News

The Sri Lankan Rupee has shown a marginal strengthening against the US Dollar at commercial banks today (12 January), with the overall selling rate remaining broadly stable compared to last week.

At Seylan Bank, the US Dollar buying rate has declined to Rs. 306.65, while the selling rate has eased to Rs. 311.40. NDB Bank also reported a reduction, with the buying rate now at Rs. 306 and the selling rate at Rs. 312.50.

People’s Bank indicated that the Dollar buying rate has decreased to Rs. 305.74, with the selling rate recorded at Rs. 312.48. Meanwhile, Commercial Bank has kept its exchange rates unchanged, maintaining the buying rate at Rs. 304.24 and the selling rate at Rs. 312.75.

Similarly, Sampath Bank reported no change in its rates, with the US Dollar buying at Rs. 305.75 and selling at Rs. 312.25.

#neOverall, the Dollar selling rate across major commercial banks continues to hover around Rs. 312, reflecting relative stability in the foreign exchange market.

Unrest in Iran has killed more than 500 people, a rights group said on Sunday, as Tehran threatened to target U.S. military bases if President Donald Trump carries out his renewed threats to intervene on behalf of protesters.

With the Islamic Republic’s clerical establishment facing the biggest demonstrations since 2022, Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene if force is used on protesters.

According to its latest figures - from activists inside and outside Iran - U.S.-based rights group HRANA said it had verified the deaths of 490 protesters and 48 security personnel, with more than 10,600 people arrested in two weeks of unrest.

Iran has not given an official toll and Reuters was unable to independently verify the tolls.

Trump was to meet with senior advisers on Tuesday to discuss options for Iran, a U.S. official told Reuters on Sunday. The Wall Street Journal had reported that options included military strikes, using secret cyber weapons, widening sanctions and providing online help to anti-government sources.

“The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options,” Trump told reporters travelling on Air Force One on Sunday night.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned Washington against “a miscalculation.”

“Let us be clear: in the case of an attack on Iran, the occupied territories (Israel) as well as all U.S. bases and ships will be our legitimate target,” said Qalibaf, a former commander in Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards.

AUTHORITIES INTENSIFY CRACKDOWN

The protests began on December 28 in response to soaring prices, before turning against the clerical rulers who have governed since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Iranian authorities accused the U.S. and Israel of fomenting trouble and called for a nationwide rally on Monday to condemn “terrorist actions led by the United States and Israel,” state media reported.

The flow of information from Iran has been hampered by an internet blackout since Thursday.

Footage posted on social media on Saturday from Tehran showed large crowds marching at night, clapping and chanting. The crowd “has no end nor beginning,” a man is heard saying.

Footage from the northeastern city of Mashhad showed smoke billowing into the night sky from fires in the street, masked protesters and a road strewn with debris, another video posted on Saturday showed. Explosions could be heard.

Reuters verified the locations.

State TV showed dozens of body bags on the ground at the Tehran coroner’s office, saying the dead were victims of events caused by “armed terrorists”, as well as footage of loved ones gathered outside the Kahrizak Forensic Medical Centre in Tehran waiting to identify bodies.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was shocked by reports of violence by the Iranian authorities and urged maximum restraint. “The rights to freedom of expression, association & peaceful assembly must be fully respected & protected,” he said on X.

Authorities on Sunday declared three days of national mourning “in honour of martyrs killed in resistance against the United States and the Zionist regime,” according to state media.

Three Israeli sources, who were present for Israeli security consultations over the weekend, said Israel was on a high-alert footing for the possibility of any U.S. intervention.

Israel and Iran fought a 12-day war in June 2025, which the United States briefly joined by attacking nuclear installations. Iran retaliated by firing missiles at Israel and an American air base in Qatar.

‘RIOTERS AND TERRORISTS’

While the Iranian authorities have weathered previous protests, the latest have unfolded with Tehran still recovering from last year’s war and with its regional position weakened by blows to allies such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah since the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks against Israel.

Iran’s unrest comes as Trump flexes U.S. muscles internationally, having ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and discussing acquiring Greenland by purchase or force.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Israel and the U.S. were masterminding destabilisation and that Iran’s enemies had brought in “terrorists ... who set mosques on fire ... attack banks, and public properties”.

“Families, I ask you: do not allow your young children to join rioters and terrorists who behead people and kill others,” he said in a TV interview, adding that the government was ready to listen to the people and to resolve economic problems.

Iran summoned Britain’s ambassador on Sunday to the foreign ministry over “interventionist comments” attributed to the British foreign minister and a protester removing the Iranian flag from the London Embassy building and replacing it with a style of flag used prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Britain’s foreign office did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Alan Eyre, a former U.S. diplomat and Iran expert, thought it unlikely the protests would topple the establishment.

“I think it more likely that it puts these protests down eventually, but emerges from the process far weaker,” he told Reuters, noting that Iran’s elite still appeared cohesive and there was no organised opposition.

Iranian state TV broadcast funeral processions in western cities such as Gachsaran and Yasuj for security personnel killed in protests.

State TV said 30 members of the security forces would be buried in the central city of Isfahan and that six more were killed by “rioters” in Kermanshah in the west.

US READY TO HELP, SAYS TRUMP

Trump, posting on social media on Saturday, said: “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!”

In a phone call on Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the possibility of U.S. intervention in Iran, according to an Israeli source present for the conversation.

Some protesters in the United States took to the streets in support of the demonstrators in Iran. In the Los Angeles neighborhood of Westwood, a rental truck drove into a crowd of a few hundred people who were holding a rally in support of the Iranian protesters, the KNBC news outlet reported on Sunday.

Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah and a prominent voice in the fragmented opposition, said Trump had observed Iranians’ “indescribable bravery”. 
“Do not abandon the streets,” Pahlavi, who is based in the U.S., wrote on X.

Source:adaderana.lk

The Department of Meteorology has released a special advisory warning of severe lightning activity affecting the Western, North-Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces, as well as the Galle and Matara districts.

According to the advisory, which remains in effect until 11.00 p.m. today (12 January), red-level warnings have been issued for nine districts, while amber-level alerts have been declared for five additional districts.

Meteorologists caution that thundershowers in these areas could be accompanied by temporary localized strong winds, increasing the risk of damage.Members of the public are strongly advised to take necessary safety measures to reduce potential harm caused by lightning and adverse weather conditions.

The Department of Meteorology has issued a weather advisory stating that showers or thundershowers are likely to occur at intervals today (12 January) in the Northern, North-Central, Uva, Eastern and Central provinces, as well as in the Hambantota district.

According to the forecast, certain locations in the Eastern and Uva provinces may experience fairly heavy rainfall exceeding 50 millimetres. In addition, several other parts of the island could see showers or thundershowers developing after 1.00 p.m.

The Met Department further noted that isolated areas in the Northwestern, Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces could receive heavier rainfall of around 75 millimetres.

Misty conditions are expected during the early morning hours in parts of the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces, along with the Galle, Matara and Kurunegala districts.

The public has been urged to take necessary safety measures to reduce the risk of damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning associated with thundershowers.

U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung has drawn attention to the country’s growing popularity as a surfing destination, citing her own experience during a recent visit to the southern coast.In a post shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, Ambassador Chung revealed that she had never attempted surfing before, despite being from California. She noted that with guidance from a patient instructor, she was able to overcome her initial hesitation and successfully ride a surfboard for the first time in Sri Lanka.

Expressing her enthusiasm, the Ambassador said she looks forward to returning to the island as a tourist to continue learning the sport. She also described Sri Lanka’s southern coastline as outstanding, commending its scenic beauty and surf-friendly beaches.

Her comments reflect Sri Lanka’s increasing recognition on the global stage as an attractive surfing destination, with the southern coast in particular drawing surfers of all skill levels from across the world.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday said no more Venezuelan oil or money will go to Cuba and suggested the Communist-run island should strike a deal with Washington, ramping up pressure on the long-time U.S. nemesis and provoking defiant words from the island’s leadership.

Venezuela is Cuba’s biggest oil supplier, but no cargoes have departed from Venezuelan ports to the Caribbean country since the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces in early January amid a strict U.S. oil blockade on the OPEC country, shipping data shows.

Meanwhile, Caracas and Washington are progressing on a $2 billion deal to supply up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil to the U.S. with proceeds to be deposited in U.S. Treasury-supervised accounts, a major test of the emerging relationship between Trump and interim President Delcy Rodriguez.

“THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA - ZERO! I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Sunday.

“Cuba lived, for many years, on large amounts of OIL and MONEY from Venezuela,” Trump added.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel rejected Trump’s threat on social media, suggesting the U.S. had no moral authority to force a deal on Cuba.

“Cuba is a free, independent, and sovereign nation. Nobody dictates what we do,” Diaz-Canel said on X. “Cuba does not attack; it has been attacked by the U.S. for 66 years, and it does not threaten; it prepares, ready to defend the homeland to the last drop of blood.”

The U.S. president did not elaborate on his suggested deal.

But Trump’s push on Cuba represents the latest escalation in his move to bring regional powers in line with the United States and underscores the seriousness of the administration’s ambition to dominate the Western Hemisphere.

Trump’s top officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have made no secret of their expectation that the recent U.S. intervention in Venezuela could push Cuba over the edge.

U.S. officials have hardened their rhetoric against Cuba in recent weeks, though the two countries have been at odds since former leader Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution.

CUBA DEFENDS IMPORT RIGHTS

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said in another post on X on Sunday that Cuba had the right to import fuel from any suppliers willing to export it. He also denied that Cuba had received financial or other “material” compensation in return for security services provided to any country.

Thirty-two members of Cuba’s armed forces and intelligence services were killed during the U.S. raid on Venezuela. Cuba said those killed were responsible for “security and defense” but did not provide details on the arrangement between the two long-time allies.

Cuba relies on imported crude and fuel mainly provided by Venezuela, and Mexico in smaller volumes, purchased on the open market to keep its power generators and vehicles running.

As its operational refining capacity dwindled in recent years, Venezuela’s supply of crude and fuel to Cuba has fallen. But the South American country is still the largest provider with some 26,500 barrels per day exported last year, according to ship tracking data and internal documents of state-run PDVSA, which covered roughly 50% of Cuba’s oil deficit.

Havana produce vendor Alberto Jimenez, 45, said Cuba would not back down in the face of Trump’s threat.

“That doesn’t scare me. Not at all. The Cuban people are prepared for anything,” Jimenez said.

It’s hard for many Cubans to imagine a situation much worse. The island’s government has been struggling to keep the lights on. A majority live without electricity for much of the day, and even the capital Havana has seen its economy crippled by hours-long rolling blackouts.

Shortages of food, fuel and medicine have put Cubans on edge and have prompted a record-breaking exodus, primarily to the United States, in the past five years.

MEXICO BECOMES KEY SUPPLIER

Mexico has emerged in recent weeks as a critical alternative oil supplier to the island, but the supply remains small, according to the shipping data.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum last week said her country had not increased supply volumes, but given recent political events in Venezuela, Mexico had turned into an “important supplier” of crude to Cuba.

U.S. intelligence has painted a grim picture of Cuba’s economic and political situation, but its assessments offer no clear support for Trump’s prediction that the island is “ready to fall,” Reuters reported on Saturday, citing three people familiar with the confidential assessments.

The CIA’s view is that key sectors of the Cuban economy, such as agriculture and tourism, are severely strained by frequent blackouts, trade sanctions and other problems. The potential loss of oil imports and other support from Venezuela could make governing more difficult for Diaz-Canel.

Havana resident and parking attendant Maria Elena Sabina, a 58-year-old born shortly after Castro took power, said it was time for Cuba’s leaders to make changes amid so much suffering.

“There’s no electricity here, no gas, not even liquefied gas. There’s nothing here,” Sabina said. “So yes, a change is needed, a change is needed, and quickly.”

Source:adaderana.lk

Australia has tightened checks for student visa applicants from India as it moved India into the ‘highest-risk’ category along with Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan. 

The new categorization came into effect from January 8 2026, as these four South-Asian countries have been moved from Evidence Level 2 to Evidence Level 3 under the Simplified Student Visa Framework (SSVF).

The re-rating of the countries was out of cycle, the Australian media reported, while the administration said this was triggered by “emerging integrity risks”.

“This change will assist with the effective management of emerging integrity issues, while continuing to facilitate genuine students seeking a quality education in Australia,” the administration said. 

“The Australian government wants all students to have a positive study experience during their stay in Australia and receive a high-quality education. It is important that Australia’s international education system and Student Visa Program has the right settings to provide international students with confidence they are investing in the best possible education,” they said.

What does this re-rating mean for Indian students?

Indian students applying for a visa in Australia will be screened meticulously. They may be asked for more documents, and there might be rigorous background checks. Bank statements will be manually verified, additional English language evidence may be requested and the officers will have the authority to call institutions, referees.

The process time of applications will lengthen from three to eight weeks.

Why India moved to ‘highest- risk’ category?

Though the administration did not cite any specific reason for which India had been assigned to a new category, the move came after reports of fake degree busts in India, which created a ripple in the international media. India alone accounts for almost 140,000 of Australia’s 650,000 international students, and the four nations represent nearly one-third of 2025 enrolments.

According to experts, Australia remains the only option now among the ‘big four’ student destinations, as the US, UK and Canada are shutting their doors to foreign students. 

“It recently became obvious that student applicants who couldn’t get into those other three countries are increasingly applying to come to Australia, and in many cases we’ve seen an increase in fraudulent financial and academic documents,” Phil Honeywood, chief executive of the International Education Association of Australia, said.

“By placing a number of these countries into the highest risk rating level then it automatically enhances any filtering of the student visa applicants to ensure bona fide study motivation.”

Source:adaderana.lk

The remaining papers of the 2025 GCE Advanced Level (A/L) examination, which were delayed due to the prevailing disaster conditions in the country, recommence today (12 January), the Department of Examinations announced.

Commissioner General of Examinations, Indika Kumari Liyanage, stated that the rescheduled examinations will be conducted from today through January 20, adhering to the previously announced examination times without any changes.

A total of 2,086 examination centres have been set up island-wide to facilitate candidates, supported by 325 coordination centres and 32 regional centres to ensure smooth administration.

The Department of Examinations has also introduced special provisions for candidates who lost personal identification documents such as National Identity Cards, driving licences, or passports due to the disaster. These candidates will be permitted to sit the examination upon presenting a temporary identification document issued by the relevant authorities.

Candidates have been reminded to report to their respective examination centres at least 30 minutes prior to the start of each paper to avoid any inconvenience, the Commissioner General added.

China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake early this morning (12 January) on a short transit visit while en route to China following an official visit to South Africa.

The Foreign Minister was accompanied by a 17-member Chinese delegation and arrived in Sri Lanka after concluding his engagements in Durban.

The visiting delegation was received at the airport by the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong, together with senior officials from the Chinese Embassy. On behalf of the Sri Lankan government, Director General of the East Asia and Oceania Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Savitri Panabokke, along with other ministry officials, were present to welcome the delegation.

According to official sources, Minister Wang Yi and his delegation are scheduled to depart Sri Lanka later today to continue their journey back to China.

The Department of Meteorology says intermittent showers may occur tomorrow (12) in the Northern, North Central, Uva, Eastern and Central Provinces, as well as in the Hambantota District.

In other parts of the country, scattered showers or thundershowers are likely after 1.00 p.m.

Some locations in the Eastern, Uva and Sabaragamuwa Provinces may experience heavy rainfall exceeding 50 millimetres.

Misty conditions are expected during the early morning hours in parts of the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central Provinces, and in the Galle and Matara Districts.

The Department of Meteorology urges the public to take necessary precautions to minimise damage caused by temporary strong winds and lightning associated with thundershowers.

Meanwhile, showers may occur at times in the sea areas off the coast from Kankesanthurai to Pottuvil via Trincomalee. Elsewhere around the island, isolated showers or thundershowers may develop during the evening or night.

Winds in the sea areas around the island will blow from an easterly to north-easterly direction, with speeds of around 25–35 km/h.

Wind speeds may increase up to 45 km/h in the sea areas off the coast from Chilaw to Kankesanthurai via Mannar, and from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota.

These sea areas may become fairly rough at times, while the remaining sea areas around the island are expected to be slightly rough.

One of the generators at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant that was previously taken offline for maintenance has now been successfully restored, according to official sources.

Despite the completion of restoration work, the electricity produced by this unit has not yet been synchronized with the national power system. Relevant authorities have indicated that the process to connect the generator to the national grid is expected to be completed in the coming days.

The Norochcholai Power Plant has an overall generation capacity of 900 megawatts, delivered through three separate generators. Currently, only one generator is actively supplying power to the national grid.

Another unit at the plant remains non-operational, while technical teams continue efforts to repair and return it to service.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the Government has commenced necessary measures to maintain preschool education under a framework, align preschool education with a unified curriculum, conduct teacher training in a systematic manner, and ensure quality standards.

The Prime Minister made these remarks today (10) at the Temple Trees, participating in the launch of the National Communication Programme for Child Health Promotion, aimed at promoting social and behavioural change (SBCC) among early childhood children. 

The programme is jointly organized by the Health Promotion Bureau, the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, UNICEF, and the Clean Sri Lanka Programme.

Addressing at the event, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated:

“Early Childhood Development (ECD) has a major impact on a country’s human development and future progress. It is a widely accepted fact that a child’s future depends largely on early childhood development. Many aspects essential for a child’s growth occur within the first five years of life. The experiences, care, and love a child receives during this period are decisive.

“The social integration, relationships, and environmental influences experienced in early childhood form the foundation for shaping an individual as an adult. Early childhood development influences life to an extent that it becomes difficult to change when it grows into the adulthood.

“The responses of adults to children’s actions, the way they interact with them, and the care they provide are extremely important. Therefore, early childhood development should never be viewed as the sole responsibility of parents. It is a collective responsibility of all citizens. 

“No child can be raised into a good citizen by parents alone. In all our lives, beyond our parents, there have been many who influenced us, showed us love, and provided care. It is due to the collective support of all these individuals that we have reached where we are today. The Government views child care as a social responsibility. Supporting a child, providing care, ensuring protection, education, and health facilities are social responsibilities. In this regard, the intervention of the Clean Sri Lanka Programme to communicate these values to the public is important.

“The role of the Preschool teachers plays a special and vital role for children. The love, care, attentive listening, and responses children receive during this stage are decisive for their development. Teachers carry out a crucial intervention in the lives of children. An education policy on early childhood development has been formulated, with UNICEF providing technical assistance. Steps are being taken to operate preschool education under a single framework, align it with a unified curriculum, systematically conduct teacher training, and ensure quality standards.

“Recognising early childhood development as a specialised area within education, the Prime Minister affirmed that the relevant interventions will be made accordingly.”

Addressing the event, Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Ms. Saroja Paulraj, stated that the Ministry has identified the standardisation and development of early childhood development as a primary goal for the year 2026. 

She noted that children who leave the warmth of their mother’s embrace and father’s shoulder and come to preschool teachers expecting the same love and care from their teachers. 

Conveying that warmth through words and expressions is a responsibility entrusted to teachers. The love and safe environment children receive shape their ability to love the environment and respect others, the minister said.

Minister of Health and Mass Media, Mr. Nalinda Jayatissa, also addressed the gathering, stating that the goal of the government is to build a beautiful future generation capable of leading the country, free from the various hardships and challenges faced today. 

He emphasised that creating a healthy population is a challenge, particularly in preventing non-communicable diseases. Children aged three to five today will become a generation aged 18 to 20 by 2040. Continuous and comprehensive programmes such as this are essential to protect that generation from non-communicable diseases. In some instances, interventions are required even during the preconception and prenatal stages.

He further highlighted that preschool and early childhood development centre teachers shoulder a tremendous responsibility in driving a major transformation in the country’s future.

#Source:Adaderana.lk