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In response to the post-disaster situation triggered by Cyclone Ditwah, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has extended the declaration of several services as essential public services under the Essential Public Services Act, No. 61 of 1979.

The decision was formalised through a Gazette Extraordinary, which mandates the uninterrupted continuation of services provided by public corporations, government departments, local authorities, and co-operative societies that are vital to the life and well-being of the public.

According to the Schedule attached to the Order, the essential services include electricity supply; fuel distribution, including petroleum products and gas; healthcare services covering hospitals, nursing homes, and similar institutions; public transport for passengers and goods; and the facilitation and maintenance of transport and tourism infrastructure such as roads, railways, airports, ports, bridges, and highways.

The declaration also covers water supply and drainage services; the supply, protection, and distribution of food and essential commodities; the full range of services carried out by District and Divisional Secretariats and their field officers; ambulance services; state banking and insurance services, including the Central Bank of Sri Lanka; and services provided by local authorities such as water, electricity, sewerage, waste disposal, fire-fighting, and emergency response.

In addition, irrigation services, telecommunications and media services, land reclamation and development of low-lying areas, as well as agricultural and agricultural insurance services, have been designated as essential.

The Gazette states that the measure aims to ensure continuity of critical services necessary for public safety, survival, and recovery during the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah.

The Order, signed by Secretary to the President Dr. N. S. Kumanayake, came into effect on 28 January 2026.

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has announced that the 48-hour ultimatum issued to the government to address the union’s concerns comes to an end today (30).

GMOA Media Spokesperson Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe stated that the government has yet to offer a meaningful response within the allotted time, prompting the association’s Executive Committee to convene today to determine the next phase of action.

He said the GMOA has already engaged in a series of professional actions in its pursuit of fairness and emphasized the need for immediate discussions aimed at reaching solutions within a clearly defined timeframe.

Dr. Wijesinghe further remarked that the government has shown little readiness for constructive engagement. He noted that the General Committee had granted the Minister of Health a 48-hour window to intervene, which expires today.

He added that if the matter remains unresolved, the Executive Committee has been authorized to take decisive steps and will inform the public about how the association’s future actions may escalate.

A 14-year-old girl was allegedly killed by her father with a sharp weapon following a dispute over a mobile phone last night (30), according to police.

The deceased has been identified as a resident of Delkada, Uragasmanhandiya, said police. 

Preliminary investigations indicate that during an altercation between the father and daughter, the suspect attacked her with a billhook.

The victim was admitted to Elpitiya Hospital with critical injuries and later succumbed to her injuries while receiving treatment.

The suspect has been taken into police custody, and the body of the deceased has been placed in the mortuary at Elpitiya Hospital, police stated. 

Further investigations are being carried out by the Uragasmanhandiya Police.

(Source - Adaderana.lk)

China agreed to relax rules to allow some visa-free travel for British citizens on Thursday during a visit by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to Beijing, as part of a partnership deal which London hopes will help expand its service sector.

British citizens will be allowed to visit China without a visa if they are travelling for under 30 days, Starmer said following his talks with President Xi Jinping, in what he cast as a win for business.

Companies had been “crying out for ways to grow their footprints in China”, a statement from Starmer said, adding that visa-free travel would help facilitate expansion in that market, boosting jobs at home.

Injecting growth into Britain’s relatively sluggish economy is one of the main aims of his four-day trip.

As part of what Britain called a “new partnership”, the two countries also agreed to conduct a feasibility study which could pave the way towards a bilateral services agreement, which would further help British firms doing business in China.

Britain’s economy is underpinned by its huge services sector and the partnership will aim to grow links in the healthcare, financial and professional services, legal services, education and skills sectors, the statement said.

Britain exports 13 billion pounds worth of services to China annually, it added, and demand from China is growing.

Source:adadderana.lk

Sri Lanka Railways has announced that trains operating on the Coastal Line between Colombo Fort and Wellawatte railway stations may experience delays of about 15 minutes today (31) and tomorrow (01) due to essential maintenance work to upgrade the signaling system.

The upgrade is aimed at increasing the frequency of train operations on the up and down tracks, according to Sri Lanka Railways.

Sri Lanka Railways regrets any inconvenience caused to commuters and requests the public’s understanding during this period.

(Source - Adaderana.lk)

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened new tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba, escalating a pressure campaign against the Communist-run island.

The move, authorized by an executive order under a national emergency declaration, did not specify any tariff rates or single out any countries whose products could face U.S. tariffs.

Emboldened by the U.S. military’s seizure of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a deadly raid earlier this month, Trump has repeatedly talked of acting against Cuba and pressuring its leadership.

Trump said this week that “Cuba will be failing pretty soon,” adding that Venezuela, once the island’s top oil supplier, has not recently sent oil or money to Cuba.

Trump has used tariff threats as a foreign policy tool throughout his second term in office.

Cuba’s president said this month Washington had no moral authority to force a deal on Cuba after Trump suggested the Communist-run island should strike an agreement with the U.S.

Source:adaderana.lk

 Sri Lanka Customs has reiterated that it is strictly prohibited for any passenger arriving from abroad to bring cigarettes, warning that offenders will face severe penalties under the law.

In line with this, 232,804,000 foreign cigarettes seized over the last four months were burned and destroyed today at the Kerawalapitiya Waste-to-Energy Power Plant.

The seized stock, valued at Rs. 305 million, would have cost the government Rs. 271 million in lost tax revenue if allowed into the local market.

The operation was overseen by senior officials, including the heads of the Bandaranaike International Airport security divisions and Sri Lanka Customs Media Spokesperson and Director of Customs, Wandana Punchi Hewa.

Sri Lanka Customs emphasized that all passengers must comply with the ban to avoid strict legal action.

(Source - Daily mirror)

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva will travel to Sri Lanka next month to review the country’s economic reform programme and express the IMF’s support in the aftermath of recent natural disasters, according to IMF Asia and Pacific Department Director Krishna Srinivasan.

Speaking during an official mission to Sri Lanka, Srinivasan said the visit will focus on recognising progress achieved under the IMF-supported programme while also engaging directly with communities affected by the recent catastrophe. He conveyed this message to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake during a meeting on January 28.

Srinivasan, who is leading one of the largest IMF delegations to visit the country, said this marks his fourth visit to Sri Lanka and his first that extended beyond Colombo. He spent two days in areas outside the capital, noting that the experience provided a more personal understanding of the country’s current challenges.

He observed flood-affected regions and damaged infrastructure during his travels and extended sympathies to the people impacted by the disaster, including families who lost loved ones.

According to Srinivasan, there is strong public recognition of the government’s reform efforts, particularly in improving governance, based on feedback he received while visiting local communities.

He also explained that the regional IMF meeting in Sri Lanka, which brings together representatives from across Asia, had been planned well in advance. Despite calls to cancel the event following the disaster, the IMF decided to proceed as a sign of solidarity.

“We want to show that we stand with Sri Lanka,” Srinivasan said, reaffirming the IMF’s continued support for the country and its people.

Apple is shifting its production focus to three high-end iPhone models for 2026, including its first-ever foldable iPhone, while delaying the launch of the standard iPhone 18 to the first half of 2027, Nikkei Asia reported Friday, citing four sources familiar with the matter.

The US tech company is expected to unveil the foldable device alongside two non-folding flagship models featuring upgraded cameras and larger displays in the second half of 2026. The decision is part of a revised marketing strategy and response to supply chain constraints, the report said.

Apple aims to optimize resource allocation and boost profitability amid rising costs for memory chips and other materials. The delay also helps reduce production risks associated with the complex manufacturing process required for its foldable device.

“Supply chain smoothness is one of the key challenges for this year, and the marketing strategy change also played a part in the decision,” an executive from an iPhone supplier told Nikkei Asia.

 (Source:Newswire)

The Department of Meteorology has issued its weather forecast for today (30 January 2026), warning of unsettled conditions across several parts of the island.

Showers are expected intermittently in the Eastern and Uva provinces, as well as in the Matale and Nuwara-Eliya districts. Fairly heavy rainfall exceeding 50 mm may occur in isolated locations in the Uva Province and in the Batticaloa and Ampara districts.

Several periods of rain are also forecast for the Northern and North-Central provinces and the Hambantota district. In other parts of the country, showers or thundershowers are likely to develop at multiple locations after 2.00 p.m.

Meanwhile, misty conditions can be expected during the early morning hours in parts of the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-Western provinces, including the Galle, Matara and Anuradhapura districts.

The general public has been advised to take necessary precautions to reduce possible damage from localized strong winds and lightning associated with thundershowers.

American Airlines said on Thursday it planned to resume services to Venezuela for the first time in more than six years pending government approval and subject to security assessments, just weeks after the U.S. military seized the country’s leader.

Late Thursday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy rescinded a 2019 order that barred U.S. airlines from flying to Venezuela, after President Donald Trump directed him to make the move. In his directive, Duffy said “the continued suspension of air service is no longer required by the public interest.”

Trump’s request came after a discussion with the country’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez. “American citizens will be very shortly able to go to Venezuela, and they’ll be safe there,” Trump said.

American suspended service to Venezuela in 2019 after the U.S. barred flights. The United States earlier this month attacked Venezuela and captured the country’s president, Nicolas Maduro, in a military operation.

United Airlines declined to say if it wanted to resume flights. Delta Air Lines did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

American, which started operating in Venezuela in 1987, said the planned daily flights will provide the opportunity for business, leisure and humanitarian travel to the region. It was the largest U.S. airline in the country before the suspension of flights.

Duffy’s order noted it did not impact other regulatory restrictions from the Departments of State, Treasury, Commerce and Homeland Security or impact Venezuela’s status under the Federal Aviation Administration’s International Aviation Safety Assessment program.

Flights are not likely to resume for weeks or a few months since the Federal Aviation Administration will need to conduct assessments and the Transportation Security Administration is also likely to conduct a security review.

“We look forward to facilitating the return of regular travel between the U.S. and Venezuela,” the FAA said on Thursday.

The Transportation Department will also need to rescind a 2019 order still in place that bars U.S. flights that was issued in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security and the approval of the Secretary of State.

The State Department also added Venezuela to its “Do Not Travel” list for Americans in December.

On January 16, the FAA warned airlines to exercise caution when flying over Mexico, Central America and parts of South America, citing the risks of potential military activities and GPS interference.

The FAA on Thursday rescinded the caution notices for Mexico and Central American countries, as well as Ecuador, Colombia and portions of airspace within the eastern Pacific Ocean, saying they were no longer necessary.

Last month, a JetBlue passenger jet bound for New York took evasive action to avoid a mid-air collision with a U.S. Air Force tanker plane near Venezuela that did not have its transponder activated.

Source:adaderana.lk

Sri Lanka Police have announced that a special traffic management programme will be in effect in Colombo starting today (30), in preparation for rehearsals and celebrations marking the 78th National Independence Day.

According to police, rehearsal sessions are scheduled for today (30), tomorrow (31), and February 2. During these days, traffic restrictions will be enforced on roads surrounding Independence Square from 7.45 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.

In addition, police stated that vehicular movement will be restricted from 5.00 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. on February 1, while further restrictions will be in place from 5.00 a.m. on February 4 until the Independence Day ceremony concludes.

Authorities said the special traffic arrangements are aimed at ensuring smooth conduct of official events while managing traffic flow within the city. Motorists traveling through Colombo have been urged to follow traffic instructions and use designated alternative routes to minimize inconvenience.