State Defence Minister Pramith Bandara Tennakoon yesterday said six deaths and 11 injuries have been reported as a result of tree from May 19 and the adverse weather condition has affected 34,880 people of 9,616 families in 18 districts.

He said the number of tree falls has been increased recently and special focus will be laid on the existing risk of falling trees.

Tennakoon expected the support of the Road Development Authority, Provincial and Local Governments authorities to control the number of tree falls on the roads since it is high in numbers Speaking at a discussion on the weather related emergency situation in the country at the Emergency Operation Centre in Colombo yesterday, Tennakoon said that the government is looking forward to launch a national programme “Surakimu” as a preventive action.

He stated that the priority will be given to ensure the safety of the students at school premises through this program. He further looks forward to formulating a national policy under the guidance of a special committee, after conducting a proper study on tree planting beside the roadsides and educating the community in this regard.

Furthermore, the Minister also stated that necessary measures are expected to be expedited to control the flood situations in low-lying areas due to unsafe and unauthorized constructions.The State Minister praised the swift actions taken by the National Disaster Management Centre, State Departments, District Commissioner’s Offices, Divisional Secretariats, Grama Niladhari, Development Officers, Relief Service Centre Officers and especially the Armed Forces, Police and Civil Security Department to provide relief to the people affected by the disaster.

Officials including DMC Director General Major General Udaya Herath, Director General of the National Building Research Organisation Asiri Karunawardena, Director General of the Met Department Athula Karunanayake and Additional Secretary to the DMC Gamage Dharmathilaka participated in this event.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe met with Most Rev. Dr. Fidelis Lionel Emmanuel Fernando, the Bishop of Mannar, Diocese of Mannar at the Mannar Bishops House today (16).

Leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya party, MP Udaya Gammanpila says that President Ranil Wickremesinghe is currently in 3rd place among contenders for Presidency and is doing everything possible to improve his position.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe symbolically awarded 442 out of the allotted 5,000 land deeds to the residents of the Mannar district today. This event, part of the ‘Urumaya’ national programme, aims to grant 2 million freehold deeds across the country.

Japan has expressed its willingness to resume stalled development projects in Sri Lanka once the country initiates its debt repayment process, according to Foreign Minister Ali Sabry.

The Sri Lanka Navy has seized over 600 kg of narcotics valued at over Rs. 13 billion during naval operations conducted so far in 2024.

The Provincial Council system will continue in its current form under the National People's Power government until a new system is identified to create harmony among the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today.

Dr. S. Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister of India, is slated to arrive in Sri Lanka on June 20 for an official visit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.

The chair of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security Hon. Sarath Weerasekara has stated that an external mechanism has been established in Geneva, Switzerland for past 2 years according to resolution 46/1 in order to collect evidence related to war crimes against those heroes and political leaders who were accused of committing war crimes. He further stated that, in a report recently published by the said mechanism, it has been stated that they have a significant amount of evidence against the military leaders of this country.

Minister Harin Fernando today (14) revealed that an election is scheduled to take place on October 05 this year. He made this announcement during a press interaction in Galle. Expressing confidence in the outcome, Minister Fernando asserted that President Ranil Wickremesinghe would emerge triumphant in the forthcoming election.

Whilst revealing that Russian law allows that country to recruit foreigners to its military in accordance with signed contracts, Sri Lankan foreign Minister Ali Sabry yesterday said the Russian government wants local servicemen and the Sri Lankan government to uphold these contracts they have signed with their foreign employers.

Two young boys drowned while bathing in the sea off the beach close to the Negombo town last evening, Police said. The boys aged 14 and 17 are residents of Negombo.

The Sri Lanka Navy seized a multi-day fishing craft suspected be transporting heroin during a deep-sea operation conducted approximately 400 nautical miles (740 km) south of Sri Lanka.

After the 24-hour postal trade union strike, the United Postal Trade Unions Front (UPTUF) has decided to resume another countrywide trade union action on June 24 if a favorable response is not received from the Finance Ministry, UPTUF convener Chinthaka Bandara said.

The government is set to establish 25 District Industries Promotion Councils covering the entire island in support of local Micro, Small and Medium Industries (MSMEs).

Speculations are raised on whether President Ranil Wickremesinghe is once again on the search for a two thirds majority in Parliament. That is mainly due to media disclosures of recent pro-government discussions held to explore the possibility of holding a referendum in July.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa would have faced the same fate as that of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa if he had been elected as President in 2019, Presidential Advisor Ashu Marasinghe said today.

A group of retired Inspector General of Police (IGP) and retired Senior DIGs yesterday voiced their disapproval of the decision made by former Senior DIG Ravi Seneviratne and former Director of Criminal Investigation Department former SSP Shani Abeysekera to join the National People’s Power (NPP).

State Minister Shantha Bandara has been appointed as the Acting Minister of Mass Media with immediate effect. The appointment was made by the President this evening as Mass Media Minister Bandula Gunawardana has left the country on an official tour.

SLPP National Organizer Namal Rajapaksa cautioned the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Tamil people to be mindful of politicians who change their policies suddenly to grab votes.

Former Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayaka was acquitted from the case filed against him over a financial fraud promising to marry a female teacher in Kandy. The ruling was given by Kandy Chief Magistrate Chamara Wickramanayake.