News

World’s largest active volcano erupts in Hawaii

Published

2 years ago

November 29, 2022

editor

The world’s largest active volcano, Hawaii’s Mauna Loa, has erupted for the first time in almost 40 years, BBC reported.

The lava flow is mostly contained within the summit, but residents have been placed on alert and were earlier warned about the risk of falling ash.

The US Geological Service (USGS) has said the situation could change rapidly.

The volcano’s alert level has also been upgraded from an “advisory” to a “warning” – the highest classification.

No evacuation orders have been issued and populated areas are unlikely to be impacted at this stage, emergency officials say.

Mauna Loa, located inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, covers half of the US state’s Big Island. The volcano rises 13,679ft (4,169m) above sea level and spans an area of more than 2,000 sq miles (5,179 sq km).

It erupted at 23:30 local time on Sunday (09:30 GMT Monday) at Moku’āweoweo, the volcano’s summit caldera. Calderas are hollows that form beneath the summit at the end of an eruption.

It followed a series of warnings that an eruption was possible after a spate of recent earthquakes in the region, including more than a dozen reported tremors on Sunday.

News

Officials protest against AASL cabs being transferred to ministry

Published

8 minutes ago

March 24, 2025

editor

Officials have strongly opposed the decision to transfer five new cab vehicles belonging to the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited, to the Ministry of Transport and Highways, in exchange for five older cabs owned by the ministry.

The cabs to be taken over to the ministry bear the numbers : WP PI 3785, WP PI 3797, WP PJ 2241, WP PJ 2231, and WP PJ 2229.

Noting that these vehicles are used for official duties at airports across the country, AASL officials point out that transferring them would disrupt necessary travel for work.

It is also reported that these vehicles are currently used by officials for duties at airports located in Mattala, Batticaloa, Jaffna, and other areas.

Meanwhile, media reports have also cited that these vehicles are planned to be given to MPs who do not have vehicles.

News

Sajith refutes report on joint opposition

Published

43 minutes ago

March 24, 2025

editor

Opposition leader – Sajith Premadasa has refuted a news report claiming the formation of a joint opposition.

The report on the ‘Deshaya’ newspaper had claimed that Premadasa was holding talks with former Presidents Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe as well as with SLPP MP – Namal Rajapaksa to form a joint opposition.

Taking to X, Premadasa has termed the report as ‘fake news.’

FAKE NEWS! pic.twitter.com/tmGDmGn85H
— Sajith Premadasa (@sajithpremadasa) March 23, 2025

News

First sperm bank launched in Sri Lanka

Published

1 hour ago

March 24, 2025

editor

For the first time in Sri Lanka, a sperm bank has been launched yesterday (March 23) within a government hospital – at the Castle Street Hospital for Women in Colombo 08.

This initiative aims to provide hope for individuals and couples facing fertility challenges by offering access to high-quality donor sperm for fertility treatments.

Accordingly, the donation process is designed to be straightforward, requiring donors to undergo only a few medical tests.

Hospital Director Dr. Ajith Kumara Danthanarayana assures that both donor anonymity and recipient privacy will be fully protected, in line with international medical standards.

To ensure the safety and quality of sperm donations, all donors will be required to undergo a series of medical tests before their samples are accepted.

Further commenting, Dr. Ajith Danthanarayana said, “This sperm bank has been functioning for some time now. Through this, we have identified mothers and fathers experiencing infertility issues.”

Donors willing to support parents having infertility issues, can contact the sperm bank at Castle Street Women’s Hospital through the following numbers: 0112 678999 / 0112672216