The Department of Meteorology says South-West monsoon conditions are gradually getting established over the island and it will be in effect until 5.30 am tomorrow (20).
Cloudy skies can be expected over most parts of the island.
Meanwhile, wind speed in the sea areas of the relevant areas may increase to 55 – 65 kmph at times.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, North-western, Central, Southern and Northern provinces.
Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle, Matara, Puttalam, Nuwara-Eliya and Kandy districts.
Several spells of showers will occur in the North-central province.
Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places elsewhere on the island during the evening or night.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Sri Lankan athletes delivered strong performances at the 2025 Taiwan Open Athletics Championship, with Nadeesha Lekamge securing a silver medal in the women’s javelin throw and Chamod Yodhasinghe earning bronze in the men’s 100m sprint.
Lekamge’s Season-Best Throw Secures Silver
Nadeesha Lekamge recorded a season’s best throw of 56.62 meters, finishing just behind India’s Annu Rani (56.82m), who took gold.
Lekamge’s performance highlights her consistent form ahead of upcoming international competitions.
Yodhasinghe’s Speed Earns Bronze in 100m
Chamod Yodhasinghe clocked 10.38 seconds in the men’s 100m finals, securing third place behind Australia’s Jiseph Ayoade (10.34s) and Japan’s Bruno Dede (10.36s).
The Sri Lankan sprinter had earlier impressed in the heats with a 10.29-second run, showcasing his potential on the international stage.
In a major relief for Sri Lankans married to Filipino citizens, the Philippine government has officially begun issuing 5-year Temporary Residence Visas (TRVs), replacing the previous 2-year permits.
The move follows years of advocacy by the Sri Lankan community in the Philippines, who faced difficulties due to frequent renewals and prolonged passport retention by authorities. Many struggled with travel restrictions, especially for business and emergencies.
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Chanaka Talpahewa, prioritized the issue upon assuming office, engaging in high-level discussions with top Philippine officials, including the Vice President, Foreign Secretary, and key ministers. His persistent efforts led to the policy change, easing bureaucratic hurdles for binational families.
The extended visa validity reflects deepening Sri Lanka-Philippines relations, offering stability to Sri Lankan expatriates. Previously, the short-term TRVs caused financial and logistical strain, with families facing repeated paperwork and delays.
The Ministry of Defence says that approximately 3,000 members of the Sri Lankan armed forces have been taken into custody for failing to report for duty without formally resigning.
The arrests were made during the period from February 22 to the present, as part of a coordinated operation conducted jointly by the tri-forces and the police.
Among those detained, 2,261 are members of the Sri Lanka Army.
The Ministry stated that the operation aims to enforce military regulations and ensure discipline within the armed forces by taking action against those who have gone absent without leave (AWOL).