Due to the effect of the active southwest monsoon condition, showery conditions are expected to enhance in the southwestern part of the island from today (June 10), with strong wind gusts over the island and in sea areas, the Department of Meteorology has said.

Accordingly, the general public has been requested to be attentive to future forecasts issued by the Met. Dept. in this regard.

Showers will occur at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in the Galle and Matara districts.

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

Several spells of showers may occur in the Northern province and in Anuradhapura and in the Hambantota districts as well.

Showers or thundershowers are also expected at a few places in the Badulla, Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the afternoon or night.

Meanwhile, strong winds of about 50 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 been requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

The Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya was arrested yesterday (June 9) over explosive allegations of illegally granting a presidential pardon to a high-profile inmate and is set to appear before Colombo Magistrate’s Court today.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) took Upuldeniya into custody following a probe into claims that he abused presidential pardon powers to secure the early release of a prisoner under questionable circumstances.

A police spokesperson confirmed the arrest, stating that Upuldeniya had been questioned for three straight days before being detained. Investigators allege he bypassed legal protocols in facilitating the inmate’s release.

In a dramatic late-night development, the Cabinet—chaired by the President—moved swiftly to suspend Upuldeniya, citing concerns that his continued role could obstruct justice. “This decision ensures investigations remain impartial,” an official statement noted.

Nishan Dhanasinghe, Additional Secretary of the Judicial Ministry’s Prisons Division, has been named acting Commissioner General amid the unfolding scandal.

Today (10) is the Poson full moon Poya day.

It is considered a very important day to Buddhists in Sri Lanka as it commemorates the arrival of Buddhism in the country.

Various religious programmes are to be carried out in Mihintale and the Atamasthana, Solosmasthana and Buddhist temples across the island.

After the third Dharma Sangayana held in India, Mihindu Thero and his group came to Sri Lanka from Mihintalaya with the patronage of King Dharmashoka.

King Devanampiyatissa, who was ruling the country at that time, also heard Dhamma from Mihindu Thero and took refuge in Sandaham, and with the arrival of Mihindu Thero, a cultural change took place.

Along with Mihindu Thero, Sri Lanka also received 18 caste craft grades.

Having education, literature, architecture, agriculture as well as a society full of values makes Poson Poya meaningful.

It is a custom of Sri Lankan Buddhists to celebrate Poson with a festival, putting culture first.