Macktiles, Sri Lanka’s premier tile manufacturer, marked a significant milestone in its global expansion strategy last Friday (February 6) with the official launch of Macktiles Australia in Dandenong, Melbourne. The event was graced by two of Sri Lanka’s most celebrated sporting icons, former cricket captains TM Dilshan and Rangana Herath, who officiated the opening ceremony amidst a gathering of industry leaders and community members. Renowned as Sri Lanka’s largest tile manufacturer, Macktiles enters the competitive Australian construction market with a reputation built on elegance, aesthetics, and durability. The brand is celebrated for powering the island nation’s tile industry through consistent innovation and design, manufacturing a wide spectrum of floor tiles tailored for both commercial and household applications. Speaking at the launch, Mr. Dhanushka Fernando, one of the directors of Macktiles Australia, highlighted the company’s proven track record in the international arena. "We have successfully catered to markets in the USA, Africa, the Middle East, Island markets, and Southeast Asia," Mr. Fernando stated. "We, as Macktiles, bring a quality product to all these markets. Australia is our next definitive step." Adding to this sentiment, fellow Directors Nilrukshi De Silva and Ashane Hewawasam, along with General Manager Niroshan Pananwala, expressed their enthusiasm for the new venture: "We are proud to bring Macktiles to the Australian market. Our tiles are proudly made in Sri Lanka, utilising advanced European technology to ensure world-class quality." Coinciding with the showroom opening, the company also unveiled its dedicated digital platform for the region—www.macktiles.com.au—allowing Australian customers to browse their extensive portfolio of premium tiling solutions. The arrival of Macktiles in Victoria signals a strong new chapter for Sri Lankan exports in the region. Aus News Lanka extends its warmest congratulations and best wishes to the Macktiles Australia team as they embark on this new venture.

This is a developing story brought to you by Aus News Lanka , your trusted source for news for Sri Lankans  in Australia and beyond. Bandaranaike International Airport has welcomed the arrival of the historic Captain’s Choice Qantas flight on the famous Kangaroo Route, with 142 passengers landing in Colombo. Airport authorities said arrivals were handled smoothly through BIA’s Silk Route fast-track service, allowing passengers to move quickly and comfortably from arrival to exit. The Silk Route is BIA’s premium arrival facility, offering faster clearance and personalised assistance to improve the overall travel experience. Sri Lanka Airports has encouraged travellers to book the Silk Route service in advance through the official airport website to enjoy a more seamless arrival at BIA. More updates to come on AusNewsLanka .

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Lives and property are at risk as Cyclone Mitchell moves south along the Western Australian coast, with authorities warning some communities it is now too dangerous to leave. The Category 2 system was near Exmouth early this morning and is expected to cross the coast near Coral Bay later today or this evening. Emergency services have issued shelter-in-place orders for areas from Coral Bay to Minilya Roadhouse, north of Ningaloo, and from Minilya to north of Wooramel Roadhouse, including Carnarvon. Officials warn the cyclone may cause dangerous storm surge, abnormally high tides and flooding, urging residents to stay indoors and avoid floodwaters. Early today, the storm had sustained winds close to 100km/h, with gusts up to 140km/h. Heavy rain and strong winds are affecting the coastline from Exmouth to south of Denham, with rainfall of 100mm to 200mm possible within 24 hours. While the system is expected to weaken after making landfall and lose cyclone status by tomorrow, severe weather impacts are likely to continue. Power outages have already affected hundreds of homes and businesses, with repair crews unable to respond due to unsafe conditions. Parts of the Pilbara recorded damaging winds and heavy rain overnight, and several mine sites and campsites have been evacuated as a precaution. The North West Coastal Highway has been closed north of Carnarvon, cutting access to towns including Exmouth, Coral Bay and Onslow. Western Australia’s Premier has urged residents to remain calm, prepare where possible and allow the cyclone to pass before damage assessments begin. Stay tuned with Aus News Lanka  – the leading platform for news for Australians .

This is a developing story brought to you by Aus News Lanka , your trusted source for news for Sri Lankans  in Australia and beyond. Applications are now open for Australia Awards Scholarships, giving Sri Lankan citizens the chance to study in Australia from 2027. Funded by the Australian Government, the program supports Sri Lanka’s development by helping future leaders gain advanced qualifications, professional skills and global experience. The 2027 intake offers Master’s degree scholarships at Australian universities, through coursework or research. Priority study areas include climate change and disaster management, economic development, education, governance, gender equality, disability and social inclusion, and inclusive growth. Women, people with disabilities and applicants from marginalised communities are strongly encouraged to apply. Preference will also be given to candidates working in priority districts such as Ampara, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Vavuniya, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Badulla, Monaragala, Puttalam, Ratnapura and Nuwara Eliya. The scholarship covers return airfares, full tuition, living costs, health insurance and academic support, including an introductory programme. Additional support is available for approved research and fieldwork components. Applicants must be Sri Lankan citizens with at least three years of relevant work experience, meet English language requirements and hold a qualification equivalent to an Australian bachelor’s degree. Applications opened on 1 February 2026 and close on 30 April 2026. Submissions must be made online through the Australia Awards OASIS system with all required documents. More updates to come on AusNewsLanka .

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Australia is set for a dramatic weather shift, with widespread rain and storms expected across every state and territory in the coming days. Forecasters say large amounts of moisture have built up over northern and central parts of the country. This is likely to trigger unsettled conditions from the weekend and possibly into next week, bringing heavy rain and thunderstorms. Flooding is a risk in some areas. Northern and central regions could see 100mm of rain or more over the week, with isolated locations receiving several hundred millimetres. Many of these areas experienced extreme heat only days ago. In South Australia, the outback town of Marree, which reached 49.8°C last Thursday, could receive between 50mm and 100mm of rain by tomorrow. The forecast highlights a sharp turnaround, as record-breaking heat gives way to widespread rainfall across the country. Stay tuned with Aus News Lanka  – the leading platform for news for Australians .

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Octopus Australia is expanding its renewable energy portfolio with two major new projects, including what is set to become the largest battery in the country. The company will develop the Hanworth Battery Energy Storage System in New South Wales and the Dunmore Solar Farm and Battery project in Queensland. When complete, the Hanworth battery near Bannaby in NSW will have a capacity of 1.2 gigawatts / 4.8 gigawatt-hours, making it Australia’s biggest planned battery. It will be able to store and supply enough electricity to power more than 500,000 homes. The project will connect to Transgrid’s Bannaby Terminal Station and is expected to support long-term clean energy supply deals for major customers. In Queensland, the Dunmore project near Toowoomba will combine a 300MW solar farm with a 150MW / 300MWh battery, allowing solar energy to be stored and used when needed. The Hanworth project was purchased from energy developer Enervest, while the Dunmore development was acquired from Samsung C&T Renewable Energy Australia. Octopus Australia says the investments are aimed at replacing ageing coal-fired power with renewable sources backed by storage. The company plans to run its wind, solar and battery assets as an integrated portfolio to provide more consistent, low-emissions electricity throughout the year. More updates to come on AusNewsLanka .

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Fire crews from interstate are joining South Australian firefighters as a large bushfire continues to burn out of control south of Adelaide. The blaze has been tearing through scrubland on the Fleurieu Peninsula since Sunday. At least three structures have been destroyed, and several homes have come under threat. Authorities say conditions remain tough, with steep terrain, thick vegetation and very dry weather fuelling the fire. One local couple narrowly escaped after trying to defend their isolated bush property for days with little rest. They were forced to leave at the last moment and later returned to find their home in ruins. Strong, shifting winds pushed flames toward Cape Jervis, bringing fire to the edge of nearby properties. Water-bombing aircraft played a crucial role in saving some homes, with multiple aerial drops stopping flames from advancing further. Road closures left some people stranded at the tip of the peninsula, with residents describing panic as escape routes were cut off. Evacuees from the small community of Silverton are still waiting for access to check on their properties. Around 300 firefighters, supported by aircraft, are battling the blaze near Deep Creek Conservation Park. Ferry services to Kangaroo Island were disrupted earlier in the week but have partly resumed. Fire officials warn the fire has been flaring up overnight due to extremely dry conditions, instead of easing as expected. Crews from Victoria and New South Wales are being deployed to support local teams, with the firefight likely to continue for several more days. Source : 9News Stay tuned with Aus News Lanka  – the leading platform for news for Australians .

This is a developing story brought to you by Aus News Lanka , your trusted source for news for Sri Lankans  in Australia and beyond. තායිලන්තයේ සිට සංචාරකයින් 2,117 දෙනෙකුගෙන් යුත් කණ්ඩායමක් අද හම්බන්තොට ජාත්‍යන්තර වරායට මුහුදු මාර්ගයෙන් පැමිණියහ. යාල, උඩවලව, කතරගම සහ හම්බන්තොට උද්භිද උද්‍යාන නැරඹීමෙන් පසු සංචාරකයින් ආපසු පැමිණෙන තෙක් නෞකාව දිනකට වරායේ නැංගුරම් ලා තිබුණි. රුහුණු සංචාරක කාර්යාංශය සහ මහ නගර සභාව සංචාරකයින් කණ්ඩායමට පෞද්ගලික අංශය හරහා ප්‍රවාහන පහසුකම් සැපයීමට පියවර ගෙන ඇති බව හම්බන්තොට නගරාධිපති ඩී.ඒ. ගාමිණී මහතා පැවසීය. නගර සභාව විසින් සංචාරකයින්ගේ පහසුව සඳහා විශේෂයෙන් වාහන නැවැත්වීමේ ස්ථානය නිර්මාණය කරන ලද අතර, සංචාරක කාර්යාංශයේ නිලධාරීන් සංචාරකයින්ට වාහනවලට නැගීමට උදව් කළහ. සංචාරකයින්ගේ අධික පැමිණීම රථවාහන තදබදයක් ඇති කළ අතර, හම්බන්තොට වරාය පොලිසිය මැදිහත් වී ගමනාගමනය පාලනය කිරීමට හේතු විය. More updates to come on AusNewsLanka .

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Southeastern Australia has recorded its driest January in 17 years, continuing a very dry start to the summer season. Rainfall across the region was well below normal, marking the second-driest start to a year since 1965. On average, weather stations reported about 23mm less rain than usual for January. Large parts of Victoria, South Australia, southern NSW and northern Tasmania saw significantly reduced totals. Several major centres had almost no meaningful rain over December and January: Adelaide  received just 2.8mm in December and no rain at all in January. Melbourne  recorded 27.8mm in December and only 1.6mm in January. Wagga Wagga  had 24.8mm in December and 2.0mm in January. Launceston  saw 17.4mm in December and 3.2mm in January. All of these figures sit well below long-term averages, deepening rainfall shortfalls across the southeast. There were a few exceptions. Parts of the NSW South Coast and a small stretch of Victoria’s southwest coast experienced heavy downpours in January, including flash flooding along the Great Ocean Road on January 15. But these were isolated events in an otherwise dry pattern. The outlook offers little relief in the short term. Adelaide and Melbourne are expected to stay mostly dry for the rest of the week, with only a slight chance of a light shower in Melbourne. Inland areas are also forecast to remain largely dry, though increasing tropical moisture could spark thunderstorms later in the week — mainly over inland NSW rather than South Australia or Victoria. Overall, the southeast remains in a clear rainfall deficit as summer continues. Stay tuned with Aus News Lanka  – the leading platform for news for Australians .

This is a developing story brought to you by Aus News Lanka , your trusted source for news for Sri Lankans  in Australia and beyond. යුනෙස්කෝ ලෝක උරුම ස්ථානයක් (UNESCO World Heritage Site) ලෙස පිළිගත් නකල්ස් වනාන්තර ආරක්ෂිත ප්‍රදේශයේ (Knuckles Forest Reserve) රිවර්ස්ටන් සංචාරක කලාපය, ඩිට්වා (Ditwah) සුළි කුණාටුව හේතුවෙන් සිදුවූ හානි නිසා තාවකාලිකව වසා තැබූ පසු, දේශීය සහ ජාත්‍යන්තර සංචාරකයන් සඳහා යළි විවෘත කර ඇත. රත්තොට සහ ලග්ගල සිට දැඩි ලෙස හානි වූ මාර්ග මාස දෙකක් ඇතුළත සම්පූර්ණයෙන්ම ප්‍රතිසංස්කරණය කර ඇත. දැනට සැහැල්ලු වාහන සඳහා පමණක් අවසර දී ඇති අතර, පොදු ප්‍රවාහන සේවා නැවත ආරම්භ කර ඇති අතර, සංචාරකයින්ට රක්ෂිතය ආරක්ෂිතව ගවේෂණය කිරීමට ඉඩ සලසයි. පිළිගත් බලධාරීන්, සංචාරකයින්ගෙන් වගකීමෙන් රිය පදවන්න, ස්ථානීය උපදෙස් පිළිපදින්න සහ අතිශය සංවේදී පරිසර පද්ධතිය ආරක්ෂා කිරීමට කටයුතු කරන ලෙස ඉල්ලීම් කර ඇත. Source : DailyMirror More updates to come on AusNewsLanka .

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. A tropical low over central NT is lingering near the eastern Gregory region today. It’s expected to drift west over the next couple of days. Intense rainfall is forecast tonight across the south-western Carpentaria, eastern Gregory, north-western Barkly and northern Tanami districts. Downpours could bring 80–100mm within six hours, with isolated totals reaching 120mm. Rain may persist into tomorrow night before easing early Wednesday. Communities that could be impacted include Elliott, Kalkarindji, Lajamanu, Daly Waters, Top Springs and Daguragu. Gilnockie has already recorded 183mm in the 24 hours to 9am. Residents are urged to monitor official warnings and updates via Secure NT. Further west, another system — Tropical Low 21U — has an increasing chance of strengthening later this week and may track offshore north of the Pilbara. Source : 9News Stay tuned with Aus News Lanka  – the leading platform for news for Australians .

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Australia’s heatwave isn’t just a daytime problem. Hot nights are also creating serious health risks. While daytime temperatures have pushed close to 50°C in parts of Victoria, NSW, South Australia, the ACT and Queensland, overnight conditions have stayed above 34°C in some areas. Marree in northern SA recorded two nights in a row at that level after daytime highs above 48°C. In Adelaide, it was still 36°C at midnight earlier this week — far above the city’s usual January daytime average. A heatwave is officially declared when both day and night temperatures stay unusually high for several days. When nights don’t cool down, the body doesn’t get the chance to recover from the heat. Health authorities warn this increases the risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, especially during power outages. Drink water regularly, even if you’re not thirsty. Cut back on caffeine. Use air conditioning if you have it, or spend time in air-conditioned public places during the day. Watch for warning signs such as dizziness, nausea, muscle cramps and heavy sweating. Confusion or slurred speech can signal heatstroke — this is an emergency. Some relief is expected. Cooler nights are forecast for Adelaide and Melbourne by late Saturday or Sunday, with Sydney and Canberra likely to see improvement by Monday. Source :9 News Stay tuned with Aus News Lanka  – the leading platform for news for Australians .