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A red warning for heavy rains has been issued by the Department of Meteorology, with the advisory coming into effect at 9.30 a.m. today (14) and remaining valid until 8.30 a.m. tomorrow (15).

According to the Department, a low-pressure area located northeast of Sri Lanka continues to persist. It is expected to move away from the island and gradually weaken over the next 36 hours.

The warning highlights the likelihood of heavy showers exceeding 100mm in several areas, including the Western Province, Sabaragamuwa Province, and North Western Province. Similar intense rainfall is also expected in the districts of Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Galle, and Matara.

Authorities have urged the public to take adequate precautions to minimize possible damage caused by heavy rain, strong winds, and lightning during thundershowers.

Ousmand Gunasekara, alias ‘Gampaha Ousmand’, has been arrested by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) for allegedly aiding and abetting the killing of notorious underworld figure and organised criminal Sanjeewa Kumara Samararatne, alias ‘Ganemulla Sanjeewa’, and for allegedly supplying firearms used to carry out the murder.

“Ganemulla Sanjeewa” was shot dead inside the Colombo No. 05 Magistrate’s Court inside the Aluthkade Courts Complex by an individual disguised as an attorney while he was being produced before the court by prison officials on February 19, 2025.

Police stated that the suspect was arrested last night (13) in the Sri Bodhi Road area in Gampaha based on information obtained from suspects currently held under detention orders in connection with the murder.

Investigations have revealed that the murder plot had allegedly been orchestrated in collaboration with organised criminals operating overseas, and that the suspect had aided the crime by providing the firearms required to carry out the killing.

Police further stated that a foreign-manufactured repeater shotgun, two magazines and 10 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the suspect’s possession at the time of his arrest.

The arrested suspect has been identified as a 69-year-old resident of Gampaha.

Further investigations into the murder are being conducted by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD).

(Adaderana.lk)

A collision involving a school transport bus and a Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) bus was reported this morning (13) along the Colombo–Kataragama main road in Dikwella, near the Polgahamullla private garment factory.

According to reports, the school transport bus carrying schoolchildren was travelling from Hambantota towards Ambalantota when the accident occurred. The SLTB bus was reportedly heading in the direction of Kataragama at the time of the collision.

The incident caused concern among residents and motorists travelling through the busy roadway during the morning hours.

Authorities stated that further information regarding injuries and the extent of property damage has not yet been confirmed.

Investigations into the accident are ongoing.

A student of a leading government school in Eppawala has allegedly attacked five fellow students with a sharp weapon, leaving them injured and prompting a police investigation into the incident.

The injured students were admitted to the Eppawala Divisional Hospital. Hospital sources confirmed that their condition is not critical.

All five victims are Grade 12 students following the Advanced Level Technology stream at the same school. Police stated that the suspect is also a Grade 12 student from the Science stream of the same institution.

According to sources, the incident is believed to have stemmed from a dispute that occurred a few days earlier between the suspect and one of the injured students. It is reported that a subsequent confrontation led to an act of retaliation involving the use of a sharp weapon.

Investigations further suggest that although the suspect targeted one student, four others were injured when they attempted to intervene during the incident.

The student accused of bringing the weapon onto the school premises and injuring the five students has been arrested by Eppawala Police along with the weapon used in the attack, according to Ada Derana reporter.

Police in Eppawala continue to conduct further investigations into the incident.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to Indians to revive working from home, buy less gold and limit foreign travel to deal with a surge in global energy prices because of the continuing crisis in the Middle East.

Modi said the austerity measures, reminiscent of the Covid era, would reduce India’s fuel use and help save foreign exchange.

India imports 90% of its oil and its crude bill has seen a multi-billion dollar spike since the US and Israel’s war on Iran, with the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow Gulf chokepoint, shut for more than two-and-a-half months now.

Analysts described Modi’s appeal, made at a public event in the southern city of Hyderabad on Sunday, as the “most drastic” so far.

“Patriotism is not only about the willingness to sacrifice one’s life on the border. In these times, it is about living responsibly and fulfilling our duties to the nation in our daily lives,” Modi said.

“In the current situation, we must place great emphasis on saving foreign exchange,” he added.

Urging people to use public transport such as the metro, Modi suggested people carpool to conserve fuel. He also asked farmers to reduce use of fertiliser by half.

The effect was visible on Indian markets on Monday - analysts say Modi’s comments was one of the reasons the benchmark Sensex index fell more than 1,000 points in early trade amid fears of prolonged economic disruption.

India has so far avoided raising petrol and diesel prices at the pump despite mounting pressure on state-run fuel retailers. But the prolonged conflict and disruption to oil supplies have begun to strain the broader economy.

The impact has been visible in a number of industries, with hundreds of thousands of jobs at risk in factories that make glass and plastic products and tiles. Dwindling fertiliser supplies have raised concerns about lower farm produce and higher food prices.

But the effect has been most stark on the Indian rupee, which has hit record lows in recent weeks, increasing the cost of imports and adding pressure on inflation.

Analysts say Modi’s remarks indicate the government may soon issue some directives to curb energy use. A price revision of petroleum products could also be on the horizon.

India’s opposition leaders criticised Modi’s remarks, saying it pointed to poor planning on the part of the federal government.

Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi said the government was shifting “responsibility onto the people” and escaping accountability themselves.

“[Modi’s suggestions] aren’t sermons - these are proofs of failure,” he said in a post on X.

The war in Iran and the choking of the Strait of Hormuz has affected economies across the globe, especially in Asia, with many countries reeling under rising fuel costs. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has described it as the “largest supply disruption in history”.

In the days following the start of the war, a number of countries introduced measures to limit the impact on consumers and the economy.

China ordered its oil refineries to stop exporting fuel for the time being, but petrol still became expensive in the country and some Chinese airlines cut flights as jet fuel prices went up.

Some Australian states have made public transport free or slashed fares by half to encourage people not to drive.

The Philippines declared a national emergency in March, with its government offering subsidies to transport drivers, reducing ferry services and implementing a four-day work week for civil servants.

Sri Lanka too introduced fuel rationing and temporarily turned to a four-day week, shutting down schools, colleges and other government institutions on Wednesdays.

Source: BBC

The Department of Meteorology has reported intense rainfall across several parts of the country over the past 22 hours, with Kesbewa recording the highest amount at 204 millimetres.

According to the Met. Department, Veyangoda in the Gampaha District received 145.5mm of rain, while Wathupitiwala recorded 105.5mm during the same period. In the Ratnapura District, Gilimale saw 121mm of rainfall.

Meanwhile, Bandaragama in the Kalutara District recorded 102.5mm, with Horana closely following at 101.5mm, reflecting widespread wet conditions across the Western and surrounding regions.

Authorities have also issued an advisory warning of continued heavy rainfall affecting the Western, Sabaragamuwa, North Western, Northern, and North Central provinces, along with the Trincomalee, Galle, and Matara districts.

The Department further cautioned that some areas in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces, as well as Puttalam, Galle, and Matara districts, could experience very heavy rainfall exceeding 200mm during the day.

Officials attributed the persistent wet weather to a low-pressure system currently located near Sri Lanka, which continues to influence prevailing conditions.

In addition, fairly heavy rainfall of around 100mm is expected in parts of the Northern and North Central provinces, as well as in Trincomalee and Kurunegala districts, as the system continues to bring widespread showers across the island.