the arrest of three individuals and the seizure of a dinghy carrying over 176kg of Kerala cannabis.
Conducted by SLNS Buwaneka and the Rapid Action Boat Squadron, the search uncovered 86 parcels of cannabis valued at over Rs. 70 million.
The suspects, aged 22 to 35 from Mannar and Valeipadu, have been handed over to Jayapuram Police for further legal proceedings.
August 04, Colombo (LNW): The Election Commission has suspended the ‘Urumaya’ land distribution initiative led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
According to sources from the President’s office, the programme is expected to resume following the Presidential election.
August 04, Colombo (LNW): Showers will occur at times in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts, the Department of Meteorology said in its weather forecast today (04).
Several spells of showers may occur in North-western province.
Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places elsewhere in the island during the evening or night. Fairly heavy showers above 50mm are likely at some places.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized 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 Puttalam to Galle via Colombo. |
| Winds: |
| Winds will be westerly to south-westerly and wind speed will be (30-40) kmph. Wind speed can increase up to 50 kmph at times in the sea areas off the coasts extending from Kankasanthurai to Puttalam via Mannar and from Hambantota to Pottuvil. |
| State of Sea: |
| The sea areas off the coasts extending from Kankasanthurai to Puttalam via Mannar and from Hambantota to Pottuvil will be fairly rough at times. |
August 03, Colombo (LNW): The Montana National Guard and U.S. Pacific Air Forces, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Air Force and the Maldives National Defence Force, have commenced ‘Atlas Angel,’ a joint military exercise focused on enhancing preparedness and response to natural and man-made disasters. From August 5-9, over 70 U.S. personnel and two C-130 Hercules aircraft will participate alongside their Sri Lankan and Maldivian counterparts, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in disaster response and the U.S. commitment to fostering a resilient and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
Atlas Angel will feature six exercises, including urban and medical search and rescue, as well as airfield repair, culminating in a crisis management exercise on August 9. These activities aim to test and improve response capabilities across various scenarios, ensuring participants are well-prepared for real-world disasters. Following the main exercise, U.S. Air Force surgeons will engage in a knowledge exchange session at the Kotelawala Defence University in Colombo, sharing best practices with Sri Lankan military and civilian medical counterparts.
U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung applauded the disaster response cooperation, stating, “Disasters know no borders and are increasing in frequency and intensity worldwide. The United States is committed to enhancing disaster preparedness, recognizing the importance of international collaboration to minimize damage, protect lives and livelihoods, and foster resilience and prosperity in the region. By sharing our expertise through practical exercises like Atlas Angel, we strengthen communities’ abilities to respond swiftly and effectively when disaster strikes.”
Sri Lanka Air Force Commander, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, remarked, “Exercise Atlas Angel is one of the main combined exercises operationalized under the Montana State Partnership Programme. It provides space for greater engagement between Sri Lanka Air Force and Montana National Guard through subject matter expert exchanges, developing strategic foresight on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, as well as Search and Rescue missions, and promoting interoperability for collective security in the region.”
Montana National Guard Adjutant General Pete Hronek emphasized the critical role of training in disaster management: “Effective disaster management hinges on robust training that equips first responders, local authorities, and community members with the skills and knowledge they need to act decisively in times of crisis. Throughout this week, I look forward to working with regional counterparts and learning from their expertise as we go through realistic simulations, ensuring we are all ready to act in the event of an emergency.”
August 03, Colombo (LNW): The Oriental Dance Club of Asian International School (AIS) has achieved a remarkable milestone by being awarded the Best Performance Achievement at the 6th Korat International Folklore Festival Thailand Cultural Expo. This prestigious event was part of the Korat International Horticultural Expo, recently held in Bangkok, Thailand.
AIS dancers enthralled the audience with their high standard of dancing, exceptional execution, and impressive choreography. Their outstanding performance during the six-day festival earned them the Best Performance Award, showcasing their discipline and dedication.
Through their vibrant and colorful performances, the AIS dancers exhibited the beauty and traditions of Sri Lanka’s performing arts. The Colombo International Dance Festival Association played a crucial role in providing this exposure and recognition, helping to promote Sri Lanka’s rich cultural legacy to the world.
The AIS drummers added significant flair to the performances with their live music, making AIS the only country to feature live music at the event. This unique element set them apart and brought a special energy to the festival.
The talented dancers were expertly choreographed by Suranga Abeysinghe and Harun Suseru, under the guidance of the Oriental Dance Teacher-in-Charge, Ms. Prasadika Ediriweera. Their hard work and creativity brought Sri Lankan dance traditions to life on an international stage.
The AIS crew was invited to this competition by the Korat International Folklore Festival and the Federation of Thai SME Nakhon Ratchasima, in collaboration with the Colombo International Dance Festival Association. This invitation provided an invaluable opportunity for AIS to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Sri Lanka.
This achievement is a testament to the talent and hard work of the AIS Dance Club, as well as the support and dedication of their mentors. It stands as a proud moment for the school and the entire country, celebrating the enduring beauty of Sri Lankan culture.