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..

Dec 1 (AD) Dept of Wildlife Conservation has decided to reopen national parks that are under its management today (01). The Wilpattu, Kumana, Horton Plains, Minneriya, Kaudulla, and Yala (except Block VI) national parks had been closed for visitors since Nov 28. Manjula Amararathna, the Director of Wildlife, stated that as floodwaters have receded and road networks in some parks have been restored, arrangements have been made to reopen Kumana, Horton Plains, and Block V of Yala more..

Dec 1 (AD) SL Police has issued dedicated phone numbers to assist foreign nationals who are currently in SL and affected by the on-going adverse weather conditions. SL Police noted that due to the unexpected severe weather conditions impacting various parts of the island, certain foreign tourists may be facing difficulties or disruptions to their travel plans. Should any foreign national or group encounter distress, require assistance or face challenges in reaching the airport more..

Dec 1 (FT) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday addressed the nation on the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, giving the clearest assurance so far that the Govt has the financial capacity and institutional framework to rebuild damaged infrastructure and restore essential services despite the scale of the destruction. In his statement, Prez said SL is facing the largest and most challenging natural disaster in our history and that more..

Dec 1 (AD) Due to the rising water levels in the Kelani River Basin, Hanwella and several surrounding low-lying areas are currently experiencing a major flood situation. Irrigation Dept had announced that the water level at the Hanwella gauging station has reached 9.78 metres, approaching the level of a major flood situation. Irrigation Director General has stated that this situation has arisen as a result of the continuous rise in water levels across the Kelani River Basin. more..

Dec 1 (FT) At least 334 people have died and 370 remain missing, according to the latest situation reports issued by the DMC, which show a sharp rise in casualties since the figures released earlier in the day. The update comes against the backdrop of the DMC’s 4.00 p.m. situation report on 30 Nov, which detailed the scale of island-wide displacement and damage recorded up to that point. The DMC has reported that 998,918 people across 25 districts have been affected more..

Dec 1 (NW) The Expressway Operation, Maintenance and Management Division has expressed gratitude to the public for using the expressway system responsibly during the ongoing disaster situation, which has seen the toll fees temporarily waived. In a social media post, the division commended Sri Lankans for limiting use of the expressways to essential travel only, following the govt’s decision to allow toll-free access due to severe weather conditions affecting SL. more..

Dec 1 (FT) The external sector remained robust in the first 10 months of 2025, despite the current account registering a deficit for the second time this year in as many consecutive months in October. Current account deficit in October was $ 199.5 million, deepening further from the $ 183 million deficit in Sept 2025. The cumulative current account remained in surplus year-to-date (YTD) end-October at $ 1.65 billion, a 7.1% increase from a year ago. However, the surplus has contracted from more..

Dec 1 (TM) A shortage of vegetables is expected as widespread flooding and landslides have destroyed plantations across SL, submerging key agricultural regions. The supply situation will likely be magnified by two days of panic buying from supermarkets and shops in Colombo and the major regional capitals of SL. Many citizens, fearing prolonged flooding and food shortages, resorted to panic purchasing of goods, more..

Dec 1 (CT) Sri Lankans have once again been forced to confront the familiar spectacle of emergency meetings, ministerial statements, military mobilisation, and political sparring as severe weather sweeps across the island. This week’s flooding and landslides have exposed more than the fragility of our infrastructure; they have revealed, with uncomfortable clarity, the fragility of our political culture. In moments when citizens most need calm leadership and a coherent response, more..

Dec 1 (Island) Warships are behemoths that invoke fear and wreak havoc, whether they are fictitious ones like the Man-of-War in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, firing cannon indiscriminately on indigenous territory or modern, massive aircraft carriers that project airpower at sea and destroy distant targets. They are obviously designed for combat, but they can serve positive purposes. An aircraft carrier has embarked on a humanitarian mission to save lives and provide more..

Dec 1 (CT) SL’s flood history tells a story far bigger than rainfall. It reveals a country that has steadily moved from rare, high-impact disasters in the early 1900s to frequent, island-wide emergencies today. These floods are not random acts of nature. They are the inevitable result of climate change, reckless deforestation, unregulated construction, weakened ecosystems & decades of unplanned development. When we look back a thousand years, we see that floods were never strangers to SL. more..

Dec 1 (TM) Sri Lanka’s recent experience with the natural disasters triggered by cyclonic storm Ditwah has been nothing short of devastating. With over 200 lives lost, another 200 people still missing and scores injured, the tragedy has left the island grappling with unbearable grief. Yet, amid the chaos and destruction, the disaster has also exposed several urgent weaknesses in our national disaster management framework including the fragility of our communication systems. more..

Dec 1 (TM) As floodwaters continue to inundate large parts of the country, the storm-hit communities are facing a second, quieter emergency: a severe shortage of more than 100 essential medicines. What began as a national supply issue has now become critical in areas struggling with the effects of Cyclonic Storm Ditwah. With 152 Divisional Secretariat Divisions across 20 districts affected and over 78,000 people displaced, more..

Dec 1 (DN) The death toll of Cyclone Ditwah is 193 and counting. Hundreds more have gone missing. Tens of thousands have been rendered homeless. People have lost their lives. Thousands mourn the loss of friends and families. And an entire population grieves and wonders when and how livelihoods will be restored, the displaced provided alternative housing. They wonder how long food, medical, power and communications infrastructure will remain disrupted. This is not the first tragedy that more..

Dec 1 (ST) The Opposition fired the first grapeshot of public protest last Friday, resoundingly echoing the ominous grassroots rumblings distinctly heard stemming from the ground. Though the main opposition, the SJB, was conspicuous by its absence, the gathered opposition’s combined roar was loud enough to make the govt alarmingly hear the people’s voice of increasing discontent over its dismal performance. Perhaps, it was also heard by SJB’s leader Sajith Premadasa and more..

Dec 1 (SO) The adverse weather that has affected several parts of the island over the past two weeks, intensified into a tropical cyclone on Thursday, causing flooding and landslides across the country. Cyclone Ditwah, named after the “Detwah” lagoon in the Socotra island is a name contributed by Yemen in the rotating list of cyclone names used for the North Indian Ocean basin. The cyclone, which has been dubbed as a once in a more..

Dec 1 (CT) SL has just endured one of the most severe natural disasters in its recent history. Cyclonic winds, widespread floods, landslides and large-scale disruptions to daily life have affected every district across the island. Govt agencies, the security forces and the DMC responded quickly, while community groups stepped in to provide meals and emergency assistance where needed. This crisis has revealed an important truth: disasters of this scale cannot be managed by govt alone. more..

Dec 1 (DM) The recent climatic disaster that ravaged SL, causing immense human suffering and resource crises, has tragically exposed a familiar and dangerous pattern of negligence, incompetence, and failure of the govt within the corridors of power. This is not merely a natural calamity but a devastating echo of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, a man-made disaster enabled by a systemic failure to act on ample and timely intelligence. The fundamental similarity between these two seemingly more..