The National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development has announced that all preschools and early childhood development centres that can safely resume operations will reopen next week. Issuing a statement, the Secretariat said that all preschools and early childhood development centres now deemed safe to resume operations will be reopened from December 16. Preschools and early childhood development centres were temporarily closed due to the emergency disaster situation in Sri Lanka. (Newswire) The post Preschools and early childhood development centres to reopen on Dec 16 appeared first on Newswire.
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ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee closed at 308.80/90 to the US dollar in the spot market Wednesday, weaker from 308.64/66 the previous day, dealers said, while bond yields closed broadly steady. A bond maturing on 15.12.2026 closed flat at 8.34/44 percent. A bond maturing on 15.09.2027 closed flat at 8.95/9.01 percent. A bond maturing on 15.02.2028 closed at 9.15/20 percent, down from 9.16/22 percent. A bond maturing on 15.10.2029 closed at 9.55/60 percent. A bond maturing on 15.12.2032 closed at 10.25/30 percent, down from 10.25/29 percent. A bond maturing on 01.11.2033 closed at 10.45/51 percent, down from 10.48/52 percent. (Colombo/Dec10/2025)
Sriyani Dress Point, one of Sri Lanka’s leading fashion retail chains, has made a substantial contribution of Rs. 20 million to the Government’s ‘Rebuild Sri Lanka’ Fund, established to support communities devastated by Cyclone Ditwah. The donation was presented at the Presidential Secretariat, where Mr. M. Selvaraj, Chairman of Sriyani Dress Point, handed over the cheque to Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President. The ceremony was attended by the company’s managing directors and senior leadership team. Sriyani Dress Point’s contribution represents a significant corporate commitment to national recovery efforts and sets an inspiring example for the business community…
A case filed over alleged corruption in the investment of Greek sovereign bonds in 2011 has been withdrawn against former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, subject to strict conditions laid down under the Bribery Act, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption announced Wednesday. The Colombo High Court allowed the request after the first accused, Cabraal, applied for the charges to be considered for withdrawal under Section 67(1) of the Bribery Act. Following a review under Section 67(2), the Director General of the Bribery Commission agreed, with the Commission’s approval, to withdraw the charge under Section 67(3),…
Australia has pledged AUD 500,000 to support urgent humanitarian assistance in Sri Lanka, partnering with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to protect women and girls affected by catastrophic floods and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah. The Australian High Commission in Colombo said the funding will reinforce life‑saving sexual and reproductive health services, strengthen gender‑based violence referral systems, and provide psychosocial support across 10 of the hardest‑hit districts. This initiative supports UNFPA’s emergency appeal of USD 8.3 million and a one-year response plan, which will further the work already undertaken. During the acute response phase, UNFPA has been working closely…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s daily egg output has slumped around 30 percent after Cyclone Ditwah killed around 500,000 layer chicken Ajith Gunasesekera, President of the All Island Poultry Association said. In Sri Lanka around 900,000 eggs are consumed, but lately production has risen to around 1,100,000 leading to reduced prices, he said. Due to the high level of production, retail egg prices ranged around 22 to 25 to 28 rupees based on size and farmgate prices 21 to 22 rupees, before the storm. However, high maize prices in Sri Lanka from import controls, cost of egg production was estimated at…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Colombo Stock Exchange closed up on Wednesday, gaining momentum following speculative trading in Colombo Dockyard, brokers said. “There’s some speculative trades taking place around Dockyard, overshadowing everything in the market, pushing it to higher levels,” Dimantha Mathew – Chief Research and Strategy Officer of First Capital Holdings PLC said. “We are not sure how long this will last, since it’s a single share changing overall sentiment.” This positive momentum spread to other sectors, most notably into construction and banks, he said. Among the most actively traded shares were Sierra Cables (up 30 cents at 33.90 rupees),…
ECONOMYNEXT – Japan, one of the first nations to offer relief to Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah left a trail of destruction, is using shock and awe to treat survivors of the devastating floods. In the coastal town of Chilaw, hours before sunrise, men, women, and children patiently queue to enter Tokyo’s disaster medical camp, which complements the Chilaw base hospital as it recovers from the flood devastation. Grandmother Nirmala Fernando, 62, was stunned when she was greeted at the gate by Japanese staff bowing. With hands clasped together, the foreign medics offered the traditional Sinhala greeting of “ayubovan” –…
ECONOMYNEXT – The UK has promised 1 million pounds, or 1.3 million dollars, in aid for Cyclone Ditwah victims, following Acting High Commissioner Theresa O’Mahony’s visit to the Sri Lanka Red Cross operations in Gampaha. “This funding will help deliver emergency supplies and life-saving assistance to those who need it most,” the British High Commission said in a statement. The funding will be delivered through humanitarian partners. O’Mahony toured the Red Cross warehouse where UK aid supplies are being prepared for distribution, met with volunteers coordinating relief efforts, and travelled to flood-affected areas to speak directly with impacted families. “Our…
Export of prawns, which has been a lucrative business that brings in much needed foreign exchange to Sri Lanka, has come to a standstill due to the disaster situation that had hit the nation, two industrialists in the Puttalam District said yesterday.
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Insurance Regulatory Commission had met head of insurers to develop a mechanism to quickly settle claims of policy holders hit by Cyclone Ditwah, a statement from the President Media office quoted Treasury Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma as saying. Suriyapperuma said all insurance companies have “already begun the process of providing prompt compensation for damaged businesses, property and loss of life resulting from the cyclone”. “Compensation payments for minor property damage have already commenced.” Insurance company representatives have said compensation for extensive property damage will be paid after proper verification, according to the PMD statement. “Where possible, a…
ECONOMYNEXT – Cyclone Ditwah has killed 35,000 cattle and 2,000 pigs in Sri Lanka, Director of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Health K K Sarath said. Sri Lanka has a herd around two million head of cattle Sarath said speaking on Sri Lanka’s Newsfirst television. Sri Lanka’s pig farms were just recovering from a African Swine fever epidemic. The most organized sector which is widespread was poultry, which was spread around the country. The cyclone had also killed around 500,000 layer chicks and 1.4 to 1.5 million broiler chicks, he said. However the number came from larger farms. There…
ECONOMYNEXT – Fitch Ratings has assigned Sri Lanka’s Abans Finance PLC’s planned 1.5 billion rupee senior unsecured debentures an expected National Long-Term Rating of ‘A-(EXP)(lka)’. “The issue ranks equally with the claims of the company’s other senior unsecured creditors,” the rating agency said. The Fitch statement is reproduced below: Fitch Publishes Abans Finance’s Proposed Senior Debt ‘A-(EXP)(lka)’ Rating Fitch Ratings – Colombo – 09 Dec 2025: Fitch Ratings has published an expected National Long-Term Rating of ‘A-(EXP)(lka)’ on Abans Finance PLC’s (A-(lka)/Stable) proposed Sri Lankan rupee-denominated senior unsecured debentures of up to LKR1.5 billion. Key Rating Drivers The proposed senior…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee opened at 308.65/70 to the US dollar in the spot market Wednesday, weakening from 308.64/66 the previous day, dealers said, while bond yields were broadly steady. A bond maturing on 15.12.2028 was quoted at 9.25/30 percent. A bond maturing on 15.10.2029 was quoted at 9.55/60 percent. A bond maturing on 15.03.2031 was quoted at 9.95/10.05 percent. A bond maturing on 15.12.2032 was quoted at 10.25/30 percent, up from 10.25/29 percent. A bond maturing on 01.11.2033 was quoted at 10.45/55 percent, from 10.48/52 percent. The telegraphic transfer rates for the American dollar were 305.1000 buying, 312.1000…
Photo courtesy of BBC Today is Human Rights Day “In war, there are no winners – only survivors.” UN Secretary-General António Guterres Human Rights Day arrives this year in a world that feels more fragile than ever. Across continents, conflicts burn unchecked in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Yemen and each war is a reminder of how easily human rights collapse when power replaces humanity. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) begins with a simple truth: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” Yet dignity becomes the first casualty when bombs fall, when…
The death toll due to Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka has increased to 639 as of 06.00 am today. According to the Disaster Management Centre, the highest number of deaths is reported in the Kandy District (234), followed by Badulla (90) and Nuwara Eliya (89). Meanwhile, 203 persons are reported missing due to the landslides and floods triggered by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka. The highest number of missing persons has been reported in Kandy District (82), followed by Kegalle (39) and Nuwara Eliya (37). A total of 1,824,771 individuals from 529,741 families across 25 districts remain affected by the…
Sri Lanka’s post-default fiscal consolidation is likely to be hindered by increased spending to address damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah, Moody’s Ratings said in a recent statement. Moody’s said several tropical cyclones since mid-November, combined with unusually heavy monsoon rains, have caused severe flooding, landslides and the loss of hundreds of lives across South and Southeast Asia. Moody’s said the economic, fiscal and credit impact is likely to be most significant for Sri Lanka, which holds a Caa1 stable rating. “While we do not expect a reversal in the government’s commitment to the ongoing International Monetary Fund program and related…
Sri Lanka’s main road network is now supported by real-time condition alerts on Google Maps, Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake said. The update covers 12,000 kilometers of main roads and provides six types of alerts, including lane closures and construction work. The pilot project, aims to help travelers plan routes more efficiently, avoid unexpected delays, and improve road safety, the Minister said. “This will be a big help to plan your trips better, save time, and avoid unexpected traffic,” Rathnayake said in a post on X. He encouraged travelers to check the Maps app for updates before heading out. The pilot…
The Northeast monsoon conditions have established over Sri Lanka, leading to rain in several provinces today. Accordingly, showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Northern, North-Central, Eastern, Central, Southern and Uva provinces. Heavy falls of 100 mm or more are likely at some places in the Northern, North-Central and Eastern provinces. Fairly heavy falls of about 75 mm are likely at some places in the Central and Uva provinces. Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places in the other areas of the island after 1.00 pm. Fairly heavy falls of about 75 mm are likely in some…
ECONOMYNEXT – When Cyclone Ditwah tore through Sri Lanka, unleashing catastrophic floods and landslides that buried entire communities in some areas and paralyzed the nation’s economy, it was followed by an unexpected wave, one of empathy, diplomacy, and global solidarity. Within hours, aircraft, ships, and relief caravans bearing foreign flags began touching down on Sri Lankan soil. Donations surged, international rescue teams arrived, and world leaders issued statements of support. What unfolded was not only a massive humanitarian response but also a revealing display of global geopolitics, strategic positioning, and the international community’s long standing emotional connection with Sri Lanka.…