Damage from Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka estimated at US $4.1 Billion

The 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 today.

Flood warnings for Mahaweli River basin withdrawn

The flood warnings issued by the Hydrology and Disaster Management Division of the Department of Irrigation for the Mahaweli River basins have been withdrawn.

Indian External Affairs Minister arrives in Sri Lanka

Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar arrived in Sri Lanka a short while ago as Special Envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

IRD achieves annual revenue target by December 19: Commissioner General

The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has achieved the annual revenue target of Rs. 2,203 billion assigned by the Government for 2025 by December 19, Commissioner General Rukdevi P. H. Fernando said.

Draft bill on Prevention of Terrorism is not final: Justice Minister

Claiming that the draft bill on the Prevention of Terrorism is not final, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said today the draft bill will be amended after considering the public comments and suggestions before it is submitted to the Cabinet or Parliament.

Reveal the truth on Ondansetron injection: Sajith

The Minister of Health should reveal all details pertaining to the controversial Ondansetron injections including the capacity of Sri Lankan laboratories to subject the consignment of the said injections to a proper test, Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa said today.

Northern Railway line fully reopened for train services

The Northern Railway Line has been fully reopened for train operations, Sri Lanka Railways announced.

16 dead, 18 injured in bus accident in Indonesia

A passenger bus crash killed at least 16 people on Indonesia’s main island of Java just after midnight Monday, officials said.

Julie Chung among envoys recalled by Trump

The Trump administration has begun recalling nearly 30 career diplomats serving as ambassadors and senior embassy officials worldwide, including the United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka, as part of a broader reshaping of US diplomatic representation to align with President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda.

2,300 health inspectors step up festive season food checks

With the approach of the festive season, nearly 2,300 Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) and Administrative Public Health Inspectors have launched islandwide raids and inspections to ensure the availability of safe and quality food for consumers.

Police constable arrested over assault involving NPP MP

A police constable implicated in an assault involving Ratnapura District National People’s Power (NPP) Member of Parliament Shantha Pathma Kumara Subasingha has been arrested, police said.

Russian general killed by car bomb in Moscow, officials say

A Russian general has been killed in a car bombing in Moscow, officials have said.

Ditwah disaster exposes plantation communities’ vulnerability, says TPA

The recent floods and landslides caused by the Ditwah disaster have once again underscored Sri Lanka’s vulnerability to recurring climate-related emergencies, with plantation communities in the hill country bearing a disproportionately high impact, Democratic People’s Front–Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Vice President Barath Arullsamy said yesterday.

Japan prepares to restart world’s biggest nuclear plant, 15 years after Fukushima

Japan took the final step to allow the world’s largest nuclear power plant to resume operations with a regional vote on Monday, a watershed moment in the country’s return to nuclear energy nearly 15 years after the Fukushima disaster.

New Education Reforms bound to create conflicts between parents and children: Cardinal

The Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has warned that the new education reforms proposed by the government could create conflict between parents and children and weaken family bonds.

Ondansetron tested before importation :Doctors’ Trade Union Alliance

The controversial Ondansetron Injection, which was later identified as containing a bacterial toxin, had undergone laboratory testing before being imported to Sri Lanka and was cleared at the time, Chairman of the Doctors’ Trade Union Alliance for Medical and Civil Rights, Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, said.

Sri Lanka weighs Indian company’s request for global testing of its drug

Amid the ongoing probe into the withdrawn batches of the Ondansetron and request of the relevant Indian company to send samples for global testing, fresh concerns have been raised over Sri Lanka’s continued absence of a World Health Organization (WHO)-accredited laboratory for drug testing.

Special operations room set up for festive season security

The Secretary to the Ministry of Defence has directed the activation of a special Operations Room at the Army Headquarters to ensure public safety and security during the festive season.

Air quality remains slightly unhealthy across Sri Lanka

Air quality across Sri Lanka continues to remain slightly unhealthy, according to real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) data.

Rainfall expected to decrease in coming days – Met Department

The Department of Meteorology said that the prevailing rainy weather conditions across the island are expected to decrease over the next few days.

Sri Lankan economy still remains vulnerable: IMF

Sustained adherence to the reform agenda has underpinned a robust economic recovery, price stability, substantial revenue-based fiscal consolidation, and progress in rebuilding foreign exchange reserves, but the economy remains vulnerable, and GDP has not recovered to its pre-crisis level, according to an IMF official.

US pursues third oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela

The United States is pursuing another oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela, a US official told Al Jazeera, as Washington intensifies a pressure campaign against the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Gibbon at Dehiwala Zoo dies after 22 years

A White-handed Gibbon, the primate who lived in the Dehiwala Zoo for 22 years, has died, according to a statement from the Environment Ministry.

CID probes leak of VMS data used to track drug-running vessels

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has launched a comprehensive investigation on the instructions of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) following information that the Vessels Monitoring System (VMS) used to track multi-day fishing vessels and boats transporting drug consignments in the open seas, along with sensitive computer data of the Police Narcotics Bureau, has reportedly fallen into the hands of drug traffickers.

Impact on World Heritage Sites, UNESCO assistance sought

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.

Sri Lanka seeks sniffer dogs from EU to find the missing

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.

Showroom manager shot dead in Ambalangoda

A manager of an electronics showroom in the Ambalangoda town was shot dead this morning (22), police said.

The offer to lend not a compulsion to borrow, says Verité chief

Dr. Nishan de Mel, Executive Director of Verité Research has urged the government to evaluate the “hidden costs” of the IMF’s Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) before committing to the debt.

Sri Lanka Customs initiates major technological overhaul of its vehicle clearance protocols

Sri Lanka Customs has initiated a major technological overhaul of its vehicle clearance protocols to seal a loophole that previously allowed the tampering of motor vehicle data during registration.

Rights groups condemn new record number of executions in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has surpassed its record for the number of executions carried out annually for a second year in a row.