Srilanka

The Meteorology Department says that thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning and heavy falls about 100 mm (within next 24 hrs) are likely to occur at several places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle, Anuradhapura, Mannar and Vavuniya districts in the evening or night.There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers, the Department cautioned issuing a weather advisory.

All schools in three divisions of Colombo educational zone and three schools of Sri Jayewardenepura educational zone will be closed on the 7th of October in view of the submission of nominations for the Presidential Election 2019. The Ministry of Education says the Election Commission had made the relevant request as a security measure.

The Ministry of Transport - Civil Aviation says the Palaly Airport has been renamed as ‘Jaffna International Airport&.This name change is taking place as the proposal presented by Transport - Aviation Minister Arjuna Ranatunga has received the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers.Developing Palaly Airport, which was maintained as a domestic airport, as a regional and international airport commenced in July this year under the patronage of Minister Ranatunga.The developmental activities of the airport are set to be concluded by next Thursday (10).

The events of the Easter Sunday bombing taught Sri Lanka that 'fighting terrorism' must go hand in hand with 'protecting human rights' and one cannot be compromised for the other, Sri Lanka told the United Nations General Assembly.Delivering the 'Address to the 74th UN General Assembly on Monday, 30 September in New York, Ravinatha Aryasinha, Sri Lanka's Foreign Secretary and the Leader of the Sri Lankan delegation to the UNGA this year, said the very delicate balance between fighting terrorism and protecting human rights has often been elusive with states veering towards one extreme or the other, applying double standards to similar situations and often politicizing these issues.