News

Limit online meetings to Tuesdays and Fridays: Circular to top official

Published

2 years ago

October 22, 2023

editor

The Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration has instructed top government officials to only hold online meetings with District and Divisional Secretaries on Tuesdays and Fridays following complaints from the public that the officials were frequently unavailable due to such meetings.

The circular by Public Administration Ministry Secretary Ranjith Asoka, and addressed to all Ministry Secretaries, Chief Secretaries of the Provinces and Heads of Department, notes that it has been reported that the general public “has to face various difficulties since the opportunity given for them to discuss their issues with the District Secretaries and Divisional Secretaries is insufficient, as the said officials are frequently called for various online meetings and discussions held within the duty hours on working days of the week organized by public institutions.”

Accordingly, the circular has stressed that online meetings with District Secretaries and/or Divisional Secretaries should be conducted strictly on Tuesday and Friday of the week in future.

News

SLAF helicopter crashes into Maduru Oya during training session

Published

60 minutes ago

May 9, 2025

editor

A Bell 212 helicopter belonging to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has reportedly crashed today (May 09) into the Maduru Oya Reservoir.

The incident occurred during a training exercise held as part of the Sri Lanka Army Special Forces passing-out ceremony in Maduru Oya.

The aircraft was carrying ten Special Forces soldiers and two pilots at the time of the incident.

All personnel reportedly escaped without fatal injuries. Several have been hospitalised for treatment.

News

American Cardinal elected as new Pope: Pope Leo XIV

Published

1 hour ago

May 9, 2025

editor

Following a 02-day papal conclave, American Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected as the new Pope yesterday (May 08) evening, Vatican time.

At 69, Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as the 267th Pope, taking the name Pope Leo XIV.

He becomes the first American to ascend to the papacy in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.

Pope Leo XIV now assumes spiritual leadership of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

The election follows the death of His Holiness Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88 at his residence in Casa Santa Marta, Vatican City, a day after participating in Easter Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.

News

Heavy rains expected in the afternoon

Published

3 hours ago

May 9, 2025

editor

The Department of Meteorology says that showers or thundershowers will occur at most places of the island after 1.00 p.m. today (May 09).

Showers may occur in Western province and in Puttalam, Galle and Matara districts in the morning too.

Fairly heavy rains above 50 mm are likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Northern and North-central provinces.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Ampara and Polonnaruwa districts during the morning.