Dec 1 (AD) The death toll due to the adverse weather conditions experienced in the country in the past few days has climbed to 366, the DMC has confirmed. The highest number of deaths have been reported from the Kandy District, accounting for 88. DMC also confirmed that at least 367 individuals remain missing as search and relief operations continue across multiple districts. A total of 1,151,776 individuals from 316,366 families in 25 districts have been affected by the effects of Cyclone “Ditwah”. more..

Dec 1 (AD) India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, announced that the Indian Navy ship INS Sukanya has arrived in Trincomalee carrying additional humanitarian aid for Sri Lanka. On behalf of the Govt of India, the Indian Navy ships INS Vikrant and INS Udaygiri, which were on a visit to SL, officially handed over flood relief materials to the island nation in Colombo on 28 Nov. As SL reels from severe flooding and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah, more..

Dec 1 (AD) Vegetables such as cabbage, carrots and beans are currently being received in significant quantities at the economic centers in Welimada, Keppetipola and other areas in the Badulla District, which is a major vegetable-producing region, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. Vegetables such as cabbage, carrots and beans are currently being received in significant quantities at the economic centers in Welimada, Keppetipola and other areas in the Badulla District, more..

Dec 1 (Dawn) Pakistan has offered to extend support in rescue and relief efforts as death toll from the landslides and flooding caused by Cyclone Ditwah rose to 153 in SL, with 191 others missing and more than half a million affected nationwide. SL declared a state of emergency on Saturday and appealed for international assistance as the extreme weather system has destroyed more than 20,000 homes, sending 108,000 people to state-run temporary shelters, Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reported. more..

Dec 1 (AD) Cabinet has approved the establishment of the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund, which aims to rebuild the country after the immense damage caused by Cyclone Ditwa, one of the worst natural disasters in SL’s recent history. The fund is to be established as a statutory fund under the Presidential Secretariat, and its Management Committee will comprise representatives from the govt and private sectors. Minister of Labour Anil Jayantha Fernando, will serve as its Chairman, more..

Dec 1 (NW) National Disaster Relief Services Centre has urged the public to remain vigilant about the increased risk of infectious and vector-borne diseases as floodwaters and waterlogging begin to recede. Reiterating the heightened risk of infectious and vector-borne diseases as floodwaters recede, Assistant Secretary of the Centre, Jayatissa Munasinghe, said the health sector is already implementing necessary preventive measures. He further stated that each more..

Dec 1 (DM) SL is now deep inside a disaster that continues to evolve. Floods have swept through major districts, rivers have crossed dangerous levels, landslides have crushed homes, and thousands have taken shelter in safe centres. With the Kelani River overflowing, the Maha Oya and Kala Oya rising, bridges like Moragahakanda–laggala washed away, and Colombo battling one of its worst flood threats in recent history, the country is dealing with a phase where danger arrives quietly, not always with rain. more..

Dec 1 (AD) The water level of the Kelani River is receding at several locations according to the latest assessment made by the Dept of Irrigation. L.S. Sooriyabandara, the Director of Irrigation at the Department of Irrigation, provided the clarification regarding the water level of the Kelani River. He stated that, at present, the water level at the Hanwella gauge of the Kelani River has significantly dropped. Director of Irrigation L.S. Sooriyabandara stated, more..

Dec 1 (DM) Prices of essential food items soared across the country yesterday morning as ongoing adverse weather and disaster conditions severely disrupted supply chains. Vegetable prices rose by more than threefold while fish prices doubled, with major wholesale markets including Peliyagoda and Dambulla reporting severe shortages. Many sections of these economic centres were left deserted as deliveries failed to arrive, leaving traders with only limited stocks, mainly of up-country vegetables. more..

Dec 1 (EN) SL’s Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) registered a two-month low, following the destructive Cyclone Ditwah, as selling pressure was seen in the market, brokers said. “Market dropped by over 600 points, mainly due to the flood situation,” Ranjan Ranatunga, Assistant Vice President – Research at First Capital said. Ranatunga said that investors are currently in an assessing stance. He believes this downtrend will continue. “In my opinion, I think we will continue to see selling pressure,” he said. more..

Dec 1 (AD) Strict legal action will be taken against individuals who spread false news on social media during the disaster situation, a time when the entire nation is united, Police Media Spokesperson ASP F. U. Wootler noted. At present, several complaints have been lodged with the CID regarding news being shared on social media that causes public fear and confusion. The Police Computer Crime Investigation Division has begun investigations into these complaints, he added. more..

Dec 1 (FT) US has announced $ 2 million in emergency assistance to support SL’s response to Cyclone Ditwah, as the storm continues to cause heavy flooding, landslides, and mounting humanitarian needs across the country. US State Dept Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott extended Washington’s condolences, noting the scale of destruction and the efforts of emergency responders. “US extends deepest condolences to the people of SL as Cyclone Ditwah continues to produce severe weather, flooding, and landslides. more..

Dec 1 (EN) Bybit, a cryptocurrency exchange said it is offering 100,000 dollars to Sri Lanka as humanitarian aid after the Indian Ocean island was hit by cyclone Ditwah. Bybit claimed it was in touch with the Central Bank of SL to donate 100,000 dollars for relief operations “This collaboration ensures that assistance reaches those who need it most and aligns with national priorities during this critical moment,” the company said. “As communities face the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, more..

Dec 1 (NW) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake says the govt has begun discussions with the World Bank to prepare a detailed assessment of the damage caused across sectors due to adverse weather and the financial requirements for reconstruction. Prez revealed that the World Bank has already been commissioned to conduct the Global Rapid Post-Disaster Damage Estimation (GRADE) and that the government expects to receive the GRADE assessment within approximately two weeks. more..

Dec 1 (NF) Sri Lanka Air Force has appointed a special board of inquiry to investigate an emergency landing involving a Bell 212 helicopter in the Lunuwila area this (30) evening. The aircraft, which was engaged in distributing dry and fresh rations to flood-affected communities, made the landing near the Lunuwila Bridge while on a humanitarian mission. According to official reports, five Air Force personnel, including two pilots, were onboard at the time of the incident. more..

Dec 1 (NF) In the wake of severe floods and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah, which caused significant casualties and widespread property damage across Sri Lanka, the Chinese govt and its people have stepped forward in solidarity. The Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka announced that the Red Cross Society of China has disbursed USD 100,000 in emergency cash aid to the SL Red Cross Society. Additionally, emergency assistance from the Chinese govt is already underway. more..

Dec 1 (FT) Cyclone Ditwa swept across SL last week leaving behind devastation the country has not seen in years—over a hundred lives lost, thousands displaced, homes submerged, and key roads cut off. Families have been torn apart and livelihoods destroyed. Before anything else, it is important to acknowledge this human tragedy with empathy and humility. My focus here, however, is on another dimension of the fallout: the impact on Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, an industry that was only just regaining more..

Dec 1 (FT) Generative Artificial Intelligence or GenAI has been a useful tool for people to create new content, such as text, images, and or music, by learning the patterns from vast datasets. Quite different from the traditional AI that analyses or categorises existing data, GenAI models produce novel and original output in response to prompts of users. This is achieved through complex algorithms that predict what the next word, sound or pixel should be, and that prediction is based on the past patterns. more..

Dec 1 (FT) Trade, Commerce, Food Security & Cooperative Development Ministry moved to reassure the public that essential food commodities remain available across the country despite temporary disruptions caused by Cyclone Ditwah and the resulting floods. Ministry said: There is no shortage of essential commodities, adding that while transportation and distribution channels in several districts had been affected, more..

Dec 1 (DM) SL’s private sector was called to the frontlines of the national recovery effort, with Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake urging the country’s top business leaders to step in as the island reels from cascading disasters triggered by Cyclone Ditwah. With nearly a third of the island still without electricity or running water, rising water levels, and severe transport blockages caused by landslides and fallen trees, Prez met the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) over the weekend more..

Dec 1 (FT) Govt has launched an official donation portal, Stand with Sri Lanka, to mobilise financial contributions from the international community, SL diaspora, and local citizens for relief operations following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah. The platform, hosted at https://donate.gov.lk, provides verified bank account details issued by the Finance, Planning and Economic Development Ministry. Authorities said the portal was introduced to ensure a secure and transparent mechanism more..

Dec 1 (AD) Academic activities at universities, higher education institutes and vocational training institutions have been suspended until Dec 8, due to the disaster situation in the country. The decision is applicable to all institutions that are under the purview of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, the Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Nalaka Kaluwewe said. Meanwhile, schools will reopen for the final phase of the third school term also on Dec 16. more..

Dec 1 (TM) Ministry of Education stated that a final decision on the rescheduling of the remaining subjects of the 2025 GCE A/L Exam would be taken after studying the condition of the examination centres and the accessibility of roads in areas affected by the recent extreme weather. Secretary to the Ministry, Nalaka Kaluwewa said the remaining subjects of the A/L exam require seven consecutive days and that schools could reopen only after completing this period. more..

Dec 1 (CT) Sri Lanka is confronting one of its worst natural disasters in recent years, with over one million people affected and hundreds dead as severe weather continues to trigger massive flooding and landslides across the island. A situation summary released by the DMC at 6 p.m. on 30 Nov confirmed that 1,118,929 individuals from 309,607 families have been impacted to date. The national death toll has climbed to 334, while more..

Dec 1 (SO) Heavy rains coupled with the cyclone Ditwah that lashed across the country for nearly a week wreaking havoc to life, livelihoods and properties have cost an arm and a leg to the affected families and the economy. Flash floods that swept across all districts are estimated to have destroyed around 600,000 acres of rice and vegetable crops, raising concerns over a shortage of vegetable in the coming days and sharp surge in prices of many commodities in the run up to festive season. more..

Dec 1 (AD) A total of 211 individuals stranded in flood-affected areas near Mavil Aru Tank have been rescued by SL Air Force. Rescue was carried out using a Bell 412 helicopter and an MI-17 helicopter belonging to Air Force. Reports indicate that arrangements have now been made to direct the rescued individuals to safe locations. Meanwhile, rescue operations for the people trapped due to the breach of the Mavil Aru Tank bund were carried out this morning under direct supervision of Prez more..

Dec 1 (NF) National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) has announced that urgent measures are being implemented to restore water supply in several districts affected by recent floods and landslides. The Board expects services to return to normal within two days. Chairman A.M.P.C.T. Bandara confirmed that assistance from the Tri-Forces, Irrigation Department, Road Development Authority, and Ceylon Electricity Board has been mobilized to expedite repairs and restoration. more..

Dec 1 (FT) In the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, SL has witnessed a surge of local and international goodwill, with many expressing concern and seeking ways to support those affected by the severe weather. The Central Bank , acknowledging this growing solidarity, announced that official bank details for secure donations towards ongoing relief efforts have been published through an authorised link. Bank encouraged all well-wishers to contribute through these verified channels to ensure that more..

Dec 1 (FT) Govt issued an Extraordinary Gazette declaring a State of Public Emergency across the country. In an Extraordinary Gazette published on 28 Nov under the Public Security Ordinance (Chapter 40), Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake formalised a comprehensive set of emergency regulations titled Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions & Powers) Regulations, No. 1 of 2025. more..

Dec 1 (AD) Venerable Bengamuwe Dhammadinna Thero, the Chief Custodian of the Sri Pada Rajamaha Viharaya, has stated that reports circulating on social media claiming a landslide occurred on the slope of Sri Pada are completely inaccurate. In a special statement to media, Ven Dhammadinna Thero noted that every year, during rainy seasons, trees from the upper slopes of the mountain naturally get uprooted and fall down the slope. The Thero emphasized that this is more..

Dec 1 (SLN) In light of the nationwide disaster caused by severe weather conditions, the SL Navy has been carrying out extensive relief operations across the island since 22 Nov. As of 30 Nov, the Navy has assisted 10,099 individuals through its humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts spanning all provinces, and these operations are still ongoing. Eastern Naval Command conducted flood relief operations in Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Polonnaruwa districts, rescuing more..