Author: Buzzer Editorial

Health authorities have urged the public to exercise caution when organizing New Year (Avurudu) festivals due to the prevailing extreme heat conditions.Speaking at a media briefing held yesterday (09), Sports Medicine Physician Dr. Ruwan Jayasuriya of the National Hospital of Colombo advised that outdoor sports activities should be completed before 10.00 a.m. and resumed only after 3.00 p.m.He highlighted that traditional New Year games such as cross-country running (Gama Haraha Divima) and cycling could pose health risks if held during peak heat hours, and emphasized the importance of selecting appropriate times for such events.“The problem with the upcoming Avurudu festivals…

Pakistan’s capital has been placed under tight security lockdown as it prepares to host the first round of direct negotiations between the United States and Iran, scheduled to begin on April 10, reported Pakistan’s state media on Thursday.The army has been deployed in Islamabad’s Red Zone, with Rangers and police also stationed across the area. Security control of the Red Zone rests with the military for the duration of the talks.Authorities have also announced a two-day public holiday for Islamabad and Rawalpindi, keeping schools, colleges, and courts shut through the period of talks, the report said. The district administration has extended…

The Ministry of Education (MOE) has announced that the second phase of the first school term for government and government-approved schools concludes today (10).In line with the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, schools will observe a holiday period from April 10 to April 19.Accordingly, the second school term is scheduled to commence on April 20, and will continue until July 24.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that he has authorised direct negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible”. The move comes as a fragile two-week truce between the US, Israel, and Iran hangs by a thread following the intensification of Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon.“In light of Lebanon’s repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed the cabinet yesterday to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible,” his office wrote in a statement.“Negotiations will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peace relations between Israel and Lebanon. Israel appreciates today’s call by the Prime Minister of…

US First Lady Melania Trump on April 10 denied that she had any relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and said she was not one of his victims, thrusting the Epstein matter back into the spotlight after her husband had sought to put it behind him.She denied online speculation that the disgraced financier and sex offender had introduced her to Mr Donald Trump, saying she had met her husband at a New York City party in 1998, two years before crossing paths with Epstein at another event she attended with Mr Trump.She also urged Congress to hold public hearings for Epstein victims…

The island-wide strike launched by the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) in hospitals continues for the second consecutive day today (10).The GMOA launched the island-wide strike at 8.00 a.m. yesterday (09), alleging that the Ministry of Health had violated agreements regarding appointments for post-intern doctors.The ongoing strike has disrupted hospital operations, causing significant inconvenience to patients, Ada Derana reporter said.The GMOA stated that the strike will continue until the published transfer list of post-intern doctors is immediately withdrawn and a solution is reached.However, the Minister of Health has already refused to hold discussions with the GMOA regarding the matter.Meanwhile, GMOA…

The no-confidence motion submitted by opposition Members of Parliament against Minister of Energy, Kumara Jayakody, is scheduled to be taken up for debate in Parliament today (10).The motion was recently presented to the Speaker by the joint opposition, led by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).The no-confidence motion has been filed against Minister Kumara Jayakody on the grounds of alleged failure to exercise the powers vested in him under the Constitution in relation to the management of the energy sector.The motion, signed by opposition MPs, was handed over to the Speaker on March 19. It claims that the Minister of Energy…

Marking a new turning point in the country’s public transport sector, the large-scale project to modernize the Colombo Fort Railway Station into an international-standard transport hub was officially launched on April 9 under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.Implemented under the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, this “Railway Efficiency Improvement Project” is funded by the Asian Development Bank along with government allocations, with an investment exceeding LKR 2,162 million.The development project, which is scheduled to be completed within the next 15 months, aims to provide a higher quality service to the hundreds of thousands of daily…

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has informed the Colombo District Court that it intends to file objections to a petition submitted by cricketer Nuwan Thushara over the non-issuance of a “No Objection Certificate” (NOC) to participate in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL).The petition requests an interim order requiring SLC to issue a “No Objection Certificate” enabling him to participate in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) and other international league tournaments.The matter was heard today (09), with senior counsel G.G. Arulpragasam and attorney Kanchana Peiris representing the petitioner. They requested the Colombo District Court to set a date to consider…

The general public has been urged to take steps to control blood sugar levels during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations.Speaking at a media briefing held at the Health Promotion Bureau, Consultant Endocrinologist Dr. Manilka Sumanatilleke emphasized the importance of being mindful of eating sweets while engaging in festivities.He noted that traditional New Year food items such as milk rice, ‘kevum’, ‘kokis’, and ‘aluwa’ are an essential part of celebrations. However, he advised moderation, suggesting that only one type of sweet be consumed at a time.Dr. Sumanatilleke also recommended choosing a piece of ‘aluwa’ instead of ‘kevum’, or limiting…