Dec 18 (GV) Sri Lanka has been hit with one of the worst natural disasters in its history due to the impact of the cyclonic storm Ditwah. With over a million people displaced and over 400 people dead, approximately 330 people still remain missing according to a report by the WHO. While flood waters in many parts of the country have receded and relief efforts are underway, Sri Lankans continue to respond to the needs of those affected with remarkable speed and solidarity. more..

Dec 18 (ST) My good friend, Prof. Mihir Pandey, recently retired from his distinguished career at Ramjas College, Delhi Uni. I first met Mihir in 2004, when together we launched the South Asian Economics Students’ Meet (SAESM) in New Delhi. SAESM was a pioneering initiative that gave Economics students from across South Asia the opportunity to present research papers on shared regional issues and to build networks around a common vision: integration for One South. more..

Dec 18 (TM) Much like during the 2004 tsunami and the Covid-19 pandemic, Police Department was among the institutions that worked on the frontlines when the island was thrown into chaos as Cyclone Ditwah battered the country, triggering floods and landslides in its wake. As the disaster unfolded, the Police rose above their traditional role of maintaining and enforcing the law to support rescue, evacuation and more..

Dec 18 (DM) The devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah in SL cannot be understood in its entirety unless it is seen in the light of economic inequality in the country, and indeed in the comity of nations. Over half of the people in the flooded areas were living in households already facing multiple vulnerabilities before the cyclone, including unstable income, high debt, and limited ability to cope with disasters, UNDP said in a report. Hydrologists estimate that nearly 13b cubic metres of more..

Dec 18 (DM) Another heartbreaking elephant death was reported from Seeppukulama, Mihintale on Tuesday (16). Villagers have attempted to chase this elephant that had suffered a previous injury in one leg and was blind in one eye by throwing burning torches at it. The elephant is suspected to have succumbed to burn injuries. While the Wildlife Conservation Dept is trying to identify the perpetrator(s). There’s a video being circulated on social media, and animal welfare groups more..

Dec 17 (AD) The Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund should be approved by Parliament as a statutory fund, Chairman of COPF, MP Harsha de Silva reiterates. MP noted that the fund needs to be a legally established fund and therefore it must be brought to Parliament and approved. He said, “We cannot create funds like Helping Hambantota without a proper legal basis. To do something like this, it must be brought to Parliament and approved. more..

Dec 17 (AD) The Executive Board of the IMF is scheduled to review the govt’s request for emergency financial assistance amounting to SDR 150.5 million (approx USD 200 m) under the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) on Friday (19), according to IMF Executive Board calendar. The request was made after the widespread destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah last month, which severely affected several parts of the country. Subsequently the govt sought financial support from the IMF. more..

Dec 17 (FT) CSE said it has granted in-principle approval for the listing of Bank of Ceylon’s (BOC) Rs. 20 billion Basel III-compliant Tier II Sustainability Bonds. The unsecured, subordinated and redeemable Bonds will carry a five-year tenor from 2025 to 2030 and include non-viability write-down features in line with Basel III requirements. The Bonds will be listed, rated, and issued under two coupon structures. Initial issue will comprise up to 100 m Bonds at an issue price of Rs.100 each, more..

Dec 17 (DM) SL Army Engineers have restored connectivity following the complete collapse of the Nayaru main bridge in Mullaitivu, which was severely damaged by intense flooding caused by Cyclone Ditwah recently. The collapse of the bridge disrupted vehicular movement along key routes, including the Mullaitivu-Weli Oya, Mullaitivu-Trincomalee and Mullaitivu-Kokkilai roads, causing major inconvenience to the public and isolating several communities. more..

Dec 17 (AD) The govt has decided to extend the payment period for farmer pensions until December 31 considering the impact caused by the cyclone Ditwah in SL. The Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board announced that farmers can now collect their pension payments from relevant Post Offices or Sub-Post Offices on any working day throughout the month of December. Under normal circumstances, pensions for farmers are disbursed between the 9th and 15th of each month. more..

Dec 17 (NW) Transparency International SL (TISL), together with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and activists, has expressed serious concern over the continued failure to appoint a permanent Auditor General, leaving the country’s supreme audit institution without stable leadership since April 2025. In a joint statement, the groups warned that the delay undermines public trust, financial accountability, and robust oversight more..

Dec 17 (Island) The expansion of SL Ayurveda in the United Kingdom was marked a few days ago at the SL High Commission in London, with the official launch of the Siddhalepa & Ayurveda Medical UK Collaborative. The occasion brought together dignitaries, Ayurvedic and medical professionals, wellness industry leaders, and members of the SL and British communities to celebrate the formation of a strategic partnership aimed at improving access to authentic SL Ayurveda medicine in the UK. more..

Dec 17 (NW) The Inland Revenue Dept has informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate that steps are being taken to file indictments in the Colombo High Court against popular actress Piumi Hansamali. The department informed the court on Monday that the indictments are to be filed against Piumi Hansamali, the proprietor of Lolia Skin Care (a private company selling skin‑whitening creams), for evading the payment of Rs. 225 million in taxes to the govt. It was further stated that Piumi more..

Dec 17 (DM) SL’s current economic growth rates will not be sufficient to create jobs for one million people entering the workforce in the next decade, World Bank Lead Economist for SL Arvind Nair said. He said about a million Sri Lankans will enter the workforce over the next decade, and if the growth rates continue the way they are, the number of new jobs created will be significantly lower than what is needed. more..

Dec 17 (NW) 25 SL nationals who had been trafficked to cybercrime centers in Myawaddy, Myanmar, were repatriated to SL on Dec 16. The repatriation had been facilitated by the Embassy and Permanent Mission of SL in Bangkok, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Tourism of SL, and the Embassy of SL in Myanmar. The operation was carried out through close collaboration between SL authorities with the active support of relevant authorities in Thailand. more..

Dec 17 (DM) The Turkish Airlines flight from Colombo to Istanbul, which was forced to return to BIA due to a technical issue with its landing gear, departed again this evening after repairs were completed. The flight departed BIA at 5.41 p.m today. Flight TK 733 had taken off from BIA at 10.00 p.m. last night carrying 51 passengers, but developed a landing gear malfunction shortly after departure from Katunayake. As a precaution, the pilot returned the aircraft to BIA, more..

Dec 17 (DM) SL's Chief Scout Commissioner Janaprith Fernando was awarded the 'Silver Elephant Award' at the Raj Bhawan in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India by the Governor Amandi Ben Patel recently. The Bharat Scouts and Guides (BSG) which has a membership of over 6.8 million at present confers the Silver Elephant Award the Highest National Distinction of BSG in recognition of Most Exceptional Service to the Scout/Guide Movement. The citation of the Award states more..

Dec 17 (Island) PM Harini Amarasuriya was the chief guest at the Graduation Ceremony of the Defence Services Command and Staff College Course 19 held at the Nelum Pokuna Theater on 16th of Dec. The Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC), the highest seat of military learning, marked the graduation of Course 19 by recognizing 149 graduates, including 26 Foreign Course participants, whose presence underscored the growing international engagement and more..

Dec 17 (EN) SL’s real GDP estimated for nine months at 9,866 billion in constant rupees has almost reaching the 9,751 billion calculated for 2021, based on the latest data released by the state statistics office. After a 30-year civil war Sri Lanka went though serial currency crises and inflationary policy blew the balance of payments apart, prompting foreign borrowings and serial stabilization measures which slowed growth and more..

Dec 17 (CT) The Court of Appeal was informed yesterday that a petition filed against the removal of a portion of the Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Bodhiraja Viharaya in Trincomalee is likely to be settled amicably. The petition, filed by the Chief Incumbent of the temple, Ven. Kalyanawansa Tissa Thera, challenged an order issued by the Coast Conservation Dept directing the removal of a specific section of the temple premises. When the matter was taken up before a Court of Appeal Bench more..

Dec 17 (NW) Construction work has already begun in Puttalam to install a state‑of‑the‑art Doppler radar system to enhance SL’s capacity to forecast severe weather events, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. He revealed that SL plans to acquire the Doppler radar with support from the Govt of Japan and that the radar is expected to be operational by 2027. He described the initiative as a major upgrade to Dept of Meteorology, which will also be equipped with additional essential instruments. more..

Dec 17 (NF) In the wake of Cyclone Ditwah, which unleashed catastrophic flooding and landslides across Sri Lanka, claiming lives and destroying homes and infrastructure, Canada has stepped forward with a major humanitarian pledge. On 16th December, Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State (International Development), announced over CAD $2 million in emergency funding to support relief efforts for thousands of families affected by the disaster. The funding is allocated as follows: more..

Dec 17 (AD) Minister Vijitha Herath today accepted US$ 2.5 million grant assistance from Govt of Japan. Foreign Minister received the grant from Akio Isomata, the Ambassador of Japan to SL to support ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. This was followed by prompt deployment of a Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Medical Team and provision of emergency relief material to SL. Minister Herath also thanked the govt and people of Japan for the continuous more..

Dec 17 (PMD) Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, Mr. Wang Dongming, stated that China would extend its full support to the Govt’s efforts to rebuild the lives of the SL people and overcome the challenges posed by Cyclone Ditwah, expressing confidence that Sri Lanka will recover rapidly under the leadership of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Mr. Wang made these remarks when he, more..

Dec 17 (NW) SLC has reportedly instructed national players currently participating in the ILT20 tournament in Dubai to return to the country by Dec 20, despite having earlier granted permission for them to compete in the league until early January. The recall was communicated to the players via email, according to sources, though SLC has not officially stated the reason for the directive. Reports indicate the move is linked to preparations for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and more..

Dec 17 (EN) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has warned the general public of ongoing scams attempting to swindle money from potential investors in share market. The market regulator has already identified Bule Ocean Securities Limited and Gladius South Asia involved in scams. Tushara Jayaratne, deputy director general of SEC said the Blue Ocean has been involved in asking investors to start trading through an app named BOMate. “From this app, you can’t trade shares. more..

Dec 17 (AD) Investigations have been launched into a video circulating on social media that allegedly shows a man torturing and setting fire to a wild elephant in the Ambagahawala area of Seeppukulama, Mihintale, according to the Dept of Wildlife Conservation. Dept stated that details surrounding the death of the elephant are scheduled to be presented to court today. Dept noted that the suspect responsible for more..

Dec 17 (DM) Doctors at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital launched a strike this morning, citing serious concerns over their personal safety following the discovery of several empty bullet casings within the hospital premises earlier this week. Doctors said the incident, which occurred three days ago, had heightened fears regarding security at the hospital. They stressed that the strike action would continue until adequate protection is provided. The strike caused significant inconvenience more..

Dec 17 (AD) The Yellow Anaconda hatchling which was reported missing from the Dehiwala National Zoological Gardens recently, has been recovered. The hatchling was found inside an iron box within the Reptilium of the zoo, less than 24 hours after the zoo keeper in charge of the relevant section was interdicted in connection with its disappearance. The hatchling, measuring between 1.5 and 2 feet in length, was the only Yellow Anaconda in the Dehiwala Zoo. more..

Dec 17 (FT) It is a well-established principle that income tax is imposed on net income, after allowing deductions for expenses incurred in the production of income, losses and outgoings, as well as qualifying payments, including donations made to the Govt, subject to the provisions of the Inland Revenue Act, No. 24 of 2017 (the Act). Accordingly, people affected by Cyclone Ditwah may claim deductions for losses arising from the disaster for income tax purposes under Sec 19 of the Act. more..

Dec 17 (FT) Sri Lanka is confronting a moment of profound national crisis. The devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, marked by widespread flooding, landslides, and the displacement of more than a million people, has collided with the pressures of a sovereign debt crisis and a fragile post-default recovery. As in many countries facing climate-induced disasters, the scale of the emergency has reignited debate about what a Govt can afford to do, how it should pay for it, and more..