The Meteorology Department says that several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Galle and Matara districts today (June 21).

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the afternoon or night.

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

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

Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, who served as the Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, has resigned from Parliament. 

He is reportedly tipped to be appointed as the new Secretary to the Ministry of Finance after the retirement of Mahinda Siriwardana at the end of the month.

Meanwhile, the Secretary General of Parliament – Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera has informed the Chairman of the Election Commission in writing that a vacancy has arisen in Parliament due to the resignation of Dr. Suriyapperuma.

Dr. Suriyapperuma, a National List Member of Parliament representing the National People’s Power (NPP) and the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Stabilization, submitted his letter of resignation to the Secretary General of Parliament.According to the letter submitted by Dr. Suriyapperuma, the resignation is effective from June 20, 2025.

Accordingly, the Secretary General has informed the Chairman of the Election Commission that, in terms of Section 64(5) of the Parliamentary Elections Act No. 1 of 1981, the seat held by Dr. Harsha Suriyapperuma in the Tenth Parliament is now vacant.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk will undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka from June 23 – 26, 2025. 

This marks the first visit by a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to Sri Lanka since February 2016.
During the visit, the High Commissioner is scheduled to call on the President and the Prime Minister. He will also hold meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, several other Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, senior Government officials, religious leaders, representatives of civil society, members of the diplomatic community, and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.

As part of the programme, the High Commissioner will travel to Kandy where he will pay respects to The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and call on the Chief Prelates of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters. He will also travel to Jaffna and Trincomalee where he will meet with the Governors of the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

Substantive discussions during the visit will focus on further advancing the promotion and protection of human rights and reconciliation, in line with the Government of Sri Lanka’s ongoing constructive engagement with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.