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The Department of Meteorology has indicated that the current dry weather conditions across the country are likely to shift from tomorrow (23).

Until then, predominantly dry conditions are expected to continue across most parts of the island. The department has also warned of possible ground frost in certain areas of the Nuwara Eliya District during the early morning hours.

In addition, misty conditions are forecast in several regions, including the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North Western, North Central and Uva provinces. Similar conditions may also be experienced in parts of the Galle, Matara, Ampara and Vavuniya districts during the early hours of the day.

Gold prices climbed to an all-time high on Wednesday, rising above the $4,800 mark per ounce as investors sought safe-haven assets amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty and a weaker US dollar.

Spot gold advanced 1.2% to $4,821.26 per ounce by 0226 GMT, after touching a record peak of $4,843.67 earlier in the session. Meanwhile, US gold futures for February delivery gained 1% to $4,813.50 per ounce.

Market sentiment was shaken by renewed concerns over global trade and security following comments by US President Donald Trump regarding Greenland. His stance raised fears of escalating trade tensions with Europe and potential strain on the NATO alliance. Trump said there was “no going back” on his objective to control Greenland, declining to rule out the use of force, before later stating that a resolution could be reached that would satisfy both NATO and the United States.

European leaders responded sharply, with French President Emmanuel Macron warning that Europe would not be intimidated, criticizing Trump’s threat of imposing steep tariffs if European nations resisted his plans.

Analysts noted that the uncertainty has undermined confidence in the US currency, prompting investors to move away from the dollar and long-term US Treasuries in favor of gold. The dollar hovered near three-week lows against the euro and Swiss franc, while Asian equities extended losses for a third consecutive session. A weaker dollar has also made dollar-priced metals more attractive to international buyers.

The US Federal Reserve is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged at its January 27–28 meeting, despite pressure from Trump to lower rates. Gold, which does not yield interest, typically benefits in lower-rate environments.

Elsewhere in the precious metals market, spot silver slipped 1% to $93.59 per ounce after reaching a record high of $95.87 on Tuesday. Platinum fell 0.7% to $2,445.96 after earlier hitting an all-time high of $2,511.80, while palladium declined 0.5% to $1,857.19 per ounce.

Brooklyn Peltz Beckham has publicly addressed long-standing rumors of tension with his parents, David and Victoria Beckham, using Instagram to accuse them of controlling the family’s public image and interfering in his personal affairs.

In a lengthy post, the 26-year-old stated that he had tried to keep the issues private for years but felt compelled to respond. He claimed that his parents and their team have “spread countless falsehoods in the media” and indicated he no longer wishes to reconcile with them. Brooklyn also alleged that his parents attempted to disrupt his relationship with his wife, actress Nicola Peltz Beckham, citing issues related to their 2022 wedding preparations and pressure to relinquish rights to his own name.

David Beckham responded indirectly while speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, emphasizing the role of social media and noting that children are “allowed to make mistakes” as part of life. He refrained from directly addressing Brooklyn’s accusations when questioned further.

The situation has attracted significant media attention, highlighting a deeply personal family dispute, with the Beckhams reportedly remaining largely estranged at present.

The Air Force One aircraft carrying U.S. President Donald Trump, who departed the White House to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, was forced to turn back after experiencing a minor electrical malfunction.

According to foreign media reports, the aircraft returned to the St. Andrews military base shortly after takeoff. The issue reportedly occurred within less than an hour of the flight’s departure.

U.S. authorities stated that President Trump is expected to continue his journey to Switzerland aboard an alternative aircraft.

President Trump is scheduled to address the World Economic Forum in Davos later today. Reports also indicate that discussions are set to begin tomorrow in Davos on the establishment of a peace council focused on the Gaza Strip.

The Sri Lanka Navy intercepted two Indian fishing vessels and detained seven Indian fishermen during a late-night operation on 20 January, after they were found illegally fishing in Sri Lankan waters off the coast of Kovilan in Jaffna.

According to the Navy, the Northern Naval Command detected several Indian fishing boats that had crossed into Sri Lankan territorial waters and were engaged in unlawful fishing activities. Naval craft were deployed to chase the vessels out of the area, during which boarding teams seized two boats whose crews continued to fish despite warnings.

The Navy stated that the arrested fishermen and the seized vessels will be handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Myliddy, Jaffna, to initiate further legal action.

The Government Radiological Technologists’ Association has announced plans to carry out a 24-hour symbolic strike across all hospitals in the country today (21 January).

According to the Association’s President, Chanaka Dharmavikrama, the decision was taken in response to the Ministry of Health’s failure to address concerns over what he described as arbitrary actions by the Deputy Director of the Maligawatta Kidney Hospital.

Meanwhile, an ongoing strike at the Akkaraipattu Hospital, launched in protest against the conduct of a Medical Officer, remains in effect. Media Spokesman of the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) in the Eastern Province, Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe, confirmed that the protest has entered its fifth consecutive day today.

Electricity trade unions have warned that they will initiate an immediate strike if the government proceeds to dissolve the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) without honoring commitments made during the ongoing restructuring process.

Speaking at a press conference in Colombo yesterday, representatives from 24 unions-including the Engineers’ Association, the Technical Engineers and Officers’ Association, and the Industrial Technicians’ Association-stated they are ready to take collective action without prior notice.

The government’s restructuring plan involves creating six subsidiary companies to take over the CEB’s assets, liabilities, and operations. The framework has been finalized with guidance from the Attorney General, the Minister of Finance, and the Treasury. Once Cabinet approval is granted, the responsible minister is expected to gazette the official date for the CEB’s dissolution.

The Ministry of Education announced that the second phase of the first school term for the 2026 academic year in government and government-approved private schools commenced today.

The initial phase of the term was conducted from January 5 to 9. However, schools were subsequently closed from January 10 until yesterday due to the impact of Cyclone Ditwah and the rescheduling of the GCE Advanced Level examinations.

According to the ministry, the newly commenced phase will continue until February 13. Schools are scheduled to close once again from February 14 to March 2 to facilitate the conduct of the 2025 GCE Ordinary Level examinations.

The ministry further noted that Muslim schools will observe an extended closure period from February 14 to March 22 in view of the Ramadan festival

sri Lanka reported 1,282 new leprosy cases in 2025, with nearly one in ten patients being children under the age of 15, health authorities revealed, underscoring the continued public health challenge posed by a disease often clouded by fear and misinformation.

Speaking at a media briefing held to mark World Leprosy Day on January 25, Director of the Leprosy Eradication Campaign at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Yasoma Weerasekara, said that 123 of the newly detected patients were children below 15 years, a figure that highlights ongoing community transmission and the need for heightened vigilance.

Dr. Weerasekara noted that around eight per cent of new and relapsed patients already suffer from disabilities by the time they seek treatment, largely due to delayed diagnosis. “Leprosy is a curable disease, but delays can lead to irreversible complications,” she stressed, adding that the Ministry has intensified efforts to prevent disability through early detection and prompt medical intervention.

As part of this push, the Leprosy Control Campaign has rolled out a special early-detection programme aimed at identifying cases at an early stage, screening close contacts of confirmed patients, and providing comprehensive testing, treatment, and follow-up care. The initiative, she said, is designed not only to treat patients but also to break the chain of transmission at the community level.

Dr. Weerasekara emphasized that treatment for leprosy is provided free of charge at government hospitals across the country, including care for close contacts of patients. She urged individuals experiencing symptoms such as skin patches with loss of sensation, numbness, or muscle weakness to seek medical attention without fear or hesitation from government hospitals, Public Health Inspectors, or Medical Officers of Health.

Calling on the public to challenge long-standing myths, she said stigma remains one of the biggest barriers to timely treatment. “Misconceptions surrounding leprosy continue to prevent people from coming forward early. This disease is treatable, and early care can prevent disability,” she said.

Adding medical perspective, Dr. Chathurarya Siriwardena, Dermatologist at the Central Leprosy Clinic of the Colombo National Hospital, explained that leprosy is not a highly contagious disease and often takes years to develop after the bacteria enter the body.

“Leprosy primarily affects the skin, but in advanced stages it can involve other organs such as the eyes and nose,” he said. Dr. Siriwardena explained that transmission may occur when bacteria are released into the environment through coughing or sneezing by an untreated patient, and subsequently inhaled by others.

However, he reassured the public that about 95 per cent of Sri Lanka’s population has natural immunity to the leprosy-causing bacteria. “Only around five per cent of those exposed are likely to develop the disease,” he noted, underscoring that fear and social exclusion are often disproportionate to the actual risk.

Health officials say the focus this year is not only on medical treatment, but also on public awareness, early reporting, and stigma reduction, particularly in communities where children are being affected. As Sri Lanka continues its journey toward eliminating leprosy, authorities stress that knowledge, early care, and compassion remain the most effective tools in defeating a disease that is both preventable and curable.

(Source:lankanews.lk)

The Department of Meteorology reported that the lowest temperature in Sri Lanka today (21) was recorded at the Nuwara Eliya weather station, where the mercury dropped to 7.4°C during the early morning hours.

According to the department, Bandarawela experienced a minimum temperature of 11.5°C, while Badulla recorded 15.2°C. In the North Central Province, Mahailuppallama registered a low of 17.4°C during the early hours of the day, and Anuradhapura recorded a minimum temperature of 18.6°C.

The Department of Meteorology noted that minimum temperature readings collected from its regional monitoring stations are illustrated in the accompanying temperature distribution map.

Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, held discussions with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya on the sidelines of the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

In a statement issued by the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department, Sri Lanka and its citizens were commended for their resilience in coping with the widespread damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

The statement noted that during the meeting, Georgieva reaffirmed the IMF’s continued commitment to assisting Sri Lanka in its ongoing efforts toward economic stabilization and recovery.

In a significant crackdown on organized narcotics trafficking, officers from the Gonahena Police Special Task Force (STF) camp successfully intercepted a massive shipment of Crystal Methamphetamine (ICE) in the Nittambuwa area.

The Operation Following a targeted intelligence-led operation, STF personnel conducted a raid in the Pinnagolla Watta area along Araliya Road. During the intervention, a three-wheeler was searched, leading to the discovery of 61.83 kilograms of ICE. The estimated street value of the seized narcotics exceeds Rs. 900 million.

Criminal Affiliations The suspect apprehended at the scene is believed to be a pivotal operative for international and domestic drug syndicates. Investigations have confirmed the suspect maintains active links with:

"Dubai Waruna" and Mohamed Siddiq: Notorious figures operating from overseas.

Dilindu Sanjeewa (alias "Lena"): An organized criminal currently incarcerated.

Ongoing Investigation The suspect and the seized contraband have been handed over for further legal proceedings. The STF and relevant narcotics authorities are currently working to dismantle the broader distribution network connected to this shipment.