The Department of Examinations has announced the schedule for the 2026 G.C.E. Advanced Level practical examinations for candidates who sat the written examinations earlier this year. Practical examinations for Dance, Music and Drama and Theatre will be held from 24 September to 3 October. Engineering Technology practicals will run from 30 September to 10 October, Home Economics from 10 to 20 October, and Bio-Systems Technology from 17 to 21 October. School candidates will receive admission cards through their principals, while private candidates will receive them by post. Admission cards can also be downloaded from the Examinations Department website seven days before the practical examinations begin.

2026 A/L practical examination schedule announced

The MetroCoast Ratmalana Bus Depot was officially opened today (21) as part of the Lanka Metro Transit initiative. The new depot is aimed at supporting urban transportation through improved facilities and more reliable services. The initiative is part of efforts to strengthen modern public transport services in Sri Lanka.

Ratmalana MetroCoast Bus Depot officially opened

The Ministry of Education stated that 38 schools across Sri Lanka have been closed today (21) due to prevailing adverse weather conditions. As of 9.00 a.m., 35 schools in the Central Province and one school each in the Sabaragamuwa, Southern and Western provinces were closed. The Ministry noted that local education authorities have been given the authority to decide whether schools should conduct sessions under the current weather conditions.

38 schools closed across Sri Lanka due to adverse weather

Australia forecast on Monday that deaths would exceed births for the first time in the 2060s, a demographic shift ​with far-reaching implications for an economy grappling with an ageing population, declining ‌births and cuts to immigration.&nbsp;For decades, Australia has sustained population growth by relying on immigration to offset low birth rates. But with immigration now slowing, the country is starting to look down ​a path already taken by many advanced economies including Japan, Germany and ​South Korea, where deaths have already outnumbered births.&nbsp;In an Intergenerational Report published ⁠on Monday, the Treasury department identified AI, geopolitical fragmentation, the energy transition, ageing ​population and a shift to a service-based economy as the five most consequential transformations facing ​the country's economic outlook over the next four decades.&nbsp;It now expects population growth to slow to 0.9% a year over the next four decades as fertility rates decline and net overseas migration – the ​difference between the number of incoming migrants and people leaving the country – continues to ​fall before stabilising. That is down from an average of 1.4% rise over the past 40 ‌years.&nbsp;"For ⁠the first time, deaths are projected to outnumber births by the 2060s," Treasurer Jim Chalmers said in a speech.&nbsp;"The number of Australians over 85 will triple by 2066, putting further demand on health services."The left-leaning Labor government tightened immigration rules last week, as Prime ​Minister Anthony Albanese ​seeks to fend off ⁠a surge in support for the right-wing populist One Nation party that has pledged to sharply curb immigration.&nbsp;Albanese's approval rating slipped ​this week to its lowest level since he became prime ​minister in ⁠2022.&nbsp;The report also warned an ageing population would boost demand in the care services, with regions with older populations facing greater labour shortages in healthcare and aged care, sectors that ⁠rely ​heavily on migrant workers.&nbsp;The report also flagged tax cuts ​in future budgets as Labor doles out more cost-of-living relief to Australians grappling with elevated inflation, higher ​mortgage rates, and expensive housing.&nbsp;Source: Reuters

Australia warns of risks from ageing population, falling birth rates

Embattled German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has vowed to stay on despite exit polls in two local elections suggesting damaging defeats for his centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party.&nbsp;In the north-eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the party was initially projected to scrape through with its worst ever election result. But a few hours later, it dipped below the 5% threshold needed to stay in parliament. Merz called it "a disaster" for his party.&nbsp;Meanwhile the far-right AfD was on track to win the most votes in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, but it is unlikely to govern as other parties refuse to work with it.&nbsp;In Berlin, the ruling CDU was expected to be beaten by Die Linke (The Left).&nbsp;Merz is under mounting pressure, with poor approval ratings and rumours he could even be replaced mid-term in a so-called chancellor swap.&nbsp;Votes took place on Sunday, a fortnight after the CDU saw its vote halved as the Alternative for Germany (AfD) won a major victory in the state of Saxony-Anhalt.&nbsp;Echoing comments he made after that defeat, Merz told reporters at the party's Berlin headquarters on Sunday that he would forge ahead with his coalition government's plans to push through a package of economic, tax and welfare reforms.&nbsp;"The reforms have to come," he insisted. "I am taking on this responsibility, because I want to move our country forward".&nbsp;"What needs to be done now requires backbone, steadfastness and patience," Merz said. "I will demonstrate this as CDU party chairman and, above all, as chancellor of our country."&nbsp;"I would even go so far as to say that these reforms are the antidote to the authoritarian poison that, with the fascination of authoritarianism, is penetrating ever deeper into our society," Merz added.&nbsp;The AfD's national co-leader Alice Weidel said: "We are the strongest force and have reached the mainstream of the population."&nbsp;Some branches of the populist AfD are classed as right-wing extremist by domestic intelligence, a designation it strongly rejects.&nbsp;But its anti-immigration, German-first, and Russian-friendly agenda has found fertile ground in the country's former communist east.&nbsp;As the projected results came up on the screen at the CDU's election night gathering in Berlin, there were no cheers or celebration.&nbsp;This is a party that knows it's in trouble, and its leader quickly went on the offensive, declaring that he is going nowhere.&nbsp;Merz has long coveted the top job in German politics, and likely won't give it up easily.&nbsp;Polls for both states closed at 18:00 local time (17:00 BST), with a final result expected later on Sunday night, or even Monday morning.&nbsp;Public broadcasters ZDF and ARD put the AfD slightly ahead in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.&nbsp;The party was projected to take 38% of the vote share in the state, followed in second place by the centre-left SPD, on 36%.&nbsp;For Berlin, the broadcasters put the CDU on 20% of the vote share when polls closed, behind Die Linke - which has never topped polls in the capital before - on nearly 26%.&nbsp;The AfD also looks set to increase its vote in Berlin, with a projected 16% of the vote.&nbsp;Prior to Sunday's elections, there had been intense speculation in Germany that Merz could be replaced unless his party's political fortunes improved.&nbsp;Earlier this week, the leaders of eight German states backed Merz, who has only been chancellor for 16 months.&nbsp;On Sunday, Burkard Dregger from the CDU in Berlin, told the BBC it was right that Merz should stay on. "He has a lot of work to do and we don't have time to waste to form new government in the federal level".&nbsp;He described the electorate as "impatient", adding that it was "not realistic to expect that every issue has been solved within one year.&nbsp;"He has got four years and we have to give him the four years," Dregger said.&nbsp;While his backers have argued that many of the problems the nation faces are inherited, Merz himself is deeply unpopular.&nbsp;The former corporate lawyer's tack to the right on issues like immigration has failed to erode AfD support, while also alienating people further to the left.&nbsp;Source: BBC

German Chancellor Merz calls state election a 'disaster' for his party but vows to stay on

The Supreme Court’s confidential determination on the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution has been received by Speaker. The Speaker’s Office confirmed that the determination has been received.

 Speaker receives Supreme Court determination on 22nd Amendment

A powerful typhoon barrelling towards Japan's eastern coast has disrupted transportation and forced the closure of several tourist hotspots.&nbsp;Typhoon Dujuan, packing sustained winds of 126km/h and gusts of up to 180km/h, is forecast to pass near the Boso Peninsula in Chiba prefecture near Tokyo on Monday.&nbsp;All Nippon Airways has grounded flights to and from Hachijo Island south of Tokyo, which is experiencing heavy rains and strong winds. JR East, a major rail company, has suspended some services in Chiba, home to Narita Airport.&nbsp;Japan's Meteorological Agency has warned Dujuan could bring record rainfall through Tuesday and urged residents in coastal areas to stay alert for landslides.&nbsp;Rainfall could reach up to 350mm in the Tokai region, 300mm in the Kanto and Izu Islands, and 200mm in Tohoku, the agency said.&nbsp;It also warned that the typhoon could cause severe flooding in low-lying areas.&nbsp;Dujuan, which is Japan's 25th typhoon of the year, has hit in the midst of a five-day holiday and forced the cancellation of several events.&nbsp;Concerts scheduled for Monday at the Rock in Japan music festival have been cancelled, while the Tokyo Game Show, a video game convention, has also cancelled Monday's programme.&nbsp;Organisers of the Asian Games, which are underway in central Japan's Aichi prefecture and in the city of Nagoya, have said typhoon-related concerns have put people off attending the games' opening ceremony on Sunday.&nbsp;Parts of the 30,000-seat stadium were visibly empty during the ceremony.&nbsp;Source: BBC

Japan braces for record rain as powerful typhoon nears east coast

US President Donald Trump's two days attending the United Nations General Assembly will include a series of bilateral meetings and events with notable political figures such as the leaders of Ukraine and the United Kingdom, and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.&nbsp;Nearly 130 heads of state are meeting in New York as the post-World War Two order comes under strain and with the UN itself struggling to remain relevant while weathering ‌attacks from Trump, who has long expressed disdain for the institution and has slashed US funding for many of its agencies.&nbsp;Trump is expected to arrive in New York on Monday afternoon for "political events" at Trump Tower that evening, US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz told reporters on Friday.&nbsp;&nbsp;On Tuesday morning, Trump will address the UN General Assembly.&nbsp;"The president will highlight how he has and his administration have confronted complex problems head-on around the world," Waltz said.&nbsp;&nbsp;"He will touch on the importance of ensuring that Iran never has a nuclear weapon."&nbsp;IRAN CONFLICT LOOMS OVER MEETINGS&nbsp;Hanging over Trump's meetings will be the US-Israeli war with Iran, now more than six months old with no immediate end in sight and at risk of expanding as Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militants attack Saudi Arabia and threaten a crucial shipping route.&nbsp;The conflict with Iran will likely be discussed when Trump participates in a meeting with Gulf Cooperation Council leaders.&nbsp;&nbsp;He will then hold a reception for the council, during which he is set to have his first in-person meeting with Delcy Rodriguez, the interim president of Venezuela backed by Washington after the US military ousted former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.&nbsp;MEETING WITH DEMOCRATIC MAYOR&nbsp;Trump, a Republican who is originally from New York City, is also set to meet on Monday with Democratic Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the mayor's office told Reuters in a statement on Sunday.&nbsp;&nbsp;The meeting will take place at the mayor's official residence, Gracie Mansion, and will focus on "issues affecting New York City and New Yorkers", it said.&nbsp;The two politicians have criticised each other's policy positions and hold radically different worldviews, yet their first meeting last November at the White House proved to be friendly, and Mamdani described their second meeting earlier this year as productive.&nbsp;A White House official confirmed the meeting with Mamdani.&nbsp;ZELENSKYY MEETING ON TUESDAY&nbsp;Also on Trump's agenda is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said in a social media post on Sunday that he and Trump agreed to meet in New York.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Ukrainian leader did not say when the meeting would take place, but a person familiar with the matter said it is expected to happen on Tuesday.&nbsp;The White House did not respond to a request for comment on the possible Zelenskyy meeting.&nbsp;On Tuesday, Trump is set for separate bilateral meetings with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham - the first in-person meeting of the two leaders - and with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.&nbsp;Trump will also meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi at some point during the UN gathering, Iraqi outlets reported last week.&nbsp;Source: Reuters

Trump eyes busy week of meetings as UN General Assembly gathers

The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued an updated landslide early warning advisory for several districts across the country.&nbsp;The warning has been issued due to heavy rainfall recorded during the past 24 hours, with residents in the affected areas urged to remain highly vigilant.&nbsp;The advisory issued at 10.00 p.m. yesterday (20) will be valid until 10.00 p.m. today (21).&nbsp;The areas under the warning are as follows:&nbsp;Level 3 – Red Alert (Evacuation Warning)&nbsp;Galle – NeluwaKalutara – WalallawitaKandy – Pasbage KoraleKegalle – Mawanella, Deraniyagala, Aranayake, Yatiyantota, DehiowitaNuwara Eliya – Norwood, East Kotmale, Ambagamuwa, West KotmaleRatnapura – Ratnapura&nbsp;Level 2 – Amber Alert (Stay Alert Warning)&nbsp;Colombo – PadukkaGalle – Nagoda, ThawalamaKalutara – Palindanuwara, Agalawatta, Bulathsinhala, IngiriyaKandy – Gangaihala Korale, UdapalathaKegalle – Warakapola, Bulathkohupitiya, Galigamuwa, Kegalle, RuwanwellaMatara – Athuraliya, Kotapola, Akuressa, PitabeddaraNuwara Eliya – TalawakelleRatnapura – Pelmadulla, Kuruwita, Ayagama, Nivithigala, Kalawana, Elapatha&nbsp;Level 1 – Yellow Alert&nbsp;Colombo – SeethawakaGalle – Niyagama, BaddegamaGampaha – Meerigama, AttanagallaKandy – Yatinuwara, Pathadumbara, Doluwa, UdunuwaraKegalle – RambukkanaKurunegala – Alawwa, Mawathagama, Polgahawela, MallawapitiyaMatara – PasgodaRatnapura – Eheliyagoda, Kahawatta, Kolonna, Imbulpe

2026 A/L practical examination schedule announced

Ratmalana MetroCoast Bus Depot officially opened

Ratmalana MetroCoast Bus Depot ...

38 schools closed across Sri Lanka due to adverse weather

38 schools closed across Sri L ...

Australia warns of risks from ageing population, falling birth rates

Australia warns of risks from ...

German Chancellor Merz calls state election a 'disaster' for his party ...

German Chancellor Merz calls s ...

Speaker receives Supreme Court determination on 22nd Amendment

Speaker receives Supreme Cour ...

Japan braces for record rain as powerful typhoon nears east coast

Japan braces for record rain a ...

Trump eyes busy week of meetings as UN General Assembly gathers

Trump eyes busy week of meetin ...

Red landslide early warning issued for several districts

Red landslide early warning is ...

Ratmalana MetroCoast Bus Depot officially opened

Ratmalana MetroCoast Bus Depot ...

38 schools closed across Sri Lanka due to adverse weather

38 schools closed across Sri L ...

Australia warns of risks from ageing population, falling birth rates

Australia warns of risks from ...

German Chancellor Merz calls state election a 'disaster' for his party ...

German Chancellor Merz calls s ...

Speaker receives Supreme Court determination on 22nd Amendment

Speaker receives Supreme Cour ...

Japan braces for record rain as powerful typhoon nears east coast

Japan braces for record rain a ...

Trump eyes busy week of meetings as UN General Assembly gathers

Trump eyes busy week of meetin ...

Red landslide early warning issued for several districts

Red landslide early warning is ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

Ratmalana MetroCoast Bus Depot officially opened

Ratmalana MetroCoast Bus Depot ...

38 schools closed across Sri Lanka due to adverse weather

38 schools closed across Sri L ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

Australia warns of risks from ageing population, falling birth rates

Australia warns of risks from ...

German Chancellor Merz calls state election a 'disaster' for his party ...

German Chancellor Merz calls s ...

Speaker receives Supreme Court determination on 22nd Amendment

Speaker receives Supreme Cour ...

Japan braces for record rain as powerful typhoon nears east coast

Japan braces for record rain a ...