ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) said the sector is working closely with all member organizations to identify disaster-affected employees and provide assistance. “Across the country, companies are already providing emergency support, including food, clothing, temporary shelter, transport assistance, and other essential supplies for displaced workers, their families and the local community,” it said in a statement. Most factories across the country have resumed normal operations, JAAF said, with only a few isolated pockets still facing access and other infrastructure-related challenges. “To streamline relief coordination, JAAF has established focal points for member companies to report affected communities…
Posts published in “News”
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee closed at 308.55/65 to the US dollar in the spot market Friday, stronger from 308.75/80 on Wednesday, dealers said, while bond yields were broadly steady. The rupee was quoted at 307.80/95 last Friday. A bond maturing on 15.12.2026 closed at 8.30/40 percent, up from 8.25/40 percent. A bond maturing on 15.09.2027 closed flat at 9.00/9.05 percent. A bond maturing on 15.12.2029 closed at 9.60/70 percent, up from 9.60/65 percent. A bond maturing on 15.12.2032 closed flat at 10.35/45 percent. A bond maturing on 15.06.2035 closed at 10.70/75 percent, down from 10.70/80 percent. (Colombo/Dec3/2025)
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Colombo Stock Exchange closed down on Friday, with the ASPI sliding 5.4 percent from last week when Cyclone Ditwah hit. Investor sentiment was low, and selling pressure was seen in a volatile market, brokers said. The All Share Price Index (ASPI) slid 1.51 percent from previous close, or 329.51 to 21,497.08; while the more liquid S&P SL20 closed 1.74 percent, or 105.03 points lower, at 5,925.63. “A bit of selling pressure is continuing broadly in line with what we anticipated,” Dimantha Mathew, Chief Research and Strategy Officer at First Capital Holdings PLC told EconomyNext. Mathew said…
A Tanzanian passenger in transit at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) gave birth to a baby boy on Friday with the assistance of the airport’s medical team. The mother, a transit passenger from Tanzania, gave birth while en route through BIA. Airport officials said the delivery occurred safely on-site, and both mother and child are reported to be in good health. BIA officials praised the medical team for their swift action and professionalism during the incident. (Newswire) The post Baby born at Bandaranaike International Airport appeared first on Newswire.
The Indian National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team departed Sri Lanka today after completing Operation Sagar Bandhu, following disasters due to Cyclone Ditwah. According to the Sri Lanka Air Force, working alongside the Sri Lankan military, the Indian NDRF team reached deep-flooded areas, delivered essential aid, and supported affected communities. In a post on social media, SLAF extended its heartfelt appreciation for their dedicated assistance. In response to the urgent humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka, India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu, a rapid relief mission aimed at delivering food, medicines, rescue support, and essential supplies to communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah.…
The World Health Organization (WHO) Sri Lanka has released public health guidance on how to safely manage dead animals found during or after flood events, in the wake of recent flooding across Sri Lanka. The advisory highlights the risks posed by animal carcasses, which may result from drowning, illness, or injury during disasters. The WHO urges the public not to touch, collect, or consume dead fish found after floods, and to seek instructions from Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) or local authorities before handling any dead animals. For those involved in cleanup efforts, the organization recommends wearing protective gear such as…
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has issued public guidance on how to safely handle wet or flood-affected currency notes in the wake of the disaster situation in the country. According to the Central Bank, citizens are advised to gently separate soaked notes, dry them naturally without using heat or chemicals, or any high-heat source, such as irons and ovens. The Central Bank further states that citizens can submit unusable notes to any commercial bank for exchange. This measure aims to protect the value of damaged currency and support recovery efforts in affected areas. (Newswire) The post CBSL urges…
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), together with its affiliate, the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA), has urged Sri Lanka’s government to honour its pledge to uphold freedom of expression. In a statement, the groups raised concerns over a Sri Lankan minister directing police to use emergency powers against individuals criticising the country’s president amid the country’s worst natural disaster in decades. According to the statement, speaking at a meeting with police officers on December 3, the deputy minister of public security, Sunil Watagala, claimed “malicious attacks” against Sri Lanka’s president, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and senior ministers were being…
The Sri Lankan Rupee has appreciated slightly against the US Dollar today (05 Dec), compared to Wednesday. According to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the buying rate of the US Dollar has reduced from Rs. 305.04 to Rs. 305. Meanwhile, the selling rate of the Sri Lankan Rupee has also dropped from Rs. 312.62 to Rs. 312.57. However, the Sri Lankan Rupee has depreciated slightly against a basket of foreign currencies, including Gulf currencies. (Newswire) The post Today’s CBSL official exchange rates appeared first on Newswire.
Toll charges on all Sri Lankan expressways recommenced yesterday (04 Dec) for all vehicles. Previously, due to adverse weather conditions, the Road Development Authority announced that tolls would not be charged for vehicles travelling on all expressways. This free travel facility had been provided for vehicles using all expressways, including the Southern Expressway, the Outer Circular Expressway, the Katunayake–Colombo Expressway, the Central Expressway, and the Southern Expressway Extension. (Newswire) The post Toll collection resumes on Sri Lankan expressways appeared first on Newswire.
The Ministry of Transport says the greatest damage has occurred to the up‑country railway line as a result of adverse weather. Deputy Minister of Transport, Prasanna Gunasena, said that 12 train sets have been stranded at the Rambukkana, Polgahawela, Kurunegala, and Ganewatta railway stations alone. Issuing a statement, he further said that the Bujgamuwa bridge and the Yattalgoda landslide‑affected areas have been completely blocked between the Ambepussa and Alawwa railway stations. Stating that restoration work is being carried out continuously for 24 hours to reopen these sections, the Deputy Minister said that through this, the stranded trains will be able…
The Department of Meteorology has issued an advisory for severe lightning in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces, and the Galle and Matara districts today (05). According to the advisory, effective until 11.00 pm today, red alerts have been issued to 07 districts and amber alerts have been issued to 08 districts. Warning that thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning are likely to occur during this period, the department urged the public to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by lightning activity. (Newswire) The post Lightning advisory : Red alert issued to 07 districts appeared first on Newswire.
The Internet Media Action (IMA) has expressed concern and objection over the statement made by Deputy Minister for Public Security Sunil Watagala calling for action under emergency regulations against those slandering the President on social media. Issuing a statement, the organization said that the Deputy Minister had issued the directive during a discussion held on December 2 at the Malabe Divisional Secretariat with the participation of a group of public officers and Deputy Minister of Mass Media Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathne. According to the statement, the Deputy Minister stated that through Social Media or any other media, ‘malicious character assassination attacks’…
Photo courtesy of Al Jazeera Just forty eight hours after Cyclone Ditwah unleashed its worst flooding, Sri Lanka revealed a fracture in its collective conscience. On one screen, families salvaged their belongings from the mud, their grief broadcast live as communities stitched together survival. On another, a trending post debated the best Black Friday deals, untouched by the devastation. This was not malice but something more insidious: a protective tone deafness. For many outside the flood zones, engagement with reality had become elective. The cyclone treated not as a national crisis demanding action but as a mere background noise they…
ECONOMYNEXT – The International Monetary Fund is looking at options to support Sri Lanka as more details are available of the damage, Julie Kozack, Director of the Communications has said. Sri Lanka economic activity has been adversely affected, and more information will be available once a rapid post-disaster damage assessment is completed. “And right now, Staff is looking into options to further support Sri Lanka in the recovery process,” Kozack said. “We still expect to have a Board meeting on December 15th. But as I said, we are looking into options to further support Sri Lanka.” “We will be providing…
Photo courtesy of DW When there is no clear yardstick to measure the seriousness of a situation, when the seriousness relates to an event that hasn’t happened yet, how that seriousness is perceived and how people respond to that seriousness depends mainly on how it is communicated – on the language, tone, mode, delivery and structure. For example, would telling someone in a calm, non-urgent tone, “You should eat healthy” actually motivate them to stick to a proper diet? Or do you need firmer, more concrete language that clearly conveys the risk such as, “If you keep skipping vegetables and…
ECONOMYNEXT – Cyclone Ditwah was an unusual weather system that developed too close to Sri Lanka’s coast, intensified suddenly and lingered an extraordinarily long time over Sri Lanka, dumping massive volumes of water on the Indian Ocean island. In the last 125 years, when 16 cyclones hit the island, Cyclone Ditwah stands out like a sore thumb, meteorologists say. Late Development Cyclones usually form far away in the Bay of Bengal, giving advance warning of a week or more in some cases as the weather systems move across the Bay of Bengal, says Ajith Wijemannage, Director at the Department of…
The ’Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund’ has received more than Rs. 697 million as donations so far, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Harshana Suriyapperuma said today.
Around 85 percent of power connections disrupted due to the emergency disaster situation have now been restored, out of approximately 3.9 million affected consumers, Deputy General Manager of the Ceylon Electricity Board Noel Priyantha said.
The ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ fund has received close to LKR 700 million from overseas Sri Lankans, according to Dr. Harshana Sooriyapperuma, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies. Announcing the figures, he said more than 30,470 transactions have been made so far through the account operated under Bank of Ceylon. In addition, foreign currency deposits into accounts maintained at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka have contributed nearly LKR 61 million to the fund. Remittances have been sent from 33 countries, with a significant contribution from Sri Lankan migrant workers. As of Tuesday (02), over 19,000…