Italy took ​the unprecedented step of placing all its major cities on the highest level of health alert due to ‌high temperatures on Thursday while Hungary turned off the lights at some of its best-known buildings to save energy as a heatwave maintained its grip on large parts of Europe.

The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) has announced that the water supply to Wellawatte and Pamankada areas will be temporarily suspended for seven hours tonight due to essential maintenance work.

The Court of Appeal today (06) adjourned the further consideration of intervening petitions filed in connection with former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay’s petition, challenging his arrest and detention by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID)

The Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, Dr. Upali Pannila has stated that the government has allocated Rs. 44 billion for the National Housing Development Programme.

Showers or thundershowers can occur in several areas of the country tomorrow (07), with heavy rainfall exceeding 100 mm possible in some areas, the Department of Meteorology has warned.

An Indian fishing vessel with 11 crew members met with an accident in Sri Lankan waters, prompting a rescue operation by the island nation’s navy, according to an official statement on Thursday.

Describing Iran's leadership as fractured and difficult to navigate, US Vice-President JD Vance on Wednesday (local time) said talks with Tehran would be a complex process that would be "messy" and "take some time" to reach a resolution, while asserting that Washington would use military,

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) will introduce five special telephone numbers to report disaster situations that may occur during the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination and the 2026 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination period.

Government schools and government-approved private schools will close for the August holidays tomorrow (07) and will reopen on September 7, according to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education.

The Derana-Signal Colombo International Kite Festival – 2026 will be held on Saturday (08 August) and Sunday (09 August) at the Galle Face Green, Colombo.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has emphasised the need for scientific research and development (R&D) to directly contribute towards improving the lives of citizens and strengthening the national economy.

The government has decided to amend the draft bill issued last month through a Gazette notification to revise the Anti-Corruption Act No. 09 of 2023, the Leader of the House, Bimal Rathnayake said.

Malaysia will not send 5,000 refugees back to Myanmar if authorities conclude their lives would be at risk, a government spokesman said Wednesday (Aug 5), while preparations continued for the potential repatriation.

The Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) has purchased 19,592 metric tons of paddy since July as part of its ongoing purchasing programme for the Yala cultivation season, PMB Chairman Manjula Pinnalanda said.

The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has warned of a possible reactivation of landslide-prone areas affected by Cyclone Ditwah due to the heavy rainfall experienced over the past several days.