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Police have arrested two suspects in connection with a hand grenade attack on a residence in Dehiwala that claimed the lives of two children.

The incident took place at around 3.00 a.m. on September 11 along Sirisangabo Mawatha, where an unidentified person reportedly arrived at the house in a three-wheeler.

According to police, the suspect approached the residence and knocked on the front door. When the occupants opened the door, the suspect allegedly threw a hand grenade into the house before fleeing the scene.

The explosion seriously injured two children, aged 11 and 17, who were inside the residence at the time. Despite being admitted to hospital for treatment, both children later died from their injuries.

The children's 55-year-old father was also injured in the blast, suffering an injury to his leg. Police have confirmed that he has no previous criminal record.

CCTV footage obtained during the investigation is reported to have captured the suspect arriving at the location in a three-wheeler.

Police have now taken two individuals into custody over the attack, while investigations are continuing to determine their alleged involvement and establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has placed several areas in three districts under landslide early warning due to the heavy rainfall currently affecting the country.

The warning was issued at 10:00 a.m. today (15) and will remain valid for 24 hours, until 10:00 a.m. tomorrow (16).

A Level 1 “Remain Vigilant” (Yellow) warning has been issued for the Seethawaka Divisional Secretariat Division in the Colombo District.

In the Kegalle District, the warning covers the Warakapola and Ruwanwella Divisional Secretariat Divisions.

The Kalutara District has the highest number of areas under warning, with alerts issued for Dodangoda, Bulathsinhala, Beruwala, Ingiriya, Mathugama, Palindanuwara and Walallawita Divisional Secretariat Divisions.

Residents in the affected areas are advised to remain vigilant during the warning period, particularly as continued heavy rainfall could increase the risk of landslides.

The Irrigation Department has issued a cautionary notice for communities living near several rivers, warning that minor flooding could occur in low-lying areas if heavy rainfall continues across the country today (15).

Irrigation Director Engineer L. S. Sooriyabandara said the Attanagalu Oya has reached its highest recorded water level at present, while elevated levels have also been observed at Millakanda and Ellagawa along the Kalu Ganga.

The Kelani Ganga is also showing a steady rise in its water level. However, Sooriyabandara said the increase has not been rapid enough to create a flood threat at this stage.

Water levels have meanwhile increased to varying degrees in low-lying areas associated with the Nilwala, Gin, Kelani, Kalu, Attanagalu Oya and Bentara river systems.

The Irrigation Department cautioned that the situation could change depending on rainfall and prevailing weather conditions. Residents in vulnerable low-lying areas have therefore been advised to remain alert and take necessary precautions as river levels could rise further.

Sri Lanka has launched the first project under a national programme designed to add 300 megawatts (MW) of solar power to the country’s electricity grid.

The project was inaugurated in Veyangoda on September 13 under the patronage of Minister of Ports, Civil Aviation and Energy Anura Karunathilaka.

With an installed capacity of 3MW, the Veyangoda facility is the first in a series of ground-mounted solar power projects planned across the country as part of the wider 300MW programme.

The initiative is aimed at increasing the contribution of renewable energy to Sri Lanka’s power supply while reducing the country’s reliance on imported fossil fuels. The Government is also encouraging private-sector involvement in selected areas to speed up the development of renewable energy infrastructure.

Sri Lanka has set a target of obtaining 70% of its energy requirements from renewable sources by 2030, while aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. The country has also committed, in line with the principles of COP26, not to develop new coal-fired power plants.

Alongside the expansion of renewable generation, authorities are working to strengthen the national electricity grid to accommodate increasing amounts of clean energy.

The Veyangoda project has an AC capacity of 3MW and is equipped with 640-watt bifacial solar panels. The panels are designed to generate electricity from both their front and rear surfaces, improving their energy-generation potential.

The facility is expected to supply approximately 6.35 million kilowatt-hours of electricity to the national grid each year.

It is also projected to help reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 4,339.53 metric tons, supporting Sri Lanka’s broader efforts to expand clean energy and reduce its environmental impact.

The atmospheric disturbance affecting the area around Sri Lanka remains active, prompting forecasts of increased rainfall and thundershowers across several parts of the country.

The Department of Meteorology said cloudy conditions accompanied by showers or thundershowers are expected at times tomorrow in the Western, Central, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and Uva provinces, along with the Batticaloa and Ampara districts.

Some areas could receive heavy rainfall of more than 100 mm, according to the Department.

Meanwhile, several locations in other parts of the island are also likely to experience showers or thundershowers, particularly after 1.00 p.m.

Authorities have urged the public to remain cautious during periods of thunderstorms, as temporary localised strong winds and lightning could occur.

The public has been advised to take necessary precautions to reduce the risk of damage and other hazards associated with severe weather conditions.

Blocks 1 and 2 of Yala National Park have been temporarily closed to visitors from today (14) as authorities respond to increasingly severe dry weather and its impact on wildlife.

According to the Department of Wildlife Conservation and Forest Conservation, the closure will remain in place for one month, until October 15, 2026.

Yala National Park is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including 44 mammal species, 215 bird species, 47 reptile species and 21 fish species.

The park typically experiences its busiest tourist period between August and March. However, the current season has been significantly affected by El Niño conditions, with high temperatures and prolonged dry weather creating difficult conditions for both wildlife and visitors.

Several water sources inside the park have already dried up, leaving animals facing a serious shortage of drinking water. The lack of rainfall has also caused vegetation and grasslands to dry out, reducing the availability of natural food.

Wildlife officers are undertaking measures to provide animals with the water they need during the drought. Water drawn from four locations along the Menik Ganga using solar-powered pumps is being transported through underground pipelines to ponds within the park.

Authorities are also using water bowsers to deliver approximately 200,000 litres of water each day to fill both artificial and natural ponds.

The temporary closure of Blocks 1 and 2 is intended to reduce human disturbances while animals move around the park in search of increasingly scarce food and water.

The Wildlife Department said the measure was taken primarily to safeguard animals and reduce pressure on wildlife during the ongoing dry conditions.

Sri Lanka’s growing stray dog population is creating consequences beyond animal welfare, with dogs reportedly linked to around 30% of road accidents and nearly Rs. 1 billion being spent each year on rabies vaccinations for people bitten by dogs.

The figures were highlighted by Dr. Chamith Nanayakkara, founder of the Association of Veterinarians for Humane Management of Animal Population, during a media briefing in Colombo.

Dr. Nanayakkara said the issue was placing an increasing burden on the country’s economy and argued that human behaviour was a major factor behind the growth of the stray animal population.

He pointed to irresponsible ownership practices and limited awareness of social responsibility as key contributors. Poor waste management was also identified as a factor, as discarded food provides stray animals with an easily accessible source of nourishment and can contribute to population growth.

A proposed legal framework for animal population management could offer a longer-term response to the problem, Dr. Nanayakkara said.

Under the proposed legislation, owners would have to register their dogs with the appropriate local authority. At the same time, responsibility for dogs living on the streets without an owner or caregiver would be assigned to the relevant local authorities.

This would mean that the government would take responsibility for programmes to vaccinate and sterilise such animals, with the aim of ensuring that street dogs are not left without care.

Dr. Nanayakkara described the proposed approach as a positive step towards managing the country's stray dog population.

He also questioned the circumstances that leave dogs living on the streets, arguing that the animals themselves should not be held responsible for a situation largely created by human actions.

The financial implications of the problem, he said, are significant. Public funds are spent on rabies vaccinations following dog bites, while accidents involving dogs create another economic burden.

Dr. Nanayakkara therefore stressed the need to address the issue through a system that combines responsible dog ownership, local authority involvement, vaccination and sterilisation, alongside improved waste management.

The proposed legislation, he said, could provide a structured approach to ensuring that both owned and stray dogs come under an identifiable system of responsibility and care.

Veteran Sri Lankan artist, Virindu vocalist and renowned dance instructor Daya Nellampitiya has passed away at the age of 91.

According to family sources, she died at her residence in Kalubowila.

Nellampitiya was a respected dance instructor who taught at several leading schools across Sri Lanka over the course of her career. She was particularly recognised for her dedication to teaching and preserving the country’s Kandyan dance tradition, having introduced generations of children to the art form.

She was also the wife of veteran Virindu artist Sena Fonseka and served as the first teacher of several artists who later became prominent figures in Sri Lanka’s arts sector.

Throughout her career, Nellampitiya made a significant contribution to safeguarding and promoting Sri Lanka’s traditional folk arts, folk music and dance. Her commitment to passing these cultural traditions to younger generations earned her widespread respect within the country’s artistic community.

Her work in nurturing young performers and preserving traditional artistic practices leaves a lasting legacy in Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage.

According to family sources, her final rites are scheduled to be held tomorrow (15).

The Attorney General’s Department has initiated steps to name Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa as a suspect in a money laundering investigation concerning alleged financial irregularities in the procurement of Airbus aircraft by SriLankan Airlines.

The development comes as authorities continue probing allegations surrounding the national carrier’s Airbus aircraft procurement process and possible financial misconduct linked to the deal.

The investigation is also being monitored by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court. Previously, the court directed the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) to provide an update on its probe into the alleged bribery scandal involving the aircraft deal.

The case was taken up before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama, during which CIABOC submitted a report on the progress made in its investigation and requested additional time to continue the inquiry.

The court subsequently scheduled the matter for October 13, 2026, directing CIABOC to submit a comprehensive progress report on the investigation.

The case has several other suspects. The first accused, former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena, recently died under circumstances described as mysterious.

The court had earlier issued arrest warrants for the second suspect, Chandrasena’s wife Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake, and the third suspect, Shamindra Rajapaksa, a former SriLankan Airlines board member and the son of former Minister Chamal Rajapaksa.

The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities continuing to examine the alleged financial irregularities and other circumstances connected to the Airbus procurement process.

Sri Lankan political activist Maheel Bandara Dehideniya addressed the Asia Pacific Civil Society Conference in Jinan, China, pitching the island nation as a prospective regional hub for wellness tourism and knowledge exchange under the Belt and Road Initiative.

The three-day international forum, which ran from 1 September to 3 September, gathered approximately 300 delegates representing 40 countries across global research institutes, universities, United Nations agencies, and non governmental development organisations.

High level oversight for the event was led by Xiao Jie, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress and President of the China NGO Network for International Exchanges, alongside Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.

Senior parliamentary figures from Thailand, Spain, and Vanuatu also attended the sessions alongside Lu Kang, Vice Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.

Representing Sri Lanka on an international panel, Dehideniya spoke during a specialised thematic session focused on promoting practical cooperation and people to people connectivity between China and partner nations through smart health and wellness livelihood initiatives.

He emphasised Sri Lanka's strategic potential within the Belt and Road Initiative framework, detailing how targeted infrastructure and health sector investments could transform the country into a primary destination for regional wellness tourism.

His presentation outlined the economic and social advantages of leveraging international partnerships to build cross border expertise and establish robust medical exchange programs across Asia.