Srilanka

Today marks the 15th anniversary since Sri Lanka faced the devastating Tsunami disaster that hit the island in 2004 killing over 35,000 people. On December 26, 2004, an undersea earthquake with a magnitude of 9.1 struck off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra generating tsunami waves which caused massive destruction in several countries including Sri Lanka. Remembering the victims of the Tsunami disaster, National Safety Day will be celebrated at the Peraliya Tsunami Memorial in Thelwatte, Galle at 8.45 a.m today.Religious dignitaries of all faiths, political leaders, public officials, security forces and police and the family members of tsunami victims, will participate at the commemorative event.

Navy relief teams are supporting to restore normalcy in public life in the Northwestern Province, that was slashed by the adverse weather in Puttalam district. Accordingly, the Navy, over the past couple of days, has been cleaning the drinking water wells contaminated by flood water and distributing safe drinking water by Navymobile Reverse Osmosis (RO) plants.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said he will commit himself to uplift the local art industry and welfare of the artistes during his tenure.President Rajapaksa further said that the government will act according to a strategy in compliance with policy of protecting our own identity and culture.

Pakistan erected a run mountain and then hollowed out Sri Lanka's top and middle order to inch closer to an emotional series victory on the penultimate day of the second and final test on Sunday.Following in the footsteps of openers Abid Ali and Shan Masood, Azhar Ali and Babar Azam smashed centuries before Pakistan declared their second innings on 555-3.Chasing 476, Sri Lanka were 212-7 at stumps with Oshada Fernando waging a grim battle with his maiden test century after being let down by the top order.