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A 19-year-old Sri Lankan passenger was arrested in the early hours of today (10) at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake, for allegedly trying to illegally bring a large consignment of ornamental plants into the country.

The arrest followed a joint operation conducted by officers from the Biodiversity, Cultural and National Heritage Protection Division along with Customs officials. The suspect, a resident of Kochchikade in Negombo, arrived in Sri Lanka from Bangkok at around 12:35 a.m. on Thai Airways flight TG 307.

During a detailed inspection of three suitcases, officials uncovered 386 ornamental plants belonging to several species, including Philodendron, Aglaonema, Alocasia, and Monstera. Authorities estimate the total value of the seized plants to be around Rs. 600,000.

Katunayake Airport Customs have launched further investigations to determine the circumstances surrounding the attempted smuggling.

Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Rathna Gamage said that the government is unable to make a definitive statement at this stage regarding the Satyagraha protest launched by a group of Maadel (seine) fishers.

Speaking at a media briefing, the deputy minister said the fishermen have filed a court case challenging a decision taken by the ministry, and therefore a clear position cannot be expressed until the matter is taken up in court on the 27th.

He said the government remains open to dialogue following the court proceedings and highlighted the need to protect both the fishing community and the environment.

“We care about you. You should come and stand with us. Our duty is to protect our fishers, who in turn protect future generations,” he said.

“We are ready to hold discussions and move toward a correct solution. We do not have answers for incorrect approaches, which is why we reject them.”

The deputy minister added that once the court delivers its verdict, the ministry is prepared to engage in discussions aimed at safeguarding livelihoods while ensuring environmental protection.

Deputy Minister Rathna Gamage’s comments come in response to the recent satyagraha campaign launched by a group of fishermen demanding the removal of the ban on tractor-mounted winches for Madel (seine net) fishing.

The protest, which began on 5 February in front of the Presidential Secretariat, involved seine fishermen from several coastal areas, including Mullaitivu and Kokilai.

According to the Ministry of Fisheries, environmental damage caused by violations of the Seine Fishing Regulations by certain operators prompted the restrictions.

 (Source:Newswire)

WhatsApp may soon introduce a new way for users to control who sees their status updates. Reportedly, Meta is testing an Instagram-like feature that allows users to create custom contact lists for sharing status posts. 

The feature has reportedly been spotted in the beta version for Android 2.26.5.11 and is still in the development stage.

The reported feature allows users to organise contacts into named lists which display different emojis for their identification. The lists enable users to share their current status without needing to change their privacy settings after each new update. 

Instead, users can easily select a predefined group of contacts associated with that category, minimising the possibility of sharing information with the wrong people.

One of the key additions is a close friends list feature, similar to Instagram. This option would let users share status updates only with selected contacts. Users can add people to the list either through the status privacy settings or directly from the status interface.

Users will reportedly be able to edit their close friends list at any time. However, any changes made after a status is shared will only apply to future updates. Contacts removed from a list will still be able to view a status that was shared with them earlier.

WhatsApp is also said to be testing three additional privacy options for status sharing. Once a status is posted, selected contacts may see a coloured ring around the user’s profile picture, indicating restricted visibility.

 (Source: newswire.lk)

King Charles stepped in publicly for the first time over the Epstein revelations, pledging Buckingham Palace’s support for any police investigation into allegations involving his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s connection with the convicted sex offender.

Prince Andrew allegedly sent confidential trade reports to Jeffrey Epstein in 2010, after the financier had already been convicted of child sex offences, according to emails included among more than three million pages of documents released last month by the US Justice Department.

In a statement issued on Monday, a palace spokesperson said, “The King has made clear, in words and through unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light in respect of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct.”

“While the specific claims in question are for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to address, if we are approached by Thames Valley Police, we stand ready to support them as you would expect,” the spokesperson added, as per Reuters.

EMAILS RAISE QUESTIONS OVER CONFIDENTIAL INFO

The email revealed that Andrew passed on briefings about visits to Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam, as well as confidential information about potential investment opportunities in Afghanistan.

According to the files, some of the material was forwarded within minutes of being received from his then adviser, raising questions about whether confidentiality rules were breached.

Under official guidelines, trade envoys are required to protect sensitive commercial and political information. Andrew was serving as a government trade representative at the time.

He has consistently denied wrongdoing and has not commented publicly since the latest documents were released.

Thames Valley Police confirmed that it is assessing whether there are grounds for a formal investigation. Officers are reviewing a complaint submitted by the anti-monarchy group Republic, which alleges suspected misconduct in public office and possible breaches of official secrecy laws.

ROYAL FAMILY DISTANCES ITSELF

Other senior members of the royal family have also voiced concern over the latest developments.

A spokesperson for Prince William and his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales said they were “deeply concerned” by the continuing revelations.

“Their thoughts remain focused on the victims,” the spokesperson said, ahead of William’s official visit to Saudi Arabia.

Earlier on Monday, as the King arrived in Clitheroe in northern England, a member of the public shouted: “How long have you known about Andrew?” The remark was met with boos from the surrounding crowd.

ANDREW’S FALL FROM ROYAL STATUS

Andrew was forced to step back from public duties in 2019 following criticism over his friendship with Epstein. In 2022, he reached a financial settlement with Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual abuse when she was a teenager. He denied the allegations.

Giuffre died by suicide last year.

In October 2025, after an earlier wave of Epstein-related disclosures, Andrew was stripped of his remaining royal titles. More recently, he was asked to leave his home at Royal Lodge in Windsor and relocate to a private royal estate.

The impact of the Epstein files has extended beyond the royal family, creating political pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The crisis centres on his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States, after it emerged that Mandelson also appeared to have shared sensitive government material with Epstein in 2009 and 2010.

Police are reviewing allegations of misconduct in public office linked to those disclosures.

Source:adaderana.lk

A woman in her 40s has died from Nipah virus infection in Bangladesh, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed, but says the risk of the disease spreading internationally remains low.

According to the WHO, the patient, who lived in Naogaon district in Rajshahi Division, developed fever and neurological symptoms on January 21.

She was admitted to the hospital on January 28, where throat swabs and blood samples were collected. Laboratory tests confirmed Nipah virus infection the following day.

She had no recent travel history but had reportedly consumed raw date palm sap, a known source of infection.

On February 3, Bangladesh officially notified WHO of the confirmed case through the International Health Regulations system.

Health officials have identified and tested 35 people who came into contact with the patient, and no additional cases have been detected so far.

The announcement comes shortly after two cases were reported in India’s West Bengal state, raising regional concern. Some neighbouring countries have increased health screening at airports, although the WHO has not recommended any travel or trade restrictions.

“WHO assesses the overall public health risk posed by Nipah virus to be low at the national, regional, and global levels,” the agency said. “The risk of international spread is considered low.”

Bangladesh has reported 348 cases since 2001, with nearly half linked to the consumption of raw date palm sap. Outbreaks typically occur between December and April, a period that coincides with the harvesting and drinking of fresh palm sap.

There are currently no licensed vaccines or specific antiviral treatments for the virus. The disease has a high fatality rate, estimated at between 40 and 75 per cent.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently described Nipah as a “rare but serious disease”, noting that authorities are strengthening disease surveillance, improving infection prevention in health facilities, and educating the public on protective measures.

What is the Nipah virus?

The virus is carried by fruit bats and can spread to humans through contact with infected animals, consumption of contaminated fruits or raw fruit products, or close contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids, especially in homes or healthcare settings.

Symptoms can appear between three and 21 days after infection and include fever, headache, confusion, cough, breathing difficulties, vomiting, or diarrhoea. Severe cases may cause brain inflammation and can be fatal, though early medical care improves survival.

While outbreaks have occurred in parts of Asia, no cases have been confirmed in Sri Lanka.

Outbreaks and deaths

Since it was first identified in 1998, the virus has caused a relatively small number of outbreaks globally, but with a very high death rate. The initial outbreak in Malaysia and Singapore recorded nearly 300 cases and over 100 deaths, mainly among pig farmers.

Since then, most infections have been reported in Bangladesh and India, where outbreaks occur almost every year, often linked to contact with fruit bats or consumption of raw date palm sap.

Several hundred cases have been documented worldwide, with overall fatality rates typically ranging between 40 and 75 per cent, depending on the outbreak and the level of medical care available.

Bangladesh has recorded the highest number of recurring outbreaks and deaths, while India has experienced periodic clusters, especially in West Bengal and Kerala.

Despite its limited geographic spread, the Nipah virus remains a serious public health concern because of its severe symptoms, potential for person-to-person transmission, and lack of a licensed vaccine or specific treatment

(Source:Adaderana.lk)

A 17-year-old youth was fatally wounded in a police shooting in Sri Lanka’s northern Jaffna district early Tuesday after officers fired at a van that reportedly ignored orders to stop at a checkpoint, police said.

The incident took place near the Allapiddy junction within the Kayts police division in the early hours of February 10. According to police, officers attempted to stop a suspicious van, but the vehicle failed to comply and continued at speed toward the Mandaitivu area.

Police said details of the fleeing van were passed on to a patrol jeep carrying the Officer-in-Charge of the Kayts Police. Despite repeated attempts to intercept the vehicle, it continued to evade officers. Warning shots were initially fired into the air, but the van did not stop.

Officers then opened fire in an effort to halt the vehicle, police said. The driver was struck by gunfire and was admitted to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The deceased was identified as a 17-year-old resident of Vaddukoddai.

Police also noted that the rear number plate of the van had been removed. Two other individuals who were inside the vehicle at the time were taken into custody. Further investigations are being carried out by the Kayts Police in coordination with the Jaffna Divisional Criminal Investigation Unit.

The United Nations said on Monday it is waiting for details on when and how much the United States will pay toward its delayed budget dues, following a promise last week that Washington would make an initial payment within weeks.

“We’ve seen the statements, and frankly, the secretary-general has been in touch for quite some time on this issue with Ambassador (Mike) Waltz,” U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a briefing.

“Our (budget) controller has been in touch with the U.S.; indications were given. We’re waiting to see exactly when payments will be made and in what amounts,” he added.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sounded the alarm on U.N. finances in a January 28 letter to member states and warned that the 193-country organization is at risk of “imminent financial collapse” due to unpaid fees.

The majority of the fees are owed by Washington, which under President Donald Trump has been retreating from multilateralism on numerous fronts and demanded that the U.N. reform and cut costs.

“You’ll certainly see an initial tranche of money very shortly,” Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told Reuters on Friday. “It’ll be a significant ... down payment on our annual dues ... I don’t believe that the ultimate figure is decided, but it’ll be in a matter of weeks.”

U.N. officials say the U.S. is responsible for more than 95% of outstanding dues toward the regular U.N. budget. The nation owes $2.19 billion by the start of February, plus another $2.4 billion for current and past peacekeeping missions and $43.6 million for U.N. tribunals.

U.N. officials say the U.S. did not pay into the regular budget last year and owes $827 million for that, as well as $767 million for 2026, with the remainder of its debt made up of arrears from previous years.

Asked if the money would go toward last year’s dues or those for 2026, or both, Waltz said: “Just in general, towards the arrears, and also in recognition of some of the reforms that we’ve seen.”

As of last Friday, 55 countries had paid their contributions to the regular U.N. budget for this year before a February 8 due date, U.N. data showed.

Source:adaderana.lk

Petitions challenging the proposed Protection of Tenants Bill were taken up before the Supreme Court today, where the Attorney General’s Department informed court that a new committee will be appointed to re-examine the draft legislation.

The matters were heard before a three-member bench comprising Justices Mahinda Samayawardena, Arjuna Obeysekera and Sampath Abeykoon.

Senior Additional Solicitor General Sumathi Dharmawardena, appearing for the Attorney General, informed court that according to a letter dated February 6 issued by the Secretary to the Ministry of Justice, a new committee will be appointed to revisit the draft Protection of Tenants Bill and the related Rent (Repeal) Bill.

He told court that the proposed committee will include representatives of the Attorney General’s Department, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka and eminent members appointed by the Minister of Justice. The committee is expected to consider public representations and the issues raised in the petitions before proposing any necessary amendments to the draft legislation.

President’s Counsel Faizer Musthapha appeared on behalf of the petitioners.

Based on the undertaking given by the Attorney General’s Department that the draft bill would be revisited by the new committee, the petitioners withdrew the cases.

(Source:Newswire)

The Department of Meteorology has forecast mainly dry weather across most parts of Sri Lanka today (10). According to the advisory, no significant rainfall is expected in the majority of regions throughout the day.

However, early morning mist is likely to develop in parts of the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva, North-Central and North-Western provinces, as well as in the Galle and Matara districts. Motorists and commuters in these areas are advised to remain cautious due to reduced visibility during the morning hours

The Sri Lankan Rupee experienced minor variations against the US Dollar across major commercial banks today (February 9), reflecting a generally steady currency market with only slight movements from the previous trading day.

At Seylan Bank, exchange rates remained unchanged, with the US Dollar buying rate at Rs. 306.65 and the selling rate at Rs. 311.40. Similarly, NDB Bank maintained its earlier rates, keeping the buying price at Rs. 306.15 and the selling price at Rs. 312.65.

People’s Bank recorded a small dip in both rates, with the buying rate easing from Rs. 305.94 to Rs. 305.89, while the selling rate declined slightly from Rs. 312.68 to Rs. 312.63.

In contrast, Commercial Bank reported a modest appreciation, as the buying rate rose from Rs. 304.11 to Rs. 304.36 and the selling rate increased from Rs. 312.50 to Rs. 312.75. Sampath Bank also noted a slight upward adjustment, with the buying rate climbing from Rs. 306.00 to Rs. 306.25 and the selling rate moving up from Rs. 312.50 to Rs. 312.75.

Overall, the currency market reflected mild shifts, with the Rupee showing a mixed performance against the Dollar while maintaining general stability.