News

Vesak Full Moon Poya today!

Published

2 years ago

May 5, 2023

editor

Buddhists all over the world celebrate the Vesak Full Moon Poya Day today (5).

Buddhists commemorate Siddhartha Gautama’s birth, the enlightenment of the Buddha, and the passing away on the Vesak Full Moon Poya Day.

This year’s Vesak is extra special for Sri Lankans since they were not able to celebrate the Vesak festival in previous years due to Easter Sunday attacks in 2019 and the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

On the occasion of Vesak, Sri Lankan Buddhist devotees conduct various religious programmes and organise many Aamisa and Prathipaththi poojas including pandals, lanterns, and dansals mostly in and around Colombo and in other major cities.

Accordingly, Vesak zones have been set up in many places including Thotalanga, Kiribathgoda, Kelaniya, Maharagama, Kottawa and Rajagiriya.

The Bauddhaloka and the Gangarama Buddha Rashmi Vesak Zones will be held for several days. The State Vesak Festival will be held in Puttalam District.

The Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs organised the festival in collaboration with the Buddhist Affairs Department, Samastha Lanka Sasanarakshaka Mandalaya, Puttalam District Secretariat, Chilaw Divisional Secretariat and other governmental institutions.

News

Landslide warnings issued for 07 districts

Published

34 minutes ago

June 16, 2025

editor

The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued landslide warnings for seven districts due to ongoing adverse weather conditions.

A Level-2 warning has been issued for the Ayagama and Ratnapura areas in the Ratnapura District.

Level-1 warnings have been issued for the following Divisional Secretariat Divisions:

Colombo District: Padukka
Galle District: Elpitiya
Kalutara District: Walallawita, Agalawatte, Palindanuwara, Bulathsinhala, and Mathugama
Kandy District: Ganga Ihala Korale
Kegalle District: Yatiyanthota, Deraniyagala, Dehiowita
Nuwara Eliya District: Ambagamuwa
Ratnapura District: Pelmadulla, Eheliyagoda, Nivitigala, Kuruwita, Elapatha, and Kalawana

News

Showers expected in parts of the island today

Published

1 hour ago

June 16, 2025

editor

Showers have been predicted at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern and North-western provinces today (June 16), according to the Department of Meteorology.

Fairly heavy rains above 50 mm are likely at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in the Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Galle and Matara districts.

A few showers may occur in the Northern province and in the Anuradhapura district as well.

Strong winds of about 40-50kmph can be expected at times over the Western slopes of the central hills and in the Northern, North-central, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and Northwestern provinces and in the Trincomalee district.

The general public has also been requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds.

News

19-yr.-old dies after hotel elevator collapses

Published

2 hours ago

June 16, 2025

editor

Moratuwa Police launched an investigation after a 19-year-old youth had died after an electric elevator at a hotel collapsed on June 14.

The deceased is a resident of Arukgoda in Panadura, and was an employee at the Bolgoda Hotel in Moratuwa.

According to reports, the elevator, which was reportedly designated solely for the use of hotel employees, had given away when the youth was inside, injuring him critically. He was rushed to the Panadura Base Hospital but was pronounced dead upon admission.

The management of the hotel has lodged a complaint with the Moratuwa Police regarding the incident. Further investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the elevator collapse.