The Irrigation Department has issued a prior flood warning in several areas from November 25 to November 28, 2024 due to the current low-pressure situation in the Bay of Bengal and its possible further developments within the next few days.

The Department said there is a possibility of flood situations in some of the low-lying flood prone areas in river basins such as the Malwathu, Kala Oya, Kanagarayanaru, Parangi Aru, Maa Oya, Yan Oya, Mahaweli Ganga, Maduru Oya, Mundeniaru, Gal Oya, Heda Oya and Vila Oya basins.

Residents and travellers in these areas are advised to be vigilant in this regard from November 25, to November 28.

Meanwhile, the Meteorology Department said the low pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal by November 25.

It said very heavy showers above 150 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern Province and heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Northern, North-Central, Central and Uva Provinces and in the Hambantota district.

Following a joint programme initiated by the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and the Department of Examinations, four candidates who were unable to reach their examination centres due to floods in Matara, were transported to their respective centres with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Army and the Sri Lanka Navy, Examination Commissioner General Amith Jayasundara said.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said on Monday it has approved a USD-200-million loan to modernise Sri Lanka's power sector infrastructure, improving network reliability and supporting renewables integration.

Speaker Ashoka Ranwala said investigations will be held into the condcut of Jaffna District Independent MP Archuuna Ramanathan in Parliament last week to ascertain whether he had resorted to any indisciplined or unethical behaviour.

Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe said his successor Anura Kumara Dissanayake should fully implement the “vision document” adopted with India last year.

A Sri Lankan fishing trawler, was seized by the Maldivian Coast Guard after it was found carrying over 450 kilograms of illicit drugs. The haul included 344 kg of crystal methamphetamine (ICE) and 124 kg of cocaine.

Only the invigilators will be allowed to use mobile phones in the examination centers during the 2024 GCE Advanced Level (A/L) examinations which is scheduled to begin on Monday (25).

The Local Government elections will be held at the beginning of next year, said Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

Former Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya’s residence in Ambalangoda was robbed, and items valued at approximately Rs. 300,000 stolen, police said. Deshapriya’s wife lodged a complaint with the Ambalangoda Police regarding the incident.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reached a staff level agreement with Sri Lankan authorities, paving the way for the next tranche, for US$ 333 million, of the four-year Extended Fund Facility.

The National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) mandated the implementation of mosquito control programmes at all examination centres for the 2024 GCE Advanced Level examination. Accordingly, candidates have been instructed to bring mosquito repellent to the exam centres.