Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya says that art, together with unity, mutual understanding and harmony, is essential for people to lead fulfilling and happy lives.&nbsp;&nbsp;She further emphasized the importance of preserving the Sri Lankan identity while remaining open-minded and prepared to face the challenges of a rapidly changing society.&nbsp;The Prime Minister made these remarks on Saturday (12) while participating in the opening ceremony of a special educational and cultural trade exhibition and festival organized jointly by the Wayamba Janakala Foundation and the Siyapatha Kala Sangamaya, with the vision of revitalizing the artistic heritage of the Seven Korales and creating a culturally empowered individual who appreciates the arts.&nbsp;&nbsp;The exhibition will be held from 12 to 18 September, from 10.00 a.m. to midnight at the Wayamba Janakala Centre. The cultural festival has been organized for school students, teachers, youths, and adults.&nbsp;At the commencement of the exhibition, the Prime Minister opened the exhibition stall of the Department of Education and officially launched the website of the Janakala Foundation.&nbsp;Addressing the occasion, the Prime Minister further stated:&nbsp;“We believe that art and culture, both are important in realizing the thriving nation and beautiful life that we aspire. It is equally important to see and learn about the heritage of our country and, through our experiences, engage in a dialogue on how we can take these traditions forward by incorporating them into our lives in ways that are relevant to the present day.&nbsp;As the Member of Parliament mentioned to me, films are being screened here, educational programmes and workshops are being conducted, and there are a number of performing arts presentations. Through all of these activities, what we hope to achieve is to enrich the lives of the people of the North Western Province. Being ‘rich’ does not mean economic prosperity alone. Building roads, constructing buildings and developing housing facilities are all necessary. But these alone are not sufficient. We can build a modern city out of concrete and still live empty lives devoid of happiness, sensitivity or fulfilment. If we are to truly make our lives fulfilling and create happiness, however, we need things such as these. We need unity, mutual understanding and harmony.&nbsp;We must also learn through experience how to conduct ourselves in public spaces and how to remain safe within society. We cannot assume that we can protect ourselves simply by separating ourselves from everything and remaining closed off. While preserving our identity, we must be prepared to face the challenges ahead with an open mind if we are to learn how to live safely in a complex society that is changing rapidly due to technology.&nbsp;Therefore, today, I encourage you to speak to someone you have never spoken to before. Try to understand their life. Share your ideas and experiences with someone who has come from a place far away from you, someone who does not speak your language, or someone who belongs to a different religion or culture. It is through such interactions that our lives become broader and we gain an understanding of new things.&nbsp;That is also why art and culture are essential to our lives. A good book can take us to places we have never been. A good work of art or a film can bring us closer to another person’s experience in a way that allows us to feel it ourselves. Therefore, I invite everyone to enjoy and appreciate the arts today with a very open mind and a sense of enthusiasm.&nbsp;I am grateful to everyone who worked hard and dedicated themselves to making this event possible. I wish for these seven days of programmes to be highly successful and to provide everyone with seven days of memorable experiences.”&nbsp;The occasion was attended by the Governor of the North Western Province Tissa Warnasuriya, Deputy Ministers Namal Karunarathna and Namal Sudarshana, Member of Parliament Dharmapriya Dissanayake, other Members of Parliament, the Mayor of Kurunegala, Chairpersons of Pradeshiya Sabhas, Chairman of the Janakala Foundation Anil K. Senadheera, government officials, school students, residents of the area.&nbsp;Veteran artists representing the North Western Province who have made an outstanding contribution to the field of art, including Professor Mudiyanse Dissanayake, Nibiriyagama Bandara, Anton Coorey and Charitha Wickramasinghe, were also felicitated by the Prime Minister on this occasion.

PM highlights importance of art and culture for a thriving nation and beautiful life

The number of confirmed Ebola cases in Democratic Republic of Congo has passed 7,000, with the virus spreading to a new province, government ​data showed on Friday.&nbsp;The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo ​species of Ebola, became the largest and deadliest in Congo's history ⁠after surpassing the 2018-2020 epidemic.&nbsp;It is now second only to ​the 2014-2016 West African outbreak, which infected over 28,600 people ​and killed more than 11,000 across Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.&nbsp;Government figures showed late on Friday that the death toll had risen to 3,398, while ​confirmed cases reached 7,022 across seven provinces.&nbsp;Officials said earlier an Ebola ​case had been detected in South Ubangi province, located in the northwest ‌of ⁠the country, far from the epicentre of the outbreak.&nbsp;They said a 23-year-old man who had died on Tuesday tested positive for the Bundibugyo species.&nbsp;He left South Kivu province in eastern Congo on ​July 10 and ​spent time ⁠abroad before re-entering Congo and arriving in South Ubangi, which borders Congo Republic and Central African ​Republic.&nbsp;"Contact tracing for the first confirmed case in ​South ⁠Ubangi province is underway," Congo's public health institute said in its latest situation report.&nbsp;Shortages of trained staff, operational partners and funding are ⁠causing ​a bottleneck in efforts to expand the Ebola ​response as the outbreak spreads geographically, according to the World Health Organization.&nbsp;Source: Reuters

Ebola infections top 7,000 in Congo as virus spreads to new province

Iraq ordered the closure of ​the Shalamcheh border ‌crossing between Iraq and Iran as ​a precautionary measure ​after the latest drone ⁠attacks on ​Saudi Arabia, two security ​sources told Reuters on Saturday.&nbsp;The sources said ​a wide-scale operation ​was underway to pursue ‌perpetrators ⁠of the attack on Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;Riyadh said on Friday ​its ​vital ⁠East-West pipeline was attacked by ​drones that ​were ⁠launched from Iraq.&nbsp;Source: Reuters

Iraq orders closure of Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran, two sources say

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis reached the strategic island of Perim in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on ​Friday, four Yemeni government sources told Reuters, moving to tighten their grip on a vital global shipping route in the widening Middle East war.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the vital East-West oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia, which ‌has helped relieve the logjam in the Strait of Hormuz, was temporarily shut down by a drone attack coming from Iraq, Saudi officials said. This put further pressure on Gulf oil flows at a time when diplomatic efforts to ease war have stalled.&nbsp;If the Houthis gain control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, on the opposite side of the Arabian Peninsula from the Strait of Hormuz, their backer Iran could gain a critical advantage in its war with the U.S., reducing supplies through a second major corridor and further raising oil prices.&nbsp;The Houthi attacks ​could represent a dangerous escalation. Sources said Saudi Arabia has asked Washington for military help at a time when higher fuel prices during the war have tarnished U.S. President Donald Trump and his Republican Party politically ahead ​of November congressional elections.&nbsp;Two sources from the Saudi-backed, internationally recognised Yemeni government said its forces had pulled out of Perim and that the Houthis had also taken the ⁠mainland Red Sea coastal town of Dhubab, which faces the island.&nbsp;The war began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran six months ago. Hormuz, conduit for about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade, was effectively ​closed. Since then Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter and a close U.S. ally, has relied on the Red Sea route. Gulf states, industry sources and Trump have discussed pipeline expansion as one possible workaround.&nbsp;Existing pipeline capacity was shut down ​temporarily after several attacks on the East-West pipeline in Saudi Arabia's Riyadh and Medina regions, state media reported, citing a source at the Saudi energy ministry.&nbsp;It remained unclear who carried out the attack. Saudi Arabia said only that the drones came from Iraq, which is home to Iranian-backed militias.&nbsp;Saudi Arabia has opted against retaliation so far following a request from the Iraqi prime minister, the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement. The kingdom reserves the right to "take all measures necessary" to protect its interests, the statement said. Iraq's government ​condemned attacks.&nbsp;The 1,200-kilometer (745-mile) pipeline is the key alternative route for Saudi oil to reach global markets, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. It has been shipping 4 million to 5 million barrels per day in recent months, amounting to 4% ​to 5% of global supply, according to ship tracking companies and analysts.&nbsp;The attack resulted in some injuries and damage that was being assessed, the Saudi foreign ministry said without detailing the impact on exports.&nbsp;Saudi crude supply fell to the lowest levels in more than three ‌decades, the International ⁠Energy Agency said on Friday, partly due to attacks on ships transiting Bab el-Mandeb by Houthi-linked groups.&nbsp;Oil prices dipped on Friday but were on track to end the week above $100 a barrel for the first time since mid-May.&nbsp;The Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said maritime navigation remained safe for all shipping except Saudi vessels subject to a previously announced ban.&nbsp;In a speech marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the U.S., Trump called Iran "the world's number one sponsor of terror". Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded by saying the accusation came from "the same devils" responsible for an apparent U.S. strike on a school at the start of the conflict in February that Iran said killed more than 175 children and teachers.&nbsp;YEMENI GOVERNMENT ​FORCES PLOT COUNTER-OFFENSIVE&nbsp;Yemeni government forces indicated they would try ​to retake areas captured by the Houthis — mountain fighters ⁠who withstood years of devastating Saudi airstrikes during Yemen's civil war — in their lightning offensive this week along the Red Sea coastline.&nbsp;They announced they would deploy weapons and aircraft to eliminate any movement of the "terrorist" Houthi militias in strategic areas, including the road leading to the coastal city of Mocha, which the militant group captured on Thursday along with the Red ​Sea islands of Hanish.&nbsp;Reuters reported on Thursday that the dramatic Houthi advance down Yemen's Red Sea coast came with direct guidance from Iran's Revolutionary Guards.&nbsp;Iran told the Houthis ​last week to escalate their attacks ⁠on Saudi Arabia and promised more funding, weapons and senior officers to help them do so, two Iranian sources said.&nbsp;Iran describes the Houthis as an ally but publicly denies giving them military direction, saying they are "not a proxy".&nbsp;SAUDI CROWN PRINCE ASKED TRUMP FOR HELP, SOURCES SAY&nbsp;Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called Trump at least twice on Thursday to request U.S. military help in fighting the Houthis, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday, confirming an earlier report by Axios.&nbsp;Washington told Riyadh ⁠it was not ​willing to take direct military action for now but would help with intelligence sharing and targeting, the two sources said.&nbsp;The White House did ​not address a Reuters question on any phone calls between the two leaders, but a senior administration official speaking on the condition of anonymity said Washington was in continuous dialogue with Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government.&nbsp;Source: Reuters

Gulf oil threatened anew as Houthis reach key island and pipeline is shut down

U.S. President Donald Trump said on ​Saturday he would "love" ‌to see Ireland unify with British-run Northern Ireland and ​that it would ​happen eventually.&nbsp;"Well, I don't want ⁠to cause any ​problems, but I will ​tell you, I'd love to see it unified," Trump told ​reporters after a ​meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheal ‌Martin ⁠in Dublin.&nbsp;"The way I look at it, it's going to happen ​eventually ... I ​think ⁠it would be a fantastic thing."&nbsp;"Now ​the UK will ​have ⁠something to say about it ... but I think ⁠it ​would be ​a great thing."&nbsp;Source: Reuters

Trump says he would 'love' to see a united Ireland

Atmospheric conditions are becoming favourable for afternoon thundershowers in the Northern and Eastern provinces over the next few days, according to the Department of Meteorology. Showers or thundershowers are expected at several places in the Northern, North-Central, Uva, Eastern, Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces, and in the Hambantota District, after 2.00 p.m. Fairly heavy rainfall exceeding 75 mm is possible in some areas. Several spells of showers are also expected in the Western and North-Western provinces and in the Galle and Matara districts. The public has been advised to take precautions against temporary, localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Thundershowers expected in North and East over next few days

The ​BRICS group of emerging economies has agreed on a joint declaration, sources told Reuters on Saturday, hours before ‌its leaders began a summit in New Delhi, aiming to boost the bloc's global clout.&nbsp;The summit, hoping to bridge divisions between members Iran and the United Arab Emirates over the Gulf conflict, is being held as the United States and Iran resume tit-for-tat strikes in their six-month-old war.&nbsp;Foreign policy experts ​had said the key test for the bloc would be finding language on the Middle East crisis that both Abu Dhabi and Tehran could accept, clearing the way for a joint declaration.&nbsp;Such a joint statement was unlikely to influence the current geopolitical landscape, but would demonstrate unity by a ​grouping of emerging nations against economically debilitating policies such as Western sanctions, they said.&nbsp;BRICS foreign ministers meeting in New Delhi in May ​were unable to issue a joint statement, stymied by differences between Iran and the UAE.&nbsp;BLOC SEEKS TO RAISE INTERNATIONAL PROFILE&nbsp;The BRICS bloc is seeking ‌to raise ⁠its profile by influencing international rules and demanding the reform of institutions such as the World Bank, IMF and WTO, which some members view as being dominated by Western powers.&nbsp;Leaders attending the summit are Russian President Vladimir Putin, China's Xi Jinping, Iran's Masoud Pezeshkian, South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, among others.&nbsp;New Delhi, which ​has strong ties with the ​United States, Russia, Israel, Iran ⁠and the Gulf Arab states is engaged in a diplomatic balancing act, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi pushing BRICS members to boost trade cooperation, reduce barriers, and expand business opportunities.&nbsp;The need to ​bridge the Iran-UAE divide over the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and produce a consensus summit declaration, ​however, has been ⁠an immediate concern for BRICS diplomats and officials.&nbsp;UAE, after being hit by Iranian missiles since the war began, suspended all trade and financial transactions with Iran in August.&nbsp;BRICS groups Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.&nbsp;It ⁠was set up ​in 2009 to challenge a world order dominated by the United States ​and its Western allies. Together, its members account for more than 40% of the world's population and almost a quarter of the global economy.&nbsp;Source: Reuters

BRICS agrees on joint declaration before New Delhi summit, sources say

Abdul Razak Mohamed Basik, the father of alleged drug trafficker Shiran Basik, has been remanded until 25 September. The order was issued after he was produced before Colombo Hulftsdorp (Aluthkade) Magistrate’s Court No. 3 today (12). He was arrested by the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) yesterday (11) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The arrest is linked to an investigation into the purchase of a luxury apartment in Gampaha, valued at around Rs. 30 million and registered in his name. The property was allegedly bought using funds earned by Shiran Basik through drug trafficking.

Father of alleged drug trafficker Shiran Basik remanded

Police suspect that the hand grenade attack on a residence in Sirisangabo Mawatha, Dehiwala, early yesterday (11) may have been a case of mistaken identity. Two children from the same family were killed in the attack, while their father sustained critical injuries and is receiving treatment at Kalubowila Teaching Hospital. Police suspect that the attacker may have intended to target the injured man’s brother’s residence but attacked the wrong house. Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Western Province Sajeewa Medawatte stated today (12) that organised crime gangs would not be allowed to operate unchecked. He also noted that such gangs had begun using hand grenade attacks as a tactic in organised criminal activities.

PM highlights importance of art and culture for a thriving n ...

Ebola infections top 7,000 in Congo as virus spreads to new province

Ebola infections top 7,000 in ...

Iraq orders closure of Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran, two sourc ...

Iraq orders closure of Shalamc ...

Gulf oil threatened anew as Houthis reach key island and pipeline is s ...

Gulf oil threatened anew as Ho ...

Trump says he would 'love' to see a united Ireland

Trump says he would 'love' to ...

Thundershowers expected in North and East over next few days

Thundershowers expected in Nor ...

BRICS agrees on joint declaration before New Delhi summit, sources say

BRICS agrees on joint declarat ...

Father of alleged drug trafficker Shiran Basik remanded

Father of alleged drug traffic ...

Dehiwala grenade attack suspected to be case of mistaken identity – Po ...

Dehiwala grenade attack suspec ...

Ebola infections top 7,000 in Congo as virus spreads to new province

Ebola infections top 7,000 in ...

Iraq orders closure of Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran, two sourc ...

Iraq orders closure of Shalamc ...

Gulf oil threatened anew as Houthis reach key island and pipeline is s ...

Gulf oil threatened anew as Ho ...

Trump says he would 'love' to see a united Ireland

Trump says he would 'love' to ...

Thundershowers expected in North and East over next few days

Thundershowers expected in Nor ...

BRICS agrees on joint declaration before New Delhi summit, sources say

BRICS agrees on joint declarat ...

Father of alleged drug trafficker Shiran Basik remanded

Father of alleged drug traffic ...

Dehiwala grenade attack suspected to be case of mistaken identity – Po ...

Dehiwala grenade attack suspec ...

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Gulf oil threatened anew as Houthis reach key island and pipeline is s ...

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Trump says he would 'love' to see a united Ireland

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Thundershowers expected in North and East over next few days

Thundershowers expected in Nor ...

BRICS agrees on joint declaration before New Delhi summit, sources say

BRICS agrees on joint declarat ...