Sri Lanka is expected to see increased rainfall from Tuesday as an easterly wave strengthens showery conditions across much of the island, the Department of Meteorology said Monday. Showers are forecast at times in the Northern, North-Central, Eastern, Uva and Central provinces on Dec. 16, the department said in its daily weather bulletin issued at 2 p.m. Showers or thundershowers are also likely in several other areas after 1 p.m. “Under the influence of an easterly wave, showery conditions are expected to enhance over the island,” the Department of Meteorology said, warning of localized weather impacts. Fairly strong winds of…
Posts published in “News”
The World Bank Group is deeply saddened by the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka. Our thoughts are with the people who have lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods, and with the communities now facing immense hardship. We commend the remarkable resilience shown by Sri Lankans in the face of this disaster and the Government’s swift action to save lives and launch recovery efforts. In response to the Government’s request, the World Bank is making up to US$120 million in emergency support available by repurposing funds from ongoing projects. This will support recovery and help restore essential services…
Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Education on Monday announced a revised school calendar covering the period from December to March, outlining reopening dates, examination-related closures and special measures introduced following recent natural disasters. Schools in the Western, Southern, Northern, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and North Central provinces will reopen on Tuesday, Dec. 16, the ministry said. However, 640 schools in the Uva, North Western and Central provinces will remain closed due to prevailing difficulties. Of the schools remaining closed, 524 are in Uva province, where transportation disruptions have prevented students and teachers from traveling safely. Education officials said schools in Uva will reopen…
A consignment of humanitarian relief supplies donated by the Government of Pakistan for disaster relief in Sri Lanka was officially received today (15) at the Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT), Colombo Port. The relief cargo was received by Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation, Anura Karunathilake and Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation, Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku, on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka. The shipment was formally handed over by the Pakistan High Commissioner to Colombo Major General (Retd) Faheem Ul Aziz, representing the Government of Pakistan. The consignment, dispatched under the coordination of Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Prime Minister’s Office,…
US director and actor Rob Reiner and his wife have been found dead at their home in Los Angeles.
Sri Lanka could face a major economic crisis by April 2026 if the fallout from the Cyclone Ditwah disaster is not managed properly, United National Party (UNP) Deputy General Secretary Harin Fernando warned today. Addressing a media briefing, the former Tourism Minister said the economic damage caused by the cyclone was severe, accusing the government and the President of lacking a clear plan to deal with the crisis. Fernando said the government has so far failed to present a proper damage assessment, warning that demand for US dollars would increase sharply due to losses in agriculture and the food sector.…
Over 18,000 enterprises have been affected by Cyclone Ditwah, with the Industrial Disaster Support Centre (IDSC) recording 18,321 entries and inquiries as of today (15), the Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Ministry said.
The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) has urged the public to remain highly vigilant amid a sharp increase in online scams and embezzlement attempts reported across social media platforms in recent weeks.
Former Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), Dhammika Ranatunga was arrested today (15) by officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) in connection with an ongoing investigation.
The 16th meeting of the National Council for Disaster Management was held this morning (15) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. During the meeting, a Cabinet Memorandum was presented on the establishment of a National Integrated Disaster Management Mechanism and on proposed amendments to the Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act, No. 13 of 2005. Attention was also drawn to reducing landslide risks in plantation areas through a multi-stakeholder approach. In this regard, the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) was tasked with coordinating relevant stakeholders, plantation companies and local authorities to provide recommendations and establish…
Former MP Udaya Gammanpila on Monday accused President Anura Kumara Dissanayake of criminal negligence over a recent disaster that he said claimed more than 600 lives, vowing to pursue legal action once the president leaves office. Speaking at a press briefing, Gammanpila said criminal charges would be filed against Dissanayake after the completion of his presidential term in 2029, alleging that the scale of the tragedy was the result of negligence at the highest level of government. “When you step down from the presidency in 2029, we will file criminal negligence cases against you without fail,” Gammanpila said. He claimed…
In the wake of the attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath said Sri Lanka stands in solidarity with Australia and reaffirmed its strong opposition to terrorism in all its forms.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism has confirmed that no Sri Lankan nationals were injured in the shooting incident that occurred during a Jewish festival celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday.
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Inland Revenue Department (IRD), the main revenue collecting agency, will exceed its annual revenue target for this year due to increased taxpayer confidence, Deputy Finance and Planning Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando said. Fernando said that the IRD will be able to exceed its revenue targets as a result of the credibility it has gained among the tax paying public. The Deputy Finance Minister’s commented on this while participating as the chief guest at a ceremony held on Monday (15) to present the appointment letters of 100 new Assistant Commissioners joining the Inland Revenue Department. “…..he said that it is not an easy task to…
Sri Lanka needs more support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to make a comeback after the recent disaster, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa told ADB Country Representative Takafumi Kadon.
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s gross domestic product expanded in the third quarter of 2025, with agriculture growing 3.6 percent, manufacturing 8.1 percent and services 3.5 percent, the state statistic office said. Sri Lanka’s central bank has provided stability in 2025 providing a strong foundation for economic agents to operate. Though the rupee has started to weaken, lower imports of intermediate goods were fundamental to the reported growth in some of the manufacturing industry and construction activities. Imported goods prices have been stable to falling due to tighter US monetary policy despite a weakening of the rupee especially in the last…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee depreciated further, closing at 309.25/35 to the US dollar in the spot market Monday, from 309.05/15 Friday, dealers said, while bond yields closed steady. A bond maturing on 15.12.2026 closed at 8.35/45 percent, up from 8.30/40 percent. A bond maturing on 15.02.2028 closed at 8.97/9.00 percent, up from 8.95/9.00 percent. A bond maturing on 15.10.2029 closed at 9.48/50 percent. A bond maturing on 15.10.2032 closed at 10.22/26 percent, up from 10.22/23 percent. A bond maturing on 15.06.2035 closed at 10.63/68 percent, up from 10.60/68 percent. (Colombo/Dec15/2025)
The Nawalapitiya–Kandy main road, which was damaged by Cyclone Ditwa, was reopened to traffic today (15) after being closed for 18 days, the Road Development Authority (RDA) said.
Conditions in evacuation centres set up following Cyclone Ditwah have raised serious safety concerns, as overcrowding and the lack of privacy increase the risk of violence against vulnerable groups, particularly adolescent girls, elderly women, and women with disabilities, humanitarian agencies point out.
Photo courtesy of Lankasara Think of a future where breathing becomes difficult, water sources vanish and wildlife gradually disappears from our planet. This isn’t an imaginary scenario. It will be the stark reality we face if forest destruction continues at its present pace. Forests are called our planet’s lungs and nature’s biodiversity vaults because they are essential for sustaining all life forms on earth. To highlight this essential fact each March, the UN observes International Day of Forests. It is to emphasise the vital connection between people and forests and why their protection matters. Despite our growing awareness, roughly 10…