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The Department of Meteorology has forecast unsettled weather conditions across multiple parts of the country today (19), with showers and thundershowers expected in several provinces and districts.

According to the weather advisory, intermittent showers or thundershowers are likely to affect the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces throughout the day. Similar conditions are also expected in the districts of Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya.

Meanwhile, afternoon weather activity is expected to increase in other regions, with showers or thundershowers possible at several locations in the Uva Province and in the districts of Polonnaruwa, Mullaitivu, Ampara and Batticaloa after 2:00 p.m.

Authorities have urged the public to remain cautious as localized strong winds and lightning may accompany the thundershowers. Residents are advised to take appropriate precautions to reduce the risk of weather-related damage and ensure safety during periods of unstable conditions.

The Department continues to monitor the developing weather pattern and encourages the public to stay alert throughout the day.

The Court of Appeal is scheduled to take up a petition today (18) filed by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is seeking an order preventing his arrest in connection with ongoing investigations into the Easter Sunday bomb attacks.

The matter was previously mentioned before the Court of Appeal yesterday, where it came up before a bench comprising President of the Court of Appeal Justice Rohantha Abeysooriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando, according to an Ada Derana reporter.

During yesterday’s proceedings, the President of the Court of Appeal directed that the petition be called again today for verification of facts.

Accordingly, the case is due to be considered today before a different bench consisting of President Justice Rohantha Abeysooriya and Justice Sarath Dissanayake.

Lanka Sathosa has announced a reduction in the prices of nine essential food items, providing immediate relief to consumers across the country.

The Ministry of Trade stated that the price revisions apply to ponni samba rice, red raw samba rice, local samba rice, local white nadu rice, white raw rice, and white raw samba rice. In addition, the prices of flour, chickpeas, and sugar have also been reduced.

According to the Ministry, the revised prices have been implemented with immediate effect.

The move is expected to ease the cost of essential food items for households as the new pricing structure comes into force nationwide.

Police have launched an investigation following the discovery of an unidentified body near the Kelani Bridge in Sedawatta, within the jurisdiction of the Grandpass Police Division.

The body was recovered after officers received information that a corpse had washed ashore in the area, prompting an immediate response and initial inquiries at the scene.

Authorities stated that the identity of the deceased remains unknown at this stage. Preliminary observations suggest the individual is a male estimated to be between 35 and 40 years of age.

Police further noted that the deceased was approximately 5 feet 5 inches in height, had hair measuring around one inch in length, and was found shirtless while wearing blue shorts.

Following the magistrate’s inquiry, the remains were transferred to the Colombo National Hospital morgue for further examination.

Grandpass Police are continuing investigations to establish the identity of the deceased and determine the circumstances surrounding the death.

The United National Party (UNP) has called on the government to obtain all material linked to the United States investigation into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, stating that the relevant information is currently held by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Department of Justice.

The party questioned whether the present government, which has reportedly resumed investigations into the attacks, has formally requested access to the US-held material. It further said that if such a request has been made, the government should disclose the response received from US authorities.

The UNP stressed that all investigative material obtained through the US probe should be made available to Sri Lankan judicial authorities to support ongoing legal processes.

Recalling earlier developments, the party noted that then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had requested a full US investigation and report on the April 21, 2019 attacks, citing limitations in domestic investigative capacity. The request, according to the UNP, was made with assurances of full cooperation from Sri Lankan authorities.

The UNP further stated that a similar request had been made during a telephone conversation between Wickremesinghe and then US President Donald Trump.

According to the statement, the FBI conducted an extensive investigation in collaboration with Sri Lankan agencies, including the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Military Intelligence, and the State Intelligence Service, and later submitted a report to the Sri Lankan government.

The party also referred to a 71-page affidavit filed on November 12, 2020, by FBI Special Agent Merrilee R. Godwin in the US District Court for the Central District of California, along with a criminal case filed on December 11, 2020, in the US District Court in Los Angeles, noting that several suspects named were already in Sri Lankan custody at the time.

The UNP reiterated that the US investigative material remains with the FBI and Department of Justice, urging the government to clarify whether it has sought access and to disclose any outcome of such a request.

Gold prices rose more than 1% today, recouping losses from the previous session, as a drop in oil prices following a U.S.-Iran interim agreement dampened inflation expectations and supported bullion.

Spot gold was up 1.4% at $4,316.42 per ounce, as of 0242 GMT, after declining 1.7% on Wednesday. U.S. gold futures for August delivery fell 1% to $4,336.70.

"It's a bit of short position unwinding (in gold) given yesterday's steep fall and the reason for the ⁠short unwinding is also due to the positive news coming out from the Middle East, which has caused oil prices to fall," said Kelvin Wong, a senior market analyst at OANDA. The United States and Iran released the text of their interim agreement on Wednesday, with U.S. President Donald Trump threatening to resume attacks and kill Iranian officials if they failed to honour their commitments.

The 14-point agreement extends the ceasefire announced in April by another 60 days to allow the two sides to negotiate a final truce.
Oil prices fell, reversing gains made on Wednesday after Trump said he could ⁠resume his bombing campaign if Iran's leaders "don't behave".

Elevated oil prices stoke inflation concerns and raise expectations of higher interest rates. Gold tends to lose appeal when rates are high, as it does not yield interest. "I expect gold prices to remain muted on the upside, given the fact that market participants now have ⁠repriced a higher possibility of the Federal Reserve to kind of kickstart an interest rate-hike cycle," Wong said.

Nine of the U.S. central bank's 19 policymakers now believe they will need to raise the policy rate this year, ⁠according to projections published on Wednesday after the Fed announced its decision to leave the policy rate in its current 3.50%-3.75% range.

Traders now see an 85% chance of a U.S. rate hike ⁠in December, jumping from 61% prior to the Fed decision, according to the CME FedWatch Tool. 

Spot silver rose 1.8% to $69.18 per ounce, platinum gained 1.2% to $1,757.53, and palladium was up 1.3% at $1,329.99.

Source: Reuters

All decisions relating to education should be guided by the principle of providing the best possible opportunities for children, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has said, stressing that the government is making a significant sacrifice to ensure quality education.

The Prime Minister, who also serves as the Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, made the remarks during a discussion with North Central Provincial education authorities held at the North Central Provincial Council in Anuradhapura on Wednesday.

She emphasized that the quality of education should not be assessed solely through examination results, but should also take into account students’ participation in co-curricular activities and their overall development.

During the meeting, provincial education authorities presented a strategic education development plan for the North Central Province covering the 2026–2030 period. The plan is aimed at strengthening the school system through improved academic standards, enhanced student welfare, and an efficient data management system designed to increase student enrolment and develop resilient learners.

The Prime Minister and officials also discussed aligning the provincial strategy with the government’s national education policy framework.

The discussion further reviewed progress in meeting targets related to the Grade Five Scholarship Examination, G.C.E. Ordinary Level, and Advanced Level examinations, as well as school development projects, regional co-curricular programmes, and the rehabilitation of schools damaged by Cyclone Ditva.

Dr. Amarasuriya also addressed a range of academic, welfare, and administrative issues raised by provincial education officials during the meeting.

Former Director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay, has reportedly reaffirmed his decision to continue his ongoing hunger strike while remaining under the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and receiving treatment at the Colombo National Hospital.

According to reports, Sallay conveyed his position during a visit by his personal lawyer, stating that he would not agree to return to the CID detention facility. He was also reported as describing the detention conditions in severe terms and expressing strong objections to returning. During the exchange, he further alleged that the Director of the CID held personal hostility toward him.

The lawyer is said to have briefed Sallay on recent developments surrounding the wider investigation process, including matters currently under review by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, discussions relating to the government’s stance on the possible repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, and a request reportedly submitted to the President by the Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter.

Despite being urged to end the protest, Sallay reportedly maintained that he would continue the hunger strike.

Meanwhile, the CID has informed the Human Rights Commission that video footage linked to an alleged physical inspection conducted on March 8 is unavailable, explaining that its recording system stores footage for only one month.

In response, the Human Rights Commission is reportedly exploring the possibility of obtaining external technical assistance to recover or retrieve the missing recordings.

The CID has also been directed to provide additional reports connected to the ongoing investigations, with submissions expected before the June 26 deadline.

Almost all of the world’s children are exposed to at least one climate hazard, with as many as 1.8 billion put in danger ​by droughts and 1.2 billion by extreme heat, the United ‌Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said in a report on Tuesday.

UNICEF said children were “disproportionately affected” by a range of intensifying climate-related risks and governments urgently needed to invest in infrastructure, adaptation and ​disaster management capabilities to reduce their exposure.

Here are some of the ​details of UNICEF’s Children’s Climate Risk Report.

The report looked at ⁠a broad range of climate hazards, as well as the impact of air ​pollution and the risks of vector-borne diseases like malaria. It also factored in ​data about access to water, healthcare and social services across the world.

As many as 1.1 billion children globally were exposed to at least three overlapping climate risks, the report ​said, warning of a “dangerous cascade of multiple, overlapping hazards” that could overwhelm governments ​and social services.

“It’s not just the exposure to the single hazards like floods or droughts ‌or ⁠heat waves and extreme heat that children face, but it is the exposure to multiple hazards,” said Rohini Sampoornam Swaminathan, UNICEF statistics manager and one of the authors of the report.

As many as 662 million children were at ​risk from tropical storms, ​337 million from ⁠riverine floods and 33 million from coastal floods, with 1 billion children also exposed to malaria, mostly in Africa.

In ​2024, 242 million children in 85 countries saw their schooling ​disrupted by ⁠climate hazards.

UNICEF identified Somalia, Madagascar, Myanmar, Cambodia and Pakistan as the most vulnerable countries.

The highest numbers of drought-exposed children live in agriculture-dependent economies like Bangladesh, Indonesia, ⁠Nigeria, Pakistan ​and Tanzania.

Children in landlocked nations were also ​facing “disproportionate” risks of drought, desertification, heat stress and flash floods, with water stress set to intensify in ​countries like Botswana and Burkina Faso.

Source: Reuters

Colombia winger Luis Diaz dazzled at a raucous Azteca Stadium as his side marked their return to the World Cup with a 3-1 Group K win over tournament debutants Uzbekistan on Wednesday.

Colombia, who missed the 2022 tournament in Qatar, struggled in the early stages but broke through in the 41st minute when a brilliant ball lifted into the area by Diaz was hooked in on the turn by Daniel Munoz, who had ghosted in behind the defence.

Uzbekistan equalised on the hour mark after a shot from striker Eldor Shomurodov was spilled by goalkeeper Camilo Vargas and Abbosbek Fayzullaev was on the line to head in. However, Diaz restored Colombia's lead five minutes later by slotting the ball in from the left of the area.

Substitute Jaminton Campaz headed in a third in stoppage time and Colombia top Group K after Portugal and Democratic Republic of Congo drew 1-1. The South Americans face DR Congo on Tuesday in Guadalajara after Uzbekistan play Portugal in Houston.

Source: Reuters

Several parts of the country are expected to experience spells of showers today (16), while certain areas may also see afternoon thundershowers accompanied by localized strong winds, according to the Department of Meteorology.

Weather conditions are forecast to bring intermittent rainfall to the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces, along with the districts of Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya.

Meanwhile, the department noted that a few locations in Uva and Eastern provinces, as well as the Mullaitivu district, could experience showers or thundershowers after 2.00 p.m.

In addition to rainfall activity, fairly strong winds ranging between 30 and 40 kilometres per hour are expected at times over the western slopes of the central hills, Southern Province, North-central Province and the Trincomalee district.

Authorities have advised the public to remain cautious and take appropriate precautions to reduce the risk of damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning associated with thundershowers.