Srilanka

Northeast monsoon conditions are gradually establishing over the country. Therefore prevailing showery condition in the Northern and Eastern parts of the country is likely to continue further. Cloudy skies can be expected over the island.Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Northern, Eastern, North-central and Uva provinces and Hambanthota district. Showers or thundershowers will occur elsewhere after 1.00 p.m.Heavy showers about 100-150 mm are likely at some places in Northern, Eastern, Uva and North-Central provinces (particularly in Batticaloa, Ampara, Polonnaruwa, Badulla and Trincomalee districts). Fairly heavy showers about 75-100 mm are likely at some places in Sabaragamuwa, Western, Central and Southern provinces.Wind speed can be increased up to 50kmph at times in Central hilly areas, Northern, North-central, North-western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western and Sabaragamuwa 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.

Twenty new Secretaries to the Ministries have been appointed last evening (27).Their letters of appointment were handed over by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat.New Secretaries appointed for the ministries are listed below.1. Mrs. S.M. Mohammed - Secretary to Ministry of Tourism and Aviation Services2. Mr. R.W.R. Pemasiri - Secretary to Ministry of Roads and Highways3. Mr. J.J. Rathnasiri - Secretary to Ministry of Justice, Human Rights and Legal Reforms4. Mr. Ravindra Hevawitharana - Secretary to Ministry of Plantation Industries and Export Agriculture5. Mr. J.A. Ranjith - Secretary to Ministry of Industries and Supply Management6. Mr. D.M.A.R.B. Dissanayake - Secretary to Ministry of Higher Education, Technology and Innovations7. Mr. H.M. Gamini Seneviratne - Secretary to Ministry of Passenger Transport Management8. Mr. W.A. Chulananda Perera - Secretary to Ministry of Information and Communication Technology9. Mrs. Wasantha Perera - Secretary to Ministry of Power and Energy10. Mr. M.M.P.K. Mayadunne - Secretary to Ministry of Ports and Naval Affairs11. Mr. S. Hettiarachchi - Secretary to Ministry of Public Administration, Internal Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government12. Mr. R.P. Aryasinghe - Secretary to Ministry of Foreign Affairs13. Mrs. A.S.M.S. Mahanama - Secretary to Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and Social Security14. Mrs. J.M.C. Jayanthi Wijetunga - Secretary to Ministry of Environment and Wildlife Resources15. Mr. R.A.A.K. Ranawaka - Secretary to Ministry of Land and Land Development16. Mr. M.P.D.U.K. Mapapathirana - Secretary to Ministry of Industrial Exports and Investment Promotion17. Mrs. R.M.I. Rathnayake - Secretary to Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources18. Mrs. P.S.M. Charles - Secretary to Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medicine19. Mr. N.B. Monty Ranatunga - Secretary to Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Enterprise Development20. Prof. Priyath Banduwickreme - Secretary to Ministry Urban Development, Water Supply and Housing Facilities

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday (27) appointed new chairpersons for the District Coordinating Committees.The letters of appointment were handed over to the newly appointed chairpersons at the Presidential Secretariat.

The first Cabinet meeting of the new interim government will be held tomorrow under the auspices of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.A 15 member-Cabinet was appointed by the President to serve in the government for an interim period till the general election is conducted, following the dissolution of Parliament after March 1 next year. The new Cabinet of Ministers was sworn in before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat on Friday.