Weather Authority: Another beautiful day of sunshine ahead of Monday showers

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Colombo Chief Magistrate Nandana Abeyasinghe issued notice on the OIC of the Criminal Investigations Department to appear in court on the 10th of December.The OIC of the CID has been summoned to show cause for the failure of the CID to conduct an investigation into the complaint filed regarding the dual citizenship of State Minister Diana Gamage. Appearing for Lakmal Herath Attorney-at-Law Gunarathne Vanninayake said that his client had lodged a complaint at the CID stating that State Minister Diana Gamage had concealed the fact that she has a British Passport and applied for a Sri Lankan passport. The counsel added that the CID had failed to investigate this complaint. The Counsel further pointed out that although a responsible public official had testified that the State Ministers' NIC and Birth Certificates are forgeries no further investigations have been conducted. After considering the facts the Colombo Chief Magistrate Nandana Amarasinghe issued notice on the OIC of the CID to appear in court on the 10th of next month.   

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, Attorney-at-Law Sagara Kariyawasam emphasized that dual citizens should be allowed to enter the Parliament. Speaking at a press conference held at the party headquarters, Kariyawasam stressed this point taking into example the newly appointed British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak.Pointing out that the concept of a global village is now prevalent in the world, the SLPP General Secretary said that instead, some parties are attempting to drag the country back into tribalism.He said that England, as a country where Protestant Christianity is used as the official religion, a Hindu of Indian origin was appointed as the Prime Minister, which speaks for the UK's acceptance towards those of a different origin, in contrast to that of Sri Lanka. "The question of whether we, as a country are moving towards tribalism, I think was best answered for those who brought amendments such as the 22nd Amendemnt, by England last week," he said.However, the question remains, wheter the example taken by Kariyawasam is comparable to the situation in Sri Lanka? The current British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was born on the 12th of May 1980 at the Southampton Hospital in Britain . Which means he was a British citizen by Birth.

Grammy-nominated actress Selma Blair and her service dog Scout were surrounded by ladies as they headed inside Skylight Books in LA's Los Feliz neighborhood on Tuesday.The Michigan-born 50-year-old was scheduled to host a 3:30pm reading/signing for her memoir Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up, which was released back on May 24.Selma was wearing a b&w-patterned blouse, black slacks, and pink peep-toe heels for the ticketed event. All smiles: Grammy-nominated actress Selma Blair and her service dog Scout were surrounded by ladies as they headed inside Skylight Books in LA's Los Feliz neighborhood on TuesdayBlair (born Beitner) appeared to be in great spirits following her October 17 exit from Dancing with the Stars.'Oh the places I've been! But I never considered I would be in a dance rehearsal space for a live @disneyplus ballroom dance show,' the Far More actress - who boasts 3.5M social media followers - wrote on Instagram that same day.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Department of Meteorology says the prevailing showery condition over the island is expected to reduce to some extent.Several spells of Showers will occur in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, and North-Western provinces and Galle and Matara districts.Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places in the Uva province and Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the afternoon or night.The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.Condition of Rain:Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places over the sea areas around the Island.Winds:Winds will be westerly or south-westerly in direction.

When we wake up in the morning, it's likely that a nice hot shower sounds far more appealing than a cold one.

The COVID-19 pandemic claimed thousands of Sri Lankan lives, and News 1st revealed questionable transactions that took place during the height of the pandemic.Approximately 7 Million doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine are to expire on Monday, 31st of October 2022.The Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health repeatedly requested the people of Sri Lanka to obtain the vaccine doses before delay.Pfizer Inc expects to roughly quadruple the price of its COVID-19 vaccine to about $110 to $130 per dose after the United States government's current purchase program expires.Approximately 7 Million doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine are to expire, and if it does the value of those vaccines as per the current market rate would be astronomical.While vaccine stocks are about to expire leading to another colossal waste, Sri Lanka also lost a large sum of money when it delayed placing orders for the vaccine.In February 2020, Sri Lanka recorded its first even COVID-19 infection and it didn't take long for the coronavirus to spread across the country.What did Sri Lanka do when other countries devoted their resources to developing a vaccine?Sri Lankan MPs and Minister dropped pots into rivers, and the so-called miracle tonic Dhammika Paniya was promoted widely – while there was absolutely no interest in procuring the vaccines.Experts in the field of medicine repeatedly called for the government to procure vaccines, however as Sri Lankan authorities opted to myth over science, the procurement of much-needed vaccines was delayed.On the 30th of December 2020, the UK granted approval for the emergency use of the AstraZeneca vaccine prompting many other countries to place immediate orders for the vaccines.As it was also produced by the

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Department of Meteorology says that showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, and North-Western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts. Heavy showers above 100 mm may be expected at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and Galle and Matara districts.Showers or thundershowers may occur elsewhere over the Island during the afternoon or night.The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.Condition of Rain:Showers or thundershowers will occur at times over the sea areas around the Island.Winds:Winds will be westerly or South-westerly.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security Nalin Fernando said that relevant officers have been instructed to check the proper weight of a loaf of bread.The Minister said that a loaf of bread should be 450g.

Hibernian have announced that Easter Road hero Frank Sauzee has had to withdraw from a charity match set to take place next month.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Minister of Justice, Dr.

PHILADELPHIA - The sun is out in full force on this beautiful Saturday!Sunshine will stick around most of the day, bringing temperatures up to a high of 68 degrees.Clouds will start to roll Saturday evening, dropping temperatures to 62 degree as the Phillies Game 4 against the Padres begins at 7:45 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park.The evening's weather stay pleasant, and less chilly than last night's game with a low in the mid-50s by the end of the game.Sunday will see show showers as Game 5 starts in Philadelphia, but FOX 29's Drew Anderson says its should only be a nuisance! Those showers hang on throughout the rest of the week, with no dry weather until Friday.___SATURDAY: Nice day. High: 68, Low: 44SUNDAY: A few showers. High: 64, Low: 52MONDAY: A shower. High: 72, Low: 58TUESDAY: A shower. High: 74, Low: 60 WEDNESDAYS: A shower. High: 72, Low: 60THURSDAY: Passing shower. High: 74, Low: 60FRIDAY: Sunny and dry. High: 68, Low: 56

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera says that proposals for the restructuring of the power sector are expected to be submitted to the Parliament next month.In a Twitter message, the Minister said that he has received the report of the Cabinet Appointed Committee on Power Sector Reforms.The Minister added the report will be handed over to the President and the Cabinet of Ministers.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Meteorology Department says that showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-Western and Northern provinces and in Galle and Matara districts on Saturday (22).Accordingly, fairly heavy showers above 75 mm may be expected at some places.Showers or thundershowers may occur elsewhere over the Island during the afternoon or night, and the general public has been kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Two people have died from drowning in the Nawalapitiya and Kuliapitiya areas.Police said that a 58-year-old man died on Friday (21) afternoon after falling into the Edandewela Canal and being swept away by the currents.It occurred when a van transporting 5 people has been driving from Kuliyapitiya Diyawala to Aruvpola.Police said that the van driver stepped out of the vehicle to check the water level near the Edandewela Canal, when he fell into the canal and got swept away.Meanwhile, another person died after falling into a canal in Galabadawatta area in ​Nawalapitiya.Police said the victim was a 65-year-old resident of Kegalle.Police added that the victim had visited his relative's residence when he met with this tragic accident.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Disaster Management Center says that 4,929 people from to 1,296 families have been affected due to the severe weather conditions being experienced over the island over the course of the last few days.The Disaster Management Center also stated 116 people belonging to 31 families have been moved to safe shelters.Senior geologist at the National Building Research Organization Wasantha Senadeera says landslide warnings issued to several districts continues to remain in effect.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka is planning to attract over 5,000 Russian visitors a month, said Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation, Prof. Janita A.

Jenna Ortega had to "shower in cold water" during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 20-year-old actress was shooting the title role in Netflix series 'Wednesday' in Romania when the pandemic broke out and explained that the entire cast was left without hot water in their accommodation because there were no repair workers available to fix a faulty boiler. She said: " I mean, we were out there for seven, eight months in Romania.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Multi-day boats in the Bay of Bengal and North Andaman sea are advised to return to shore or move to safer areas immediately due to strong winds and rough seas.The Met Department warned that a a Low-Pressure Area formed over North Andaman Sea and adjoining areas of south Andaman Sea & Southeast Bay of Bengal on 20th October, 2022.It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a Depression over same region around 22nd October 

Aditya Birla Health Insurance on Thursday announced the launch of ‘Activ Fit’, a comprehensive health insurance plan that targets consumers with active lifestyles and aims to reward them for their good health behaviour. The plan will give an upfront 10% good health discount basis an assessment done through a unique facial scan. “All customers below the age of 35 years can avail an Early Bird Discount at renewal, 5% from 4th to 7th policy year & 10% from 8th policy year for the lifetime of the policy," the insurance company said in its statement.

NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA - The leader of the Fraternal Order of Police is sharply criticizing the City Controller’s audit of the police department claiming it makes the leadership of the department appear as if, "…they can’t do anything right."The bombshell audit released yesterday by City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart found there are 640 fewer cops than five years ago. It revealed in a department of 6,000 officers, only 2,500 are on patrol and, stretched over 21 police districts, sometimes as few as 11 to 22 officers are on the street at any one time.In a late morning press conference, FOP President John McNesby said, "A lot of the stuff that’s in here, we’ve already been working to solve.

Covid-19 cases in the second week of October. The Department's Surveillance Officer Dr Pradeep Awate had earlier said that the state has reported the XBB variant, which is a new variant having a "growth advantage" over BA.2.75 and immune evasive property. The city civic body asked citizens to get vaccinated against the viral infection, if not done so till now and also get booster dose, and wear face masks in crowded places and follow other COVID-19 protocols.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's State Agriculture Minister told Parliament that the treasury is yet to release funds to compensate farmers who were affected following the use of Organic Fertilizer.Mohan Priyadarshana de Silva, the State Minister of Agriculture informed the Parliament that a request was made to the Treasury to release the funds to pay the necessary compensation to the farmers whose harvest dropped due to the use of organic fertilizer. He told the Parliament that the funds are yet to be released by the Treasury.His comments were in reponse to the concerns raised by SJB MP Ajith Mannappruma in Parliament on Wednesday (19).The Opposition MP alleged that private mill owners were extorting the paddy farmers, and the farmers in turn have been rendered helpless.

PHILADELPHIA - Avocado lovers rejoice as you can get them for free in Philadelphia this week at the largest free food distribution event at FDR Park. Food rescue nonprofit Sharing Excess is hosting Avogeddon, an event where 1 million free avocados will be given away for free. The large donation is due to a massive surplus of avocados in South America, according to the nonprofit organization.  Event organizers hope people will show up for some free avocados to prevent them from going to waste. The event will run from noon to 6 p.m.

Car Seat Headrest has announced that he’s cancelled his upcoming US tour and performances at the When We Were Young festival due to health issues.The band, fronted by Will Toledo, were set to begin a tour tomorrow (October 20) in Pioneertown, California which was set to run for the next week and incorporate three sets at Las Vegas’ When We Were Young.Taking to Twitter, Toledo revealed that ongoing health issues have forced the cancellation of the tour. He wrote: “After another month of struggling to regain my health, I am currently forced to face the fact that my body lacks the basic levels of functionality necessary to leave the house most days, let alone embark on a tour.“As a result, we are unfortunately forced to pull out of the When We Were Young festival dates, and cancel our upcoming California tour.

Diwali and other upcoming festivals to prevent a spike in cases.  In a statement, the BMC said the festival season is a “critical period" as there may be a tendency to ignore COVID-19 safe behaviour during festivals due to large gatherings, events, fairs and crowds in enclosed and non-ventilated spaces. 1) The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) asked citizens to get vaccinated against the viral infection, if not done so till now   2) The Mumbai civic body has also asked all  to get booster dose, and wear face masks in crowded places and follow other COVID-19 protocols.

Covid-19 update: The death toll climbed to 5,28,923 with 10 fatalities, which include six deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated by the the Union health ministry at 8 am stated. India saw a single day rise of 1,946 infections, taking the tally of COVID-19 cases to 4,46,34,376, while the active cases declined to 25,968, according to government data updated on Wednesday. The death toll climbed to 5,28,923 with 10 fatalities, which include six deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated by the the Union health ministry at 8 am stated.

George Floyd died after being arrested by Minneapolis police on Memorial Day in 2020. On Oct.

Several road closures in Barrie this Thursday for funeral of 2 Ontario police officers shot dead Six patients have tested positive for COVID-19 and have been isolated.Health officials say enhanced cleaning measures and contact tracing are underway, as well as swabbing of patients and staff.Admissions to the unit are on hold during the outbreak and visitors are not permitted, staff at the health centre said.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka Police and the Inter-University Student's Federation were engaged in a stand-off on Tuesday (18).The stand-off took place when the police decided to block the Colombo – Kandy main road to prevent a protest march from proceeding from the University of Kelaniya citing that 6-hour prior approval was not obtained.Multiple arrests were also made during the protest.Inter-University Student's Federation launched their protest march against suppression on a rainy Tuesday (18) afternoon.They demanded the release of the two student activists who are being held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.They also emphasized to stop the repression immediately.But when the police informed that the march could not be allowed because permission was not obtained 6 hours prior, a heated situation arose. Then, as the students moved towards Colombo, the police announced to disperse immediately. The group protesting on the road in front of the university later attempted to proceed forward again. There the police announced to disperse for the second time and several people were arrested. A heated situation arose again when a couple riding a motorcycle on the road claimed to have shown support to the students. However, the students did not attempt to continue with today's march and dispersed after student activists addressed the gathering in front of Kelaniya University. 

While actress Selma Blair said goodbye to her "Dancing with the Stars" journey, the "Cruel Intentions" star has left a lasting impression on the competition show.  "This has been such an awakening in ways that I didn't think would happen in my lifetime," Blair exclusively told Fox News Digital. "I didn't think I'd even have this earnestness in my lifetime to genuinely want to do this and forgetting even my disabilities or my chronic illness."Blair, 50, announced that she would be leaving the dance floor due to health concerns.  The "Legally Blonde" star was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018 and expressed it was "scary" to be open about her illness on "Dancing with the Stars."            View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Dancing With The Stars #DWTS (@dancingwiththestars) "What these celebrities and pros put together…for real passion…of self-love and acceptance…it's a really wonderful reminder," Blair emotionally added.

Selma Blair withdrew from Dancing with the Stars on Monday due to health concerns connected to her multiple sclerosis. In a pre-recorded package which aired during the show, the Cruel Intentions actress explained that she could not continue with the dancing competition because she is risking causing "extensive damage" to her body. "I had these MRIs and the results came back and it just all adds up to.

READING, Pa. - Former NFL player Antonio Dennard has died after he was shot in Pennsylvania over the weekend. Police say Dennard, 32, was shot early Sunday morning in the parking lot of Legends Bar and Restaurant, just outside of Reading. MORE LOCAL HEADLINESAccording to authorities, he was taken to the hospital but later died from his injuries. Officials have ruled his death a homicide and are currently investigating. Dennard played as a cornerback for the Green Bay Packers, New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars during his time in the NFL. JACKSONVILLE, FL - AUGUST 30: Antonio Dennard #16 of the Jacksonville Jaguars in action during a preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons at EverBank Field on August 30, 2012 in Jacksonville, Florida.

States have been asked to continue monitoring incoming international travelers, undertake constant genome sequencing and step-up vaccination. NEW DELHI: Over the past 24 hours, India reported 1,542 new covid cases, the lowest single-day rise, the Union health ministry said in an update on Tuesday. Active cases are now at 26,449, with total reported cases since the pandemic hit in early 2020 at 4.46 crore.

WEST ALLIS, Wis. - A mother and father in West Allis are both charged in connection with the death of their toddler. Court records say the 17-month-old had enough fentanyl in her system to kill an adult.A neighbor said the child, identified by the medical examiner as Alieonni Lane, was a beautiful little girl and was heartbroken to learn the child died Oct. 2.

PHILADELPHIA - Investigators with the Philadelphia Police Department are asking for the public's help in identifying a shooting suspect. According to police, the suspect fired a handgun several times into the windshield of an Infinity sedan in a parking lot located at 133 N 10th Street in the city's Chinatown neighborhood. Authorities say the incident happened on Thursday just before 2 p.m. The Infinity Sedan was being driven by an unknown person, who drove off from the scene without contacting police, officials say. MORE LOCAL HEADLINESPolice released video surveillance which shows the shooting after a crash involving the sedan and a silver Dodge Durango. According to authorities, the suspect arrived at and left the parking lot in the Dodge. Officials pointed out that the Dodge has a sunroof, tinted windows and a distinctive hood with scoops. Police say the vehicle has front-end damage and may no longer have a front bumper cover. Anyone with information on the shooting is urged to contact Philadelphia police at 215-686-8477 or submit an anonymous tip online.

Photo courtesy Whittier PD  WHITTIER, Calif. - A horseback rider was arrested in Whittier for suspected DUI (or shall we say, GUI?) over the weekend, according to police. Officials said the suspect was riding the horse drunk, "galloping through traffic" and "refusing to pull the horse over."The horseback rider even led police on a short pursuit before being taken into custody, police added. The horse was brought to the Whittier police station "where it received lots of love from the team," according to authorities.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – State Minister D. V.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka Navy said it has sought the assistance of neighboring countries to locate the Sri Lanka Navy boat that went missing with six Sri Lankan sailors.Navy Spokesperson Captain Indika De Silva told News 1st that information about the missing boat was relayed to the authorities in India, Maldives, Indonesia, and Australia assuming that the Sri Lanka Navy boat may have drifted into international waters.The Sri Lanka Navy boat with six sailors had been engaged in operations to monitor suspicious activity in the Southern Coast of Sri Lanka and had left Sri Lanka on the 16th of September, and has been missing for exactly one month.On the 17th of September 2022, the Sri Lanka Navy lost all communication with the boat in question, and the Navy Spokesperson said that search and rescue operations are continuing to locate the missing sailors and the boat.

COLMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's Ministry of Power and Energy has decided to reduce fuel prices with effect from Monday (17) night.92 Octane Petrol (1 Litre) reduced by Rs. 40/- to  Rs.

Covid-19: The number of people who recuperated from the disease surged to 4,40,75,149, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. India reported 2,060 new coronavirus cases, raising its tally to 4,46,30,888, while 10 more fatalities pushed the death toll to 5,28,905, the Health Ministry said on Monday. The active cases increased to 26,834 and comprise 0.06 per cent of the total infections, according to data updated by the ministry at 8 am.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 13: General view during Toys"R"Us Grand Opening at Macy's Herald Square on October 13, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Macy's, Inc.) Toys R Us has found second life as new in-store locations have opened in select Macy’s department stores across the country and celebrating with nine days of free events. The toy store giant filed for bankruptcy in 2017 and closed all locations in 2018 as the brick-and-mortar locations suffered declining sales.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lankan Cricket Captain Dasun Shanaka said his team hopes to win next two games in the T20 world cup qualifying round, and put the country on a path towards victory. He made this statement speaking at the post match press conference today. Namibia pulled of an upset win, beating Sri Lanka by 55 runs in match number one of the T20 world cup today. The T20 world cup got underway today in Geelong Australia. The 1st match of the T20 world cup featured Asia Cup Champions Sri Lanka taking on Namibia. The match is a qualifier for the group stage. Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka won the toss and invited Namibia to bat. Namibia lost their 1st 3 wickets for just 35 runs. However, a partnership between Namibian skipper Gerhard Erasmus and Stephan Baard put Namibia on top.

PHILADELPHIA - A shooting rang out as police say suspects targeted their victims at a gas station in Philadelphia's East Mount Airy section early Sunday morning.Police found a 24-year-old man shot inside a car parked at the pumps of a Liberty gas station around 1:20 a.m. He suffered a gunshot wound to the back, but his condition is not known at this time.Two other passengers were also in the car, a 21-year-old woman who suffered cuts from the car's glass, and a 25-year-old who was not injured.MORE HEADLINES:Police say a passenger reached his arm out of the car's window, fired 14 shots, then fled the scene.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Meteorology Department says that showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-Western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts on Sunday (16). Accordingly, heavy showers above 100 mm can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.Moreover, showers or thundershowers will occur elsewhere over the Island during the afternoon or night, while fairly heavy showers above 75 mm can be expected at some places.General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – President Ranil Wickremesinghe instructed all the District Secretaries to coordinate the relief work with the help of the Disaster Management centre for those affected by the prevailing bad weather conditions.The President has also mentioned that all necessary provisions have been allocated through the Ministry of Finance and has directed the officials to provide all necessary facilities including food and medicine to the affected people. He has advised the officials to pay special attention to the sanitary facilities of the affected people.The President further instructed the District Secretaries to work in coordination with all the Divisional Secretaries and officials of the line ministries to get the support of government officials and the armed forces in this relief program.According to the Disaster Management Centre report as of October 16 2022, 15,404 families in 52 Divisional Secretariats have been affected by the strong winds, landslides and floods that affected 11 districts namely Trincomalee, Galle, Kilinochchi, Kalutara, Gampaha, Colombo, Puttalam, Ratnapura, Kandy Hambantota and Kegalle.Due to the prevailing bad weather conditions, 03 people are reported dead and two people are reported injured across the island.

PHILADELPHIA - Sunday will see plenty of sun for most of the day and the wind dies down, so it's a great day to see the Eagles take on the Cowboys.Temperatures will be comfortable, with highs topping out in the upper 60s across the region.Clouds will begin to overtake the skies in the late afternoon and into the evening, though rain holds off for nearly everyone until Monday morning.Some hit-or-miss showers will pop up during rush hour Monday morning. More of a nuisance, rather than anything steady.

Covid-19 which is slowly rising. In its health bulletin, the health department informed that now total cases of the Covid-19 virus in the city stand at 20,04,787, while the death toll is 26,506. The city saw 112 cases on Friday with a test positivity rate of 1.75% while on Thursday, the number of cases was 130, with a positivity rate of 1.84%.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka Navy as of now has kept 36 relief teams ready to extend relief measures to people, in the backdrop of inclement weather conditions reported in several areas of the island.Following the directives of Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, the Western Naval Command has sent 02 relief and rescue teams to Rathnapura and 04 teams to Kalutara, on standby.In addition, 21 more relief and rescue teams in the Western Naval Command and 09 similar teams in the Southern Naval Command have been kept on their toes for swift deployment, if need be.