A management committee including the Navy will be set up and Nuwara Eliya's 13-pond natural treatment system reactivated after CEA findings on the lake.
The Diya Kepeema was performed at the Mahaweli River on Friday morning, closing the 2026 Kandy Esala Perahera ahead of the final daytime procession.
Ethimale is down to 5% and Morawewa to 9%, the Irrigation Department says, as Monaragala accounts for 42% of the 84,545 people the DMC counts as affected.
Farming equipment was handed to beneficiaries in Nuwara Eliya under a WFP-backed programme the minister says now feeds over 300,000 pupils in 2,013 schools.
Dr. Manoj Fernando of Rajarata University told a police drug-prevention briefing that smoking, alcohol and illicit drugs together cause 80–100 deaths daily.
Saturday's Met Department advisory repeats Friday's warning area and adds Hambantota, the first Southern Province district named in the current run.
The final Randoli procession of the 2026 Kandy Esala Perahera left the Sri Dalada Maligawa at 6.43 p.m. behind the 55-year-old tusker Wasana.
Two fire engines were deployed to a house fire near Kinsey Junction in Borella on Thursday morning. The cause has not yet been determined.
A woman passenger died at the scene and the motorcyclist died in intensive care after a collision on Anagarika Dharmapala Mawatha, Ambalanwatta.
CEA testing puts phosphate in Nuwara Eliya's Gregory Lake at five times the normal level and nitrogen at more than seven times, an MP says.
A three-wheeler taking a newborn to Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital collided with a jeep at Gonamariyawa, killing the baby, its mother and grandmother.
Four women and six men were admitted to Maskeliya Regional Hospital after a hornet nest was disturbed during a religious ceremony at a tea estate kovil.
Showers are expected in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces on Thursday, with heavy falls above 50mm likely at some places.
Nikini Poya fell on August 27, marking the First Dhamma Sangayana and the start of the late Vas retreat for monks who missed the Esala observance.
Coral conservation centre and museum opening at Nilaveli with 245 coral species recorded.
Nuwara Eliya Police arrested a 26-year-old over footage showing a tourist-ride pony being beaten. Licensed operators want welfare standards enforced.
The Met Department says the sun will be directly over the island's latitudes from August 28 to September 7, beginning above Kokkuvil and Nallur at 12:11 pm.
The Met Department expects the heat index to reach Caution level in the Eastern Province and six districts on Friday, widening the warning area in the north.
The Meteorological Department warns of high waves along the southern and eastern sea areas, with swell surges possible between Beruwala and Matara.
Officials are training divisional clinicians and seeking ADB funding for a National Heat Health Action Plan ahead of heavy rain followed by a dry spell.
The Road Development Authority flagged backed-up traffic at Mattala, Kadawatha, Mirigama and Yaggapitiya as Milad-un-Nabi holiday travel builds.
The final Randoli Perahera leaves the Sri Dalada Maligawa at 6.43 p.m. on Thursday over a 2.15 km route. Police set out Kandy diversions.
CEA data show phosphate at five times the normal level in Nuwara Eliya's Gregory Lake, with agricultural runoff blamed for the contamination.
Central Cultural Fund excavators say they have found remains of a guard tower from the square Portuguese fort the Dutch built over, with public display planned.