ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka President Anura Dissanayake addressed the nation after Cyclone Ditwah disaster condoling with the families that lost their loved ones, but expressing confidence in the country’s ability to recover. “During this crisis, we have repeatedly witnessed that the limited facilities and resources of our country are far less valuable than the extraordinary human capital we possess,” President Dissanayake saaid. “We are proud of our citizens’ unwavering confidence, their presence at every moment of need and their readiness to assist.” “Looking ahead, we must face the immense task of reconstruction and recovery. The estimated scale of destruction is…
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India has evacuated around 750 Indian nationals stranded in Sri Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah, as part of ongoing efforts under Operation Sagar Bandhu. Evacuations continue via commercial airlines and Indian Air Force flights, the Indian High Commission in Colombo said.
Claiming that emergency regulations have been enacted to provide legal and financial safeguards for efficient reconstruction, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake assured that the emergency powers will not be misused for any other purpose.
Another Indian Air Force flight, a C-130J, has landed in Colombo carrying approximately 10 tons of disaster response supplies, Indian External Affairs Minister of India, Dr. S. Jayashankar said.
The government is in the process of setting up a fund to gather the necessary resources for reconstruction, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today.
Wing Commander Nirmal Siyambalapitiya, the captain of a Sri Lanka Air Force Bell 212 helicopter, was killed this afternoon (30) when the aircraft crashed in the Lunuwila area of Wennappuwa during disaster relief operations.
At least 334 people have been confirmed dead, while 370 others are still missing, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reported today.
Academic activities of all universities, higher education institutions and vocational training institutions under the purview of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education will be suspended until December 8, 2025, Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked the country’s President, Isaac Herzog, for a pardon over corruption cases he has been battling.
BBC- The death toll from flooding and landslides on Indonesia’s Sumatra island has risen dramatically to 442, officials say.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is scheduled to address the nation at 8.30 p.m. today (30).
Police have confirmed that the five Sri Lanka Navy personnel who went missing during a flood-mitigation operation in the Chundikkulam area have died. The sailors were engaged in work to widen a waterway when they went missing earlier today, according to police. The Navy had immediately launched a special search operation, deploying search and rescue teams to the site. Navy Spokesperson Captain Gayan Wickramasuriya said the personnel were part of a flood-relief team operating in the area when the incident occurred. Search operations continued through the evening as authorities worked to recover all five bodies amid challenging weather conditions.…
Sri Lankan authorities have dismissed widespread rumours claiming the Kotmale Dam had broken, urging the public to remain calm and rely only on official information. On Sunday night, many residents in Gampola were seen rushing onto the roads in panic after messages began circulating on social media warning of an alleged dam breach. Officials said the reports were completely false. The Water Management Secretariat said that while the Kotmale reservoir’s water level had slightly exceeded the spill level, the excess water was being released in a controlled manner. The Secretariat noted that the situation is not dangerous and that the…
A Bell 212 helicopter belonging to the Sri Lanka Air Force, engaged in ongoing disaster relief operations, crashed this afternoon (30) in the Lunuwila area of Wennappuwa.
A hybrid mission was undertaken to rescue people stranded near the Kotmale area. A specially trained guide was winched down from the helicopter into an inaccessible location and then guided the stranded tourists and others to a pre-designated helipad.
Sri Lanka has launched urgent measures to restore essential public services and support disaster-hit communities, the Commissioner-General of Essential Services announced on Sunday night. In a statement issued under the authority of the Extraordinary Gazette No. 2464/31, Commissioner-General B.K. Prabath Chandrakeerthi said all Provincial Chief Secretaries have been instructed to immediately assess infrastructure damages in their areas and report them for rapid response. They have also been directed to identify disruptions to food supplies and other critical services and take swift action to resolve them The Commissioner-General has authorised Provincial Councils to share equipment and personnel across regions, allowing local…
The death toll from the severe weather conditions affecting the country has surpassed 200, rising to 212, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reported today.
A Public Health Inspector (PHI) engaged in disaster relief operations has reportedly been threatened with death by a local politician affiliated to the New Democratic Front (NDF).
LITRO Gas Company has urged the public not to panic, assuring that there is no shortage of domestic gas and that the company maintains sufficient stocks to meet national demand.
Colombo is facing a worsening flood situation as the Kelani River water level at Nagalagam Street climbed to 8.0 feet on Sunday night, crossing the major flood threshold. According to official monitoring data, the river showed a steady rise throughout the day, pushing the Colombo city stretch into a critical stage. Water levels, which were at 7.65 feet at 7:03 p.m., increased to 7.80 feet by 8:04 p.m., 7.90 feet by 9:04 p.m., and reached 8.00 feet at 10:05 p.m., indicating continued upstream pressure moving toward the capital. Authorities warn that low-lying areas along the Kelani River are at high…