Dec 22 (FT) The IMF on Friday underscored both support and caution as the country seeks emergency assistance under its Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, warning that the country’s hard-won economic recovery remains vulnerable to fresh shocks. IMF Mission Chief for SL Evan Papageorgiou said the supplementary allocation of around $ 206 million is intended to more..

Dec 22 (NF) Sri Lanka is set to host two exceptionally high-level diplomatic visits from India and China this week, in a development that carries significance well beyond immediate disaster response following Cyclone Ditwah. India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is due to arrive in Colombo tomorrow (22), with his visit continuing until the evening of the 23rd. The visit comes as SL continues recovery efforts in the wake of Cyclone Ditwah, & amid ongoing engagement more..

Dec 22 (DM) Ministry of Education has requested a detailed report from the principal of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya following an incident at a recent colours award ceremony that has sparked widespread public debate. Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa said the Ministry is closely monitoring the situation and will determine appropriate instructions and further action after reviewing the report. The controversy arose when a student publicly claimed she was denied an award during ceremony more..

Dec 22 (EN) Big names in the academic world and some macro-economists have called for SL to default again after hurricane Ditwah hit the island, saying there is a climate shock. “The existing restructuring – modest, conditional and tied to uncertain macroeconomic outcomes – is inadequate to protect the vulnerable majority from recurrent climate and external shocks,” the academics said. “Therefore, we call for immediate suspension more..

Dec 22 (ST) The Constitutional Council (CC) has rejected yet another nominee submitted by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake to take over as the country’s next Auditor General. The CC’s rejection of O.R. Rajasinghe’s name means that four nominees the President has submitted to the CC over the past eight months to serve in a permanent or acting capacity as Auditor General have been rejected by the Council. There has been no acting Auditor General at the dept for the past 2 weeks, more..

Dec 22 (AD) Govt officers attached to the Kalpitiya DS have temporarily withdrawn from disaster relief distribution activities. They have reportedly withdrawn from activities after a group of individuals allegedly attacked officers while they were discharging their duties, causing disruption to the relief operations. According to Nandana Ranasinghe, President of SL United Grama Niladhari Association (SLUGNA), officers have decided not to participate in relief distribution until adequate security more..

Dec 22 (TM) The Police stated that two teams have been deployed by SSP Embilipitiya to investigate an alleged incident in which a police officer attached to the Sooriyakanda Police Station was reportedly assaulted by NPP Ratnapura District MP Shantha Pathma Kumara. Police Spokesperson ASP F.U. Wootler said the two teams were tasked with investigating whether any assault or intimidation occurred. “We will review the findings of the inquiry and decide on further action,” more..

Dec 22 (FT) World Bank Board of Executive Directors has approved a $ 50 million project to support SL’s digital transformation. The project will promote innovation and investment in SL’s digital sector, modernise Government services, and make them easier to access and more responsive to the needs of people and businesses. The SL Digital Transformation Project will support practical, people-centric digital solutions, including an integrated online citizen service portal for Govt services, more..

Dec 22 (FT) Deputy Minister Anil Jayantha said IMF approval of $ 206 million under the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) on Friday provides the country with critical and low-cost emergency funding at a time when the country is focused on recovery and stabilisation. He expressed appreciation to the IMF and its Mission Chief for SL for the swift assistance, stressing that the facility is designed to minimise the impact of shocks on more..

Dec 22 (TM) Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed in June by the SLC Former Vice President K. Mathivanan, challenging the legitimacy of the current office bearers of the game’s domestic governing body, was dismissed without being taken up for hearing by the Supreme Court last week. Judge Bench of the Apex Court consisting of Justices Shiran Gooneratne, Priyantha Fernando & Menaka Wijesundara, resorted to this action, while accepting initial objections raised by the defence (SLC). more..

Dec 22 (TM) Ministry of Agriculture stated that adequate compensation would be provided to farmers whose crops were affected by the recent cyclone and floods, and therefore there would be no risk of a food shortage in the country. Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne said that although the Maha cultivating season experienced losses due to the natural cyclonic disaster, this year’s Yala harvest recorded its highest output. "Farmlands were damaged due to floods and landslides. more..

Dec 22 (DM) Dialog Axiata announced its partnership with Starlink to bring high-speed satellite internet solutions to empower businesses, institutions and underserved communities across the island. As an authorised agent for Starlink in Sri Lanka, Dialog will enable access to the world’s most advanced satellite technology, delivering high-speed, low-latency internet to areas beyond the reach of conventional network infrastructure and further strengthening digital connectivity landscape. more..

Dec 22 (FT) Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $ 3 million grant to help address water shortages in SL’s North Western and Uva Provinces by constructing modern pipe distribution network (PDN) systems. Project will provide irrigation to 877 hectares (ha) of farmland, supporting improvements in the country’s agriculture sector. Transforming Irrigation Systems for Improved Food Security Project is funded by the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific (JFPR) more..

Dec 22 (TM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the country can move forward not through suspicion or distrust, but by fulfilling the responsibilities entrusted to everyone with determination and purpose. He emphasised that by properly fulfilling the responsibilities entrusted to the Govt, religious institutions, the security forces, and citizens, SL could be strengthened and rebuilt with the pride and honour reflected in its history. more..

Dec 22 (DM) Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on Economic Development and International Relations has accelerated efforts to finalise the Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill, which aims to provide a comprehensive overhaul of the industry and protect vulnerable borrowers from predatory practices. During a recent meeting in parliament under the chairmanship of MP Lakmali Hemachandra, the committee reviewed critical amendments to the legislation, more..

Dec 22 (DM) Finfluencing should not be looked at negatively; investors and potential investors should look at its positives and learn how to overcome the negatives, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Senior Prof. Hareendra Dissabandara stated at a recent online discussion on the stock market and social media. According to Prof. Dissabandara, ‘finfluencers’ are influencers who use social media to share financial and investing-related content. more..

Dec 22 (FT) Planters’ Association of Ceylon (PA) said that Regional Plantation Companies (RPC) moved swiftly to safeguard estate workers and surrounding communities following Cyclone Ditwah, activating emergency protocols, relocating families from high-risk areas, and restoring basic services in coordination with State authorities. It added that while access and essential support are being progressively normalised, more..

Dec 22 (CI) There was a little bit of rustiness as India returned to action 50 days after becoming ODI world champions, but not so much to prevent them from registering a dominant win in the first T20I against Sri Lanka in Visakhapatnam. Despite dew being a constant presence on a cool evening, India's spinners rallied to keep Sri Lanka's top order in check, even if they did not pick up wickets in a heap. In the end, Sri Lanka were restricted to 121 for 6. It was a below-par total, given that more..

Dec 22 (FT) Sri Lanka earned an estimated $ 1.4 billion from tea exports in the 11 months to Nov 2025, according to SL Customs data. The earnings were 13% higher than in the corresponding period of last year of $ 1.3 billion, supported by increased cumulative export volumes, despite a marginal decline in average Free On Board (FOB) values in rupee terms. Tea exports in Nov 2025 totalled 19.36 million kilos (Mnkg), down 0.71 Mnkg from 20.07 Mnkg in Nov 2024. more..

Dec 22 (CI) Opener Sameer Minhas blitzed his way to 172 off 113 balls, setting up Pakistan's demolition of India in the Under-19 Asia Cup final in Dubai. In response to Pakistan's 347 for 8, India folded for 156 in 26.2 overs. Minhas' knock was the highest individual score for Pakistan, and also, the highest individual score by any batter in a final in Youth ODIs. He hit 17 fours and nine sixes during his stay, and fell in the 43rd over, finishing with a strike rate of 152.21. more..

Dec 22 (TM) The Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) is back under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. The unit, once the apex Counter-Narcotics agency in SL, has fallen low. Each time the PNB stumbles, the Police Department and the Public Security Ministry attempt to damage control and rotate Police officers from the same police community, replacing the heads as a band-aid measure to hold on to what little credibility the Bureau has left. However, the PNB continues to stumble, more..

Dec 22 (DM) SL Customs has initiated a major technological overhaul of its vehicle clearance protocols to seal a loophole that previously allowed the tampering of motor vehicle data during registration. Move follows an inquiry by the COPA, which identified that the absence of a secure computerised network between SL Customs & DMT had left the door open for fraudulent modifications of vehicle specifications. more..

Dec 22 (DM) Chairman of the Board of Investment (BOI), Arjuna Herath has announced his decision to relinquish his role on Jan 31, 2026, marking the end of a pivotal tenure focused on structural reform. Herath, who assumed the chairmanship in Oct 2024, stated that he has requested the govt to release him to fulfill personal commitments that were postponed to undertake the leadership position. A former Senior Partner at Ernst & Young, Herath brought extensive corporate governance expertise to agency, more..

Dec 22 (FT) In a key appointment for the nation’s urban planning sector, M.G. Hemachandra, a seasoned development expert, has been named Chairman of the Urban Development Authority (UDA). Hemachandra brings extensive expertise from his tenure as a Senior Specialist and former Chief of Loan Projects at the JICA in SL. His career highlights include in-depth work in development policy analysis and formulation, economic development program and project design, more..

Dec 22 (Island) Maan Pharmaceuticals Ltd, the manufacturer of Ondansetron, which has been withdrawn from hospitals here pending a probe, is reported to have asked the SL health authorities to have the drug tested by an internationally accredited laboratory. The use of nine other Maan products too has been suspended in Sri Lanka over quality concerns. Maan’s reaction has come as no surprise; all companies ardently defend their products. However, its concerns should be heeded. more..

Dec 22 (GV) Some fates are written in broken promises. The UNP’s 1977 election manifesto acknowledged the existence of a Tamil ethnic problem, enumerated some of its root causes, promised to resolve it politically and highlighted the nexus between national economic development and the peaceful resolution of the grievances of the Tamil speaking people. “The UNP accepts the position that there are numerous problems confronting the Tamil-speaking people. more..

Dec 22 (SO) As SL grapples with the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, long-standing weaknesses in disaster preparedness, climate adaptation and urban planning have once again come into sharp focus. Former Minister, Champika Ranawaka reflected on how successive Govts have handled disaster risk over the past two decades. He said the laws are often bypassed, how political short-termism undermines climate resilience, and more..

Dec 22 (ST) Parliament does not normally sit in December after the budget for the following year is passed, yet the unprecedented disaster brought on by Cyclone Ditwah forced lawmakers to return to the House for two more days this week to pass a Rs. 500 billion supplementary estimate to restore the livelihoods of those affected by the disaster. While there was agreement among both the govt and opposition parties on the urgent need to pass the supplementary estimate, there was still more..

Dec 22 (SO) When Cyclone Ditwah tore across Sri Lanka last month, it did far more than flatten homes, drown farmlands, and trigger deadly landslides. It collided head-on with a fragile economic recovery painstakingly rebuilt after the country’s worst financial crisis in history. The result has been a defining test not only for the Govt and people, but also for the international financial system that has invested heavily in the island’s stabilisation. In the weeks following the devastation, more..

Dec 22 (TM) In the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, concerns are mounting over the legality and transparency of Govt funds created for disaster relief and reconstruction, particularly the Govt Disaster Relief Fund and Rebuilding SL Fund. Financial experts and Opposition members have raised questions about whether these funds, established outside the usual Consolidated Fund framework, comply with Public Financial more..

Dec 22 (Island) At a moment when the world is closely watching peace efforts linked to conflicts in Thailand and Cambodia, Gaza and Ukraine, a new book by Prof. G.L. Peiris revisits one of the most closely scrutinised peace initiatives of recent times: the negotiations between Govt of SL and LTTE. Titled SL Peace Process: An Inside View, the book is published by Vijitha Yapa Publications. Hardcover volume provides a scholarly, candid and first-hand account of the peace process that began in more..

Dec 22 (CT) Sri Lanka’s recent climate disasters did not come without warning. Scientists, environmentalists and disaster experts have spoken for years about rising risks in the hill country, stronger rainfall patterns, unstable land use and poor planning. Yet when disaster struck, many lives were lost, homes were destroyed, and thousands were displaced. The question we must now ask is not only what went wrong, but what happens next. Displacement is no longer temporary. more..