Sri Lanka Police have issued a strong public warning urging citizens to remain vigilant against a surge in fraudulent phone calls carried out by organised scam groups posing as law enforcement officers and bank officials. Police said these fraudsters falsely identify themselves as officers from the Sri Lanka Police, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), or as bank representatives, in an attempt to intimidate and deceive members of the public. According to police, the scammers typically instil fear by claiming that the victim is under investigation for serious offences such as money laundering or financial…
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The Meteorology Department said that showery conditions are expected to enhance to some extent over the island from December 16, 2025.
ECONOMYNEXT – Indian Army signallers re-connected a broken optical fibre cable in Sri Lanka’s Mahiyangana area as part of relief operations in the island after Cyclone Ditwah, the Indian High Commission said. The Indian relief team also operated a field hospital in Mahiyangana, which is between Kandy and Baddula towns. Badulla and Kandy districts were among the hardest hit by Cyclone Ditwah. The fibre cable had been damaged by a falling tree in the wake of the cyclone, causing a large communication black-out in the area. “To re-establish the connectivity, Indian Army signallers carried out precise OFC splicing near the…
Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) leader MP Mano Ganesan, in a letter addressed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has sought a meeting with him to discuss disaster challenges facing the Malaiyaha (up-country) Sri Lankan community.
Police say at least 10 people have been killed in a shooting near a Jewish gathering at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
The Ministry of Defence has issued guidelines in connection with the circular on implementing the disaster-affected empowerment program.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has launched a USD 8.3 million humanitarian appeal to provide urgent assistance to women and girls affected by Cyclone Ditwah, which caused severe flooding and landslides across Sri Lanka.
Thailand announced a curfew in its southeastern Trat province on Sunday as fighting with Cambodia spread to coastal areas of a disputed border region, two days after U.S. President and would-be peacemaker Donald Trump said the sides had agreed to stop.
Oil spill near Colombo Port brought under control within eight hoursOil spill near Colombo Port brought under control within eight hours An oil spill reported near the Colombo Port in the early hours of December 14 has been successfully brought under control, authorities said. The spill occurred near the crude oil unloading buoy belonging to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) during unloading operations from the vessel MT ASP Avana. Officials said the incident was caused by a defect in a pipeline connected to the buoy. The spill was reported at around 3.30 a.m., following which officials from the Marine Environment…
At least three people were killed and six injured as gunmen opened fire at a Hanukkah party on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia on Sunday.
At least 644 people have died and 183 remain missing due to the ongoing disaster situation triggered by Cyclone Ditwah and subsequent floods and landslides across Sri Lanka, according to the latest situation report issued by the Disaster Management Centre (DMC). The report, released at 5.00 pm on December 14, shows that a total of 1,344,898 people belonging to 385,093 families have been affected islandwide. The highest number of fatalities has been reported from Kandy District, where 237 deaths have been confirmed, followed by Nuwara Eliya with 89 deaths and Badulla with 88 deaths. Kurunegala recorded 61 deaths, while Puttalam…
The ninth phase of the islandwide programme to recognise outstanding achievers of G.C.E. Advanced Level implemented by the Presidential Fund, was held under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on the 14 th of December at Temple Trees. Under this phase, students from the Western Province who obtained excellent results at the G.C.E. Advanced Level Examinations in the year 2023 and 2024 were recognised. Accordingly, 361 outstanding students from the Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara districts were awarded scholarships amounting to LKR 36.1 million by the Presidential Fund. Addressing at the event, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that…
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa on Sunday criticised the government’s disaster management response, alleging that while relief operations are being showcased through media displays, the necessary circulars and structured mechanisms to provide financial assistance to affected communities have still not been issued. He said serious shortcomings were evident in the disaster management system before, during and after the disaster, noting that even government officials working in the sector have acknowledged the absence of a clear plan of action. Premadasa said although promises have been made to provide financial assistance based on various eligibility criteria, disaster relief officers themselves have confirmed that…
Twenty-seven persons, including the 26-year-old daughter of Kandy Deputy Mayor Ruwan Kumara of the National People’s Power, who were arrested with narcotics following a police raid on a party organised through social media in Teldeniya, were released on bail.
The Prophet Jerome Fernando Charity Foundation has launched a major island-wide flood relief initiative to support affected families and individuals.
Ahmed El Ahmad, a 43-year-old father of two and fruit shop owner, is being hailed as a hero after bravely tackling one of the attackers during the Bondi Beach shooting in Australia. He was later shot twice by a second gunman and is currently receiving hospital treatment. Authorities say he is expected to recover. New South Wales Police say 11 people have been killed in a shooting at Bondi Beach targeting the Jewish community, with 29 taken to hospital – including a child. (Newswire) AUSTRALIAN HERO A civilian disarmed the shooter during a deadly attack at a Sydney…
Siddhalepa, a flagship brand of the Hettigoda Group of Companies, has been recognised for its commitment to scientific research and innovation at the SLTC Research & Innovation Awards 2025, held on 12 November at the BMICH. The company secured two prestigious accolades for its research project titled “Exploring the Bioactivity of Siddhalepa Asamodagam Spirit,” reaffirming its focus on evidence-based advancement in Ayurveda and traditional medicine. Siddhalepa received the Outstanding Research Collaboration Award in Healthcare, Wellness & Life Science Research, recognising the strength of its partnership between industry researchers and academic institutions. The award highlights the value of collaboration in advancing…
Sri Lanka recorded USD 673.4 million in workers’ remittances in November 2025, bringing total inflows for the first eleven months of the year to USD 7.19 billion, according to data released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL). The cumulative figure represents a 20.7 per cent year-on-year increase compared with the same period in 2024, reflecting continued resilience in overseas employment earnings despite global economic pressures. Remittances remain one of Sri Lanka’s key sources of foreign exchange, providing critical support to household incomes, external balances, and overall economic stability. The CBSL data underscores the growing contribution of migrant workers…
The Government of India on Sunday donated a consignment of 17 types of essential medicines along with more than 14,200 kilograms of dry food items to Sri Lanka, following a request made by Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa. The donation was formally handed over at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake, by Indian Deputy High Commissioner Dr. Satyanjal Pandey to Minister Jayatissa. The medical supplies were transported to Sri Lanka aboard a special aircraft of the Indian Air Force. The donation followed a recent meeting held at the Ministry of Health and Mass Media between Minister Jayatissa…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange revenue from tourism in November 2025 fell 7.8 percent from a year ago to 251.6 million US dollars, the central bank said, quoting tourism promotion authority data. The island nation’s tourism revenue has been lower since August this year compared to arrival after the relevant authority revising down per day tourism spending, Central Bank officials have said. The monthly revenue showed a fall for the third time in five months. It has been falling in July and August before rising marginally in the next two months. RELATED : Sri Lanka daily tourist spend falls,…