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 The outdated Marxian principles belong in the dustbin of history.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..

Dec 25 (FT) With the IMF approving the $ 206 million Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI), SL has formally assured the IMF that it will preserve fiscal discipline and maintain an open trade and payments regime while responding to the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, as concerns mount over the sustainability of the country’s economic recovery. World Bank has estimated initial damage from the disaster at around $4.1 b more..

Dec 25 (IL) Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith called on all to celebrate Christmas in giving, sharing, and avoiding all forms of extravagance. Issuing a message the Cardinal said:”Once again, we are celebrating Christmas, and it is a most joyful occasion on which we remember the birth of Jesus Christ in the history of mankind. Therefore, this is a joyful occasion, but at the same time, I would like to ask you to reflect deeply about the meaning of this Christmas event. more..

Dec 25 (CT) Five suspects, along with a multi-day fishing vessel carrying more than 193 kg of heroin and crystal methamphetamine (ice), were taken into custody by the Navy in the deep sea off the southern coast during the early hours yesterday. A boat seized by the Navy and brought to the Dikowita Fisheries Harbour was found to contain nearly 172 kg of ice, valued at over Rs 2 billion, Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara said. An additional 21 kg of heroin was also recovered from the vessel. more..

Dec 25 (CT) Despite a high-level meeting involving top port, customs and govt officials, container congestion at the Port of Colombo remains unresolved, with nearly 13,000 containers awaiting clearance across all terminals, according to Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents (CASA). More than 13,000 import containers remain stacked at the Port of Colombo, with the majority concentrated at Colombo Int'l Container more..

Dec 25 (NW) Christians around the world joyfully commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ with deep devotion today (25), marking the sacred celebration of Christmas. This year, the people of Sri Lanka observe Christmas at a decisive moment in our national journey, having faced an extremely challenging natural disaster as a nation and while striving with determination to overcome its hardships and rise again. The true meaning of Christmas is love, peace, joy, sharing and sacrifice. more..

Dec 25 (AD) Notorious underworld figure Kudu Roshan has been arrested. The suspect was taken into custody by a team of officers from the CID at his residence in Mattakkuliya. A 9mm pistol and three live rounds of ammunition were recovered from the suspect’s possession, police stated. The CID is carrying out further investigations into the matter. Meanwhile, another suspect who aided and abetted the shooting and killing of a manager of a commercial establishment more..

Dec 25 (NW) The dawn of Christmas 2025 arrives while we still carry in our hearts the painful experiences our nation endured in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, which severely affected SL. As a result of this cyclone, we lost much lives, property, livelihoods, and the hopes of our own people in our own country. Above all, what remains deeply etched in our hearts are the tears and suffering of those who lost everything they had. Christmas, celebrated with great reverence to commemorate the birth of more..

Dec 25 (NW) As the month of December dawns, Christian devotees prepare to celebrate Christmas. The message of peace that echoed from Bethlehem with the birth of the infant Jesus continues to be honoured and revered by Christians across the world. However, this year, the month of December has arrived not with the usual joy and festivity. It comes amid the sorrow, pain, and quiet anguish of thousands of our people affected by a natural disaster that has shaken the entire nation. more..

Dec 25 (FT) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa pressed the Constitutional Council to move swiftly on appointing a new Auditor General, warning that continued delays were undermining confidence in key State institutions and risking systemic damage to public finance oversight. He said the Govt was keen to see a permanent AG appointed without further delay, noting that Prez had already proposed four suitably qualified candidates for the post. more..

Dec 25 (AD) The general public has been urged to exercise caution when using unknown water bodies during the festive season. According to Community Physician Dr. Samitha Sirithunga, water sources in several parts of the country have been structurally changed, contaminated or diluted owing to recent adverse weather conditions. He said due to recent floods and landslides, the conditions and stability of water sources have changed & therefore the public should be mindful when using such places. more..

Dec 25 (AD) PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the Ministry of Education, together with UNICEF, will take necessary steps to renovate schools that can be restored quickly and to relocate schools located in high-risk areas to safer locations, following an assessment of schools affected by Cyclone Ditwah. PM made these remarks after inspecting the Meegahakiula National School in the Badulla District, which was damaged by Cyclone Ditwah, on Dec 24, according to PM’s Media Division. more..

Dec 25 (EN) Each year R M Jayatilleke, his son and group of other villagers haul several truck loads Christmas trees from Bandarawela, in the Badulla district to Colombo. This year however hist district was among the worst hit by Cyclone Ditwah. “The road were cleared we had no problem coming to Colombo from Bandarawela,” he said. “But some other areas were badly hit.” Christmas trees which are erected in Christian and other homes and decorate during season are species of more..

Dec 25 (DN) Viren Nettasinghe and Ranithma Liyanage successfully defended their open men’s and women’s titles at the 73rd National Badminton C'ships, which concluded at S. Thomas’ Gymnasium yesterday. Viren, SL’s youngest Olympic badminton representative, relied on his experience to overcome Rasindu Hendahewa in a 50-minute two-set men’s final, highlight of the tournament. Rasindu took an early lead in the first set, but Viren quickly drew level at 6-all and controlled the rest of the set, more..

Dec 25 (Island) Former SL head coach Mickey Arthur has voiced disappointment over remarks made by Chairman of Selectors Pramodya Wickramasinghe, who last week claimed that Arthur was reluctant to include a young Pathum Nissanka during SL’s tour of the Caribbean in 2021. In his first media briefing, Wickramasinghe said it was he who pushed for Nissanka’s inclusion despite Arthur’s reservations. more..

Dec 25 (NW) Minister of Education, PM Harini Amarasuriya, says the programme to provide sanitary napkins to schoolgirls, launched in 2024 by the Ministry of Education as a national initiative targeting schoolgirls in rural, estate, and economically disadvantaged areas, will continue to be implemented in 2026. PM said in a statement that the programme covers more than one million schoolgirls above Grade 6 across schools islandwide, with a allocation of Rs. 1.44 b. more..

Dec 25 (FT) Central Bank yesterday said it has slapped a Rs. 9.5 million combined fine on two non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs), two banks, one casino, and a jewellery company for non-compliance of the provisions of the Financial Transactions Reporting Act (FTRA). Regulator for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT), the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) collected penalties of Rs. 2 million from LOLC Finance, Rs. 1 million from Fintrex Finance, more..

Dec 25 (FT) The Ne-Yo live in SL concert scheduled to be held on 28 Dec has been postponed, the event organisers Brown Boy Presents announced yesterday. In a brief statement via social media, the organisers said the decision was taken due to unforeseen circumstances and factors beyond their control. The concert was to take place at the Sugathadasa Outdoor Stadium in Colombo. Brown Boy Presents also informed ticket holders that refunds will be processed through PickMe more..

Dec 25 (FT) Beijing Capital Airlines is set to commence direct flight operations between Beijing and Colombo from 31 Jan 2026. China is the fourth largest tourism market for SL. The development follows a recent discussion between SL’s Ambassador to China Majintha Jayesinghe and Beijing Capital Airlines President Liu Jun where plans to introduce the new air link were taken up. Chinese tourist arrivals amounted to 121,671 in the first eleven months of the year, slightly down more..

Dec 25 (ST) A growing debate has emerged over the blanket withholding of several antibiotic medications from an Indian pharmaceutical company in Gujarat this week, over suspicions of one non-antibiotic medication being contaminated. This is as many in health circles also reiterated the need for SL to have its own accredited state-of-the-art laboratory to test medications coming into the country, in the light of drug failures more..

Dec 25 (FT) Pakistan on Tuesday successfully organised the privatisation process of the national flag carrier, selling it at PKR 135 billion (approx. $ 483 million) to a consortium led by a local investment company. The ceremony to privatise Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was held in Islamabad, where all three pre-qualified parties, including Lucky Cement, private airline Airblue, and investment firm Arif Habib, deposited their sealed bids into a transparent box. more..

Dec 25 (TM) As Sri Lankans welcome another Christmas, the festive season is celebrated in a sombre mood. The last six years have not been kind to the island nation, and just when things seemed to be getting back to normal, Mother Nature reminded us that human impact on the fragile environment of the Blue Planet will be revisited on us in terrible ways. Cyclone Ditwah has left SL battered and bruised in ways many didn’t imagine possible. A World Bank report – more..