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Heavy showers expected in several areas

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The Meteorology Department says rainy conditions are expected to enhance over Northern, North-central, Eastern,Uva and Central provinces from today (Jan. 18).

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Northern, Eastern, North-central, Uva and Central provinces and in Hambantota district, the department says.

Heavy showers above 100 mm can be expected at some places in Uva and Eastern provinces and in Matale, Nuwara-Eliya, Polonnaruwa and Hambantota districts, the Met. Department said.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places elsewhere during the afternoon or Night.

Fairly strong winds of about 30-40 kmph can be expected at times over the Eastern slope of the central hills and Northern, North-central, Eastern and North-western provinces and in Hambantota and Monaragala districts, the statement added.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts during the morning.

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

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Budget 2025 lays foundation for a strong economy – President

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President Anura Kumara Disanayake highlighted that due to the mismanagement of public finances by previous administrations, the country had fallen into bankruptcy and is currently operating under a probationary period of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program. Given this situation, he emphasized that the Budget 2025 has taken the initial steps towards building a strong and stable economy.  

The President made these remarks while participating in the Post-Budget forum 2025 organized by the University of Colombo Master of Business Administration (MBA) Alumni Association held today (19) at Cinnamon Life Hotel in Colombo.

President Anura Kumara Disanayake stated that the government aims to utilize the three-year debt moratorium granted through debt restructuring effectively and implement proper economic management to regain debt repayment capacity by 2028.  

The President further noted that while many countries in the world have taken decades to recover after facing bankruptcy, Sri Lanka is expected to recover in a significantly shorter period.  

The President also highlighted that this year’s budget proposes to increase government revenue to 15.1% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and emphasized the government’s commitment to prioritizing expenditures based on identified national priorities.

The President emphasized that this year’s budget focuses on expanding the economy by driving economic activities to rural areas and integrating citizens as stakeholders in the economy. He expressed confidence that this approach would enhance the economic benefits available to the people.  

The government plans to reintegrate marginalized groups into the economy by establishing small economic units at the village level. As a result, the country aims to foster a surge in Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs), the President stated.  

Highlighting the government’s commitment to supporting industries, the President noted that reducing production costs would ultimately provide relief to consumers.  

To uplift the nation from rural poverty, the highest budget allocation this year has been directed towards education. This investment aims to restructure both human and physical resources within the school system, transitioning from a linear education model to a more diversified, multi-directional approach.  

The budget also prioritizes public expenditure management. Given the high costs associated with delivering public services, the government intends to conduct a comprehensive review of state institution expenditures.  

President Disanayake stressed the importance of maintaining a corruption-free political authority and underscored that fostering a culture where bribery is rejected is a collective responsibility of the citizens.  

To establish an export-driven economy, the government plans to sign new trade agreements and anticipates higher export earnings this year.  

Additionally, the current administration is focused on developing a port-centric economy. The budget has placed special attention on establishing an efficient transhipment hub.  

Tourism promotion initiatives will be further strengthened through City Branding programs, with plans to develop key cities such as Anuradhapura, Yapahuwa, and Jaffna as major tourist destinations.  

 The President also emphasized the need to leverage the country’s diplomatic service to expand economic opportunities for Sri Lanka.  

The event was attended by Duminda Hulangamuwa Chairman, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce & Senior Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs and Finance,President of the University of Colombo Master of MBA Alumni Association Suraj Radampola, along with several experts from academia and the business sector.

(President’s Media Division)

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Main suspect of Ganemulla Sanjeewa’s murder, arrested

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The suspected gunman behind today’s (Feb. 18) murder of “Ganemulla Sanjeewa” has been arrested, reports say.

According to reports, he has been arrested in the Palaviya area in Puttalam by the Police Special Task Force (STF) personnel, while fleeing in a van.

The arrested suspect has been identified as 34-year-old Mohamed Azman Sheriffdeen.

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Middeniya shooting : Death toll rises to 3 (Update)

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The death toll in the Middeniya shooting incident has risen to three, as the 9-year-old son of the 39-year-old victim has also succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment at  hospital, police has confirmed.

( Previous news 2025 February 19 – 7.29.a.m.)


Father & daughter killed in Middeniya shooting, son injured

A 39-year-old man and his six-year-old daughter were killed in a shooting incident near the Kadewatta Junction in Middeniya on Tuesday night (18). 

The man, a resident of Galpotta, was traveling on a motorcycle with his son and daughter when unidentified individuals opened fire at around 10:15 p.m.

The father died on the spot, while his son and daughter were rushed to Embilipitiya and Tangalle hospitals with critical injuries. 

Tragically, the six-year-old girl succumbed to her injuries shortly after receiving treatment at Tangalle Hospital.

Police suspect a T-56 assault rifle was used in the attack and have launched an investigation to apprehend the suspects.  

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