ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka Police have announced dedicated telephone numbers on which stranded tourists can seek help, as rescue efforts continue after Cyclone Ditwah wrecked havoc countrywide. Due to the severe weather conditions impacting various parts the island, foreign tourists in the country may be facing difficulties or disruptions to their travel plans, a Police statement said. “Should any foreign national or group encounter distress, require assistance, or face challenges in reaching the airport as a result of the prevailing disaster situation, the Sri Lanka Police stands ready to provide immediate support, protection, and necessary guidance.” Foreign tourists are advised…
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Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne has announced an amended schedule for the Committee Stage debates on the Budget 2026 in Parliament. The Speaker adjourned Parliament for 30 minutes this morning to discuss the Parliament schedule in view of the prevalent disaster situation in the country. As such, it has been decided to conclude today’s Parliament sitting for the Committee Stage budget debates at 12.30 pm. Parliament will convene again at 09.00 am on Wednesday, December 03. (Newswire) The post Budget debate : Speaker announces amended schedule appeared first on Newswire.
Colombo, Sri Lanka, 01 December 2025: Prima Group Sri Lanka has pledged assistance valued at over Rs. 300 million, providing essential Prima food products to support communities affected by the recent floods across the island. This relief initiative is being coordinated through the Ministry of Defence to ensure the timely and effective distribution of aid to impacted families. As part of this commitment, Prima Group Sri Lanka donated a significant stock of Prima dry rations to the Government of Sri Lanka on 30 November. The consignment will be distributed across multiple severely impacted districts. These supplies will support families facing…
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and Japanese Ambassador Akio Isomata engaged in an extensive discussion on the current disaster situation facing Sri Lanka, during a meeting at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament today. During the discussion, Sajith Premadasa expressed his appreciation to the Government of Japan for dispatching relief and emergency service teams to assist Sri Lanka during this critical period. He respectfully requested that Japan, as a longstanding and trusted friend who has always stood by Sri Lanka in times of crisis, extend its assistance once again. He further appealed for Japan’s specialized expertise, technology…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Dialog Axiata has restored connectivity to most of the island, with recovery teams working with the Air Force, Navy, and the regulator after Cyclone Ditwah ripped apart fibre lines and towers died without power, a top official said. Sri Lanka’s telecom networks went under in most areas; the electricity grid went down in the hill country in Nuwara Eliya, Gampola and Kandy people were without water or telephone connections for almost three days. Last night connectivity was restored to Nuwara Eliya, Dialog Group Chief Executive, Supun Weerasinghe said Monday. Minister of Digital Infrastructure Eranga Weeraratne told…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Colombo Stock Exchange was trading down on Monday shortly after open, as the full extent of the disaster following Cyclone Ditwah was becoming more apparent. The All Share Price Index was down 2.84 percent, or 644.04 points, at 22,068.78; the S&P SL20 was down 2.63 percent, or 164.55 points, at 6,102.48. “There is some panic selling, which we have seen in the past, too, following a disaster,” Dimantha Mathew, Chief Research and Strategy Officer at First Capital Holdings PLC said. The ASPI dropped to 21,904 a few minutes after the opening bell. “The selling was seen…
Former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa has reported to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) today. It is reported that Rajapaksa had arrived at the Bribery Commission to record a statement in connection with an ongoing investigation. (Newswire) The post Chamal Rajapaksa questioned by Bribery Commission appeared first on Newswire.
Is there such a thing as a quiet image? Sri Lanka is perpetually sold as an image: a pristine, tropical fantasy of golden beaches, ancient ruins and picturesque wildlife. Yet this glossy, commodified lens, often a hangover from the colonial era, fails to capture the complex existence of the people who inhabit these spaces. This sanitised visual narrative is what photographer Tavish Gunasena seeks to challenge in his new exhibition, Scrubland: East Coast Essays at the Barefoot Gallery. Scrubland is a non-linear, non-narrative photography series, serving as a living archive of histories and mythologies centred on the Southeast coast, particularly…
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says initial assessments indicate that more than 15,000 homes have been destroyed due to the impact of Cyclone Ditwah. The OCHA further said that over 200 roads remain impassable, at least 10 bridges have been damaged, and sections of the rail network and national power grid affected. The initial assessments also report that 998,918 people across all 25 districts have now been affected, with 212 deaths reported and 218 people missing. More than 180,000 people from over 51,000 families are sheltering in 1,094 government-run safety centres as search and…
The Irrigation Department says the Kelani River water level at Nagalagam Street has shown no increase over the past three hours, remaining at 8.45 feet as of 9.30 a.m. today. According to the department’s latest report, the water level continues to stay within the Major Flood category, but officials confirmed that the level has not risen since early morning, indicating a temporary stabilisation. The Department noted that other key monitoring points along the Kelani River, including Hanwella and Glencourse, are reporting falling or stable trends, suggesting a potential easing of flood pressure downstream. Despite the lack of further increase, authorities…
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) says a board of inquiry has been appointed and an investigation has been initiated into the emergency landing of a Bell 212 helicopter near the Lunuwila Bridge. Issuing a statement, the SLAF said the inquiry has been launched under the directives of the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe. The probe comes after a SLAF Bell 212 helicopter, which had been engaged in distributing dry and fresh rations to the flood-affected communities in the Lunuwila area, made an emergency landing near the Lunuwila Bridge yesterday. Five Air Force personnel, including two pilots,…
The death toll due to inclement weather in Sri Lanka stands at 334, while 370 persons are reported missing as of 06.00 am today, according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC). The DMC states the highest number of deaths has been reported in the Kady District (88), followed by Badulla (71), and Nuwara Eliya (68). A total of 1,118,929 persons from 309,607 families across 25 districts have been affected due to inclement weather. According to the DMC, 196,790 persons from 55,747 families have been relocated to 1,494 temporary safety shelters. (Newswire) The post Extreme weather : 334 dead, 370 missing…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee opened at 308.20/50 to the US dollar in the spot market Monday, depreciating sharply from 308.00/20 on Friday, dealers said, while bond yields were slightly higher. The rupee was quoted at 307.80/95 a week ago. A bond maturing on 15.03.2028 was quoted at 9.15/25 percent, up from 9.12/18 percent. A bond maturing on 15.12.2029 was quoted at 9.55/70 percent, up from 9.50/55 percent. A bond maturing on 01.07.2030 was quoted at 9.60/70 percent, up from 9.55/65 percent. A bond maturing on 15.03.2031 was quoted at 9.90/10.00 percent, up from 9.90/95 percent. A bond maturing on…
The Department of Meteorology says the warning issued earlier advising naval and fishing communities not to venture into the sea areas around Sri Lanka, has been withdrawn. The warning has been withdrawn as the Deep Depression which was located about 300 km North-northeast of Kankasanthurai, is very likely to move northwards, away from the island and weaken further. As such, showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the sea areas off the coast extending from Kalutara to Pottuvil via Galle and Matara. Showers are likely at a few places in the sea areas off the coast extending from…
The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has urged the public to report traders who sell goods at a higher price during the prevailing emergency situation. Issuing a statement, the CAA said based on the information received regarding errant traders, strict legal action will be taken against them in the future. As such, complaints regarding traders who sell goods at increased prices in the market should be reported to the following telephone numbers: Central Province – 0771088918 Western Province – 0770106603 North Western Province – 0771088902 Sabaragamuwa Province – 0771088912 Uva Province – 0771088896 Southern Province – 0771088915 Northern Province – 0771088910…
The Deep Depression was located about 300 km North-northeast of Kankasanthurai and is very likely to move northwards, away from Sri Lanka and weaken further, according to the Department Meteorology. As such, several spells of showers will occur in the Northern, Western, Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces and in the Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts today. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in the Batticaloa and Ampara districts after 2.00 pm. The public is requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thunderstorms. (Newswire) The…
Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri will contest a final-race championship showdown in Abu Dhabi after Red Bull’s Verstappen won a gripping Qatar Grand Prix.
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka has 30 billion rupees available for disaster response without parliamentary but more can be allocated with supplementary estimates, President Anura Dissanayake said. The 30 billion is available for immediate spending. “These funds have been designated specifically for this purpose. District Secretaries have been instructed to provide detailed estimates of required funds and work so that resources can be allocated effectively,” the statement said. “If the allocations earmarked in the 2025 budget are insufficient, we will take action through supplementary estimates and Parliament to secure additional provisions. “We are confident that this will allow us to meet…
The current four-year term of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) is officially scheduled to end on December 28, 2025.
ECONOMYNEXT – Cyclone Ditwah has killed 334 in Sri Lanka, 370 were still missing and more than 1.1 million were displaced the island’s Disaster Management Office said, Monday as recovery efforts are underway. The highest death toll was reported from the hill country in the Kandy district where 88 were displaced and 150 are still missing. Kandy and Gampola areas have seen large numbers of landslides with new displacements continuing as of Sunday. In Badulla, another hill district, 71 were dead and 53 missing. More than 196,790 displaced were house din 1,494 shelters the DMC said. The cyclone damaged power…