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Nimal Senadheera officially assumed duties as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom on Monday, 16 June, at the Sri Lanka High Commission in London. The occasion was marked by a traditional and dignified ceremony.
Senadheera succeeded Rohitha Bogollagama who took over the mission in Nov 2023 during Ranil Wickremesinghe tenure as the President.
Senadheera was warmly welcomed by officials and staff of the Mission. In his address, he highlighted the Government’s vision to strengthen the Mission’s role in advancing Sri Lanka’s interests abroad, reflecting the aspirations of the people and the mandate entrusted to the current administration. He called on all staff members to work collaboratively in further enhancing Sri Lanka–UK relations.
The formal assumption of duties included the traditional lighting of the oil lamp, followed by the serving of milk rice and sweetmeats, in keeping with Sri Lankan customs.
Senadheera is a senior officer of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS) with over two decades of experience in public administration, diplomacy, and education. He has previously served at the Sri Lanka High Commission in Pretoria and held senior positions in the Central Provincial Council and the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration.
He holds an MSc in Public Policy from the University of Strathclyde (UK), a Master of Public Administration from Flinders University (Australia), and a Master of Arts in Linguistics from the University of Kelaniya (Sri Lanka). He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Peradeniya, specialising in English, Economics, and Sociology.
Senadheera and his wife arrived in London over the weekend. Upon arrival, they were received by Gordon Wetherell CMG, Special Representative of the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs.
Later in the evening, the High Commissioner, accompanied by his wife and staff, visited the London Buddhist Viharaya to invoke blessings as he begins his new diplomatic assignment.
Sujeeva Nivunhella reporting from London
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United Republican Front (URF) leader Patali Champika Ranawaka yesterday (08) said that Friday’s devastating flood in Colombo could have been averted if the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), and other relevant officials, heeded Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya’s directive to clean canals and drainage systems across Colombo.
Dr. Amarasuriya issued the directive on October 13, 2026, at the Colombo District Coordinating Committee meeting in Narahenpita. Dr. Amarasuriya wanted the clean-up completed within two years. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, MP Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi and Samanmali Gunasinghe, local government representatives and Colombo District Secretary Ginige Prasanna Janaka Kumara were present on the occasion.
Former Minister Ranawaka dismissed Colombo Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar’s claim that the drainage couldn’tsystem couldn’t cope up with 129mm of rainfall, received on 06 Nov., as it was designed to handle 30mm of rain, as a blatant lie. First of all, the Mayor should explain as to why the CMC couldn’t carry out the PM’s specific directive, the former parliamentarian said, urging the government to inquire into the Mayor’s inaction.
Absolutely nothing had been done since the NPP won the CMC at the May 2025 local government polls, the ex-lawmaker said, pointing out that the National Hospital had never been flooded before though Colombo received far heavier rainfall before. The Fort Central Bus Stand hadn’t been so badly affected before, the URF leader said, emphasising that the crisis was caused by the CMC’s failure.
During the 13 Oct. meeting, chaired by Dr. Amarasuriya, local authorities (including Divisional Secretariats, the Department of Agrarian Development, and the Provincial Irrigation Department) explained the shortage of technical officers, in addition to difficulty in drafting plans and cost estimates, as well as long-standing maintenance gaps.
Ex-lawmaker Ranawaka said that the CMC shouldn’t only accept the responsibility for significant losses suffered by the business community and ordinary people, sufficient compensation should be paid. However, it would be pertinent to examine the failure on the part of the much hyped ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ project to intervene in Colombo, he said, pointing out that the devastating flood highlighted almost total negligence on the part of the boastful top CMC management.
Instead of taking tangible measures to improve the Colombo canals and drainage systems, the Mayor seemed to have engaged in a social media campaign to deceive the public, the ex-parliamentarian said. Ranawaka compared the CMC response to the PM’s directive with the warning issued by Athula Karunanayake, the Director General of the Meteorology Department on 12 Nov. 2025 regarding the impending cyclone. The warning was issued during an appearance on TV Derana’s Big Focus programme. Hundreds died in Cyclone Ditwah in late Nov., 2025.
Former Minister Ranawaka said that Colombo Mayor’s claim as regards the capacity of the drainage system to meet just 30 mm rainfall had been contradicted by the relevant government authorities and the government was no longer in position to side-step the issue. For those who genuinely believed in good governance and accountability, under NPP, now realised the ruling party was on a wrong path, Ranawaka said, declaring that the incumbent administration lacked vision to undertake major projects at any level.
The ground floor of the Outpatient Department (OPD) of Kandy National Hospital was inundated following heavy rainfall in Kandy town on Saturday evening.
Water accumulated at several locations within the hospital premises, causing considerable inconvenience to patients and other visitors.
Central Province Governor Specialist Dr. Harsha Suranga Fernando visited the hospital on Sunday to inspect the affected areas and assess the emergency situation. He issued directives to hospital authorities to take necessary measures to prevent a recurrence.
Hospital administrators, including Dr. Ravindra Weliwita and Dr. Iresha Fernando, were present during the inspection.
Kandy Railway Station was also affected by severe flooding following the heavy downpour.
The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has called on the Government to restore duty-concession vehicle import permits, suspended in 2022.
In a statement issued yesterday (08), GMOA Secretary Dr. U.K.B. Warakagoda said doctors would stage a protest outside the Colombo National Hospital on November 10 over unresolved grievances, including salary and allowance issues and the shortage of medical professionals.
The Association alleged that the Health Ministry had failed to respond to repeated requests for discussions on problems confronting medical professionals.
It said the cancellation of duty-concession vehicle permits following the 2022 economic crisis, coupled with increased taxation on doctors’ earnings and work-related allowances, had aggravated their financial difficulties.
The GMOA further claimed that one-third of doctors’ overtime and holiday allowances had been withheld under the 2025 public sector salary revision, with the Government reportedly undertaking to restore the payments once the country’s economic situation improved.
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