Sri Lankan cricketer Kusal Janith Perera is to undergo an MRI scan today to ascertain the gravity of his injury, SLC sources said. 

Perera, who played a remarkable knock yesterday, was retired hurt before Sri Lanka's victory, due to a hamstring injury. 

"It is still not clear whether he has torn his hamstrings," an SLC source said on Friday morning. 

However, they added that there was a possibility that Perera might rule out of the next ODI against Pakistan. 

"No final decision has so far been made as to who will replace Perera in an event of his exit," they added. 

Sri Lanka has already lost two experienced batsmen, Upul Tharanga and Chamara Kapegedara since the commencement of the series. Tharanga faced a two match match during the game against South Africa while Kapugedara suffered a knee injury.

The next ICC Champions Trophy match against Pakistan is a must-win game for Sri Lanka to remain alive in the series. 

Sport Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera has hit out at former Olympic champion Susanthika Jayasinghe saying the track star was ‘ungrateful’ for what the state had done for her, both before and after her ascension to stardom.

Addressing a press briefing at the Information Department the Co-Cabinet spokesperson said he would bring about laws to prevent athletes from selling or auctioning off any medals they have won at international events.

His response is in reaction to Susanthika Jayasinghe’s claims the state was mistreating her. Ms. Jayasinghe had said that she would soon be forced to sell her Olympic medal, as she was no longer the beneficiary of payment from the Sports Ministry.

Refuting her allegations, Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera said Susanthika Jayasinghe was currently earning a salary of over 120, 000 as she was not just the beneficiary of payment of Rs. 60, 000 from the Sports Ministry but also earning Rs. 60, 000 from the Army to train its athletes.

He further alleged that Susanthika Jayasinghe was causing an uproar simply because he has asked her to hand in reports on her work and said the state has spent a huge amount on Susanthika Jayasinghe, and that she was ungrateful. 

The death toll from the floods and landslides has increased to 203, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said today.

It said a further 96 were still missing and unaccounted for and 63 injured.

The torrential rains that caused floods and landslides over 15 districts of the country have affected an estimated 631, 346 people from 164, 264 families.

The DMC said 77, 643 persons from 19, 876 families have been moved to 368 safer locations.

Meanwhile, the DMC estimates 1, 508 houses are fully damaged by the floods and landslides while 7, 617 houses are partially damaged.

The most number of deaths – 84 – were recorded from the Ratnapura district, 63 from the Kalutara district, 28 from the Matara district, 15 from the Galle district, 5 from the Hambanthota district and 4 from the Kegalle and Gampaha districts.

The death toll from the floods and landslides caused by torrential downpours as the Southwestern monsoon establishes over the island have caused loss to 183 lives, the Disaster Management Ministry (DMC) said.

Ninety-nine persons are still missing and unaccounted for, while 112 are injured.

575, 816 people have been affected by the adverse weather conditions while 76, 754 have been moved to safer locations.

One hundred and sixty nine deaths have been reported as a result of adverse weather conditions that have caused floods and landslides in the South Western districts of the island, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reports.

521, 384 people of 140, 238 families have been affected, the DMC reported, adding that 75, 30 persons from 18, 663 families have been evacuated to safer ground.

Furthermore, the DMC reported, 446 houses were fully damaged by the floods and landslides while 4,362 were homes were partially damaged.

Rescue operations are continuing in the areas worst hit by floods and landslides enabled by the Armed Forces, the Navy and the Air Force.

One hundred and fifty one people have died as a result of the flooding and landslides in Sri Lanka, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said.

In a special report, the DMC said the most number of deaths – 71 – were reported from Ratnapura, followed by 47 deaths in Kalutara and 14 deaths in Matara.

The floods and landslides affected 438, 295 people from 112, 565 families, the DMC said further, adding that 103, 828 persons from 25, 810 families were moved to safer locations.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe convened a meeting with Heads of Departments and District Secretaries at the Temple Trees this morning after a receiving a report on the present climate situation.  

‘Every possible measure to minimise damage and face this emergency situation is being taken, and I have instructed the Finance Ministry to allocate the required funds,’ the Prime Minister said.

Adverse weather conditions have resulted in many lives being lost in the Galle, Matara, Kalutara and Ratnapura areas, while many more are still missing and displaced.

The Air Force has been assisting in rescue operations since morning. 

Visiting President Maithripala Sirisena and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull agreed to expand cooperation between the two countries in several areas.

This agreement was reached during their discussions held at the Australian Parliament in Canberra today (25th May).

The two leaders, after concluding a one-on-one round of talks, held bilateral discussions, in which ministers and officials from both sides participated.

Sri Lanka and Australia in the presence of President Sirisena and Prime Minister Turnbull signed a joint declaration, a Memorandum of Understanding, and a letter of intent to increase cooperation between the two countries.

The Joint Declaration on Enhanced Cooperation between Australia and Sri Lanka was signed by Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Sri Lankan Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Harsha de Silva.

The MoU on a Cooperative Program on the Epidemiology of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology between the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization and the Sri Lanka Presidential Task force for Prevention of Chronic Kidney Disease was signed by the ANSTO Chief  Executive Officer Dr. Adrian Paterson, and High Commissioner, Somasundaram Skandakumar.

The Letter of Intent on Cooperation between Geo-science Australia and the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau of Sri Lanka was signed by the CEO of the Australian Institution James Johanson and High Commissioner Skandakumar.

The official welcome was held this morning at the Government House, where the President was warmly received by the Governor General, Sir Peter Crosgrove and Lady Crosgrove. The welcome ceremony for President Sirisena included a guard of honour, hoisting of Sri Lankan flag by the Commander of the Unit and playing of the national anthems of the two countries. President Sirisena inspected the Guard of Honour while a 21-gun salute boomed the air.

Following the welcome ceremony, a luncheon was hosted by the Governor General in honour of President Sirisena

MP Ravi Karunanayake is to receive several departments that do not fall under the purview of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, sources said.

Accordingly, there are moves to bring the Development Lotteries Board and the National Lotteries Board that fall under the Finance Ministry and the Mahapola Scholarship Fund that falls under the International Trade Ministry under the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Furthermore, plantation sector institutions that come under the Ministry of Public Enterprise Development, and Sri Lankan Airlines and the Securities and Exchange Commission will also come under the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

It is reported that the former Finance Minister had accepted his new role as Minister of Foreign Affairs under these conditions. These conditions include gazetting several other departments that do not fall under the purview of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, under the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Meanwhile, the government says they plan to gazette the changes made during the Cabinet reshuffle, within the next five days.

Several key ministries were changed during the Cabinet reshuffle, including the Foreign, Finance, Ports and Shipping, Skills Development and Vocational Training and Petroleum Resources Ministries.

Nine Cabinet Ministers and one State Minister gave oaths as new ministers in Cabinet reshuffle before the President, at the Presidential Secretariat, yesterday.

The body of a young man, believed to be about 20-years-old, was uncovered from the rubble of the building that collapsed in Wellawatte on Thursday.

On Thursday (18) morning, at around 10.35, a seven storey building part of the ‘Excellency’ reception hall collapsed without warning trapping several people inside.

The Fire brigade and the Sri Lanka Army responded immediately to dig out survivors despite the inclement weather.

Twenty-three people were rescued from the building and rushed to the Kalubowila and Colombo National hospitals.

One succumbed to his injuries while at hospital while rescuers continued searching for one other missing person, whose body was recovered this evening.