Srilanka

The Australian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka David Holly called on President Goatabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat today (06).Extending his and his governmentgreetings to President Rajapaksa, the Australian High Commissioner said he will facilitate Australiahighest possible support to Sri Lanka which is on a trajectory with a new vision.The two dignitaries discussed ways and means of further enhancing bilateral cooperation between Sri Lanka and Australia.

In a move to strengthen the state bureaucracy and protect public officers from future political reprisal, the Government is to undertake a probe into political witch-hunts against certain targeted public officers during the last government. New laws and mechanisms are also under consideration to ensure greater protection for the state bureaucracy in the future, it was announced yesterday.A Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry (SPCoI), which has the power to recommend punishment, is to be established shortly to investigate those government officials who conducted investigations into the conduct of other public officials who were targets of political witch-hunts during the last government.

The Maldivian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat Thursday afternoon (05).Minister Shahid extended warm greetings, on his and the Maldivian President Mohomad Solihbehalf, to President Rajapaksa on his election to the office of the President of Sri Lanka. While expressing satisfaction over the status of relations between the two nations, the Maldivian Minister stressed the need for enhancing not only the bilateral cooperation but also the regional cooperation.

Due to the low-level atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka (south of Sri Lanka) , prevailing showery condition is expected to enhance over Northern, Eastern, North-central, Uva and Central provinces from tonight (particularly during 04 and 05 December).Showers or thundershowers will occur in Northern, North-central, Eastern, Uva and Southern provinces and in Kurunegala district. Showers or thundershowers will occur elsewhere after 1.00 p.m.Very heavy showers above 150 mm are likely at some places in Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara, Mullaitivu, Nuwara-Eliya, Badulla and Monaragala districts.Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in North-Central, Sabaragamuva, Southern and Western provinces and in Matale, Kandy, Jaffna, Mannar, Kilonochchi and Vavuniya districts. (Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Galle, Matara, Hambanthota, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Gampaha and Kaluthara).Fairly strong gusty winds up to 55 kmph can be expected over the island particularly in North-Western, Southern, Central, Uva and North-Central provinces.General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.