Dec 2 (NW) Opposition MP Mujibur Rahman has urged the govt to engage in discussions with India to allow Pakistan’s special relief aircraft carrying humanitarian assistance to SL to cross its airspace. MP said that the Indian Govt’s partial flight clearance for the aircraft, which is carrying emergency supplies for flood-affected Sri Lankans, is insufficient. “According to current reports, India has allowed a window of 6 hours for Pakistani aircraft to deliver their relief supplies and return. more..

Dec 2 (CT) Ministry of Foreign Affairs has instructed SL’s foreign missions to work closely with diaspora organisations and accredited authorities to mobilise urgently needed relief items for communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah. Ministry stressed that all donations must be pre-coordinated with the relevant authorities in each country and with recognised SL organisations to ensure proper accreditation and smooth processing. The newly established Emergency Coordination Unit, more..

Dec 2 (TM) A new facility has been introduced through GovPay with the aim of providing relief to people affected by the prevailing adverse weather conditions in SL. This mechanism has been implemented to make donations to the Disaster Relief Fund, established by Finance Ministry, more convenient and transparent. Anyone can now make instant donations at any time through the State payment portal, GovPay. Donations are credited to the Fund in real time, enabling the public more..

Dec 2 (TM) Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has warned that people are hoarding goods in large quantities due to the current disaster situation in SL and emphasised that there is no need to create unnecessary panic. Authority has urged the public to avoid excessive stockpiling and to purchase only the quantity of goods they actually need. CAA has also requested supermarkets and traders to distribute goods in a controlled manner, ensuring that only the required amounts are issued to consumers. more..

Dec 2 (Island) Sixteen project proposals have been submitted for the development of infrastructure facilities in the state universities under the Ministry of Education. These proposals have been included in the Government’s Investment Plan 2026-2030, to be implemented after the recommendations of the Dept of National Planning. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the PM, more..

Dec 2 (DM) SL Navy has confirmed that the five naval personnel who went missing during a flood response mission in the Chalai Lagoon have died. The group included the Officer-in-Charge of the Chalai Naval Sub-unit attached to SLNS Wettalekeni. The personnel went into the Chalai Lagoon on Friday to cut off water flowing toward the naval sub-unit as flood conditions worsened. Communication with the team was lost shortly after they entered the area, prompting an more..

Dec 2 (NW) General Manager of the CEB, Shirley Kumara, stated that electricity supply to households in disaster‑affected areas will not be disconnected. He emphasized that the CEB will not carry out disconnections in these areas due to unpaid bills, and that the relevant charges will instead be added to future billing cycles. At this stage, no form of electricity disconnection will take place. Kumara further explained that in many affected areas, meter readings cannot be taken & bills cannot be more..

Dec 2 (CT) Govt Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has launched a series of mobile medical clinics and temporary relief camps across the Northern Province as part of its disaster-response efforts to support communities affected by the severe weather conditions sweeping the country. Medical teams are now operating in all five Districts — Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya & Mannar providing essential healthcare services to residents impacted by flooding & related emergencies. more..

Dec 2 (EN) Cabinet have approved a proposal by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to resume operations in the SL Consular General Office in Chengdu in China after being closed for nine years, the govt said. SL Consular General Office in Chengdu in China was established in Chengdu, China in Dec 2009, but was closed from June 2016 due to the limitations of financial and other resources. The move comes after the official Chinese trip by Prez Dissanayake in January this year. more..

Dec 2 (CT) SL continues to receive an extraordinary outpouring of international assistance as Cyclone Ditwah — one of the most devastating natural disasters to strike the island in decades — leaves over 1 million people affected across all 25 districts. India has launched one of the largest-ever regional disaster responses under Operation Sagar Bandhu. Indian Air Force Mi-17 and Chetak helicopters operating from INS Vikrant more..

Dec 2 (TM) National Blood Transfusion Service’ (NBTS) National Blood Centre/Central Blood Bank has appealed for continued blood donations in the coming days, emphasising that despite a recent surge in volunteerism, the current high demand for blood necessitates further donor support. Dr. Lakshman Edirisinghe said that while a recent short-notice appeal saw an overwhelming public response, pushing processing capacity to its near peak, last on 29 November, the need remains critical. more..

Dec 2 (AD) SL Railways Station Masters’ Association states that office train operations have been significantly disrupted due to the inability to bring 39 train power sets to Colombo for service as a result of recent landslides and flooding in the country. The 39 train power sets that operated to the Rambukkana, Polgahawela, Kurunegala, Kandy, Chilaw, Puttalam & Ganewatta railway stations on the day prior to the recent heavy rains followed by landslides and flooding have not returned to Colombo, more..

Dec 2 (EN) As SL currently counts human and economic costs of Cyclone Ditwah, the images are both disturbing and somewhat familiar: flooded hospitals, access roads buried by landslides, evacuation centres overflowing with displaced families, and officials in health and disaster management services scrambling to meet everyone’s needs. The death toll is at 355 and rising, with hundreds more missing and over 200,000 displaced, with effects being borne more..

Dec 2 (AD) The UAE has initiated an urgent humanitarian response to assist communities affected by devastating floods and landslides across SL. The relief effort, coordinated through the Joint Operations Command, the UAE Aid Agency and the Emirates Red Crescent, was announced on Dec 1. UAE’s response includes search and rescue missions in affected areas, undertaken by teams from Abu Dhabi Civil Defence, along with the delivery of urgent relief supplies, more..

Dec 2 (AD) The remaining subjects of the GCE A/L exam, which could not be held due to the adverse weather conditions in the country, will be conducted in early Jan 2026, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Nalaka Kaluwewe has announced. Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewe also noted that after reviewing the situation at provincial and district levels, schools in provinces and districts not affected by transport disruptions, more..

Dec 2 (DM) People are now able to engage directly with the MPs through the new Parliament website, which was inaugurated by Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne recently. “The new parliamentary website has been developed to suit modern requirements, allowing easier access and incorporating many additional features. Through the website’s My Parliament portal, every citizen is now able to directly engage with Parliament and its members. By registering on the website, more..

Dec 2 (FT) Maldivians with Ceylon telethon was extended till 2 pm yesterday after drawing an overwhelming nationwide response to support SL, which is facing severe destruction, displacement and fatalities caused by heavy rains linked to storm Ditwah. Public Service Media announced the extension to allow more citizens and institutions to contribute. Telethon began at 9 am on Sunday morning and was initially scheduled to end at 1 am However, donations surged throughout more..

Dec 2 (TM) Agriculture Ministry will compensate all cultivators affected by the severe weather conditions and flooding that battered the country, the Deputy Agriculture and Livestock Minister Namal Karunarathne said. He explained that under normal circumstances, regulations allowed compensation for only six types of crops: paddy, maize, potato, big onion, chillie, and soya bean. However, he noted that farming communities across the island had been severely affected by the cyclone and floods. more..

Dec 2 (AD) Former Minister C.B. Rathnayake, who was arrested earlier today by the CIABOC, has been remanded. Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama ordered former Minister Rathnayake be remanded until December 16. The order was issued after considering submissions from the officers of the Bribery Commission and the counsels of the suspect. The former minister was taken into custody by the Bribery Commission on suspicion of illegally acquiring assets exceeding Rs. 57.3 million more..

Dec 2 (DM) SL is facing a growing humanitarian crisis as Cyclone Ditwah continues to cause severe damage across the island. Authorities warn that the death toll could rise above 1,000 as more people are reported missing. The cyclone hit the eastern coast on 28 Nov after forming in the Bay of Bengal and has destroyed or damaged areas in almost every district. Heavy rain and strong winds have caused major flooding and more..

Dec 2 (DM) Several pictures circulating on social media and complaints from locals residing in flood-affected areas reveal that food distributions by independent donors have been conducted in an ad hoc manner, without assessing the situation or determining the exact number of people who require food. Enraged locals say that “food was brought in the morning and due to the high inflow of donations, food donations have been in excess and have been left lying in the road as trash.” more..

Dec 2 (NW) A cross-party group of opposition MPs on Tuesday visited several disaster-affected areas in the Kandy district, which has suffered some of the worst damage from the recent extreme weather. The delegation joined ongoing relief efforts, met with local authorities, and inspected the major landslide site in Mawathura, Ihalagama, Gampola. Officials and residents told the MPs that of the 35 people initially reported missing, only about 22 bodies have been recovered so far. more..

Dec 2 (TM) UNICEF SL reports that over 275,000 children have been impacted by Cyclone Ditwah, which caused severe flooding and landslides after striking the East Coast on 28 Nov. With many areas still unreachable, the true number may be even higher. UNICEF Representative Emma Brigham expressed deep concern over the destruction of homes, vital services, and the rising risks of disease, malnutrition, and emotional trauma. She stressed that children urgently need lifesaving support more..

Dec 2 (NW) Kandy District Secretary has dismissed claims that 1,000 people have died in Gampola alone following the floods and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah. The official made the statement during a meeting with several MPs, responding to a question from MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, who raised concerns about discrepancies in the reported death toll. The secretary acknowledged that inconsistencies in casualty figures are common during disasters, as rescue and recovery more..

Dec 2 (EN) Revenue collected by SL Customs jumped around 16.7% in November compared to the monthly target, despite the clearance was paralysed in the last four days of the month due to Cyclone Ditwah-hit disaster. The total revenue by end November has already reached around 107% of the full year target. SL Customs has set a revenue target of 2,115 billion rupees for this year, 36.2% higher than last year’s more..

Dec 2 (DM) SL will continue to experience showers this month as the Northeast Monsoon remains activated, Director Dept of Meteorology Meryl Mendis said. He said that SL could experience rains starting from the second week in December as the monsoon will be more active during that time. “SL is currently in the monsoon period, and therefore some rains could be expected during the second week in December as the monsoon will be more active during that time. more..

Dec 2 (AD) Several wildlife national parks and guest houses within the national parks that were closed due to adverse weather conditions will reopen tomorrow, Ministry of Environment has announced. Accordingly, Wilpattu National Park (Hunuvilagama entrance), Block 1 of the Yala National Park (Palatupana entrance), Minneriya National Park, and Kaudulla National Park are scheduled to be opened. As some roads within these parks remain flooded, only the sections suitable for more..

Dec 2 (FT) Though the rain gives way to clear skies, it is abundantly clear that Cyclone Ditwah has left immense tragedy and destruction in its wake. Hundreds of lives have been lost, with many more missing. The true extent of the damage to property, infrastructure and livelihoods remains yet uncalculated. Entire communities have been displaced. The scale of the tragedy demands empathy and collective action, as well as urgent and coordinated Governmental response. more..

Dec 2 (FT) When Cyclone Ditwah swept across SL with days of torrential rain, floods and landslides, the first focus—rightly—was on saving lives. With over 350 deaths, nearly 400 missing, and over 1 million people affected, the country is in the grip of one of its worst disasters in years. But once the waters recede and media attention moves on, another crisis will remain: the quiet, grinding collapse of thousands of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that form the backbone of SL’s economy. more..