Dec 1 (EN) Dialog Axiata has restored connectivity to most of the island, with recovery teams working with the Air Force, Navy, and the regulator after Cyclone Ditwah ripped apart fibre lines and towers died without power. SL’s telecom networks went under in most areas; the electricity grid went down in the hill country in Nuwara Eliya, Gampola and Kandy people were without water or telephone connections for almost three days. Last night connectivity was restored to Nuwara Eliya, more..

Dec 1 (TM) The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has announced that fuel prices will remain unchanged for this month (December). CPC Chairperson Janaka Rajakaruna said that all fuel prices will stay the same throughout the month. Fuel prices were last revised on 31 October, when Petrol 92 Octane was reduced by Rs. 5 to Rs. 294 per litre, Super Diesel was increased by Rs. 5 to Rs. 318 per litre, and the prices of Petrol 95 Octane, Auto Diesel, and Kerosene remained unchanged. more..

Dec 1 (AD) SL’s tri-forces have intensified rescue and relief operations across the country as heavy rains and rising flood levels impacted the livelihoods of thousands of families. Over the past two days, Army, Navy and Air Force have jointly expanded ground, water and air-based assistance to ensure the safety of affected communities, the Ministry of Defence. SL Army has deployed large teams for search, rescue more..

Dec 1 (CT) Deputy Minister of Defence, Aruna Jayasekara, toured several areas in the Badulla District over the past two days to assess the welfare of families displaced by severe weather and to review the effectiveness of ongoing disaster-response operations. During his visit, Deputy Minister inspected the Glenanore Tamil Maha Vidyalaya Safety Centre in Haputale and the Beauvais Vidyalaya Safety Centre, where residents affected by floods and landslides have more..

Dec 1 (BSS) Bangladesh will dispatch emergency relief supplies and a rescue team to disaster-stricken SL on Dec 3, subject to weather conditions, following the directive of the Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus amid severe floods and landslides caused by Cyclone Ditva. The humanitarian mission will be carried out using two special Bangladesh Air Force aircraft, transporting essential relief materials and a dedicated rescue unit, said a foreign ministry’s press release. more..

Dec 1 (AD) A Pakistan helicopter has been used to rescue a stranded family, including a 7-month-old infant from the rooftop of a house in Kotikawatta. During the ongoing Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR) efforts in SL, embarked Z-9 helicopter on Pakistan Navy Ship SAIF conducted rescue operations in the flood-hit Kotikawatta area. “During a search and rescue operation a stranded family for the last five days, including a 7-month-old infant, were safely recovered from a rooftop. more..

Dec 1 (AD) The death toll due to the adverse weather conditions experienced in the country in the past few days has climbed to 366, the DMC has confirmed. The highest number of deaths have been reported from the Kandy District, accounting for 88. At least 367 individuals remain missing as search and relief operations continue across multiple districts. A total of 1,151,776 individuals from 316,366 families in 25 districts have been affected by the effects of Cyclone . more..

Dec 1 (DM) Sri Lanka is now confronting one of its gravest natural disasters in recent memory, as Cyclone Ditwah and the resulting weather system continue to unleash relentless rain, flash floods and landslides across the island. With river levels rising to historic highs, entire towns submerged, major bridges swept away and critical infrastructure collapsing, the scale of devastation has grown rapidly. more..

Dec 1 (AD) The govt of New Zealand has announced it will contribute NZ$ 1 million to SL to support emergency humanitarian relief through an international humanitarian partner. New Zealand govt has also extended its condolences to those impacted by Cyclone Ditwah in SL. Issuing a statement, NZ High Commission in Colombo while extending its condolences and thoughts are with those affected at this difficult time. Several other countries have also extended support to SL more..

Dec 1 (AD) The govt of Australia has announced that it will provide AUD 1 million in humanitarian assistance to support SL’s response to Cyclone Ditwah. Issuing a statement, the Australian High Commission in Colombo stated that they will support the urgent delivery of essential services to communities in need with humanitarian partners and the UN to deliver on the ground assistance, and supporting NGO partners to rapidly respond. In addition to the AUD 1 million contribution, more..

Dec 1 (AD) India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, announced that the Indian Navy ship INS Sukanya has arrived in Trincomalee carrying additional humanitarian aid for Sri Lanka. On behalf of the Govt of India, the Indian Navy ships INS Vikrant and INS Udaygiri, which were on a visit to SL, officially handed over flood relief materials to the island nation in Colombo on 28 Nov. As SL reels from severe flooding and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah, more..

Dec 1 (AD) Vegetables such as cabbage, carrots and beans are currently being received in significant quantities at the economic centers in Welimada, Keppetipola and other areas in the Badulla District, which is a major vegetable-producing region, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. Vegetables such as cabbage, carrots and beans are currently being received in significant quantities at the economic centers in Welimada, Keppetipola and other areas in the Badulla District, more..

Dec 1 (NW) National Disaster Relief Services Centre has urged the public to remain vigilant about the increased risk of infectious and vector-borne diseases as floodwaters and waterlogging begin to recede. Reiterating the heightened risk of infectious and vector-borne diseases as floodwaters recede, Assistant Secretary of the Centre, said the health sector is already implementing necessary preventive more..

Dec 1 (DM) SL is now deep inside a disaster that continues to evolve. Floods have swept through major districts, rivers have crossed dangerous levels, landslides have crushed homes, and thousands have taken shelter in safe centres. With the Kelani River overflowing, the Maha Oya and Kala Oya rising, bridges like Moragahakanda–laggala washed away, and Colombo battling one of its worst flood threats in recent history, the country is dealing with a phase where danger more..

Dec 1 (AD) Cabinet has approved the establishment of the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund, which aims to rebuild the country after the immense damage caused by Cyclone Ditwa, one of the worst natural disasters in SL’s recent history. The fund is to be established as a statutory fund under the Presidential Secretariat, and its Management Committee will comprise representatives from the govt and private sectors. Minister of Labour Anil Jayantha, will serve as its Chairman, more..

Dec 1 (Dawn) Pakistan has offered to extend support in rescue and relief efforts as death toll from the landslides and flooding caused by Cyclone Ditwah rose to 153 in SL, with 191 others missing and more than half a million affected nationwide. SL declared a state of emergency on Saturday and appealed for international assistance as the extreme weather system has destroyed more than 20,000 homes, sending 108,000 people to state-run temporary shelters, DMC reported. more..

Dec 1 (AD) The water level of the Kelani River is receding at several locations according to the latest assessment made by the Dept of Irrigation. L.S. Sooriyabandara, the Director of Irrigation at the Department of Irrigation, provided the clarification regarding the water level of the Kelani River. He stated that, at present, the water level at the Hanwella gauge of the Kelani River has significantly dropped. Director of Irrigation L.S. Sooriyabandara stated, more..

Dec 1 (AD) Strict legal action will be taken against individuals who spread false news on social media during the disaster situation, a time when the entire nation is united, Police Media Spokesperson ASP F. U. Wootler noted. At present, several complaints have been lodged with the CID regarding news being shared on social media that causes public fear and confusion. The Police Computer Crime Investigation Division has more..

Dec 1 (DM) Prices of essential food items soared across the country yesterday morning as ongoing adverse weather and disaster conditions severely disrupted supply chains. Vegetable prices rose by more than threefold while fish prices doubled, with major wholesale markets including Peliyagoda and Dambulla reporting severe shortages. Many sections of these economic centres were left deserted as deliveries failed to arrive, leaving traders with only limited stocks, mainly of up-country more..

Dec 1 (EN) SL’s Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) registered a two-month low, following the destructive Cyclone Ditwah, as selling pressure was seen in the market, brokers said. “Market dropped by over 600 points, mainly due to the flood situation,” Ranjan Ranatunga, Assistant Vice President – Research at First Capital said. Ranatunga said that investors are currently in an assessing stance. He believes this downtrend will continue. “In my opinion, I think we will continue to see selling pressure,” he said. more..

Dec 1 (FT) US has announced $ 2 million in emergency assistance to support SL’s response to Cyclone Ditwah, as the storm continues to cause heavy flooding, landslides, and mounting humanitarian needs across the country. US State Dept Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott extended Washington’s condolences, noting the scale of destruction and the efforts of emergency responders. “US extends deepest condolences to the people of SL as Cyclone Ditwah continues to produce more..

Dec 1 (EN) Bybit, a cryptocurrency exchange said it is offering 100,000 dollars to Sri Lanka as humanitarian aid after the Indian Ocean island was hit by cyclone Ditwah. Bybit claimed it was in touch with the Central Bank of SL to donate 100,000 dollars for relief operations “This collaboration ensures that assistance reaches those who need it most and aligns with national priorities during this critical moment,” the company said. “As communities face the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, more..

Dec 1 (NW) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake says the govt has begun discussions with the World Bank to prepare a detailed assessment of the damage caused across sectors due to adverse weather and the financial requirements for reconstruction. Prez revealed that the World Bank has already been commissioned to conduct the Global Rapid Post-Disaster Damage Estimation (GRADE) and that the govt expects to more..

Dec 1 (NF) Sri Lanka Air Force has appointed a special board of inquiry to investigate an emergency landing involving a Bell 212 helicopter in the Lunuwila area this (30) evening. The aircraft, which was engaged in distributing dry and fresh rations to flood-affected communities, made the landing near the Lunuwila Bridge while on a humanitarian mission. According to official reports, five Air Force personnel, including two pilots, were onboard at the time of the incident. more..

Dec 1 (NF) In the wake of severe floods and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah, which caused significant casualties and widespread property damage across Sri Lanka, the Chinese govt and its people have stepped forward in solidarity. The Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka announced that the Red Cross Society of China has disbursed USD 100,000 in emergency cash aid to the SL Red Cross Society. Additionally, emergency assistance from the Chinese govt is already underway. more..

Dec 1 (FT) Cyclone Ditwa swept across SL last week leaving behind devastation the country has not seen in years—over a hundred lives lost, thousands displaced, homes submerged, and key roads cut off. Families have been torn apart and livelihoods destroyed. Before anything else, it is important to acknowledge this human tragedy with empathy and humility. My focus here, however, is on another dimension of the fallout: the impact on Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, an industry that was only more..

Dec 1 (FT) Generative Artificial Intelligence or GenAI has been a useful tool for people to create new content, such as text, images, and or music, by learning the patterns from vast datasets. Quite different from the traditional AI that analyses or categorises existing data, GenAI models produce novel and original output in response to prompts of users. This is achieved through complex algorithms that predict what the next word, sound or pixel should be, and that prediction is based on more..

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..