Dec 26 (AD) The commercial economy has gradually transformed Christmas into yet another occasion focused on financial gain, rather than its true spiritual meaning, the Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has stated. Archbishop of Colombo emphasized that the public must clearly understand that Christmas is not meant to be a money-making festival, but a time to reflect on faith, humility and compassion. more..

Dec 26 (TM) Buddhasasana, Religious & Cultural Affairs Ministry has stated that it is actively working to identify the land ownership of the Tissa Viharaya in Kankesanthurai (KKS), but claims that its progress was disturbed by an organised group with intentions to disrupt national unity. Deputy Subject Minister Gamagedara Dissanayake said the Ministry is collaborating with Land Ministry to solve the longstanding dispute. He alleged that a group was led consciously to create conflict at the site. more..

Dec 26 (Island) As the curtain prepares to fall on SL’s tea trading year, the penultimate auction of 2025 has painted a picture of a market grappling with headwinds. The sale, catalogued in the aftermath of the disruptive Cyclone Ditwah, presented 6.0 million kilograms to the trade, but was met with a predominantly bearish sentiment, casting a reflective shadow over the year’s closing. The High and Medium Grown offerings, particularly from the Ex-Estate sector, set a cautious tone. more..

Dec 26 (EN) SL will commemorate this year’s National Safety Day today to remember the victims of the 2004 tsunami and those who lost their lives in the recent Ditwah Cyclone, the govt said. Arrangements have been made to hold interfaith prayer events centered around the District Secretariat in all districts of the country,. A 2-minute silence will be be observed from 9.25 am to 9.27 am today, in memory of those who lost their lives more..

Dec 26 (DM) The Govt has taken further steps to strengthen a child-friendly transport system by translating key policy commitments into action, Minister Saroja Savitri Paulraj said. Addressing an official ceremony to hand over vehicles to the Provincial Probation and Child Protection Services Departments at the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, Sethsiripaya, Battaramulla yesterday (24),Minister said that 2025 is a year in which many promises made under the policy vision more..

Dec 26 (AD) The SL Aviation Unit operating under the United Nations (UN) mandate in the Central African Republic (CAR) has successfully carried out a critical Casualty Evacuation (CASEVAC) mission, under extremely hostile and volatile conditions. The mission has been launched in response to an urgent request to evacuate two UN personnel who had sustained combat-related injuries in the Zemio area. Accordingly, the evacuation has been conducted using a Mi-17 helicopter (UNO 325P). more..

Dec 26 (NW) Officer-in-Charge of the Criminal Division of the Gampaha HQ Police has been arrested on allegations of bribery, CIABOC said. Arrest followed a complaint made by a businessman from the Dandugama area in Ja-Ela. The suspect is accused of demanding a bribe of Rs. 300,000 and three-quarter gold sovereigns in exchange for refraining from taking legal action and failing to produce the complainant before court in connection with allegedly stolen gold jewellery. more..

Dec 26 (NW) Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala, has filed a defamation lawsuit in the Kaduwela District Court against SLPP activist Mahinda Pathirana, seeking compensation of Rs. 10 billion. The case alleges that false and defamatory statements made by Pathirana caused serious harm to Watagala’s reputation. According to the plaint, the Deputy Minister claims that the statements were made deliberately with the intention of discrediting him personally and damaging his political career. more..

Dec 26 (FT) The tourism sector has gathered pace through December, welcoming 154,609 visitors in the first 21 days of the month and lifting year-to-date (YTD) arrivals to over 2.25 million (2,258,202). The latest data from point to strengthening momentum as the peak season unfolds, even as the numbers underline how demanding the year-end targets remain. Arrivals have risen steadily week by week. more..

Dec 26 (CT) The SL Working Journalists’ Association (SLWJA) has strongly condemned the Govt’s attempt to suppress freedom of expression and press freedom through Police action, including the unlawful summoning of journalist Tharindu Jayawardena to the Gampola Police Station in connection with his journalistic work, and the request made by the SL Police to the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of SL (TRCSL) to cancel the broadcasting licence of Hiru Media Network. more..

Dec 26 (DN) Hakgala National Botanical Garden has been reopened for tourists from yesterday, following an expedited programme initiated under the guidance of the Environment Ministry and the efforts of the National Botanical Gardens Dept staff. This reopening was carried out in compliance with the relevant recommendations and instructions provided by the NBRO and DMC. Due to the emergence of hazardous ground conditions, certain areas, specifically pond area near the entrance more..

Dec 26 (ST) Peradeniya Uni’s Centre for Aquatic Animal Disease Diagnosis and Research (CAADDR) has lost most of its research documents, which are irreplaceable, along with valuable equipment, during the recent floods which invaded their research laboratories located on the banks of the Mahaweli within the campus. CAADDR was established in 2007 in partnership with National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA) under ADB-funded Aquatic Resource Development & Quality more..

Dec 26 (Island) Cabinet has approved the proposal presented by Minister Anura Karunathilake on the recommendation of the Cabinet appointed standing procurement committee to award Access Engineering the contract to build 615 housing units at Colombage Mawatha, Kirulapone, which had been stalled. Cabinet of Ministers approved following the relevant procurement process to select a contractor for the design and construction of the remaining works of the project. more..

Dec 26 (TM) The draft Bill for the regulation of cosmetics would be open for public opinion in January 2026, the Chairperson of the NMRA, Dr. Ananda Wijewickrema said. He said that the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) had appointed a committee to draft the Bill some time earlier, and that the draft bill had been put before the stakeholders for their opinions. He noted there was a proper review being done on the opinions more..

Dec 26 (FT) In the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, while SL Police officers worked tirelessly to safeguard lives and property across the country, many of their own families endured significant hardship. Recognising this silent struggle, Prime Group launched a national-level initiative to support the children of affected police families, providing essential educational supplies and ensuring that their education could continue uninterrupted despite the challenges they faced. more..

Dec 26 (FT) Lion Brewery PLC (Lion) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening community partnerships through its flood response efforts and ongoing work to build long-term flood resilience and community support in Biyagama, home to the Company’s core operations. During the recent floods along the Kelani River, Lion supported the Biyagama community throughout the emergency response and recovery period, maintaining outreach until the area gradually returned to normalcy. more..

Dec 26 (NW) A special discussion was held under the aegis of the Minister of Health, Nalinda Jayataissa, regarding expanding the process of maintaining proper standards in drug quality testing. During the meeting yesterday, chaired by Minister Jayatissa, attention was focused on expanding the process of maintaining drug standards, with emphasis on conducting drug quality testing in a systematic and regulated manner. more..

Dec 26 (FT) The UNICEF on Tuesday handed over 1,500 BP-5 supplementary nutritional food packs to the Health Ministry to address the immediate nutritional needs of young children affected by Cyclone Ditwah, marking a critical intervention amid rising concerns over child malnutrition in disaster-affected areas. The fortified nutritional supplies were officially handed over by UNICEF Resident Representative in SL Emma Brigham to Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa at the Ministry. more..

Dec 26 (CT) The Embassy of Italy in Colombo, in collaboration with the Ceylon Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs (CCWE), hosted an Italian Coffee Shop Masterclass at Lago Italian Bistro, CCC, bringing together women entrepreneurs, civil society representatives and coffee enthusiasts for a hands-on learning experience. The session was led by Simone Celli, an Italian coffee expert with more than two decades of international industry experience. A founder of the Italian Barista Certificate and more..

Dec 26 (CI) Two matches, two big wins. India have stamped their authority on the series, outclassing Sri Lanka across departments. On both occasions, the top order has taken control of modest chases set up by a ruthless bowling unit picking up wickets in clusters. After a few lapses in the field in the opening T20I, India tightened up in the second, leaving little room for error. Sri Lanka, clearly, have found the going tough. While a handful of batters managed to get starts in both games, more..

Dec 26 (TM) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake led NPP Govt deserves continuity for stabilising the economy and the political environment. Regardless of political ideology or manifesto promises, Prez has continued the IMF programme with strong leadership from the point where former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe left off. This has been a critical element for improving the economy rather than focusing on political priorities. SL has made significant progress in achieving more..

Dec 26 (FT) SJB MP and CoPF Chair Dr. Harsha de Silva has written to Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressing serious concern over the continued vacancy in the Office of Auditor General, warning that the absence of this constitutionally mandated position is undermining Parliamentary oversight of public finances. In his letter, Dr. de Silva pointed out that the post has remained vacant since 7 Dec, following the conclusion of the tenure more..

Dec 26 (Island) A recent discussion by former Environment Minister, Champika Ranawaka on the Derana 360 programme has reignited an important national conversation on how SL plans, builds and rebuilds in the face of recurring disasters. His observations, delivered with characteristic clarity and logic, went beyond the immediate causes of recent calamities and focused sharply on long-term solutions—particularly the urgent need for smarter land use and vertical housing development. more..

Dec 26 (FT) We Sri Lankans are showing solidarity in recovering from the devastating Ditwah, one of the worst climate catastrophes ever seen. It is not just a time to relax and refresh, but also to reflect and to reinforce. Despite the overly commercial coverage of Christmas, the true serenity associated with spirituality is still significant. As someone boldly said the other day, Christmas is certainly not the Santa’s Birthday. Let us reflect on it further. A manger in the little town of Bethlehem became world famous because of Christmas. more..

Dec 26 (CT) NPP is a very powerful name for a political party. What was once commonly known as JVP reached its maturation after 54 years; it is now enjoying the comforts and luxuries of being at the helm of the country’s affairs. Dictatorship of the Proletariat did not materialize. In its place is a govt elected by the people. The outdated Marxian principles belong in the dustbin of history. Its machinations have been put on hold, not for the time being, but for good. more..

Dec 26 (Island) There is nothing more predictable than surprise in politics. After securing a two-thirds majority in Parliament last year and emerging victorious in most local councils, this year, JVP-led NPP may have thought that it was plain sailing. But the govt now has many unforeseen, seemingly intractable issues to contend with almost on all fronts. The disaster-stricken economy is expected to slow down, with relief and rebuilding costs escalating, & deadline for the resumption more..

Dec 26 (CT) For nearly a decade, severe port congestion at the Port of Colombo has moved from being an occasional operational inconvenience to a chronic national economic threat. What was once dismissed as a temporary bottleneck has now escalated into a systemic crisis—crippling import trade, draining foreign exchange, inflating costs, and exposing deep governance and infrastructure failures within SL’s most critical more..

Dec 26 (CT) Before the incumbent Govt came into power following a historic election victory, tell-tale signs were already there, signalling the people’s frustration with the country’s conventional political landscape. Pro-govt analysts used numerous indices to shape public discussion and opinion, arguing that NPP winning both the Prez and General Elections was inevitable. One such index was the manner in which cooperative elections in rural areas were slowly but steadily being won by the NPP. more..

Dec 26 (TM) Over two decades ago, on 26 December 2004, Sri Lanka was struck by a devastating tsunami that left death, destruction, and heartbreak in its wake. It was by the number of lives it took, that it became the largest recorded natural disaster in SL history. Sri Lanka was one of the hardest-hit countries, with over 40,000 fatalities and billions in losses. The last two months have reminded Sri Lankans that we are poor at learning lessons and prone to repeating them. more..

Dec 26 (TM) The recent onslaught of Cyclone Ditwah has exposed the fragile balance between development, ecology, and safety in SL’s Central & Uva Provinces. The central hills, once known for their serene landscapes and cool mountain air, now bear the mark of a tourism boom that local communities struggle to keep up with. This tension between economic opportunity, unplanned developments & environmental vulnerability more..

Dec 26 (DM) South Asia’s youth revolutions began with the Aragalaya in 2022, followed by deadly protests in Bangladesh that ousted Sheik Hasina last year and in Nepal, where the pro-China government of K.P. Sharma Oli fell this year. Sometimes, comparisons could be misleading; over 1400 died in Bangladesh when police turned guns on the protesters, and hundreds perished in Nepal. In Sri Lanka, not a single bullet was fired throughout over six months of the protest campaign. more..

Dec 26 (DM) This year, in many Sri Lankan households, Christmas would just be an after thought. The devastating impact of Cyclone Ditwah has left many unhealed wounds, sometimes in the form of loss of loved ones, and sometimes, the loss of property and all belongings. In fact, ever since COVID-19, people haven’t had the means to celebrate major days in the calendar, owing to various reasons. In the SL context, Christmas has become a celebration among the elite. more..