News

Twenty-five Sri Lankan students have landed in Pakistan to study MBBS in top medical universities through the Allama Iqbal Scholarships for Sri Lankan Students.

The students were welcomed upon their arrival at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi.

These fully-funded scholarships are a part of the larger Pak-Sri Lanka Higher Education Cooperation Programme, which is managed by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan.

Through this initiative, the students will be able to carry out their medical studies at top universities, including Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) Karachi and Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences (LUMHS), Karachi.

Both of these universities are properly recognized by the Sri Lankan Medical Council (SLMC), which will make the degrees internationally recognized.

Apart from the students who have just arrived, there are over 430 Sri Lankan students who are currently enrolled in Pakistani universities through this scholarship program in a variety of disciplines, including Medicine, Engineering, Business Studies, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences.

All of these students have been selected through a competitive process, as per the eligibility criteria for admission to Pakistani higher education institutions. Through the same scholarship program, one hundred more Sri Lankan students are set to arrive in Pakistan.

Source:adaderana.lk

The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has extended ‘Level 3 (Red)’ landslide warnings issued to several Divisional Secretariat Divisions (DSDs) across four districts due to prevailing heavy rainfall.

In addition, Level 2 (Amber) and Level 1 (Yellow) landslide early warnings have been issued for multiple areas across several districts.

The warnings, issued by the NBRO at 8:30 a.m. today (22), will remain in effect for the next 24 hours.

Level 3 — Evacuate (Red Warning)

• Kandy District: Yatinuwara, Doluwa, Ududumbara, Ganga Ihala Korale
• Kegalle District: Yatiyanthota, Kegalle, Dehiowita, Aranayaka, Mawanella
• Matale District: Rattota, Ambagamuwa Korale, Laggala Pallegama, Wilgamuwa, Ukuwela
• Ratnapura District: Ratnapura

Level 2 — Be Alert (Amber Warning)

• Badulla District: Haldummulla
• Galle District: Niyagama
• Kandy District: Medadumbara, Pathadumbara
• Monaragala District: Badalkumbura
• Ratnapura District: Kiriella, Ayagama, Kalawana

Level 1 — Remain Vigilant (Yellow Warning)

• Badulla District: Meegahakivula, Kandaketiya, Haputale, Passara, Bandarawela 
• Hambantota District: Walasmulla
• Kandy District: Udadumbara, Udapalatha, Udunuwara, Pasbage Korale, Pathahewaheta
• Kegalle District: Deraniyagala, Bulathkohupitiya
• Kurunegala District: Rideegama, Mallawapitiya 
• Monaragala District: Wellawaya 
• Nuwara Eliya District: Kotmale West, Hanguranketha, Kotmale East, Mathurata
• Ratnapura District: Nivithigala, Eheliyagoda, Kolonna(

(Source:adaderana.lk)

Within hours of the killing of Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, better known as El Mencho, in a military raid on Sunday, gunmen suspected to be his supporters blocked highways across several states and set cars and businesses ablaze.

In some towns tourists and residents were urged to stay indoors, while truckers were advised to take safe routes or return to their depots until the violence abated.

Several airlines, including Air Canada, United Airlines and Aeromexico, on Sunday cancelled flights to Puerto Vallarta, a beachside resort town where stunned tourists filmed plumes of smoke rising into the sky from fires.

The burst of violence across more than half a dozen states painted a familiar scene for Mexicans who have spent two decades watching successive governments wage war on drug cartels, ravaging broad swaths of the country.

A member of Oseguera’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel told Reuters that the blazes and sporadic gunfire were carried out in revenge for the government’s killing of Oseguera, and warned of further bloodshed as groups move to take control of his cartel.

“The attacks were carried out in revenge for the leader’s death, at first against the government and out of discontent,” the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“But later the internal killings are coming, by the groups moving in to take over.”
In Mexico’s Pacific coast, a five-hour drive from the military operation in the town of Tapalpa that took down the leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel, stunned beachgoers on a pier in Puerto Vallarta took out their cell phones to film thick waves of smoke obscuring blue ocean views, showed a video shared with Reuters.

Daniel Drolet, a Canadian who has wintered in Puerto Vallarta for years, said in a phone interview that he was concerned of a new era of violence taking root in the typically placid resort zone.

“I have never seen anything like this before,” he said.

In the state of Jalisco, authorities reported that gunmen had attacked a base for the National Guard military police, and recommended guests remain inside hotels and suspended public transit.

Other scenes of criminal activity and military response were captured in videos shared by government security sources with Reuters: A green military tank made its way through a residential neighborhood in the state of Aguascalientes. Roadblocks paralyzed the highly transited Mexico-Puebla highway. In the state of Colima, cartel members standing in pick-up trucks blocked a road.

A trucking industry group said in a statement it was “profoundly worried” by the highway violence and recommended that truckers keep to safe areas or return to their operating yards until conditions improved.

The state of Guanajuato, a CJNG stronghold, reported 55 incidents across 23 municipalities, with 18 arrests, but said by evening all incidents were under control.

Carlo Gutierrez, who lives in Guadalajara, Jalisco’s capital, said that friends on WhatsApp groups were encouraging people to stay home.

“There is fear and a lot of caution,” he said of the city, one of three main Mexican venues for World Cup soccer matches this summer.

VIOLENCE IN WAKE OF CARTEL ARRESTS, KILLINGS

Authorities have not reported any casualties beyond several cartel members and officials killed during the military operation.

Previous cartel arrests and killings have led to outbreaks of violence - whether by members avenging their fallen leader or rival gangs muscling in on their territory - prompting Mexican authorities to hesitate before launching major campaigns.

In 2019, Ovidio Guzman, a son of Sinaloa Cartel kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, was detained but quickly released, setting off widespread gun battles. His arrest in 2023 set off more violence.

The 2024 arrest of Sinaloa Cartel boss Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada triggered a bloody power struggle in the criminal group that continues unabated more than a year later.

“I’m watching the scenes of violence from Mexico with great sadness and concern,” said U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, who previously served as ambassador to Mexico, in a post on social media.

“It’s not surprising that the bad guys are responding with terror. But we must never lose our nerve.”

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum in a social media post acknowledged the violence, but struck a tone of calm.

“In most of the national territory activities are happening with absolute normalcy,” she said.

Source:adaderana.lk

US President Donald Trump has said he is considering a limited military strike on Iran in order to pressure its leaders to agree a deal to curb the nuclear programme.

The president made the remark in response to a question from a journalist hours after officials had suggested the possibility of a strike.

On Thursday, Trump said the world would find out “over the next, probably, 10 days” whether a deal would be reached or the US would take military action. The US has been increasing its military presence in the region in recent weeks.

The US and its European allies suspect that Iran is moving towards the development of a nuclear weapon, something Iran has always denied.

US and Iranian officials have met over the issue in Switzerland and said progress has been made in the talks.

Speaking on Friday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran was preparing “a draft of a possible agreement” and would hand it over to US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in the next few days.

The talks in Geneva were held as American forces continued ramping up their presence in the vicinity of Iran.

The deployment includes the world’s largest warship, USS Gerald R Ford, appearing to be heading towards the region.

USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier is also being deployed, joining an increase of destroyers, combat ships and fighter jets.

Satellite images have also shown that Iran has reinforced military facilities, and the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamanei, has posted messages to social media threatening US forces.

“The US President constantly says that the US has sent a warship toward Iran. Of course, a warship is a dangerous piece of military hardware,” one of Khamenei’s posts read.

Trump takes questions from journalists several times a week - often in lengthy sessions in the Oval Office or on Air Force One - but his comments do not necessarily always translate into concrete actions, and often contradict each other.

He is fond of reminding reporters that he prefers to keep his intentions to himself and a small circle of insiders to avoid potential adversaries knowing his next moves.

“I’m not going to talk to you about that,” he snapped at a reporter on Thursday when asked about potential military action. “We’re going to make a deal or get a deal one way or the other.”

Even if an operation is carried out, Trump has so far yet to specify what the precise military objective would be, with US officials having reportedly presented him with a wide range of options for what could be a weeks-long campaign.

In the past, Trump has also used deadlines to achieve an element of surprise.

At the time of Operation Midnight Hammer in July last year - which saw US forces strike Iranian nuclear facilities - White House officials were still publicly discussing the possibility of successful talks.

The day before US missiles and bombs struck the facility, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt read a statement from Trump in which he said that because “negotiations may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks”.

Any strikes in the near future would come at a challenging time domestically for the Trump administration, with polls showing that a growing number of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of immigration and the economy.

Unlike the one-day strike in Iran last year and the quick operation to capture Nicolás Maduro in January, a protracted, multi-week conflict with Iran threatens alienating parts of Trump’s Maga base which were drawn to his campaign promise of an end to messy foreign entanglements.

Source:adaderana.l

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya called on members of the Scouting Movement to take an active and responsible role in shaping the country’s future while addressing a special event held to commemorate the 169th birth anniversary of Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of global scouting, and World Scout Thinking Day.

The event took place on February 22 at the Sri Lanka Scout Association National Scout Headquarters, with the participation of scouts and officials from across the country.

In her address, the Prime Minister emphasized that scouting is not about titles or ranks but about building strong character, discipline, and a commitment to helping others. She encouraged scouts to become responsible citizens who contribute positively to society, respect diversity, and make productive use of modern technology.

She also highlighted the importance of environmental protection, urging scouts to take part in initiatives such as tree planting and conserving water resources.

As part of the ceremony, laptops were symbolically handed over to selected districts under the Scout Digitalization Project, along with first-aid kits to support scouting activities. Chief Scout Commissioner Manoj Nanayakkara presented the Prime Minister with a commemorative stamp collection and special cover to mark the occasion.

The event was attended by Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri, senior officials of the Sri Lanka Scout Association, and scouts representing various regions of the country.

The Sri Lankan Rupee showed a modest improvement against the US Dollar today (February 20), based on the latest exchange rates released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

The Central Bank reported that the Dollar’s buying rate moved from Rs. 305.63 to Rs. 305.58, while the selling rate also shifted slightly from Rs. 313.14 to Rs. 313.09, indicating a marginal strengthening of the local currency.

Meanwhile, the Rupee maintained relative stability when compared to a range of other foreign currencies, including those used in Gulf countries.

The slight appreciation reflects continued stability in the foreign exchange market, with no significant fluctuations reported in major currency pairings.

Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that 100,000 LP gas cylinders, amounting to approximately 1,500 metric tons, will be distributed today in an effort to address the current supply shortage in the market.

He also confirmed that two more gas shipments are scheduled to arrive in the country in the coming days. One vessel carrying 3,900 metric tons of LP gas is expected on February 25, followed by another shipment of 3,700 metric tons on February 28.

In addition, ministry officials are set to hold a special discussion today with representatives from LAUGFS Gas PLC to review the ongoing supply concerns and explore solutions.

The Minister emphasized that strict legal measures will be taken if the company fails to restore adequate gas distribution. He added that the company has been given until March 12 to ensure sufficient availability of LP gas for consumers.

British police were searching the former mansion of King Charles’ younger brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on Friday after a photograph of the royal emerging from a police station was splashed on newspapers around the world.

Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on Thursday, his 66th birthday, on suspicion of misconduct in public office over allegations he sent confidential government documents to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein when he was a trade envoy.

The former prince was released under investigation after being held by police for more than 10 hours. 

He has not been charged with any offence but looked haunted in a Reuters photograph after his release, slumped in the back of a Range Rover, eyes red and with a look of disbelief on his face.

The photograph of a man who was once a dashing naval officer and reputed favourite son of the late Queen Elizabeth was carried on the front page of newspapers in Britain and around the world, accompanied by headlines such as “Downfall”.

Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, a convicted sex offender who took his own life in 2019, and said he regrets their friendship. 

But the release of millions of documents by the U.S. government showed he had remained friends with Epstein long after the financier was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008.

Those files suggested Mountbatten-Windsor had forwarded to Epstein British government reports about investment opportunities in Afghanistan and assessments of Vietnam, Singapore and other places he had visited as the government’s Special Representative for Trade and Investment.

KING SAYS THE LAW MUST TAKE ITS COURSE

The arrest of the senior royal, eighth in line to the throne, is unprecedented in modern times. The last member of the royal family to be arrested in Britain was Charles I, who was beheaded in 1649 after being found guilty of treason.

King Charles, who stripped his brother of his title of prince and forced him out of his Windsor home last year, said on Thursday he had learned about the arrest with “deepest concern”.

“Let me state clearly: the law must take its course,” the king said. “What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities.”

The news broke early on Thursday morning that six unmarked police cars and around eight plain-clothed officers had arrived at Wood Farm on the king’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk, eastern England, where Mountbatten-Windsor now resides.

Thames Valley Police officers also searched the mansion on the king’s Windsor estate west of London where Mountbatten-Windsor had lived before being forced out amid anger at the Epstein revelations.

Officers said late on Thursday that the royal had been released under investigation. They said the searches at Sandringham had concluded but the searches in Windsor were continuing.

While being arrested means that police have reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed and that the royal is suspected of involvement in an offence, it does not imply guilt.

A conviction for misconduct in a public office carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and cases must be dealt with in a Crown Court, which handle the most serious criminal offences.

Source:adaderana.lk

Minister of Health and Mass Media Nalinda Jayatissa announced that the Sri Lanka Postal Department has the capacity to reach a revenue target of Rs. 15,000 million this year.

He made these remarks during the opening ceremony of the newly renovated Madawala Ulpotha Post Office yesterday (22), which was upgraded at a cost of Rs. 5.1 million.

The Minister highlighted that an earlier investment of Rs. 2,000 million in the Postal Department helped increase its income to Rs. 13,450 million. Building on this progress, the Department is now aiming for higher earnings in the current year.

He further explained that multiple projects are currently being implemented to modernize postal operations and enhance efficiency. These include allocating Rs. 27 million to install 209 CCTV cameras, Rs. 74 million to purchase 225 computers, and Rs. 101 million to supply 1,500 tablet devices to the Central Mail Exchange.

Additionally, solar energy systems are being installed at key facilities such as the Batticaloa and Polonnaruwa post offices, the Central Mail Exchange, and Postal Headquarters, with an investment of Rs. 24 million.

The Minister also confirmed that renovation work at the Polonnaruwa Post Office has been completed. Furthermore, Rs. 31 million has been allocated to procure 657 fingerprint recognition devices, which will be introduced across post offices islandwide to improve operational efficiency and security.

The Disaster Management Centre Sri Lanka (DMC) has announced that previously issued Red-level landslide warnings for multiple districts have now been lifted.

DMC Director Pradeep Kodippili stated that residents who were earlier evacuated from high-risk areas have been permitted to return to their homes following safety assessments conducted in the affected locations.

He noted that the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has maintained Red warnings only for several Divisional Secretariat divisions within the Kandy District.

According to Kodippili, most roads have been cleared and restored, with the exception of the Somawathiya road, which remains inundated as of this morning.

Meanwhile, he confirmed that the G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination scheduled for today (23) will proceed without interruption. The DMC, in coordination with the Department of Examinations Sri Lanka, has put in place a joint emergency response mechanism to address any unforeseen developments.

Authorities have assured that arrangements are ready to provide immediate support if required, including transportation assistance for students and measures to ensure examinations continue smoothly.

All emergency operation centres remain fully active, with officers manning the 117 emergency hotline around the clock. District disaster management units, the Tri-Forces, Police, and technical response teams are also on alert to respond swiftly to any incidents.

The public has been urged to remain attentive to official weather updates and follow safety advisories issued by relevant authorities.