News

Alert for North & East as low-pressure system develops in Bay of Bengal

Published

6 months ago

December 16, 2024

editor

The Department of Meteorology announced that a low-pressure area is likely to form over southeast Bay of Bengal during the next 24 hours.

In its latest forecast, the department mentioned that it is likely to intensify further and move west-northwestwards towards the Tamil Nadu coast, close to North of Sri Lanka during the subsequent two days.

The general public, particularly living in the Eastern and Northern provinces are requested to be attentive to the future forecasts and bulletins issued by the Department of Meteorology in this regard.

Meanwhile, the Met. Department said that cloudy skies can be expected over most parts of the island today (Dec. 16).

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Northern, Eastern, North-central, Uva and North-western provinces and in Matale and Nuwaraeliya districts.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places elsewhere during the evening or night, it added.

Heavy showers about 100mm are likely at some places in Northern, Eastern, North-central and Uva provinces and in Matale district, the Met. Department added.

A few showers are likely over the western coastal areas during the morning too.

Fairly strong winds of about 40 kmph can be expected at times over Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Matale and Trincomalee districts, according to the department.

Furthermore, the department said that misty conditions can be expected in Central, Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces during the morning.

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

News

Kandy-Peradeniya train service restored

Published

4 hours ago

June 12, 2025

editor

The section of railway between Kandy and Peradeniya affected by ground subsidence has been repaired and services restored, the Railway Department announced.

The Podi Menike train from Colombo Fort to Badulla was operated at 5.55 a.m. today (June 12) to assess safety, successfully passing the repaired section around 9 a.m. and reaching Kandy without issue.

However, the authorities stated that trains will continue to run at reduced speeds in the affected area.

This subsidence was attributed to recent heavy rainfall in Kandy.

News

Heavy rains expected in several areas today

Published

7 hours ago

June 12, 2025

editor

The Department of Meteorology says that showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern and North-western provinces.

Heavy rains above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Galle and Matara districts.

Several spells of showers may occur in the Northern Province and in Anuradhapura district.

Strong winds of about 50-60 kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central, Western, Sabaragamuwa, North-western 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.

News

President meets German FM

Published

8 hours ago

June 12, 2025

editor

As part of the official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany, President Anura Kumara Disanayake met with German Foreign Minister Dr. Johann Wadephul yesterday evening (June 11) at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Berlin.

The discussion focused on identifying new avenues for expanding bilateral cooperation, particularly in the areas of trade, the digital economy, investment and vocational training, in line with the priorities of the Sri Lankan government.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Germany, Ms. Varuni Muthukumarana, Chairman of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka Arjuna Herath, Director General for Europe and North America at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Trade Sugeeshwara Gunaratna and other officials.

(President’s Media Division)