Thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning are likely to occur at several places in Eastern, Uva, Central, Northern and North-central provinces and in Hambantota district, the Department of Meteorology warns.

There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers, it added.

Therefore, the general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.

The Met Department urged the public to seek shelter, preferably indoors, to avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.

The public has also been advised not to use wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.

Three Sri Lankan nationals, including a woman who was abducted for ransom in Bangladesh have been rescued by Bangladeshi police. 

According to local media reports, the trio had travelled to Bangladesh at the invitation of a friend they had met on social media.

The police have detained three local people, including the person who sent them the invitation, in connection with the abduction, Bangladeshi Deputy Inspector General of Police (Khulna range) Mohammad Rezaul Haque has confirmed to local journalists.

The four arrested Bangladeshi Kazi Emdad Hossain, Shahidul Sheikh, Jony Sheikh, and SM Shamsul Alam contacted the families of the Sri Lankan nationals from a local phone number, and demanded ransom, Bangladesh’s newspaper, The Daily Star reported.

Later, the three Sri Lankans were found at the home of Emdad Kazi at South Ambari village in the Upazila, according to Touhidul Arif, Superintendent of Police in Bagerhat district of Bangladesh.

“Recently, Emdad became acquainted with the three Sri Lankan nationals on social media. Emdad invited them to Bangladesh with talk of business opportunities. The three Sri Lankan nationals arrived in Bangladesh on Tuesday. They were taken hostage after arriving in the country,” Bangladeshi media outlet bdnews24 reported, quoting SP Touhidul Arif.

“Members of their families called from Sri Lanka and informed us that they had been kidnapped. They had been told they would not be let go without a ransom. They were taken to Bagerhat’s Mollahat on Wednesday night,” the police official added.

(Agencies)

The Colombo Magistrate Court has permitted the detention of the main suspect arrested in connection with the shooting and killing of political activist Dan Priyasad, for questioning until May 30, 2025.

This order was issued when the Mirihana Special Investigations Unit produced the suspect before Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawela today (April 25).

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