The World Health Organization (WHO) has allocated US$175,000 in emergency funds to support critical health services for communities affected by severe flooding and landslides across all 25 districts of Sri Lanka.
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ECONOMYNEXT – The Asian Development Bank said it has approved a 3 million disaster relief grant for Sri Lanka after the island was hit by Cyclone Ditwah along with two million each for Thailand and Vietnam. “I am deeply saddened by the suffering caused by these devastating floods,” ADB President President Masato Kanda said in a statement. “The governments and people of Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Viet Nam can rest assured that ADB will provide assistance to help save lives and rebuild communities. “We will work quickly and cooperatively with governments to bring shelter, comfort and hope to those affected…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka Customs is facing a four-day backlog due to the last week disaster and the clearance would be normal by end of December, Customs Director General Seevali Arukgoda said. “The clearance was affected from last Thursday up to Sunday because there was lack of staff. There was light flooding as well around the port,” Arukgoda told EconomyNext on Tuesday on the sideline of a media briefing. He said the unloading ships were taken out of the port due to heavy wind as well. “Now we are working with this four-day backlog. It will take some time to…
ECONOMYNEXT – The Asian Development Bank has approved a 100 million US dollar policy loan for Sri Lanka and a 2.5 million dollar technical assistance grand linked to power sector reforms and expansion of renewable energy. This second subprogram of ADB’s Power Sector Reforms and Financial Sustainability Program is linked to unbundling the Ceylon Electricity Board in to into independent successor companies for generation, transmission, system operation, and distribution. “Sri Lanka has made important progress in stabilizing its economy and strengthening its fiscal position,” ADB Country Director for Sri Lanka Takafumi Kadono said in a statement. “A well-functioning power sector…
Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala has directed the police to invoke emergency regulations to take action against individuals carrying out defamatory social media campaigns targeting the President and several government Ministers.
The Indian Army has deployed a specialized contingent to Sri Lanka under Operation Sagar Bandhu to assist communities affected by severe flooding caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
President of the BAR Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), Rajeev Amarasuriya, on Wednesday (03 Dec) visited the Kandy Courts Complex and the Kandy Lawyers’ Complex, which were affected due to the recent floods in Sri Lanka. Rajeev Amarasuriya said in a statement that he visited the court complex together with the President and Members of the Kandy Bar and the Convenor of the BASL Outstation Bar Committee and met with several Judicial Officers. “It was deeply saddening to witness the extensive damage caused by the flooding to the Court Houses, the Lawyers’ Complex, and the Law Library, which has suffered…
MP Anuradha Jayaratne said the government must accept responsibility for the fatalities in Gampola caused by the recent floods, adding that innocent people were ‘killed’ by the government. “There are only 19 fatalities recorded by the Udapalatha Divisional Secretariat. The bodies found behind Sethsiri and People’s Leasing alone must be counted. These weren’t things I intended to share — but the government’s conduct is questionable,” he said questioning accuracy of figures. Jayaratne said reservoir water releases played a central role in worsening the disaster. He noted that although the maximum discharge from Rantambe Reservoir during heavy rainfall is around 3,500 cubic…
Sri Lanka Police said the Criminal Investigation Department has identified 57 social media posts containing fake news, disinformation, rumors and unverified updates circulating in recent days, prompting investigations under emergency regulations. Police Media Division said a special CID unit is reviewing the posts, which officials claim could create fear, disrupt public order or incite tensions if widely shared. Under the Public Security Ordinance and emergency regulations, circulating false information that may lead to public unrest is a punishable offense. Assistant Superintendent of Police F. U. Wootler urged the public to avoid sharing unverified content during the ongoing disaster response efforts.…
The Kaduwela interchange entrance and exit, along with the Athurugiriya entrance and exit of the expressway which were temporarily closed due to the prevailing flood situation, have been reopened for normal traffic from today.
The President’s Fund will grant Rs. 25,000 for the educational needs of every school-going child affected by floods and landslides, President’s Media Division said.
The Ministry of Higher Education has announced an extra allowance of the Mahapola Scholarship for university students affected by the severe weather disaster. According to the ministry, another monthly allowance, in addition to the allowance paid on November 28, will be provided to affected university students. The Ministry of Higher Education said that the extra monthly allowance of the Mahapola Scholarship will be paid on December 5. (Newswire) The post Extra Mahapola Scholarship allowance for disaster‑affected uni students appeared first on Newswire.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa today urged the government to declare a day of mourning for the disaster victims.
Warrants have been issued for former MP Wimal Weerawansa by the Fort Magistrate’s Court after he failed to appear in connection with a pending case.
The Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, has urged Sri Lankans to mark this Christmas with compassion and restraint as the country continues to grapple with the aftermath of one of its worst natural disasters in recent history. In a Christmas message issued on Monday, the Archbishop of Colombo said more than one and a half million people have been displaced and “an uncounted number” remain buried under rubble and earth in the upper regions following landslides and severe flooding. “It is a most painful situation,” he wrote, noting that the Christian community is entering a season traditionally associated with…
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa today called for a new programme to rebuild the nation after the recent disaster and therefore cancel the IMF agreement and go for a fresh agreement.
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee closed at 308.75/80 to the US dollar in the spot market Wednesday, stronger from 308.80/90 on Tuesday, dealers said, while bond yields exhibited mixed results; shorter end of the yield curve broadly steady while selected tenors saw rates edge up. A bond maturing on 15.12.2026 closed at 8.25/40 percent, down from 8.25/35 percent. A bond maturing on 15.09.2027 closed at 9.00/9.05 percent. A bond maturing on 15.12.2029 closed at 9.60/65 percent, down from 9.65/70 percent. A bond maturing on 15.03.2033 closed at 9.95/10.05 percent. A bond maturing on 15.12.2032 closed flat at 10.35/45 percent. A…
The search for the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 will resume on 30 December, over a decade after the aircraft with 239 people on board vanished, Malaysian authorities have said.
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) closed down on Wednesday, data on its site showed. The All Share Price Index slid 1.87 percent, or 414.98 to 21,826.59 while the more liquid S&P SL20 closed 1.75 percent, or 107.13 points lower, at 6,030.66. Top negative contributors to the ASPI were Ceylinco Holdings (down 199.25 rupees at 3,000 rupees), Melstacorp (down 4.75 rupees at 175.25 rupees), Commercial Bank (down 3.50 rupees at 198 rupees), Senkadagala Finance (down 85.50 rupees at 1,114.50 rupees), and Bukit Darah (down 66 rupees at 1,029.50 rupees). Construction sector shares, which attracted investor interest in the…
The United Nations (UN) stands ready to support relief and response efforts in Sri Lanka, Secretary General of the United Nations António Guterres said.