Category: Special Reports
Sri Lanka to issue certificates of absence for missing persons
Jun 08, 2016 (LBO) – The Cabinet of Ministers approved draft legislation enabling the issuance of Certificates of Absence enabling family of missing to address practical issues relating to their disappearance. The draft legislation which involves an amendment to the Registration of Deaths (Temporary Provisions) Act, No. 19 of 2010 will now be gazetted and the […]
Blast at Sri Lankan armoury kills one soldier, thousands evacuated
June 06, 2016 (LBO) – One soldier was killed and thousands of people were evacuated after an explosion on Sunday at the Salawa Army Camp, where one of Sri Lanka’s largest ammunition stores is located. Explosions at the army camp continued for more than five hours and the blasts were heard 12 km away, local […]
Japanese PM to delay consumption tax hike; possible no-confidence
May 30, 2016 (LBO) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has met top executives of his Liberal Democratic Party to discuss the proposal to delay the scheduled April 2017 consumption tax hike. Japanese media reported that Vice-President Masahiko Komura, General Council Chairman Toshihiro Nikai, and Policy Research Council Chairman Tomomi Inada were among them. Shinzo […]
Sri Lankan climber successfully summits Mt Everest
May 21, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala has summited the world’s highest peak, Mt. Everest, early this morning, becoming the first Sri Lankan to complete the incredible feat, the support team said. She is now descending to a lower base camp, with winds favorable. She has not yet had an opportunity to make […]
La Nina may give India heavy monsoon, Sri Lanka expects usual monsoon
May 25, 2016 (LBO) – India may have the highest monsoon rainfall in 22 years with La Nina on the cards, according to a private weather forecaster, boosting agricultural production and easing a shortage of drinking water. Although the prediction by Skymet Weather Services Pvt., a New Delhi-based private forecaster, is higher than the forecast […]
India to turn Iranian port into transit hub bypassing Pakistan
May 24, 2016 (LBO) – India, Iran and Afghanistan have signed a tripartite agreement to turn the Iranian Chabahar port into a transit hub bypassing Pakistan, foreign media reported. The agreement will significantly increase the use of Chabahar port and connect India to Central Asia through Afghanistan and also provide Afghanistan access to India through […]
Flood-hit Sri Lanka receives help from several countries
May 24, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has received a helping hand from several friendly countries to support the disaster affected people in the country. The Foreign Ministry has established a task force to coordinate emergency relief assistance from Diplomatic Missions in Colombo and Sri Lankan Missions overseas, with the relevant Ministries and Agencies in […]
Sri Lanka flood water could take few days to recede: UN OCHA
May 23, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s worst floods in 25 years may take few days to recede, with the increasing possibility of health issues in urban areas, UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in its situation report released on Sunday. “It is expected to take several days for floodwaters to […]
South-West monsoon gradually establishing over Sri Lanka: Met Dept
May 24, 2016 (LBO) – The South-west monsoon condition is gradually establishing over the country, and showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Western, North-Western, Southern, Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces, the Met Dept said on Tuesday. “Fairly heavy to heavy falls (around 75-100mm) are also likely at some places,” a statement released at […]
Sri Lanka’s Colombo water supply still safe: Rauff Hakeem
May 20, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Water Supply Minister Rauff Hakeem today rejected claims that the water intakes from Ambatale Water Treatment Plant were polluted. Speaking in Parliament the Minister assured that there is no truth to the rumor that the Kalani River water had been severely polluted with oil. “We have been constantly […]
150 people feared dead in two Sri Lanka landslides
May 19, 2016 (LBO) – Around 150 people are feared dead after more than three days of heavy rain triggered two landslides in central Sri Lanka, disaster officials said on Wednesday, Reuters reported. Torrential rains have forced more than 223,000 people from their homes across the South Asian country, the latest official data showed. Seventeen […]
Sri Lanka floods leave over 135,000 homeless
May 17, 2016 (LBO) – At least eight people were killed and over 207,000 people were affected due to adverse weather in Sri Lanka where more than 135,000 people have been driven out of their homes by floods, officials said Tuesday. Over 47,000 families were affected in the island with Western Province has been reported […]