Srilanka

Showery condition is expected to enhance to some extent particularly in the South-western part of the island and in the Eastern, North-central, Uva and Central provinces today and tomorrow. Several spells of showers will occur in the Eastern, Uva and North-central provinces and in Hambanthota and Matale districts. A few showers are likely in Northern Province.Showers or thundershowers will occur at a several places in Sabaragamuwa and Western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts after 2.00 p.m.Fairly heavy falls above 75 mm are likely at some places in Sabaragamuwa province and in Kaluthara and Galle districts.Wind speed can be increased up to 40 kmph at times in Mannar, Puttalam and Hambanthota districts.Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces during the morning.General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Parliamentary Selection Committee (PSC) under the chairmanship of Hon. Speaker of parliament Karu Jayasuriya will be tabled today (21) in order to conduct the nomination process of the Members for Committees including the Committee on Public Enterprise (COPE) Committee and the Public Accounts Committee.The 17 members of Parliament will serve the current session of the Select Committee.Hon. Chamal Rajapaksa, Hon. Nimal Siripala De Silva, Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, Hon. Johnston Fernando, Hon. Douglas Devananda, Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe, Hon. Gamini Lokuge, Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen, Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, Hon. Mano Ganeshan, Hon. Niroshan Perera, Hon. Mavai Senathirajah will represent the Parliamentary Selection Committee.The first meeting of the Parliamentary Selection Committee is scheduled to be held at 3.00 p.m at the parliament complex.

Parliamentary Selection Committee (PSC) under the chairmanship of Hon. Speaker of parliament Karu Jayasuriya will be tabled today (21) in order to conduct the nomination process of the Members for Committees including the Committee on Public Enterprise (COPE) Committee and the Public Accounts Committee.The 17 members of Parliament will serve the current session of the Select Committee.Hon. Chamal Rajapaksa, Hon. Nimal Siripala De Silva, Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, Hon. Johnston Fernando, Hon. Douglas Devananda, Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe, Hon. Gamini Lokuge, Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen, Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, Hon. Mano Ganeshan, Hon. Niroshan Perera, Hon. Mavai Senathirajah will represent the Parliamentary Selection Committee.The first meeting of the Parliamentary Selection Committee is scheduled to be held at 3.00 p.m at the parliament complex.

Four new ambassadors along with a new High Commissioner concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka presented their credentials to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the PresidentHouse in Colombo yesterday (20). The ambassadors of the State of Qatar and Republic of Turkey as well as the Pakistan High Commissioner will be based in Colombo. The ambassadors to the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg and Slovenia will be based in New Delhi.

After the presentation ceremony, welcoming the delegates the President spoke of strengthening bilateral relations and expanding on areas of common interests such as education, development, technology and agriculture. The new diplomats also expressed their commitment to uphold the long ties their countries had had with Sri Lanka and work with Sri Lanka to develop on the common interests as mentioned by President.

Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena also spoke and noted that Sri Lanka always had maintained cordial relations with all five countries.

The envoys who presented their credentials today are:

Mr. Jassim bin Jaber J.B. Al-SorourAmbassador- designate of the State of Qatar based in Colombo

Mrs. Rakibe Demet ŞekercioğluAmbassador- designate of the Republic of Turkey based in Colombo

Major General (Retd) Muhammad Saad KhattakHigh Commissioner- designate of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan based in Colombo

Mr. Jean Claude KugenerAmbassador- designate to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg based in New Delhi

Dr. Marjan CencenAmbassador- designate of the Republic of Slovenia based in New Delhi