Dec 9 (DM) The Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) has announced a special concession for vehicle importers, offering an additional five free days for clearing imported vehicles in December 2025. Vehicles cleared between December 5 and 15 will now enjoy a total of 15 free days comprising the standard 10 calendar days under the published tariff plus the extra five days under this concession. HIPG stressed that no extensions will be granted beyond this period. more..

Dec 9 (AD) Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) has urged the govt to introduce an immediate concessional relief programme for teachers and principals affected by the recent disaster situation. CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin stated that a significant number of teachers and principals have been severely impacted and are struggling with existing financial burdens, including outstanding loans. He noted that the Secretary to the Ministry of Education has confirmed that nearly 100,000 individuals have been affected, more..

Dec 9 (CT) Over 500 x 20ft containers, carrying Raw Non-Iodised and Edible Iodised Salt, remain uncleared at the Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) and a few other terminals in Colombo Port, creating congestion and delays at the harbour. This salt was imported from India to address a local shortage, but the consignments remain stranded at various terminals, for which the Govt has not yet taken the responsibility to ensure their clearance. more..

Dec 9 (AD) The postponed subjects of the GCE A/L Exam will commence on Jan 12, 2026, Ministry of Education has announced. Accordingly, the remaining subjects of the A/L exam are scheduled to take place from January 12 to 20. Further announcements regarding the A/L are expected to be issued by the Commissioner General of Examinations. The exam was suspended owing to the recent landslides and flooding across the country following Cyclone Ditwah’s landfall last month. more..

Dec 9 (DM) Bandaranaike Memorial National Foundation (BMNF), headed by former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, has donated Rs. 250 million to the govt fund established to support recovery and resettlement efforts for communities affected by recent natural disasters. Kumaratunga officially handed over the contribution to PM Harini Amarasooriya during a meeting held at the PM’s Office. The funds will be directed toward reconstruction projects and providing assistance to families displaced by more..

Dec 9 (NW) A retired officer of the Govt Analyst’s Department was arrested on Dec. 5 by officials from the CIABOC over allegations of accepting a bribe totalling Rs. 6,415,050. The arrest relates to an ongoing investigation into the alleged acceptance of bribes from a private insurance company in exchange for issuing official vehicle inspection reports. These reports are said to have unlawfully benefited the company while causing financial losses to the govt. more..

Dec 9 (AD) Motorcycles account for the highest number of vehicle registrations recorded so far this year. Commissioner General of Motor Traffic, Kamal Amarasinghe noted that 223,423 motorcycles have been registered with the DMT since January. He further noted that 55,338 cars, 13,850 three-wheelers and 35,268 electric vehicles across all categories have also been registered. With the import of these vehicles, the revenue targets given to the DMT for the year have been achieved. more..

Dec 9 (NW) In a candid conversation with Newsweek in the stately bilateral meeting room at the President’s Secretariat in Colombo, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake laid out the realities his nation faces in the wake of a devastating cyclone that left death and destruction in an already fragile economy. He detailed how international partners, from regional neighbors to global powers, stepped in during the crisis, and why Colombo now sees an opening to reset ties with India, more..

Dec 9 (NW) Twelve SL players have been shortlisted for the upcoming Indian Premier League auction scheduled for December 16 in Abu Dhabi, according to the final player list released by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The list features Wanindu Hasaranga, Matheesha Pathirana and Maheesh Theekshana, all positioned in the highest base-price bracket of ₹2 crore. Experienced internationals Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis and former captain Dasun Shanaka have also entered the auction, more..

Dec 9 (NW) The DMC has informed District Secretaries to take steps to relocate residents living in vulnerable areas of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, and Matale districts to safe centres. The DMC stated that this directive was issued based on red notices released by the NBRO. With the prevailing rainy weather conditions, the NBRO has issued landslide red notices for identified risk areas within Divisional Secretariat divisions of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala & Matale districts. more..

Dec 9 (AD) A Yellow Anaconda hatchling has reportedly gone missing from the Dehiwala Zoological Gardens. Officials of the Dehiwala Zoo have lodged a complaint with the Dehiwala Police regarding the disappearance of the hatchling housed at the zoo. The hatchling, along with six snakes of three other species, was illegally brought into the country from Thailand by a SL woman on Sept 12, 2024. The snakes were subsequently seized by Customs at the BIA and handed over to the Dehiwala Zoo. more..

Dec 9 (NF) Sri Lanka Navy celebrated its 75th anniversary today with a historic gesture of recognition and advancement, granting promotions to 2,086 naval personnel across ranks. According to the Navy, the promotions were made on the recommendation of Navy Commander Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, reflecting both merit and dedication within the force. Among those elevated were 17 officers, who advanced to their next rank, reinforcing the Navy’s senior leadership cadre. more..

Dec 9 (FT) CHEC Port City Colombo Deputy Managing Director Thulci Aluwihare said Colombo Port City is now positioned as SL’s first dedicated services export zone and has already attracted $ 1.3 billion in foreign investment, with more in the pipeline. Speaking during a panel discussion at the SL Economic Summit last week, Aluwihare outlined the project’s evolution, highlighting China Harbour Engineering Company’s (CHEC) three-decade presence in the country more..

Dec 9 (AD) A MI-17 helicopter provided by the Indian govt arrived at the SLAF Base in Katunayake at 11.50 a.m. today, following the return of two previously deployed MI-17 helicopters to India for essential maintenance. The two helicopters that were sent back had collectively rescued 270 Sri Lankans affected by the floods caused by Cyclone Ditwah. The two helicopters had also transported approximately 50 metric tons of relief goods to distribution centers assisting communities impacted by the disaster, more..

Dec 9 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa requested Russia’s support to rebuild livelihoods, restore the damaged railway and road systems, and rehabilitate infrastructure affected by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka. The request was made during a special meeting between the Russian Ambassador to SL, Levan Dzhagaryan, and MP Sajith Premadasa at the Opposition Leader’s office in Colombo today. During the meeting, MP Premadasa explained to the Russian Ambassador the challenges faced by people more..

Dec 9 (FT) The floods that washed over SL were not the fury of nature only even if it is easier to think so. They were the clash of global climate disruption with local infrastructure incapable of bearing the brunt, governance delayed and systems never designed for the world we now inhabit. It was a joint failure, global, national, institutional. Cyclone Ditwah converted homes to islands and wiped out familiar landscapes. Over 1.4 million people in all the 25 districts of SL lost their homes more..

Dec 9 (FT) The Cabinet has sanctioned the establishment of the Rebuilding SL Fund as a statutory mechanism under the Presidential Secretariat. The Fund is designed to finance the nation’s medium- and long-term recovery in the aftermath of the recent Cyclone Ditwah. This initiative is both urgent and indispensable, as it seeks to mobilise resources for the reconstruction of destroyed homes, the repair of partially damaged dwellings, the rehabilitation of roads and bridges, and more..

Dec 9 (AD) Aim of the govt is to ensure a safe life for every citizen and that it is everyone’s responsibility to act with proper supervision during the resettlement of the people, according to Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Prez has also instructed all officials and relevant sectors to complete necessary repairs before Dec 31, by utilising the allocations given by the govt for infrastructure development and not to return more..

Dec 9 (EN) Reconstruction of key roads and bridges in the island after Cyclone Ditwah, which are under the Road Development Authority , is estimated to cost 190 billion rupees, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has said. “The preliminary estimate by the RDA is 190 billion rupees for the entire country,” Prez told a meeting of officials in Nuwara Eliya. “There is an idea that about 40 billion rupees can be used from existing allocations. We have to find 150 billion rupees. We can provide that.” more..

Dec 9 (ST) SL now faces a potentially crippling economic damage from the recent cyclone and floods and early figures from industry leaders may be a conservative start. The initial loss estimates range from US$ 200 million to $ 2.9 billion, with the final toll likely to reach 1-3% of GDP (approx Rs, 300 -900 billion). Given compounding effects on infrastructure, agriculture, supply chains and livelihoods, a more comprehensive independent assessment accounting for reconstruction more..

Dec 9 (DN) PM Harini Amarasuriya stated that the Govt stands ready to support the Peradeniya University in rebuilding that is stronger, safer, and more resilient than before. She made these remarks while visiting the uni on Sunday, where she met with student representatives and Heads of Departments affected by the sudden floods that swept through the campus on Nov 27. Her visit aimed to personally inspect the damage, which caused extensive more..

Dec 9 (Island) Sri Lanka’s construction sector one of the country’s largest economic drivers, continues to bleed billions due to weak cost-control mechanisms, ad-hoc estimating practices and the absence of internationally recognised methodologies, warns veteran Chartered Quantity Surveyor Mafahir Shuhood, a global authority in building economics whose work has shaped industry standards across continents. A member of IQS (SL), AIQS (Australia), ASAC (USA) and CIRB (UK), more..

Dec 9 (TM) Land & Irrigation Ministry stated the Govt is working on short-, medium-, and long-term measures to strengthen the country's irrigation network so that it can better withstand extreme weather events and future climate challenges. Deputy subject Minister, Aravinda Senarath noted that officials had no prior experience or data to anticipate the scale of rainfall brought by Cyclone Ditwah, with several areas receiving more than 500 millimetres (mm) within a short period. more..

Dec 9 (CT) The management of the massive volume of refuse generated by the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah had emerged as an extremely complex national challenge, with environmentalists issuing stark warnings that improper disposal could trigger serious health and social crises in the months ahead. Chairman of CEA, Prof. Thilak Hewawasem, said that an unprecedented quantity of refuse had been generated islandwide following widespread flooding triggered by torrential rainfall. more..

Dec 9 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake used his Newsweek interview to outline a reform agenda aimed at dismantling SL’s most controversial security laws and rebuilding trust in the country’s human rights record. He said laws such as the PTA and the Online Safety Act have no place in a democratic system. “These laws have been used as tools of repression. They are out of place in a democracy. We are committed to comprehensive reform. On the PTA, we are committed to repealing and more..

Dec 9 (FT) Moody’s Investors Service has warned that the recent climate-driven natural disasters across South and Southeast Asia pose its most significant credit impact for Sri Lanka because of the country’s limited fiscal capacity and high vulnerability to physical climate risks. In a 5 Dec dated statement Moody’s said: “Since mid-November, countries in South and Southeast Asia have been pummelled by several tropical more..

Dec 9 (EN) Cyclone Ditwah has fully destroyed 108,000 hectares of rice paddies, 11,000 other field crops and 6,600 hectares of maize, Secretary Ministry of Agriculture, DP Wickremesinghe has said. About 6,143 hectares of vegetables have been destroyed. Out of 5,893 hectares of upcountry vegetables 2,613 fully destroyed. Out of 8,990 of low country vegetables, 3,530 fully destroyed. Out of 27,600 hectares of other field crops, 11,000 hectares have been fully destroyed. more..

Dec 9 (FT) Tourism industry has posted a strong opening week for December, welcoming 43,329 visitors in the first seven days of the month despite the disruptions caused by Cyclone Ditwah, reflecting a 5.2% YoY increase. Performance also pushes YTD arrivals to over 2.14 million, marking a 16.3% growth compared with the same period last year. India continued its lead as SL’s largest tourist source market during the first week of Dec, contributing 8,890 arrivals, or 21% of the total. more..

Dec 9 (DM) Sri Lanka’s tourism authorities are expecting to roll out the long-delayed visa-free facility for 40 countries starting coming January, as the island nation aggressively positions itself for a strong winter season recovery following the cyclone impact. SLTDA Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam revealed that the scheme is now expected to come into effect from January, following necessary legislative clearances. more..

Dec 9 (ST) As the deadly cyclone Ditwah continued to batter large swathes of the country last week, the tri-forces and police mounted one of the most extensive disaster responses in recent years, with air, naval, and ground teams operating around the clock to reach civilians trapped in rubble and marooned in rising water. A total of 31,064 tri-force troops were deployed on the ground alone for search-and-rescue and humanitarian support. Despite improvements in several districts, more..

Dec 9 (AD) Indian Navy has deployed four more warships to support relief efforts in cyclone-hit regions of SL as part of the ongoing Operation Sagar Bandhu, which aims to provide urgent Search & Rescue (SAR) and Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR) aid. The deployment includes INS Gharial and three Landing Craft Utility (LCU) vessels — LCU 54, LCU 51, and LCU 57 — tasked with delivering nearly 1,000 tons of essential relief supplies to affected coastal areas, more..