News

The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has extended ‘Level 3 (Red)’ landslide warnings issued to several Divisional Secretariat Divisions (DSDs) across four districts due to prevailing heavy rainfall.

In addition, Level 2 (Amber) and Level 1 (Yellow) landslide early warnings have been issued for multiple areas across several districts.

The warnings, issued by the NBRO at 8:30 a.m. today (22), will remain in effect for the next 24 hours.

Level 3 — Evacuate (Red Warning)

• Kandy District: Yatinuwara, Doluwa, Ududumbara, Ganga Ihala Korale
• Kegalle District: Yatiyanthota, Kegalle, Dehiowita, Aranayaka, Mawanella
• Matale District: Rattota, Ambagamuwa Korale, Laggala Pallegama, Wilgamuwa, Ukuwela
• Ratnapura District: Ratnapura

Level 2 — Be Alert (Amber Warning)

• Badulla District: Haldummulla
• Galle District: Niyagama
• Kandy District: Medadumbara, Pathadumbara
• Monaragala District: Badalkumbura
• Ratnapura District: Kiriella, Ayagama, Kalawana

Level 1 — Remain Vigilant (Yellow Warning)

• Badulla District: Meegahakivula, Kandaketiya, Haputale, Passara, Bandarawela 
• Hambantota District: Walasmulla
• Kandy District: Udadumbara, Udapalatha, Udunuwara, Pasbage Korale, Pathahewaheta
• Kegalle District: Deraniyagala, Bulathkohupitiya
• Kurunegala District: Rideegama, Mallawapitiya 
• Monaragala District: Wellawaya 
• Nuwara Eliya District: Kotmale West, Hanguranketha, Kotmale East, Mathurata
• Ratnapura District: Nivithigala, Eheliyagoda, Kolonna(

(Source:adaderana.lk)

Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake recently visited the Madampitiya Applewatta Housing Complex to assess the progress of construction under the ongoing Urban Regeneration Programme.

The large-scale development includes 2,100 housing units and is being carried out with financial backing from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara, along with several government officials, joined the Minister during the site inspection.

This housing initiative forms part of the government’s wider urban renewal strategy, which is designed to enhance living conditions by providing safe and modern housing for low-income communities.

US President Donald Trump has said he is considering a limited military strike on Iran in order to pressure its leaders to agree a deal to curb the nuclear programme.

The president made the remark in response to a question from a journalist hours after officials had suggested the possibility of a strike.

On Thursday, Trump said the world would find out “over the next, probably, 10 days” whether a deal would be reached or the US would take military action. The US has been increasing its military presence in the region in recent weeks.

The US and its European allies suspect that Iran is moving towards the development of a nuclear weapon, something Iran has always denied.

US and Iranian officials have met over the issue in Switzerland and said progress has been made in the talks.

Speaking on Friday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran was preparing “a draft of a possible agreement” and would hand it over to US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in the next few days.

The talks in Geneva were held as American forces continued ramping up their presence in the vicinity of Iran.

The deployment includes the world’s largest warship, USS Gerald R Ford, appearing to be heading towards the region.

USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier is also being deployed, joining an increase of destroyers, combat ships and fighter jets.

Satellite images have also shown that Iran has reinforced military facilities, and the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamanei, has posted messages to social media threatening US forces.

“The US President constantly says that the US has sent a warship toward Iran. Of course, a warship is a dangerous piece of military hardware,” one of Khamenei’s posts read.

Trump takes questions from journalists several times a week - often in lengthy sessions in the Oval Office or on Air Force One - but his comments do not necessarily always translate into concrete actions, and often contradict each other.

He is fond of reminding reporters that he prefers to keep his intentions to himself and a small circle of insiders to avoid potential adversaries knowing his next moves.

“I’m not going to talk to you about that,” he snapped at a reporter on Thursday when asked about potential military action. “We’re going to make a deal or get a deal one way or the other.”

Even if an operation is carried out, Trump has so far yet to specify what the precise military objective would be, with US officials having reportedly presented him with a wide range of options for what could be a weeks-long campaign.

In the past, Trump has also used deadlines to achieve an element of surprise.

At the time of Operation Midnight Hammer in July last year - which saw US forces strike Iranian nuclear facilities - White House officials were still publicly discussing the possibility of successful talks.

The day before US missiles and bombs struck the facility, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt read a statement from Trump in which he said that because “negotiations may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks”.

Any strikes in the near future would come at a challenging time domestically for the Trump administration, with polls showing that a growing number of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of immigration and the economy.

Unlike the one-day strike in Iran last year and the quick operation to capture Nicolás Maduro in January, a protracted, multi-week conflict with Iran threatens alienating parts of Trump’s Maga base which were drawn to his campaign promise of an end to messy foreign entanglements.

Source:adaderana.l

Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has recorded double-digit growth in the opening weeks of 2026, with the increase attributed to momentum generated by the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup matches hosted in the country.

According to official statistics from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, tourist arrivals during the first 45 days of 2026 reached 401,787, marking a 12.5% year-on-year increase.

In February, the first 12 days alone accounted for 124,460 arrivals, a 19% rise compared with the same period last year. The daily average during that period was 10,372 visitors, a statement from Sri Lanka Tourism said.

Officials said the increase was driven in part by sports tourism, with cricket fans arriving from India, the United Kingdom, Australia, Russia, Germany, China and the United States.

Host cities Colombo and Kandy reported full occupancy in city hotels during match days, with additional demand extending to Mount Lavinia and Negombo.

Sri Lanka Tourism also reported steady average daily guest expenditure, with increased demand for accommodation, transport and leisure activities during the tournament period.

Visitors during the World Cup period also recorded longer average stays compared with seasonal norms. The sector is on track to exceed early-year revenue projections, supported by higher per-guest spending and extended stays.

Tourism officials said digital campaigns are ongoing to promote Sri Lanka’s leisure, cultural and experiential offerings beyond cricket, amid efforts to address lower average individual spending patterns.

The Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management has expanded training and capacity-building programs in response to increased visitor volumes. New modules in event hospitality, sports tourism management and digital marketing were introduced to strengthen service standards.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau has launched promotional campaigns to position Sri Lanka as a destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism. Officials said several international events are in the pipeline as part of efforts to diversify tourism revenue streams.

The Ministry of Tourism, together with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and affiliated institutions, said it plans to leverage the current momentum to sustain growth throughout 2026, building on global visibility generated by the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. 

(Source: Newswire)

The Sri Lankan Rupee showed a modest improvement against the US Dollar today (February 20), based on the latest exchange rates released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

The Central Bank reported that the Dollar’s buying rate moved from Rs. 305.63 to Rs. 305.58, while the selling rate also shifted slightly from Rs. 313.14 to Rs. 313.09, indicating a marginal strengthening of the local currency.

Meanwhile, the Rupee maintained relative stability when compared to a range of other foreign currencies, including those used in Gulf countries.

The slight appreciation reflects continued stability in the foreign exchange market, with no significant fluctuations reported in major currency pairings.

President Donald Trump’s administration and the Indonesian government say they have finalised an agreement to lower US tariffs on the South East Asian country to 19% from 32%.

Under the deal, Indonesia will cut trade barriers on more than 99% of American imports - including agriculture, healthcare, seafood, technology and car-related goods - the White House said on Thursday.

Washington said it granted tariff exemptions on some Indonesian goods, including certain clothing and textiles that are produced with cotton and man-made materials from the US.

US trade representative Jamieson Greer said the agreement will “breaks down trade barriers” while advancing the interests of the American people.

The agreement came during a visit to Washington by Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto to attend the first meeting of the Trump-led “Board of Peace” to discuss the reconstruction of Gaza.

Indonesia’s coordinating minister for economic affairs Airlangga Hartarto said the finalised deal is beneficial to both sides and will attract greater investment in Indonesia.

Airlangga said about 90% of Indonesia’s requests on tariff terms were accepted by the US.

“The vision of this agreement is mutual economic prosperity, strong supply chains, and respect for each country’s sovereignty,” he told reporters in Washington.

Airlangga said that as part of the deal, Indonesia has secured tariff exemptions for more than 1,700 goods, including coffee, spices, chocolate, natural rubber and, notably, its top export product palm oil.

It comes in exchange for Indonesia opening up its markets to American products, such as by accepting US standards on car safety, emissions, medical devices and pharmaceuticals, said the White House.

It said that Indonesia will ease barriers on American agricultural and technology goods being sold in its market.

Indonesia will also facilitate US firms in developing the South East Asian country’s rare earths infrastructure, which will help Washington expand its supply of critical minerals.

The deal will take effect in 90 days and changes could still be made to the terms if both countries agree, said Airlangga.

On Wednesday, Indonesian and US companies signed a slew of deals worth $38.4bn (£28.6bn) for partnerships in mining, technology, textiles and other industries.

Prabowo said the deals came as part of the tariff agreement and that it will help Indonesia to reduce its trade surplus with the US.

“I’m very optimistic about the future of our relationship,” he said during a dinner hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday.

Source:adaderana.lk

British police were searching the former mansion of King Charles’ younger brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on Friday after a photograph of the royal emerging from a police station was splashed on newspapers around the world.

Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on Thursday, his 66th birthday, on suspicion of misconduct in public office over allegations he sent confidential government documents to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein when he was a trade envoy.

The former prince was released under investigation after being held by police for more than 10 hours. 

He has not been charged with any offence but looked haunted in a Reuters photograph after his release, slumped in the back of a Range Rover, eyes red and with a look of disbelief on his face.

The photograph of a man who was once a dashing naval officer and reputed favourite son of the late Queen Elizabeth was carried on the front page of newspapers in Britain and around the world, accompanied by headlines such as “Downfall”.

Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, a convicted sex offender who took his own life in 2019, and said he regrets their friendship. 

But the release of millions of documents by the U.S. government showed he had remained friends with Epstein long after the financier was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008.

Those files suggested Mountbatten-Windsor had forwarded to Epstein British government reports about investment opportunities in Afghanistan and assessments of Vietnam, Singapore and other places he had visited as the government’s Special Representative for Trade and Investment.

KING SAYS THE LAW MUST TAKE ITS COURSE

The arrest of the senior royal, eighth in line to the throne, is unprecedented in modern times. The last member of the royal family to be arrested in Britain was Charles I, who was beheaded in 1649 after being found guilty of treason.

King Charles, who stripped his brother of his title of prince and forced him out of his Windsor home last year, said on Thursday he had learned about the arrest with “deepest concern”.

“Let me state clearly: the law must take its course,” the king said. “What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities.”

The news broke early on Thursday morning that six unmarked police cars and around eight plain-clothed officers had arrived at Wood Farm on the king’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk, eastern England, where Mountbatten-Windsor now resides.

Thames Valley Police officers also searched the mansion on the king’s Windsor estate west of London where Mountbatten-Windsor had lived before being forced out amid anger at the Epstein revelations.

Officers said late on Thursday that the royal had been released under investigation. They said the searches at Sandringham had concluded but the searches in Windsor were continuing.

While being arrested means that police have reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed and that the royal is suspected of involvement in an offence, it does not imply guilt.

A conviction for misconduct in a public office carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and cases must be dealt with in a Crown Court, which handle the most serious criminal offences.

Source:adaderana.lk

The Sri Lankan government is drafting new legislation that would enable courts to order house arrest for eligible suspects instead of sending them to remand prison, in a move aimed at addressing the country’s worsening prison overcrowding crisis.

Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said the nation’s prison system, originally designed to accommodate approximately 10,500 inmates, is now holding close to 39,000 individuals. He highlighted that a major contributor to this situation is the large number of remand prisoners who have yet to be convicted.

According to the minister, around 28,000 inmates are currently being held on remand, including nearly 20,000 individuals detained over drug-related charges.

He explained that the proposed legal framework, being developed under the guidance of Yasantha Kodagoda, would allow judges to impose home detention in suitable cases, helping to reduce pressure on prison facilities.

The minister also pointed out that Sri Lanka lacks a formal system to review or reduce sentences for prisoners serving life imprisonment or facing capital punishment. To address this gap, a committee chaired by Justice Thurairaja has been tasked with examining options for introducing a sentence review and reduction mechanism for long-term inmates.

Nanayakkara further revealed that the country’s judicial system is currently handling around 1.1 million pending cases. However, he noted improvements in case resolution rates under the leadership of Chief Justice Murdu Fernando, along with plans to establish seven new courts. These include specialized courts to handle cases related to the Easter Sunday attacks and bribery allegations.

Addressing concerns about the recent shooting involving a lawyer and his wife in Akuregoda, the minister stated that there is no broader threat to legal professionals due to their court work and assured that justice would be pursued in the matter.

He also confirmed that the government intends to revise the proposed rent control legislation after receiving public feedback and will not proceed with the bill in its current form

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to former Telecommunications Regulatory Commission Chairman and former Ministry Secretary Anusha Palpita in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged unlawful asset accumulation.

The decision was made after the court reviewed arguments presented by officials from the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and the defense counsel representing the suspect.

After considering the submissions, Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama ordered that Palpita be released on bail.

Palpita had been taken into custody in January by the Bribery Commission after he was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation regarding the source of Rs. 46 million in funds. The investigation into the matter is continuing.

An 11-member Special Parliamentary Select Committee has been established to evaluate the electoral framework used for Provincial Council elections and to provide recommendations for improvements.

The announcement was made in Parliament today (20) by Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne, who stated that the committee has been formed under the leadership of Minister Vijitha Herath.

The committee has been assigned the responsibility of studying the current election system and proposing suitable reforms to ensure an effective and transparent process for future Provincial Council polls.

The appointed members of the committee include Muneer Mulaffer, Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala, Arun Hemachandra, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Mano Ganesan, Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi, Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, Samanmalee Gunasinghe, Darmapriya Wijesinghe, Chandana Sooriyaarachchi, and Nizam Kariapper.

The committee is expected to review the existing structure and submit its findings and recommendations to Parliament in due course.