Dec 12 (TM) The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development has issued Excise Notification No. 03/2025, introducing a revised fee structure for multiple excise licence categories. The regulations, made under Sections 25 and 32 of the Excise Ordinance and confirmed by Parliament on 5 December, take effect from 12 December. The changes revise annual licence fees, security deposits and a one-time, non-refundable industry entry fee payable upon first issuance. more..

Dec 12 (DN) Food Security Committee met at the Presidential Secretariat to ensure the food security of the people in the face of the disaster situation. Accordingly, the Food Security Committee met at the Presidential Secretariat on Wednesday under the patronage of the Ministers Wasantha Samarasinghe and K.D. Lalkantha. The food supply and price conditions required by the people during this post-disaster period were discussed there. Besides, the Committee decisions to thwart the attempts of more..

Dec 12 (DM) Officials involved in distributing relief and compensation in the aftermath of Cyclonic Storm Ditwah, which left severe destruction across SL are increasingly coming under pressure from multiple fronts. Sources close to the matter said tensions have escalated particularly during the distribution of compensation for damages to cultivation, livestock & small businesses. Although clear guidelines have been issued, more..

Dec 12 (DN) The process of providing relief to the people affected by the Cyclone Ditwah, should be depoliticised, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said. According to reports, Govt Ministers are saying that the approval of the Praja Shakthi Committees is required to receive this relief. “But that should not happen and the entire relief process must definitely be depoliticized. In order to receive the benefits, the certificate of State officials such as the Grama Niladhari, Samurdhi Niladhari, more..

Dec 12 (CT) Senior clergy from the Malwathu and Asgiriya Chapters have praised the Government’s ongoing efforts to restore normalcy and rebuild the country in the aftermath of the recent disaster. They bestowed their blessings for the programme during an audience with Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (11). Those present included Rajakiya Panditha Darshanapathi Venerable Mahawela Rathanapala Thera, Deputy Registrar of Malwathu Chapter of Siam Sect; more..

Dec 12 (EN) SL has enough seed paddy to re-cultivate paddy fields damaged by Cyclone Ditwah. Farmers and the Paddy Marketing Board had sufficient seed paddy to re-cultivate damaged fields, officials have told a meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture. SL farmers were planning to cultivate 869,622 hectares in the Maha season. By the time the cyclone hit, 620,136 hectares were cultivated. Of that 106,293 was destroyed. About 95,000 or 90 percent of the fields can be sowed again. more..

Dec 12 (NW) Police in Sri Lanka have arrested a man who was wanted on 88 outstanding warrants related to multiple cases of financial fraud, authorities announced. The suspect, identified as a 56-year-old resident of Wadduwa, had been evading police for an extended period. He was apprehended by officers from the Athurugiriya Police Station on the evening of December 11, during a raid in the Gajaba Mawatha area of Athurugiriya, acting on a confidential tip-off. more..

Dec 12 (NW) SL Association of Meteorologists stated that Dept of Meteorology officials acted in accordance with established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in issuing timely alerts and warnings ahead of Cyclone Ditwah. These communications enabled naval and fishing communities to take necessary precautions, saving lives in the process. Statement comes after mounting public criticism suggesting that more..

Dec 12 (NW) The SL College of Psychiatrists has issued a statement in response to the recent Cyclone Ditwah, which has severely impacted communities across the country. The statement offers guidance to individuals and families coping with the emotional aftermath of the disaster and encourages steps toward psychological recovery. “It is normal to feel stressed, sad, angry, fearful, or confused, and to experience negative thoughts in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. more..

Dec 12 (TM) The PM’s Secretary Pradeep Saputhanthri noted that one of the key issues related to data is the lack of proper coordination among State institutions where poor institutional collaboration and officials limiting their responsibilities strictly within their designated boundaries have led to this situation. Therefore, establishing an integrated data-collection mechanism covering all Grama Niladhari Divisions (GNDs) is extremely important, he added. more..

Dec 12 (CT) Milinda Moragoda, Founder of the Pathfinder Foundation, participated in the 4th India-Japan Forum in New Delhi at the invitation of India’s Ministry of External Affairs and the Ananta Centre. In his intervention, he proposed that India take the lead in a post-disaster reconstruction and recovery initiative for Sri Lanka, with Japan positioned as a strategic partner in the effort. Moragoda reiterated this theme in a recent op-ed submitted to the Hindustan Times. more..

Dec 12 (NF) Colombo Magistrate’s Court on Thursday (11) directed the CID to re-issue open warrants for the arrest and production of former CB Governor Arjuna Mahendran and Ajahn Gardier Punchihewa, in connection with the Central Bank bond scam investigations. The order was issued by Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama when the case related to the alleged bond scam was taken up in court. CID had filed a complaint under Money Laundering Act against 9 suspects, more..

Dec 12 (DM) SL’s upcountry geography has changed in certain areas due to landslides triggered by cyclone Ditwah, warranting revision of the land-use map series in view of several areas severely, Surveyor General N.K.U. Rohana said. He said the Survey Dept plans to obtain high-resolution satellite images from space stations orbiting SL to support an accurate re-mapping process. New images will help identify landslide-hit zones more..

Dec 12 (Island) FSP spokesperson Pubudu Jayagoda said that in spite of repeated assurances given to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council and some members of the international community regarding disappearances during the conflict and after successive governments hadn’t been genuine in their efforts to address the issue. The JVP-led NPP seemed to be no exception, Jayagoda alleged, urging the incumbent govt to pay special attention to what he called disappearance issue. more..

Dec 12 (AD) Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, welcomed Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, at the Ministry today. Minister Herath expressed his gratitude to the Govt and people of China for their steadfast and invaluable support extended to SL in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. The meeting also included discussions on further enhancing the longstanding and cordial bilateral relations between SL and China, he added. more..

Dec 12 (Island) Ambassador (Retd.) Esala Weerakoon has observed that “it is time for us to consider a South Asian Climate Compact —a renewed, collective commitment to safeguard our environment, protect our people, and uphold climate justice. Such a compact would reflect our shared vulnerabilities, our shared responsibilities, and our shared aspirations”. Ambassador Weerakoon, a former – Secretary General of the SAARC and Foreign Secretary of SL made this more..

Dec 12 (NW) SL batter Kusal Mendis has undergone emergency surgery in Dubai after being diagnosed with bladder stones, sources said on Friday Mendis, who was taking part in the ongoing ILT20 tournament, required immediate medical intervention and is currently recovering following the procedure. As a result, he will miss the remainder of the ILT20 season. His franchise is expected to make a replacement announcement in due course. Further updates on Mendis’ recovery and return more..

Dec 12 (AD) DMC reports that more than 5,700 houses have been completely destroyed due to the severe adverse weather conditions experienced recently across the country. Highest number of houses damaged has been reported from the Kandy District, with 1,568 houses completely destroyed and 14,111 houses partially damaged. Nuwara Eliya District has reported the second-highest number of houses damaged, more..

Dec 12 (NF) As Sri Lanka begins to recover from the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has called for urgent, targeted support to smallholder farmers and fishers, warning that their rapid return to production is critical for national food security and rural livelihoods. “Cyclone Ditwah has brought hardship to many families across Sri Lanka, and our thoughts remain with all those who have lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods,” more..

Dec 12 (Island) A ceremony to felicitate veteran Sri Lankan artistes now domiciled in the United Kingdom was held last Sunday in London. The event, Avarjana, took place at the White Hill Centre in Chesham and was organised single-handedly by Mudith de Silva, with support from Jayantha Sarath Kumara. The artistes honoured at the ceremony were Punya Heendeniya, Gamini Abeysinghe, Wimal Alahakoon, Lilani Perera, Anoma Wattaladeniya, Sriyani Fonseka & Kamalangani Perusinghe. more..

Dec 12 (AD) The govt has announced that, in light of the nationwide prevailing disaster situation and the upcoming festive season, arrangements have been made to provide a nutrition allowance of Rs. 5,000 to pregnant mothers. This allowance, which will be provided only once, will be given to pregnant mothers who were registered at maternal clinics on or before 30 Nov 2025. The distribution will take place through the Divisional Secretariat offices from 16 Dec, under a program of more..

Dec 12 (NW) Defending champion Australia has named a 15-player squad for the upcoming ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026, including two newcomers of SL heritage, Nitesh Samuel and Naden Cooray. The squad, which will be led by Victoria’s Oliver Peake, features three uncapped players rewarded for their performances at the recent Under-19 Male National Championships in Perth. Samuel and Cooray earned selection after standout tournaments. more..

Dec 12 (FT) SL Tourism Advisory Committee Chairman Dileep Mudadeniya stressed that nation branding and destination marketing are fundamentally different, whilst urging the policymakers and industry stakeholders to clearly understand this distinction when shaping SL’s long-term tourism strategy. He made these remarks recently during a panel discussion organised by Australia’s Market Development Facility more..

Dec 12 (CNA) Singapore govt will contribute US$100,000 (S$129,000) as seed money to support the Singapore Red Cross' (SRC) public fundraising efforts for the humanitarian crisis resulting from the recent cyclone in SL. The contribution will supplement the SRC’s pledge of S$50,000 to support the immediate needs of affected communities in SL. Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan have also written to more..

Dec 12 (NW) SL Police have issued an official statement regarding a road accident involving NPP MP Ashoka Ranwala in the Sapugaskanda Police area on Thursday night. According to the police, the accident occurred at around 7.40 p.m. on Dec 11 near the Denimulla junction on the road stretching from Galvala Junction to Power House Junction. A jeep driven by MP Ranwala collided with a motorcycle travelling ahead of it, police said. Police said that while attempting to steer the jeep more..

Dec 12 (AD) Former Speaker and NPP MP Asoka Ranwala, who was involved in a vehicular collision in Sapugaskanda last night, has been arrested by the police. Police said he was taken into custody on charges of dangerous driving and failing to prevent an accident. PM is currently receiving treatment at the Colombo National Hospital and remains under police custody. Accident occurred yesterday when the jeep in which more..

Dec 12 (DM) Sinopec has mobilised to support relief efforts by donating 75,000 litres of bottled drinking water to the flood-affected regions. The initiative was launched nationwide through Sinopec’s filling stations network located in areas deeply impacted by the disaster. With many parts of the country facing disruptions to essential services, access to safe drinking water has emerged as a priority need. After ensuring uninterrupted fuel supply to its filling station network, more..

Dec 12 (NW) Minister K.D. Lal Kantha has called for scientific and practical proposals to address access issues in areas affected by Cyclone Ditwah, particularly the Meemure area. Responding to criticism over a proposal to open an old route through the Knuckles Reserve, the Minister questioned whether the protection of World Heritage status should take precedence over immediate humanitarian needs. “Now the World Heritage is in pieces. The flood destroyed the barrier more..

Dec 12 (FT) SL’s microfinance and money lending sector is poised for a major transformation with the introduction of the Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Act 2025. This landmark legislation replaces the Microfinance Act No. 6 of 2016, introducing a far more comprehensive and structured regulatory framework aimed at protecting borrowers, strengthening institutions, and enhancing transparency across the financial ecosystem. Microfinance has long played a vital role more..

Dec 12 (FT) SL’s 2025 floods, intensified by Cyclone Ditwah, have forced the country into one of the most consequential fiscal conversations of the decade: how to finance resilience at a scale that matches the growing magnitude of climate loss. This is no longer an environmental debate. It is an economic one. The scale of the damage and the cost of rebuilding now position SL among the clearest examples of why developing economies cannot adapt to climate extremes without massive, predictable more..