India has closed its main border crossing with Pakistan, expelled its diplomats and suspended a landmark water-sharing treaty following an attack that killed 26 tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Pakistan has denied involvement in the attack and will convene a national security meeting on Thursday to discuss a response to the measures taken by India.

Gunmen burst out of forests and opened fire on visitors with automatic weapons in the attack near the picturesque tourist town of Pahalgam.

More details have been emerging about those killed. They include a honeymooning groom and a businessman on holiday.

There’s been no official confirmation yet on who carried out the brutal attack but some media reports say a group linked to Pakistan-based organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba may have claimed responsibility.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short a foreign trip to return to Delhi to meet security chiefs. He’s pledged those responsible will not be spared.

Kashmir, which is claimed by both India and Pakistan, has seen a decades-long insurgency against Indian rule that has claimed tens of thousands of lives – but attacks on tourists are rare.

(BBC News)

The Department of Meteorology says that showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, North-western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts today (April 24).

Showers or thundershowers will occur most places elsewhere on the island after 1.00 p.m.

Fairly heavy falls above 75 mm are likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva, and Eastern provinces and in Polonnaruwa and Puttalam districts.

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

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Central, Sabaragamuwa and Uva provinces and in Ampara district during the morning.

Sri Lanka Railways has announced that the special trains from Colombo Fort to Kandy for the special exposition of the sacred Tooth Relic will not operate from today (April 24) until further notice.

Railways General Manager said the special service has been suspended based on a request made by the police.

Earlier yesterday, Sri Lanka Police urged the public to avoid joining the queues on April 24 and 25 due to over 300,000 devotees in queues already awaiting to worship the Sacred Tooth Relic.

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