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Former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has extended her condolences to the family, colleagues, and supporters of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia following her passing.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Kumaratunga described Zia as “a towering figure in the political life of Bangladesh and a stateswoman of remarkable resilience and courage.”

She highlighted Zia’s pioneering role as one of the first women to lead a South Asian nation and her contributions to promoting greater participation of women in governance across the region.

Kumaratunga recalled her personal experience working with Zia on bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, as well as on regional issues during her tenure as chair of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

She praised Zia’s “charm and unfailing courage in the face of daunting challenges.”

The former president highlighted Zia’s role in strengthening democratic institutions, advancing socio-economic development, and representing the aspirations of millions of Bangladeshis.

She also expressed solidarity with the people of Bangladesh in mourning the loss of “a historic leader.”

Professor Nishan Canagarajah, a distinguished academic of Sri Lankan origin and the President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester, has been knighted in the 2026 King’s New Year Honours for his exceptional service to higher education and inclusive leadership.

Born and educated in Sri Lanka, Professor Canagarajah later moved to the United Kingdom to continue his studies, earning both his Bachelor’s degree and PhD from the University of Cambridge. His academic career spans more than 30 years, including senior leadership roles at the University of Bristol, before taking up his current position at Leicester in 2019.

He has been widely recognised for his commitment to widening access, equality, and social mobility within higher education. Under his leadership, the University of Leicester has strengthened its reputation as one of the UK’s most diverse institutions, with 38% of students coming from disadvantaged backgrounds and 69% from minority ethnic communities.

During his tenure, the university launched its first IntoUniversity centre, appointed its first female and minority Chancellor, and expanded community-focused and international initiatives, including programmes supporting refugees and global academic partnerships.

Commenting on the honour, Professor Canagarajah reflected on his journey, saying it was a powerful reminder of the transformative role of education, adding that rising from a childhood in a once war-affected country to being recognised at the highest national level was an extraordinary personal milestone.

The Global Crisis

Deforestation and human-animal conflict have become dangerously intertwined as natural habitats shrink. Wildlife is continuously forced closer to human settlements. The numbers indicate a sobering picture. In 2024, the world lost 16.6 million acres of tropical primary rainforest, at an alarming rate of 4 to 5 cricket fields a minute.

By the end of 2025, the main drivers of this destruction became crystal clear. Commercial agriculture, particularly for the production of commodities like soy, palm oil, and cattle, leads the devastation. Indigenous communities sustainably manage 25 to 28 per cent of the world's land. They are forced to migrate due to deforestation. It results in cultural erosion and heightened poverty. Tragically, they also account for 40 percent of environmental defenders killed globally. They are the people murdered for trying to protect the forests that sustain us all.

Over 1.6 billion people rely directly on forest resources. The loss of primary forests jeopardises medicinal plants and traditional food sources. It leads to malnutrition and health crises in communities that have depended on these ecosystems for generations.

Ecological chain reaction

Deforestation disrupts ecological balance in devastating ways. As wildlife corridors are severed, animals are forced into human territories searching for food and water. This results in crop raiding and livestock predation. This heightened interaction raises the risk of zoonotic disease outbreaks. Forests harbor around two-thirds of the world's species. Their destruction pushes nearly half of endangered mammals toward extinction.

The patterns vary by region, but the underlying theme remains consistent. In Colombia, illegal clearing for coca cultivation and cattle pasture surged amid the power vacuum following peace treaties. In Brazil, agribusiness expansion accounts for nearly 80 percent of Amazon deforestation. Due to development projects, such as roads, hydroelectric dams, mining operations, clearing of remote forest areas continue. Climate-induced fires, exacerbated by extreme droughts, have contributed significantly to forest loss in Brazil and Bolivia. Armed conflicts in various regions have accelerated deforestation rates even further.

India's Wildlife Crisis: A Regional Warning

Close to Sri Lanka, India faces a critical wildlife crisis. Rampant deforestation and habitat fragmentation drive it. This intensifies human-animal conflicts, particularly with elephants and monkeys. With less than 20 percent of original forest cover remaining, wild animals are increasingly forced into human-dominated areas searching for food.

1.  This refers to diseases that are naturally spread from animals to people, such as pets, livestock, and wildlife. Pathogens cause transmissions, and include bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. The diseases can spread through direct contact, contaminated food or water, or the environment, posing serious risks to public health and impacting millions of people worldwide.
2.  Coca is primarily associated with the leaves of a family of South American plants that contain cocaine. These leaves have been traditionally employed for mild stimulation and as a source of illicit cocaine. 
3.  Through collapse of governance and dependence on natural resources for survival and war financing, armed conflicts exacerbate deforestation. Armed groups exploit resources like timber and minerals causing unregulated deforestation and environmental pollution. Local forests are strained by refugee settlements that are a result of conflict, while illegal logging and mining continue to thrive without regulation. Military tactics often involve clearing forests for strategic purposes. Rates of deforestation rise after a war, as farming needs to grow when people return home. These changes exacerbate climate change and biodiversity loss and marks a reversal of sustainable development.

The statistics are grim. Elephants now inhabit merely 3.5 percent of their historical range. Between 2011 and 2021, approximately 3,200 people and 1,150 elephants lost their lives due to conflicts, particularly in high-risk states like Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Karnataka. In Kerala alone, elephants contributed to 103 of the 344 human-wildlife conflict fatalities from 2021 to 2025.

The key factor exacerbating these conflicts is the fragmentation of migratory corridors. The fragmentation is caused by linear infrastructure and agricultural development, alongside climate change and invasive species depleting natural resources. Electrocution has emerged as the primary cause of elephant deaths in conflict zones. Train accidents and retaliatory poisoning follow close behind.

Monkey conflicts present another dimension of this crisis. Monkey species such as Rhesus macaques and Langurs cause considerable agricultural losses in states like Telangana and Himachal Pradesh. Their presence in urban areas, especially New Delhi, poses safety threats, with numerous attacks reported annually. Cultural reverence for these animals encourages their feeding and aggregation in human habitats, despite official prohibitions aimed at managing their populations.

Sri Lanka's Escalating Crisis

Sri Lanka currently grapples with a critical environmental and social crisis stemming from severe deforestation and escalating human-animal conflicts. The nation's forest cover has plummeted from 84 percent in 1881 to about 29.7 percent in recent decades. This catastrophic loss stems primarily from agricultural expansion, notably tea and coffee plantations, infrastructure development including the Southern Expressway, and urbanisation. All of these have fragmented natural habitats.

The conflict with elephants has reached alarming levels. Sri Lanka now records the highest global elephant mortality rate. In 2025, approximately 408 elephants and 149 humans lost their lives due to these conflicts. The conflicts were largely driven by habitat fragmentation from agricultural and infrastructure projects like the Mattala Airport. This forced elephants into human territories searching for food. The main causes of elephant deaths include gunshots, electrocution, and train accidents, alongside injuries from improvised explosives known as "hakka patas."

Conflicts involving Toque macaques and peacocks have also intensified. Macaques increasingly raid crops and households, leading to substantial economic losses. This is fuelled by habitat destruction and improper waste disposal that lures them into human settings.

The rising human-peacock conflict has emerged as a significant ecological and agricultural issue due to deforestation and habitat alteration. This has facilitated peacock migrations from traditional habitats to populated areas. Peacocks, while culturally significant, have become major agricultural pests, damaging crops and disrupting local ecosystems. Infrastructure expansion has aggravated risks of bird strikes in aviation involving peacocks.

International Solutions Taking Shape

In 2025, strategies for addressing deforestation and human-animal conflict began emphasising the integration of nature-based climate actions with socio-economic empowerment.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework represents a major initiative, with 190 nations committing to protect 30 percent of the world's land and sea by 2030. The WHO Pandemic Agreement was adopted as a legally binding treaty in May 2025. It aims to mitigate "spillover" drivers linked to deforestation and high-risk wildlife trade, addressing zoonotic disease prevention at the source

4. Kerala's progressive government, led by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) was re-elected in 2021. It operates under India's quasi, or semi-federal system, which is more tilted towards a unitary form of government. It contains features of both a federal and a unitary system. Article 1 of the Indian Constitution states that India, or Bharat, will be a union of states.

5. In Sri Lanka, the term "Rilaw" (රිළව්) specifically refers to the Toque macaque (Macaca sinica), distinguishable from the Rhesus macaque found in India. The name "rhesus" is thought to be rooted in mythology. Additionally, Asian leaf-eating monkeys, known as Langur, are part of the subfamily Colobinae within the Old World monkey family. In Sri Lanka, specific species include the tufted gray langur, referred to as “Heli wandura” (හැලි වඳුරා) or “Alu wandura” (අළු වඳුරා), and the purple-faced langur, known as “Kalu wandura” (කළු වඳුරා).

The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) established a framework requiring large operators to comply with it by December 2026. In Brazil, a significant multibillion-dollar initiative rewards countries for maintaining forest ecosystems. This is done by funnelling support directly to Indigenous Peoples and local communities. The Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF) similarly incentivises forest conservation through financial channels directed to local communities.

Countries like Barbados are innovating with "debt-for-climate-resilience" swaps. It offers debt restructuring in exchange for commitments to local conservation efforts. Market-based financing is evolving from basic grants to "impact investing" focused on species protection and conservation outcomes.

Mitigating Human-Animal Conflict

Landscape-level management strategies are evolving from traditional protectionist approaches to coexistence models. India's "Wildlife Week 2025" theme, "Human–Wildlife Coexistence," features projects like Tigers Outside Tiger Reserves (TOTR), managing wildlife across broader landscapes rather than confined parks. 

In South Africa, successful approaches included a 2025 initiative to relocate a threatened elephant herd to a safer reserve. It utilised collaring technology, immune-contraceptives, and community monitoring. High-tech solutions are evident in Kenya, where AI-enabled thermal cameras combat rhino poaching. India employs M-STrIPES for real-time tiger monitoring.

Legal recognition of Indigenous Peoples' rights emerges as a cost-effective conservation strategy, as they manage 80 percent of global biodiversity. Organisations like World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) are creating standardised traceability systems for beef and leather to prevent deforestation-linked products from entering markets.

In India, notable policy changes in 2025 included a Maharashtra directive mandating the release of trapped monkeys at least 10 kilometers from human habitation. Farmers are being encouraged to adopt alternative crops like ginger, turmeric, or chili, which are less appealing to monkeys. Technological innovations like the AI-based "Hathi Mitra App" in Chhattisgarh and sensor alerts in Uttarakhand alert villagers regarding animal movements.

States like Kerala and Uttar Pradesh have classified human-wildlife conflict as a "state-specific disaster," streamlining compensation and disaster management funding. Physical barriers such as solar-powered electric fences and bio-fencing techniques have been enhanced to deter animals non-lethally. Providing research-informed strategies for mitigation of human-animal conflict is the aim of the Centre of Excellence for Human-Wildlife Conflict Management.

Conclusion: A Global Challenge Requiring Global Solutions

The intertwined crises of deforestation and human-animal conflict represent one of the most pressing challenges of our time. From the Amazon to India to Sri Lanka, the pattern of the conflict is disturbingly consistent. As forests disappear, wildlife and humans are forced into closer proximity, creating conflicts that are deadly for both.

The international community has begun responding with ambitious policy frameworks like the "30x30 Initiative" and the WHO Pandemic Agreement. These represent recognition that forest conservation and wildlife protection are not merely environmental issues. They are matters of human survival, economic stability, and global health security.

6. M-STrIPES is India's critical mobile-based system (Monitoring System for Tigers - Intensive Protection and Ecological Status) for monitoring tigers and habitat in tiger reserves, using GPS/GIS to track patrols and wildlife data for conservation.

7. The "30x30 Initiative" encompasses two significant global campaigns to safeguard 30 percent of land and oceans, and to enhance women's representation in law enforcement to 30 percent by 2030. These initiatives are associated with wider international agreements, notably the Kunming-Montreal Framework.

Yet policy frameworks alone are insufficient. The solutions emerging from the ground, community-based management, Indigenous rights recognition, technological innovations for early warning, and economic incentives for conservation show what is possible when political will meets practical action.

The key lesson from examining these global patterns is that human-animal conflict is not primarily a wildlife problem. It is a land-use problem, a development problem, and ultimately a human problem. Animals are simply responding to habitat loss by seeking food and territory wherever they can find it. The solution lies not only in controlling wildlife populations but in restoring habitats, maintaining corridors, and fundamentally rethinking how human development can coexist with the natural systems that sustain all life.

For Sri Lanka, observing these international trends offers both warning and hope. The warning is that without decisive action, conflicts will continue escalating as forests shrink further. The hope is that proven solutions exist, from community-based fence management to habitat restoration and use of AI-enabled early warning systems. The question is whether Sri Lanka will learn lessons from global experience and implement these solutions before more lives, both human and animal, are lost.

Lionel Bopage

29 Dec 2025

Bangladesh’s first female prime minister, Khaleda Zia, died after a prolonged illness, her opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party said on Tuesday.

Khaleda, aged 80, had advanced cirrhosis of the liver, arthritis, diabetes, chest and heart problems, her doctors said.

(Source:adaderana.lk)

The Department of Meteorology has forecast intermittent showers and thundershowers in several parts of the country today (31), affecting large areas of the island.

According to the forecast, rainfall is expected at times in the Northern, Eastern, Central, North Central, North Western and Uva provinces. In addition, fairly heavy rainfall exceeding 75 mm is likely at isolated locations within the Central, North Western and Uva provinces.

The Met Department also noted that showers or thundershowers may develop in other areas after 2.00 p.m., particularly during the evening hours.

Early morning misty conditions are expected in parts of the Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces, as well as in the Galle and Matara districts, which could reduce visibility.Members of the public have been urged to take necessary safety precautions to reduce potential damage caused by localized strong winds and lightning associated with thundershowers.

Saudi Arabia bombed the port city of Mukalla in Yemen on Tuesday over what it described as a shipment of weapons for a separatist force there that arrived from the United Arab Emirates. The UAE did not immediately acknowledge the strike.

The attack signals a new escalation in tensions between the kingdom and the separatist forces of the Southern Transitional Council, which is backed by the Emirates. It also further strains ties between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, which had been backing competing sides in Yemen’s decadelong war against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.

A military statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency announced the strikes, which it said came after ships arrived there from Fujairah, a port city on the UAE’s eastern coast.

“Given the danger and escalation posed by these weapons, which threaten security and stability, the Coalition Air Forces conducted a limited military operation this morning targeting weapons and combat vehicles unloaded from the two ships at the port,” it said.

It wasn’t immediately clear if there were any casualties from the strike. The Saudi military said it conducted the attack overnight to make sure “no collateral damage occurred.”

The UAE did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the AP.

The attack likely targeted a ship identified by analysts as the Greenland, a roll-on, roll-off vessel flagged out of St. Kitts. Tracking data analyzed by the AP showed the vessel had been in Fujairah on Dec. 22 and arrived in Mukalla on Sunday.

Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemen expert and the founder of the Basha Report, a risk advisory firm, cited social media videos which purported to show new armored vehicles rolling through Mukalla after the ship’s arrival. The ship’s owners, based in Dubai, could not be immediately reached.

Mukalla is in Yemen’s Hadramout governorate, which the Council had seized in recent days. The port city is some 480 kilometers (300 miles) northeast of Aden, which has been the seat of power for anti-Houthi forces in Yemen after the rebels seized the capital, Sanaa, back in 2014.

The strike in Mukalla comes after Saudi Arabia targeted the Council in airstrikes Friday that analysts described as a warning for the separatists to halt their advance and leave the governorates of Hadramout and Mahra.

The Council had pushed out forces there affiliated with the Saudi-backed National Shield Forces, another group in the coalition fighting the Houthis.

Those aligned with the Council have increasingly flown the flag of South Yemen, which was a separate country from 1967-1990. Demonstrators have been rallying for days to support political forces calling for South Yemen to secede again from Yemen.

The actions by the separatists have put pressure on the relationship between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which maintain close relations and are members of the OPEC oil cartel, but also have competed for influence and international business in recent years.

There has also been an escalation of violence in Sudan, another nation on the Red Sea, where the kingdom and the Emirates support opposing forces in that country’s ongoing war.

(Source:adaderana.lk)

Precious metals rebounded on Tuesday, after falling sharply in the previous session, as the market refocused on geopolitical and economic risks, reigniting gold’s rally to cap its best year since 1979.

Spot gold rose 0.8% to $4,364.70 per ounce at 2:07 p.m. ET (1907 GMT). On Monday, it recorded its biggest daily percentage loss since October 21 as profit-taking pushed it down from Friday’s record high of $4,549.71.

U.S. gold futures settled 1% higher at $4,386.30.

“We saw very extreme volatility yesterday where we saw strong action in Asian trading to the upside and then rather substantial profit-taking... but things have stabilised somewhat today, the trade remains generally favourable,” said Peter Grant, vice president and senior metals strategist at Zaner Metals.

Gold, seen as a safe-haven asset, has surged 66% in 2025 — its steepest climb since 1979 — propelled by a perfect storm of interest rate easing, geopolitical flashpoints, robust central bank purchases and flows into bullion-backed ETFs.

The U.S. Federal Reserve agreed to cut interest rates at its December meeting only after a deeply nuanced debate about the risks facing the U.S. economy right now, according to minutes of the latest two-day session.

The Fed next meets on January 27-28, with investors currently expecting rates to be left unchanged.

“The market remains sceptical on the Russia-Ukraine peace deal, and the broader measures of geopolitical risk remain elevated,” supporting prices, Grant said.
Russia accused Ukraine of trying to attack President Vladimir Putin’s residence and vowed retaliation. Ukraine said the claim was baseless.

Silver rose 7.3% to $77.48 per ounce. It hit an all-time high of $83.62 on Monday, before logging its biggest daily drop since August 2020. Silver has soared 168% this year, driven by its inclusion on the U.S. critical minerals list, supply deficits and growing industrial and investor appetite.

Platinum rose 5.1% to $2,216.45 per ounce. It also touched a record high on Monday, of $2,478.50, before logging its biggest-ever one-day drop.

Palladium rose 1.6% to $1,639.08, after falling around 16% on Monday.

(Source:adaderana.lk)

The final rites of renowned Sri Lankan vocalist Latha Walpola are scheduled to be conducted this evening (31) at the Borella General Cemetery, with full state honours.The veteran singer passed away on December 27 at the age of 91, leaving behind an extraordinary musical legacy that spanned several decades.

Her remains, which are currently lying in state at a private funeral parlour in Borella, will be taken to Independence Square, Colombo 07, at 10.00 a.m. today. Members of the public will be able to pay their respects at the venue from 10.00 a.m. until 2.00 p.m.

Following religious observances scheduled for 2.00 p.m., the remains will be taken to the Borella General Cemetery, where the final rites will be performed.

Born in Mount Lavinia in 1934, Latha Walpola began her musical journey at an early age, making her debut on Radio Ceylon in 1946, when she was just 12 years old. Over the course of her distinguished career, she recorded more than 6,000 songs, including performances in several foreign languages, cementing her place as one of Sri Lanka’s most prolific and celebrated singers.

Sri Lanka Police say a significant influx of people and vehicles into Colombo is expected tomorrow (31) as the public gathers to welcome New Year 2026, particularly in and around Galle Face Green.

To manage the anticipated crowds and reduce traffic congestion, authorities have prepared a special traffic and security operation, which will be supported by the deployment of approximately 1,200 police officers across the city.

Heavy traffic is expected within Colombo city limits, especially in areas under the Fort, Pettah, Slave Island, Maradana, Kollupitiya, Bambalapitiya, and Cinnamon Gardens police divisions. While traffic will function normally at first, temporary traffic diversions will be enforced if congestion intensifies.

Under the proposed traffic plan, vehicles exiting Colombo via Galle Middle Road will be directed through the NSA Roundabout, along Galle Face Road, turning left at the Baladaksha Mawatha (MOD) Junction, continuing via Aliya Nana Roundabout, Mackan Marker Road, and Galle Face Roundabout toward Colpetty. Vehicles entering the city through the Galle Face Roundabout may proceed up to the Baladaksha Mawatha junction.

Police noted that vehicle movement will not be allowed between the Galle Face Roundabout and Aliya Nana Roundabout via Mackan Marker Road, or from Aliya Nana Roundabout to Galle Face Road via Baladaksha Mawatha. Vehicles emerging from side roads connected to Baladaksha Mawatha must turn right to exit Colombo via Aliya Nana Roundabout, while those entering Galle Face Road from side roads should turn right and proceed toward the NSA Roundabout.

During the enforcement of this traffic scheme, parking on pavements or in ways that obstruct main roads will be strictly prohibited. Police warned that legal action will be taken against motorists who violate parking or traffic regulations.

To accommodate visitors, parking space has been arranged for approximately 5,900 vehicles across multiple locations in the city.

Free parking areas (subject to traffic conditions) include:

• Baladaksha Mawatha, Fort Police Division, and MOD Car Park (Beira Lake side)

• Marine Drive areas in Colpetty, Bambalapitiya, and Wellawatte

• D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha in Fort and Maradana

• Parsons Road exit lane in the Company Street Police Division

• Designated parking bays along Galle Road from Savoy Cinema, Wellawatte, to Bagatale Road

• Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha (left lane) from Nelum Pokuna to Library Roundabout

• F.R. Senanayake Mawatha, Reid Avenue, Independence Avenue, Maitland Crescent, and Foundation Road in Cinnamon Gardens

Paid parking facilities will be available at:

• Old Manning Market parking area, Bastion Mawatha

• Vimaladharmasuriya Clock Tower vicinity

• Hemas Parking Area, R.A. De Mel Mawatha

• Lake House premises, D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha

• Bastion Road, Bristol Street, Duke Street (Fort area)

• Access Tower parking at Union Place–Dawson Street junction

• Gamini Roundabout (St. Clement’s), Maradana

Police have also released four traffic maps outlining vehicle movement under this plan and urge motorists to cooperate with officers on duty to ensure a safe and smooth New Year celebration in Colombo.

Sri Lanka will take centre stage in the global gem and jewellery industry when FACETS Sri Lanka 2026 opens on January 3 at The Forum, Cinnamon Life – City of Dreams, Colombo, welcoming international buyers and industry professionals from around the world.

Running from January 3 to 5, 2026, FACETS is widely recognised as the first major international jewellery exhibition of the year, placing Sri Lanka at the forefront of the global trade calendar and setting the tone for industry activity in 2026.

Now marking its 33rd edition, FACETS Sri Lanka has evolved into one of the most respected gem and jewellery trade exhibitions in the region. Organised by the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA), the event brings together every segment of the industry—from miners and gemstone cutters to jewellery manufacturers, designers, traders and exporters—under one trusted platform.

SLGJA President Akram Cassim, speaking ahead of the exhibition, said the longevity of FACETS reflects the strength and credibility of Sri Lanka’s gem and jewellery sector. He noted that hosting the event at Cinnamon Life – City of Dreams represents a modern, forward-looking approach while remaining grounded in the country’s heritage and industry values.

Internationally known as the “Island of Gems,” Sri Lanka is famed for its high-quality sapphires and diverse range of natural gemstones. FACETS Sri Lanka offers a secure and transparent marketplace where global buyers can engage directly with local exhibitors, reinforcing the country’s reputation for craftsmanship, ethical sourcing and generations of expertise.

FACETS Sri Lanka Chairman Armil Samoon said the exhibition aims to foster strong business relationships and meaningful engagement throughout the three-day event, showcasing the full scope and capability of the Sri Lankan gem and jewellery industry.

The exhibition will feature a comprehensive range of local exhibitors across the Gem Pavilion, Jewellery Pavilion and SME Pavilion, complemented by networking sessions and industry-focused activities designed to encourage collaboration and business expansion.

FACETS Sri Lanka 2026 will run from January 3 to 5 at The Forum, Cinnamon Life – City of Dreams, Colombo, and is open to trade visitors, invited guests and industry professionals seeking insight into the heritage, quality and future direction of Sri Lanka’s gem and jewellery sector.

The Department of Meteorology says several parts of the island are expected to experience showers throughout today (30), with the possibility of fairly heavy rainfall exceeding 50 mm in certain areas.

According to the forecast, rain will occur at times in the Northern, Eastern, and Uva provinces, as well as in the Matale, Nuwara Eliya, and Polonnaruwa districts. Meanwhile, Kandy and Anuradhapura can expect several intermittent spells of showers during the day.The Met Department also noted that showers or thundershowers may develop after 2.00 p.m. in parts of the Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces, including the Kalutara district.

In addition, fairly strong winds reaching speeds of around 40 kmph are likely at times over the eastern slopes of the central hills, and in the Hambantota, Monaragala, and Ampara districts.

Misty conditions are expected during the early morning hours in parts of the Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces, as well as in the Galle and Matara districts.

The general public is advised to take necessary precautions to reduce potential damage from localized strong winds and lightning associated with thundershowers.