Cabinet approval next week for private sector involvement in developing Mattala airport

05 Jan 2026

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A Cabinet Memorandum will be presented next week seeking approval to call for Expression of Interest (EOI) from local or foreign investors to develop the Mattala international airport under the public private partnership (PPP) model, Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janitha Kodituwakku said.

SriLankan Airlines debt to be restructured this month: Deputy Minister

05 Jan 2026

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The Government is expecting to complete the restructuring of the defaulted debt of SriLankan Airlines this month, Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janitha Kodituwakku said.

Energy Ministry to appoint committee to assess reimbursements for preliminary expenses by Adani

03 Jan 2026

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The Cabinet has entrusted the Energy Ministry to appoint a committee to assess and determine reimbursements for initial costs sustained by India’s Adani Company following its withdrawal from the proposed investment projects in Sri Lanka, an official said.

Sri Lanka’s juvenile tusker population on the rise

03 Jan 2026

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Sri Lanka’s juvenile elephants’ population with tusks have seen a rise of 9.2 per cent during the period between 2021 and 2024, according to statistics quoted by Environment Minister Dr. Dammika Patabendi. The Minister told Daily Mirror that the juvenile tuskers accounted for 8.4 per cent of the total population in 2021, and it had scaled up to 17.6 per cent in 2024. Way back in 1993, the figure was at 11 per cent.

One year on, Sri Lanka’s largest FDI project yet to see the light of day

02 Jan 2026

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Despite the lapse of almost one year after signing the MoU (Memorandum of Understanding), the proposed US $ 3.7 billion investment by Sinopec is yet to see the light of day.

Cyclone Ditwah: Warnings Ignored, Damage Could Have Been Mitigated- Champika Ranawaka

01 Jan 2026

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United Republican Front (URF) leader Patali Champika Ranawaka, in an interview with Daily Mirror, responds to questions about the government’s alleged failure to take measures for the mitigation of Ditwah impact, the delay in the appointment of the Auditor General and the post –disaster development strategy needed for the country.

Alongside India, China is set to play role in post-disaster rebuilding process

29 Dec 2025

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Alongside India, China is also likely to play a key role in Sri Lanka’s post-disaster rebuilding efforts, according to a top source.

Cyclone Ditwah: US $ 4.1 billion damage, replacement cost even higher

24 Dec 2025

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Cyclone Ditwah, which struck Sri Lanka in late November, has caused an estimated US $4.1 billion in direct physical damage to buildings and contents, agriculture and critical infrastructure, according to a World Bank Group Global Rapid Post-Disaster Damage Estimation (GRADE) report released . This damage is equivalent to about 4 percent of Sri Lanka’s GDP, the World Bank said.

Impact on World Heritage Sites, UNESCO assistance sought

22 Dec 2025

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The UNESCO support is now in process for the assessment of damages to world heritage sites after disasters caused by Cyclone Ditwah, the Daily Mirror learns.

After effects of Cyclone Ditwah

Sri Lanka seeks sniffer dogs from EU to find the missing

22 Dec 2025

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The government has requested European Union to dispatch a pack of sniffer dogs to assist in the discovery of remains of those buried alive in landslides triggered by cyclone Ditwah, an official said yesterday.

73 children lose parents due to Cyclone Ditwah

19 Dec 2025

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Seventy three children have lost their parents – one or both - due to disasters triggered by Cyclone Ditwah as reported by December 16.

U.S. initiative, Australia’s interest and Sri Lanka’s untapped mineral sector potential

19 Dec 2025

2

If the 20th century ran on oil and steel, the 21st century is going to run on compute and minerals, and so we’re aligning our supply chains accordingly, Jacob Helberg, Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs on AI Supply Chain Security, declared while delivering opening remarks during the Pax Silica Summit.

SL’s mineral export potential is US $ 778 million whereas realised amount is US $ 389 million

18 Dec 2025

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Sri Lanka’s mineral export potential is as much as US $ 778 million annually where the realized amount is only US $ 389 million as estimated by the ITC Export Potential Map, a report compiled by the Pathfinder Foundation says.

Sri Lanka’s current growth level insufficient to create jobs - World Bank experts say

17 Dec 2025

8

Sri Lanka’s current economic growth rates will not be sufficient to create jobs for one million people entering the workforce in the next decade, a leading World Bank economist said.

Sri Lanka’s current growth level not enough to create jobs: World Bank experts

17 Dec 2025

1

World Bank Lead Economist for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, Arvind Nair and Country Economist for Sri Lanka, Ms Shruti Lakhtakia, shared their views on the status of the economy in an interview with Daily Mirror.

Attempts at trafficking, exploiting disaster-hit children on the rise

16 Dec 2025

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In the wake of Cyclone Ditwah, the Women and Child Affairs Ministry warned of increased attempts by certain elements for child trafficking and exploitation, a spokesperson said.

Corruption in Sri Lanka really is a macro-critical issue - World Bank specialist

16 Dec 2025

4

Anti-corruption drive has become a political topic in Sri Lanka for years now. The political parties have been used to campaign for decades on the plank of eradication of corruption and frauds upon return to power. In fact, it was a major topic discussed by the People’s Alliance under the leadership of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga even way back in 1994.

SLFP prunes leader’s authority, sweeping changes incorporated into party constitution

15 Dec 2025

1

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has introduced sweeping changes to its Constitution, significantly pruning the authority of the party chairman or leader, an official said.

Govt. to call for international donor conference

15 Dec 2025

6

The government is planning to convene an international donor conference to seek assistance for rebuilding the disaster-hit country, Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath told the Daily Mirror.

20 per cent reduction in vegetable production: Official

13 Dec 2025

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Commissioner General of Essential Services Prabath Chandrakeerthi said that there is only a 20 per cent reduction in vegetable production due to the weather-related disasters as per statistics available from the districts such as Nuwara-Eliya, and therefore it is not a major issue.