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Sri Lanka to Maintain QR Fuel System Amid Middle East Tensions 

Sri Lanka will continue operating its QR-based fuel distribution system as uncertainty surrounding the conflicts in the Middle East persists, Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said today.

Speaking at the post-Cabinet media briefing, Jayatissa said the system remains important for managing the country’s fuel supplies despite a decline in overall fuel consumption.

He noted that instability around the Strait of Hormuz continues to influence international oil markets, with crude oil prices fluctuating as a result.

According to the Minister, the global oil crisis has not yet been fully resolved, making the QR-based system necessary to help ensure the country’s day-to-day activities continue with minimal disruption.

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Vedda Community Leader Vannilattho Leaves for India Pilgrimage 

Vedda community leader Uruwarige Vannilattho departed Sri Lanka today (25) for a pilgrimage to Dambadiva in India, his first such journey since taking leadership of the community.

Vannilattho travelled with his security officer, translator and youngest son, Uruwarige Kalu Bandiya.

He had previously visited Dambadiva on pilgrimage around 20 years ago, before becoming the leader of the Vedda community.

The current pilgrimage was organised by a private pilgrimage tour company, which invited Vannilattho and his group to participate in the journey scheduled to run from August 25 to September 6.

The group took offerings, including honey and flowers, with them for the pilgrimage. Before leaving, they also purchased an eco-friendly cloth shoulder bag decorated with images of wild animals from a shop at Bandaranaike International Airport.

A total of 50 pilgrims, including Vannilattho and his accompanying group, departed for New Delhi on SriLankan Airlines flight UL195 at 2.10 p.m. today.

 
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Government Yet to Consider Proposal to Raise Three-Wheeler Driving Age to 40 

The Government has not yet considered a proposal to raise the minimum age for driving three-wheelers to 40, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said today (25).

Responding to the matter, the Minister clarified that no such proposal has so far been considered by the Government.

The statement comes amid discussion over a possible increase in the minimum age requirement for three-wheeler drivers.

 
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Sugeeshwara Bandara Further Remanded 

The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today ordered Sugeeshwara Lenin Bandara, former Private Secretary to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, to be further remanded until September 9.

Bandara is facing allegations of criminal misappropriation of funds allocated under the Presidential Expenditure Head.

The court issued the order during proceedings held today, extending his remand in connection with the allegations.

He is scheduled to remain in remand custody until the next court date on September 9.

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‘Kehelbaddara Padme’ Remanded Until September 3 

Detained organised crime gang member ‘Kehelbaddara Padme’ has been further remanded until September 3 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) produced the suspect before court today (25), following his detention under detention orders.

After considering the case, Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama ordered that ‘Kehelbaddara Padme’ remain in remand custody until September 3.

The court issued the order during proceedings held today.

 
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India's defence minister Rajnath Singh to visit Sri Lanka on Sept. 9

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka on September 9 and 10 for talks focused on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, with maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region expected to figure prominently during his visit.

According to sources in the Ministry of Defence, during the visit, Mr. Singh is expected to meet Sri Lankan President and Defence Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Sampath Thuyacontha.

The discussions are expected to include a review of the full and timely implementation of the India-Sri Lanka Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Colombo on April 5, 2025, it added.

The five-year agreement was the first-ever umbrella MoU on defence cooperation between the two countries and provides a structured framework for bilateral military engagement while addressing shared security concerns in the Indian Ocean.

The pact covers a range of areas, including enhancing joint military exercises, capacity building, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief cooperation, and increasing port calls by naval vessels of the two countries. It also provides for exploring opportunities for cooperation in the defence industry.

The agreement is valid for five years and allows either side to terminate it with three months’ prior notice. It can also be extended for a further three years by mutual agreement.

The defence MoU was among seven bilateral documents exchanged during Mr. Modi’s April 2025 visit, which marked his fourth visit to Sri Lanka since 2014 and the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country after Mr. Dissanayake assumed office in September 2024.

The April 2025 visit also saw agreements and understandings covering areas such as health, mass media, energy and connectivity. India and Sri Lanka also concluded bilateral amendatory agreements on debt restructuring.

The upcoming visit by Mr. Singh assumes significance amid India’s emphasis on maritime security and closer defence partnerships with Indian Ocean littoral states. 

It is expected to provide an opportunity to deepen military-to-military engagement and strengthen coordination between the two countries on shared regional security concerns.

Source: The Hindu 

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Former SIS Chief Suresh Sallay Given Further 90-Day Detention Order 

A fresh 90-day detention order has been issued to former Director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), Major General (Retd.) Suresh Sallay, allowing authorities to continue questioning him over the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks.

The new order permits investigators to further detain Sallay as inquiries continue into the circumstances surrounding the attacks in April 2019.

Sallay is being questioned as part of the ongoing investigation into the events connected to the Easter Sunday attacks.

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Woman Arrested in Rathmalana With Illicit Liquor Worth Rs. 1.6 Million

A 31-year-old woman has been arrested at Rathmalana Beach while allegedly possessing 120,000 millilitres of illicit liquor valued at approximately Rs. 1.6 million.

The arrest was carried out by officers attached to the Mount Lavinia Divisional Crime Investigation Bureau under the supervision and direction of its Officer-in-Charge.

The suspect is a resident of Perera Mawatha in the Koralawella area of Moratuwa.

Following the arrest, she was handed over to officers at the Mount Lavinia Police Station for further action.

The suspect is due to be produced before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court.

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Cabinet Approves Rs. 104.9 Billion Central Expressway Link Road Project 

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to develop 35 link roads connecting Sections I, III and IV of the Central Expressway with the existing road network in the Western, Central and North Western Provinces.

The project is intended to strengthen connections between the expressway and surrounding roads while improving accessibility and traffic movement.

Under the plan, 12 link roads with a combined length of 117.68 kilometres will be constructed for Section I of the Central Expressway.

Another 14 link roads covering 83.98 kilometres will be developed for Section III, while nine additional link roads extending 81.36 kilometres are planned for Section IV.

The total provisional cost of the project has been estimated at Rs. 104.9 billion.

The Cabinet approved the proposal submitted by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, with implementation scheduled for the 2026–2030 period.

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Opposition leader slams rice imports amid domestic surplus

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa says the government is inflicting severe financial hardship on local growers through unnecessary rice imports and unfulfilled promises.

Speaking at a Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Sathkaraya event in Dehuwala, Galewela, he highlighted the plight of rural farming communities who continue to struggle despite a recorded surplus in domestic production.

Flawed import strategy

According to official figures cited by the Opposition Leader, national paddy production stands at roughly 3.2 million metric tons, comfortably exceeding Sri Lanka's annual domestic requirement of 2.5 million metric tons.

He expressed strong criticism over the government's decision to import around 382,000 metric tons of rice regardless of this excess, noting that such moves directly contradict the stance the ruling party took while in opposition.

Premadasa argued that this policy heavily penalises local growers of paddy, maize, and potatoes.

Furthermore, he pointed out that while the Agriculture Minister acknowledged in Parliament that producing a kilogram of paddy costs approximately Rs. 137, the state guaranteed purchase price remains fixed at just Rs. 120 per kilogram, leaving farmers to absorb a net loss of Rs. 17 for every kilogram sold.

Unfulfilled pledges

The Opposition Leader emphasised that nearly two years after taking power, the government has failed to enact promised legislation establishing a legally binding guaranteed paddy price of Rs. 150 per kilogram.

He observed that despite a state allocation of Rs. 7,500 million intended to empower small and medium scale millers, farmers across the country are still unable to sell their harvest effectively, even as official purchasing signboards appear in rural villages without actual buying taking place.

He also warned that rising poverty levels affecting up to 40 percent of the population, factory closures, and potential climate disruptions like El Niño and La Niña pose grave threats to the national economy.

Premadasa called for urgent state intervention and relief measures to safeguard rural livelihoods and maintain key growth sectors like tourism.

 

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World’s oceans hit highest temperature on record as El Niño grows

The world's oceans are hotter than ever recorded, new data suggests, as they suffer from human-caused climate change and the growing El Niño weather phenomenon.

The average surface temperature of the planet's seas outside the polar regions hit 21.1C (70F) on Saturday, according to figures from the European Copernicus climate change service.

That edges past the 21.09C recorded on three separate days in March 2024, and is far above average for the time of year.

Warmer oceans can have wide-reaching consequences, including supercharging extreme weather, raising sea levels and harming marine life.

"This record is another clear signal of an ocean under growing stress," said Dr Samantha Burgess, deputy director of Copernicus.

"El Niño is adding heat to the system, but it is doing so on top of decades of human-driven warming," she added.

The data is based on sea temperatures 10m (32ft 10in) below the surface, using measurements from buoys, ships and satellites, which are combined to produce a global estimate.

While the margin of record is currently very small and any global estimate comes with uncertainties, scientists say its timing is particularly notable.

Average worldwide sea temperatures tend to reach their yearly peak in March or April, which corresponds to the end of summer in the southern hemisphere - and not in August.

The southern hemisphere contains more of the planet's ocean surface than the northern hemisphere and so exerts a bigger influence on average sea temperatures.

What is especially concerning to scientists is that the oceans are already so hot when the natural El Niño weather phenomenon is still some way off its expected peak.

El Niño brings unusually warm waters to the surface of the eastern and central tropical Pacific Ocean. Warmer waters across such a large area means that global average temperatures typically spike too.

El Niño is expected to keep strengthening until Christmas time, with scientists warning that it is on course to be the strongest in centuries.

This could see ocean temperatures climb yet further.

"The fact that we are already breaking records is an early indicator of how strong the El Niño is becoming," said Dr Jeremy Grist, senior research fellow at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton.

"All things being equal we might expect the ocean temperature record to be broken again in March [or] April 2027," he added.

The waters far away from El Niño's Pacific hunting ground are also extremely warm, including around the UK and Europe.

The western English Channel has seen almost continuous marine heatwave conditions for more than three years, peaking at 7C above normal in July, according to Prof Tim Smyth, director of science at Plymouth Marine Laboratory.

“This is unprecedented,” he added.

Scientists say such widespread warmth around the planet is a clear sign of the growing effect that human-caused climate change is having on the world's seas.

The oceans take up more than 90% of the excess heat trapped by humanity's greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from burning fossil fuels.

"The latest Copernicus data reinforce the troubling upward trend in ocean temperatures,” said Smyth.

Warmer seas help to fuel more extreme weather. They can provide storms with extra moisture and energy, and can intensify heatwaves on land in some coastal regions by reducing the cooling effect of sea breezes.

Warmer water also takes up more space, raising sea levels and bringing a greater risk of coastal flooding - while intense ocean heat can be devastating for sea habitats, such as coral reefs.

The increasing frequency of marine heatwaves is already "putting increasing pressure on marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them", Burgess said.

(BBC)

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Eric Meyer Arrives in Colombo as New U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka

U.S. Ambassador-designate Eric Meyer has arrived in Colombo to take up his duties as the 29th United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka.

Following his arrival, Meyer said he was honoured to represent the United States in Sri Lanka and expressed his intention to build further on the existing relationship between the two countries.

“It is an honor to represent the United States in Sri Lanka,” Meyer said, adding that he looked forward to strengthening the foundation shared by the two democracies.

He identified advancing the U.S.-Sri Lanka partnership, creating new opportunities for American businesses and strengthening shared security interests among his key priorities.

Meyer also said he hoped to contribute to greater prosperity for both Americans and Sri Lankans.

Before his appointment to Sri Lanka, Meyer served as Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., at the U.S. Mission to Norway.

He previously held the position of Senior Bureau Official at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs.

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