The Ministry of Education has decided to grant holidays to all Muslim schools on June 06 and 09, as the Hajj festival for Muslim pilgrims falls on Saturday (June 07).

Accordingly, the announcement issued by the Ministry states that schools should be held on Monday (May 26) and (May 27), for the school holiday.

It also notes that the second term for Muslim schools in the 2025 school year will begin on May 26.

Showers will occur at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, North-western and Central provinces and in the Galle and Matara districts today (May 24), the Department of Meteorology said.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the Uva province and in the Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the evening or night.

Fairly heavy falls above 75 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in the Galle, Matara, Nuwara-Eliya and Kandy districts.

Fairly strong winds of about 30-40 kmph can be expected at times over the Western slopes of the central hills and in the Northern, North-central, North-western and Southern 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 and lightning during thundershowers.

The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) has announced a 12-hour water cut from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday (May 25) in several areas, including Colombo, due to essential maintenance work at the Ambatale Water Treatment Plant.

Due to this, the public is urged to make prior arrangements and store an adequate supply of water to avoid inconvenience during the period of the suspension.

Accordingly, the water cut will affect the following areas:

• Colombo 01 to Colombo 15
• Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
• Kaduwela
• Battaramulla
• Kolonnawa
• Kotikawatta
• Mulleriyawa
• IDH (Infectious Diseases Hospital) area
• Maharagama
• Dehiwala
• Mount Lavinia
• Ratmalana and Moratuwa