The Department of Meteorology has issued an amber-level advisory warning of severe lightning in several areas across Sri Lanka, effective from 1.00 p.m. today (03).

According to the department’s Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre, thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning are likely to occur in several areas, including parts of the Northern, North Central, Eastern, Central, Uva, North Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces.

The warning covers selected areas in the Ampara, Anuradhapura, Batticaloa, Hambantota, Jaffna, Kegalle, Kilinochchi, Kurunegala, Monaragala, Mullaitivu, Nuwara Eliya and Vavuniya districts.

It also applies to all Divisional Secretariat divisions in the Badulla, Kandy, Matale, Polonnaruwa and Trincomalee districts. The advisory, issued at 12.49 p.m. today, remains valid until 1.00 a.m. tomorrow (04).

The Meteorology Department warned that severe lightning could cause damage to infrastructure and property, disrupt outdoor activities and result in localised electrical and electronic interference.

The public has been advised to seek shelter indoors during thunderstorms and avoid taking shelter under trees.

People have also been urged to avoid open areas, including paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies, as well as using wired telephones, connected electrical appliances and open vehicles such as bicycles, tractors and boats during thunderstorms.

The department further advised the public to remain cautious of fallen trees and power lines and contact local disaster management authorities in the event of an emergency.

Tensions escalated in Parliament earlier today (03) as Opposition MPs attempted to seize the ceremonial mace during a protest over the rejection of a no-confidence motion against Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne.

A proposal has been submitted to Parliament seeking the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the 1983 Black July riots and their impact. The proposal was presented by National People’s Power (NPP) MP Thanura Dissanayake and seconded by fellow NPP MP Bhagya Sri Herath.

Deputy Minister of Economic Development Nishantha Jayaweera has urged the public not to queue at Inland Revenue Department (IRD) offices to obtain Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN), stating that alternative arrangements are being introduced to facilitate the process.

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the awarding of a contract worth Rs. 1,318.3 million for the construction and improvement of three road sections along the Kandy–Jaffna (A9) road.

A protest was held outside the Batticaloa District Secretariat today (03), demanding that authorities take immediate action to resolve the longstanding dispute over cattle grazing lands in the Mayilathamadu area.

The Federation of Global Tamils (FGT) invites Eelam Tamils in the homeland and diaspora, and individuals committed to its objectives, to become members and participate in shaping the Federation’s future.

Naval and fishing communities have been warned not to venture into several deep-sea areas around Sri Lanka following the intensification of Cyclonic Storm Murasu into a Severe Cyclonic Storm, the Department of Meteorology said yesterday.

A large number of people have visited the Inland Revenue Department’s (IRD) head office to obtain Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN), resulting in severe congestion.

SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa has questioned the protection afforded to people in State custody, alleging that individuals are being beaten, tortured and dying while under State custody.

SriLankan Airlines flight UL605 from Melbourne to Colombo declared an emergency shortly before landing at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) following the activation of a smoke warning in the aircraft's cargo hold.

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has arrested former Secretary to the Ministry of Cooperatives and Internal Trade, Gamini Kitsiri Dias Amarawardhana, over an alleged corruption case involving the procurement of chairs for the Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre in Polgolla.

The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) for the Jaffna District has written to the Jaffna Municipal Council, instructing it to immediately remove the unauthorised structures at the Thileepan Memorial, located in the Nallur area of Jaffna.

Senior lawyer and veteran left-wing political figure Lal Wijenayake, a member of the National People’s Power (NPP) National Operations Committee and Executive Council, passed away on Saturday evening.

A depression over the Southeast Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm tomorrow (2), the Department of Meteorology warned.

Plans are underway to install CCTV cameras at every police station across the country, with procurement activities for the project already in progress, Police Media Spokesperson Assistant Superintendent of Police F. U. Wootler said. He said steps would also be taken to monitor police stations using the CCTV footage. The project is expected to introduce a system of surveillance across police stations islandwide.

Litro Gas Lanka has announced that domestic LP gas prices will remain unchanged throughout November. The company said the decision was taken to provide relief to consumers despite rising international gas prices and challenging exchange rate conditions.

The Sri Lanka Navy seized an Indian fishing trawler and apprehended seven Indian fishermen for allegedly engaging in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters north of Talaimannar this morning.

The Sri Lankan rupee has depreciated by 6.8% against the US dollar during the first ten months of 2026, according to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke to DW on Friday after talks in Montreal with European Union leaders seeking to hammer out details of a new, closer partnership between Canada and the EU.

Sri Lanka’s expenditure on fuel imports increased by 51.5% during the first nine months of 2026 compared to the corresponding period last year, according to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).