IMF – LSD News

QR-based fuel quota system to be strictly enforced in future Minister

LSD News Szerkesztőség — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 06:57:58 +0000

The Minister of Ports, Civil Aviation, and Energy, Anura Karunathilaka, stated that the QR code-based fuel quota system currently in place is expected to be strictly enforced in the future.

He made these remarks today (01) while participating in a press conference.

The Minister further noted that the objective of this measure is to regulate and limit fuel consumption to a certain extent during the ongoing crisis.

He also added that it is anticipated that this approach will help mitigate the impact on the economy to some degree.

6 dead after vehicle crashes into crowd near Vesak Dansala in Meegoda

LSD News Szerkesztőség — Sun, 31 May 2026 20:56:02 +0000

Six persons, including three females, are reported dead while several others are injured after a vehicle crashed into a crowd of people near a Vesak Dansala in the Meegoda Junction.

A cab traveling on the road in the Meegoda area in Homagama had veered off the road and crashed into a crowd gathered in a line near a Vesak Dansala before fleeing the scene.

At least 12 persons were injured and admitted to the Homagama Base Hospital while six of them, including three females, had succumbed to injuries, according to hospital sources.

Police said that the driver of the cab has been arrested in connection with the hit-and-run incident.

Sri Lanka, Australia seek to expand trade and tourism ties

LSD News Szerkesztőség — Sun, 31 May 2026 10:54:00 +0000

High-level discussions have been held to expand trade and tourism ties between Sri Lanka and Australia.

Discussions were held between Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Hearth, who is currently visiting New Zealand and Australia and several members of the Australian Parliament from Victoria this afternoon.

Minister Herath in a post on X (formally Twitter), noted that during the meeting both factions explored means of enhancing Parliamentary cooperation, strengthening government-to-government partnerships, supporting the Sri Lankan diaspora and expanding trade and tourism ties.

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath also appreciated the MPs for their continued support to the Sri Lankan community in Australia.

Fuel prices increased; Petrol by Rs 24 per litre

LSD News Szerkesztőség — Sun, 31 May 2026 00:53:09 +0000

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (Ceypetco) has announced a revision of fuel prices, effective from midnight today (May 30).

Accordingly, the price of Auto Diesel has been increased by Rs. 15 to Rs.407 per litre, and the price of Super Diesel has been increased by Rs. 20 to Rs. 478 per litre.

Meanwhile, the price of Petrol 92 Octane has also been increased by Rs. 24 to Rs. 434 per litre and Petrol 95 Octane up by Rs. 25 to Rs. 495 per litre, the CPC said.

Meanwhile, the price of kerosene has been hiked by Rs. 20 to Rs. 285 per litre.

The revised rates are as follows:

Auto Diesel – Rs. 407 (increased by Rs. 15)

Super Diesel – Rs. 478 (increased by Rs. 20)

Petrol 92 Octane – Rs. 434 (increased by Rs. 24)

Petrol 95 Octane – Rs. 495 (increased by Rs. 25)

Kerosene – Rs. 285 (increased by Rs. 20)

Three children reported missing while sea bathing in Kalametiya

LSD News Szerkesztőség — Sat, 30 May 2026 14:52:01 +0000

May 30, 2026 06:25 pm

Three children aged between 12 to 18 years have been reported missing while bathing in the sea area off Kalametiya, Hungama with their parents.

Police said that search and rescue operations are currently underway.

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Deranabhivandana Vesak Poya programme broadcast live from Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya

LSD News Szerkesztőség — Sat, 30 May 2026 04:51:01 +0000

The “Deranabhivandana” live Vesak Poya programme, commemorating the three pivotal milestones in the life of Gautama Buddha, is being broadcast throughout the day today (30) from the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya.

Accordingly, the “Deranabhivandana” live Vesak Poya programme is being telecast live throughout the day today on TV Derana.

The live broadcast commenced at 5:30 a.m. with religious observances.

The programme features the observance of Sil, Sambuddha Vandana, Dhamma sermons, Dhamma discussions, and an auspicious lighting of oil lamps (Pahan Pooja) to invoke blessings upon the country.

In parallel to these events, the Sri Kalyani Vesak Zone—comprising Vesak pandals, lanterns, and devotional song (Bhakthi Gee) performances—is scheduled to commence today at 6:45 p.m.

Furthermore, as in previous years, and for the convenience of the public visiting the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya, the Derana Media Network today handed over road signboards and traffic barricades to the Kelaniya Police.

Global temperatures likely to remain at record levels in 2026-2030, UN says

LSD News Szerkesztőség — Fri, 29 May 2026 08:48:51 +0000

Global average temperatures are likely to continue at or near record levels this year and for the next four years afterwards, the United Nations warned Thursday.

The 11 hottest individual years ever recorded all happened from 2015 onwards and the UN’s weather and climate agency said the trend was set to continue, with a new hottest-ever year “likely” before 2031.

There is a 75 percent chance that the 2026-2030 five-year average temperature will surpass the key threshold of 1.5C above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial average, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said.

The WMO outlook comes as western Europe swelters under a “heat dome” of warm air, breaking temperature records for May in Britain and France.

“Global average temperatures are likely to continue at or near record levels in the next five years,” the agency said.

“It is likely (86 percent chance) that one year between 2026 and 2030 will surpass 2024 as the warmest year on record.”

El Nino effect on 2027

“There is an El Nino predicted for the end of 2026, which increases the chances of the following year, 2027, being the next record-breaking year,” said Leon Hermanson, lead author of the WMO’s Global Annual-to-Decadal Update.

The last El Nino contributed to making 2023 the second-hottest year on record and 2024 the all-time high at around 1.55C above the pre-industrial average.

El Nino is a natural climate phenomenon that warms surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, bringing worldwide changes in winds, pressure and rainfall patterns.

It typically takes place every two to seven years and lasts around nine to 12 months.

1.3C to 1.9C range

The 2015 Paris climate accords aimed to limit global warming to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels – and preferably below 1.5C.

The targets are calculated relative to the 1850-1900 average, before humanity widely began industrially burning coal, oil and gas, which emit carbon dioxide – the greenhouse gas largely responsible for climate change.

“Annual global mean near-surface temperatures during 2026-2030 are predicted to range between 1.3C and 1.9C above the 1850-1900 average,” the WMO update said.

The WMO said there was a 91 percent chance that global average temperatures will temporarily exceed 1.5C above the pre-industrial baseline for at least one year between 2026 and 2030.

Furthermore, there is a 75-percent chance that the entire 2026-2030 five-year mean will exceed 1.5C above the 1850-1900 average.

However, it is considered exceptionally unlikely – less than one percent – that any single year will exceed 2C above the pre-industrial baseline in the next five years.

Arctic heat warning

The 1.5C barrier is expected to be broken with increasing frequency.

The 1.5C and 2C limits in the Paris accords refer to sustained long-term warming – typically over 20 years – so temporary breaches do not necessarily mean the long-term goal is out of reach.

Last year was one of the three warmest years on record, with the globally averaged near-surface temperature estimated at more than 1.43C above the 1850-1900 baseline.

The report was produced by Britain’s Met Office national weather service and the WMO’s lead centre for annual to decadal climate prediction. It compiles forecasts from 13 different institutes.

The report said Arctic temperatures over the next five northern hemisphere winters (November to March) were predicted to be 2.8C above average temperatures for 1991-2020 – more than triple the global temperature anomaly for the same period.

Predicted precipitation patterns for May to September from 2026 to 2030 forecast wet anomalies in the Sahel, northern Europe, Alaska and Siberia, as well as dry anomalies over the Amazon.

Source: FRANCE 24 with AFP

–Agencies

Fire in Kenya girls school dorm kills 16

LSD News Szerkesztőség — Thu, 28 May 2026 12:46:58 +0000

A fire in a girls’ dormitory in Kenya on Thursday (May 28) killed 16 children and hospitalised 79 in the latest deadly blaze to hit a school in the east African country.

The fire broke out shortly before 1:00 am local time at Utumishi Girls Academy in Nakuru County, around 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of the capital Nairobi, officials said.

There have been many devastating school fires in Kenya, where boarding schools are common as a colonial legacy of missionaries and the British.

It was unclear how old the victims of Thursday’s blaze were.

“We have 16 fatalities. It’s an unfortunate incident,” education minister Julius Migos Ogamba told reporters at the scene.

Frantic parents were being held outside the school buildings by authorities as investigators raced to identify the victims.

“Our hearts and prayers are with the families who have lost their beloved daughters,” President William Ruto said on X, describing it as an “unimaginable tragedy”.

The school is linked to the National Police Service and most pupils are the children of officers, said interior minister Kipchumba Murkomen.

“We know that this is a very anxious moment,” he told reporters.

Asked about the cause of the fire, Murkomen called for patience while investigations were ongoing and urged people to avoid speculation.

Children have been accused of deliberately starting school fires in the past. One report found there were 63 arson cases at schools in 2018 alone.

Pupils were accused after a 2001 dormitory fire in the southern county of Machakos killed 67.

A fire in 2024 killed 21 boys after flames engulfed a dormitory at the Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri county.

A 2017 report by Kenya’s National Crime Research Centre blamed exam stress and long school terms and said students in different schools were communicating via smuggled phones, leading to copycat acts.

After the deadly 2024 fire, the government promised a safety audit of all schools and to prosecute violators, but it is not clear if any measures were implemented.official says 16 students died in an overnight fire at a girls’ school in central Kenya.

Source: AFP

–Agencies

Two children die from smoke inhalation after fire in hotel room

LSD News Szerkesztőség — Wed, 27 May 2026 16:44:52 +0000

Two children from the same family have reportedly died today (27) after inhaling smoke from a fire that broke out in a hotel room in Batticaloa.

The deceased are a 3-year-old boy and his 5-year-old sister.

According to Ada Deana reporter, the mother of the deceased children was receiving treatment at the Batticaloa Hospital due to being diagnosed with cancer.

The two children, residents of Badulla, had temporarily stayed at the hotel room when they came with their father to visit their mother in Batticaloa.

Accordingly, it is reported that the father had left the two children in the room, locked the door and went out to the shop.

At that moment, the two children were playing with a lighter, when one of the mattresses in the room, which had two beds, had suddenly caught fire.

The two children, frightened by the fire, had crawled under the other bed that was not on fire and hid.

Seeing heavy smoke coming out of the hotel room, hotel employees and residents nearby immediately took action and broke down the door of the room.

The two children were already unconscious under the bed due to the heavy smoke, and although steps were taken to immediately hospitalize them, it is reported that the children were pronounced dead on admission to the hospital.

Police are conducting further investigations into the incident.

Sri Lanka-Russia defence talks focus on security challenges and training exchanges

LSD News Szerkesztőség — Wed, 27 May 2026 06:43:56 +0000

Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Sampath Thuyacontha, who is currently on an official visit to the Russian Federation, met with Russian Deputy Defence Minister Vasily Osmakov in Moscow.

The Defence Minister Osmakov stated that the meeting took place yesterday (26).

The meeting was held in conjunction with the Defence Secretary’s participation in the first International Security Forum and the Annual International Meeting of High-Ranking Officials Responsible for Security Issues, scheduled from May 26 to 29 in Moscow.

During this discussion, views were exchanged on important regional and global security challenges between the two countries.

The discussion also reaffirmed the importance of continued cooperation between Sri Lanka and the Russian Federation in areas of mutual interest, particularly military-technical cooperation, capacity-building initiatives and opportunities for enhanced training exchanges between the two countries.

The two parties also deliberated on matters concerning former Sri Lankan military personnel currently serving in the Russian Federation.

The Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia, Shobini Gunasekara, the Head of the Chancery Section of the Sri Lankan Embassy, Mihiravi Dissanayake, and the Defence Advisor, Air Commodore Dinesh Kasagala, participated in this discussion.