News

Oil prices hit two-week lows on Monday on optimism that the U.S. and Iran were moving closer towards a peace deal even though they remained at odds over key issues, including blockades on the Strait of Hormuz that continued to restrict oil supply ⁠from the Middle East.

Brent crude futures fell $4.71, or 4.55%, to $98.83 a barrel by 2234 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate was at $92.03 a barrel, down $4.57, or 4.73%.

Both contracts touched their lowest since May 7 earlier in the session.

On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump said that Washington and Iran had ‘‘largely negotiated’’ a memorandum of understanding on a peace deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which before the ⁠conflict carried one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

However, the two sides remain at odds on several difficult issues, with Trump saying on Sunday he had told his representatives not to rush into any deal ⁠with Iran.

MST Marquee analyst Saul Kavonic said: ‘‘Notwithstanding all the caveats and risks that remain to the peace deal and Strait of Hormuz, there is now ⁠some light at the end of the tunnel, which will bring some near-term oil price relief.’’

However, analysts expect that it will ⁠take months for oil flows through the strait to return to normal and for damaged oil and gas facilities to be repaired.

Source: Reuters

Mohamed Salah is set to captain Egypt at the World Cup this summer after being named in their preliminary 27-man squad.

The 33-year-old forward, who will leave Liverpool at the end of the season after nine years, has scored 67 goals in 115 appearances for Egypt.

He is joined by Manchester City winger Omar Marmoush and uncapped 18-year-old Hamza Abdelkarim, who plays for Barcelona Under-19s.

Nantes forward Mostafa Mohamed has been left out, and head coach Hossam Hassan will drop one player after a friendly against Russia in Cairo on 28 May to reduce the squad to the Fifa-mandated 26 players.

Egypt will play Brazil in a friendly in Cleveland six on 6 June.

Drawn in Group G at the World Cup, Egypt face Belgium on 15 June, New Zealand on 22 June and Iran on 27 June.

The expanded 48-team competition in the US, Canada and Mexico runs from 11 June to 19 July.

Egypt World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy (Al Ahly), Mostafa Shobeir (Al Ahly), El Mahdi Soliman (Zamalek), Mohamed Alaa (El Gouna).

Defenders: Mohamed Hany (Al Ahly), Tarek Alaa (Zed), Hamdy Fathy (Al Wakrah), Rami Rabia (Al Ain), Yasser Ibrahim (Al Ahly), Hossam Abdelmaguid (Zamalek), Mohamed Abdelmonemn (Nice), Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek), Karim Hafez (Pyramids).

Midfielders: Marwan Ateya (Al Ahly), Mohanad Lasheen (Pyramids), Nabil Emad (Al Najma), Mahmoud Saber (Zed), Ahmed Zizo (Al Ahly), Emam Ashour (Al Ahly), Mostafa Ziko (Pyramids), Mahmoud Trezeguet (Al Ahly), Ibrahim Adel (Nordsjaelland), Haissem Hassan (Real Ovideo).

Forwards: Omar Marmoush (Manchester City), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Aqtay Abdallah (Enppi), Hamza Abdelkarim (Barcelona).

Source: BBC

The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued a landslide early warning for several Divisional Secretariat Divisions in Gampaha, Ratnapura, and Kalutara districts as adverse weather conditions continue to impact parts of the country.

According to the NBRO, the warning will remain in effect until 3:00 a.m. tomorrow (23), with residents in affected areas urged to remain vigilant.

Under Warning Level 2 (Amber Alert), the Gampaha District’s Attanagalla Divisional Secretariat Division has been identified as being at higher risk.

In the Ratnapura District, Kuruwita and Ratnapura Divisional Secretariat Divisions have also been placed under the same Amber-level warning.

Meanwhile, Warning Level 1 (Yellow Watch) has been issued for Bulathsinhala in the Kalutara District and Eheliyagoda in the Ratnapura District.

Authorities have advised residents in all listed areas to stay alert as weather conditions remain unstable and further risks may develop.

A severed human head has washed ashore on the beach located behind a popular tourist hotel in Moragalla, Aluthgama.

According to police, the discovery was made following a telephone call received this morning (23), after which officers from the Aluthgama Police carried out investigations at the scene.

The remains have been identified as belonging to a male individual; however, his identity has not yet been established, said police.

Aluthgama Police are conducting further investigations into the incident.

(Adaderana.lk)

A minor flood situation could develop in low-lying areas of the Kalu Ganga basin within the next 24 hours, according to the Department of Irrigation, following considerable rainfall recorded in the catchment areas.

The Department said current rainfall conditions and river water levels observed at hydrological stations along the Kalu Ganga indicate a risk of minor flooding in several vulnerable areas of the Kalu Ganga valley.

The Divisional Secretariat Divisions identified as potentially affected include Ingiriya, Horana, Dodangoda, Millaniya, Kalutara, Bulathsinhala, Madurawala, and Palindanuwara.

Residents living in low-lying areas, as well as motorists travelling through these locations, have been urged to remain alert and exercise caution as water levels continue to be monitored.

Meanwhile, disaster management authorities have been requested to take the necessary precautionary measures in response to the possible flood situation.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has cancelled its pre-World Cup training camp in the capital, Kinshasa, because of an Ebola outbreak in the east of the country.

Preparations have been moved to Belgium amid the upsurge, which is thought to have killed 139 people out of 600 suspected cases.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern”, but said it was not at pandemic level.

Jerry Kalemo, a spokesperson for the national football team, told international media that pre-tournament games in Europe would go ahead as planned, as the squad gears up for their first World Cup since 1974.

DR Congo are due to play friendly matches against Denmark, on 3 June in Liege, and Chile, on 9 June in Marbella, ahead of the World Cup finals.

Back at home, authorities will be occupied with attempts to contain the Ebola outbreak, which has been caused by a rare species known as Bundibugyo.

There is currently no vaccine for this species and the WHO has said it could take up to nine months for a jab to be ready.

Source: BBC

The Supreme Court has ruled that the Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, Professor Kapila Perera, violated the fundamental human rights of Additional Secretary W.S. Sathyananda by declaring that his services were no longer required and subjecting him to humiliation and mental distress.

The judgment was delivered by Supreme Court Justice Arjuna Obeyesekere, with the concurrence of Justices Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Janak de Silva, following the hearing of a Fundamental Rights petition filed by the aggrieved Additional Secretary.

The petitioner stated that he is a senior officer of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service with nearly 30 years of experience in various positions within the public administration sector.

He further noted that he was appointed as Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation through a letter issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on December 18, 2024.

He claimed that he reported for duty on the same day, but around 12.30 p.m., the Ministry Secretary entered his office and informed him that his services were not required, instructing him to leave the premises.

The petitioner alleged that the Secretary to the Ministry acted in an improper manner unbecoming of a senior public official, causing him humiliation and severe mental distress. He argued that this conduct amounted to a violation of his fundamental human rights and sought a declaration from the Supreme Court in this regard.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Obeyesekere noted that, according to Extraordinary Gazette No. 2310/29 issued on December 14, 2022, and Rule 107 of the Public Service Commission (PSC) Procedural Rules, the authority to appoint an Additional Secretary falls within the mandate of the Public Service Commission.

The Court further observed that, under Section 61 of the relevant rules, any person who directly or indirectly interferes with or attempts to influence or obstruct a decision of the Public Service Commission or its authorized officials commits an offence punishable by a fine not exceeding Rs. 100,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years, or both.

Accordingly, the Court held that since the petitioner had been appointed by the Public Service Commission, the Ministry Secretary’s intervention constituted an encroachment upon the Commission’s authority and an undermining of the rule of law.

The judgment further stated that such actions breached the public trust placed in a government official. Justice Obeyesekere emphasized that public officials are custodians of the trust of the people and are expected to exercise their powers responsibly and lawfully. While ministry secretaries may have supervisory authority, interference in appointments and transfers under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission constitutes a serious violation of its constitutional powers.
 
The Supreme Court concluded that the respondent had violated the petitioner’s fundamental right to equality before the law, as guaranteed under Article 12(1) of the Constitution.

The Supreme Court further noted that the humiliation and indignity suffered by the petitioner as a result of the arbitrary actions of the Ministry Secretary could not be remedied in any meaningful way. However, it decided not to make an order for compensation or costs.

(Adaderana.lk)

Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa has called for an All-Party Conference to discuss the ongoing economic downturn, highlighting concerns over the rapid depreciation of the Sri Lankan Rupee.

Premadasa said the opposition has come together in unity at a time when the country is once again facing what he described as a “dangerous economic warning sign.”

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he stated that the rapid depreciation of the rupee, rising cost pressures, and growing economic uncertainty cannot be treated as a partisan issue.

He further noted that the opposition has decided to formally request President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to immediately convene an All-Party Conference to explore urgent national solutions before the situation worsens further.