The Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (HRCSL) has issued a set of general guidelines and recommendations to prevent deaths occurring in police custody and during confrontations with the police.

These have been issued to the police under General Guidelines and Recommendations No. 01 of 2025, the Commission stated.

According to investigations based on complaints received by the Commission, there have been 49 deaths in police custody and 30 deaths due to clashes with the police between January 2020 and March 31 of this year.

Accordingly, the HRCSL issued this set of guidelines and recommendations, as stated by its Chairman, former Supreme Court Judge L.T.B. Dehideniya.

He emphasized that the police should be encouraged to implement the recommendations in order to fully enforce the guidelines.

The Department of Meteorology says South-West monsoon conditions are gradually getting established over the island.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, North-western, Central and Southern provinces today (May 20).

Fairly heavy rains of about 75 mm are likely at some places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle, Matara, Puttalam, Nuwara-Eliya and Kandy districts.

Several spells of showers will occur in Northern and North-central provinces.

Showers or thundershowers may occur in the Eastern province during the evening or night.

Fairly strong winds of about 30-40 kmph can be expected at times over North-western, North-central, Northern, Central and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.

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

Former US President Joe Biden, 82, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, a statement from his office said on Sunday.

Biden, who left office in January, was diagnosed on Friday after he saw a doctor last week for urinary symptoms.

The cancer is a more aggressive form of the disease, characterised by a Gleason score of 9 out of 10. This means his illness is classified as “high-grade” and the cancer cells could spread quickly, according to Cancer Research UK.

Biden and his family are said to be reviewing treatment options. His office added that the cancer was hormone-sensitive, meaning it could likely be managed.

In Sunday’s statement, Biden’s office said: “Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms.

“On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterised by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone.

“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management.”

After news broke of his diagnosis, the former president received support from both sides of the aisle.

President Donald Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social that he and First Lady Melania Trump were “saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis”.

“We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family,” he said, referring to former First Lady Jill Biden. “We wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”

Former Vice-President Kamala Harris, who served under Biden, wrote on X that she and her husband Doug Emhoff are keeping the Biden family in their prayers.

“Joe is a fighter – and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership,” Harris said.

In a post on X, Barack Obama – who served as president from 2009 to 2017 with Joe Biden as his deputy – said that he and his wife Michelle were “thinking of the entire Biden family”.

“Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe, and I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace. We pray for a fast and full recovery,” Obama said. In 2016, Obama tasked Biden with leading a “cancer moonshot” government-wide research programme.

(BBC News)