Rage Bait: The Word of the Year and Its Reality in Sri Lanka

Oxford University Press named “Rage Bait” its 2025 Word of the Year, highlighting content designed to provoke anger for engagement. In Sri Lanka, rage bait extends beyond social media, influencing broadcast, print, and political discourse.

Sinhala and Tamil carols highlighted: A KING IS BORN: Trinity Old Boys Choir takes the stage on Dec. 16

I will extol the Lord at all times, His praise shall always be in my lips (Ps. 34:1)

Pera Alumni Colombo Chapter Commemorates its late members

The Social & Cultural Committee of the Alumni Association of the University of Peradeniya, Colombo Chapter chaired by Mrs. Kumudini Kulatunga, together with the members, offered lunch, medicine, milk powder, sanitary items, pillows, bedsheets etc. to the forty-five residents of the Paramitha Elders Home, Wanawasala Road, Kelaniya on 23rd October 2025 to bestow merits on their late members and families.

Cyclone Ditwah catastrophe Accounts from the heart of the `storm disaster´

Sri Lanka is currently reeling from its worst disaster since the 2004 tsunami after cyclone Ditwah unleashed days of relentless floods and landslides across the island. The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reports that the death toll has risen to 639, with over 200 people still missing as rescue operations continue. More than 86,000 homes have been damaged and over one million residents have been displaced, underscoring the vast scale of devastat

Tribute to Dr. Quintus Silva (Dec 12, 1937 – Nov 27, 2024) Remembering a doctor who did his duty with compassion

Dr. Quintus Silva-(MRCP (Lon), FRCGP (Lon), DCH (Lon)-was a distinguished Physician and Paediatrician whose influence transformed the medical landscape of Galle. His dedication, humility, and unwavering commitment to his patients made him a remarkable clinician and an exceptional human being. Every encounter with his patients was grounded in respect, compassion, and genuine partnership. Throughout his long career, the welfare of those under his c

Sri Lanka’s tourism narrative is being written online

Early global reactions to the recent cyclone suggest that the event did not create the reputational shock many feared. While deeply distressing for affected communities, the world has largely viewed it as one of a series of increasingly common climate incidents across the region. Recent Google Trends data, one of the clearest real-time indicators of international traveller sentiment, shows that interest in Sri Lanka has not collapsed. Instead, th

Cyclone Ditwah another test case of Indo-Pacific cooperation

As Cyclone Ditwah batters Sri Lanka, international aid has surged from India, the United States, Pakistan, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, and other nations. The crisis underscores the island’s strategic role in the Indo-Pacific, where disaster response increasingly intersects with geopolitics and climate resilience efforts

Meezan Hadjiar: Matale’s visionary merchant remembered From Humble Beginnings to Business Magnate, His Legacy Shapes Generations

Meezan Hadjiar, born Sathkorale Muhamdiramlagedara Segu Abdul Cader Hajiar Mohamed Mohideen, rose from a small village in Akurana to become Matale’s foremost entrepreneur. Beginning as a young apprentice in 1925, he transformed a failing shop into Meezan Estates Ltd, owning thousands of acres of tea and rubber plantations. His influence extended beyond commerce to civic service, philanthropy, and politics, funding water schemes, mosques, and supp

Swiss Govt. extends humanitarian hand to Cyclone affected Sri Lanka

In response to the severe impact of Cyclone Ditwah, the Swiss Government has extended comprehensive humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka for a total of Swiss Francs (CHF) 450’000 as part of the emergency response effort.

Megoda-Kolonnawa residents struggle to revive lives after devastating floods

The messy aftermath of the floods that occurred in the wake of Cyclone Ditwah is evident for anyone who visits Megoda-Kolonnawa. In fact it is one of the worst flood-prone areas in Colombo as it is a low-lying settlement along the Kelani River basin.

War hero Gen. Janaka Perera and Wajira at eternal rest

The family memorial for the late war hero Gen. Janaka Perera and his wife Wajira, sits silently at a cemetery in Panadura.

From Struggle to Strength; How World Bank Figures Illuminate Sri Lanka’s Road Ahead

Two years after Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, World Bank figures indicate declining inflation, a stable rupee, and GDP growth approaching 5%. Yet for many citizens, the cost of living, poverty, and limited job opportunities continue to challenge daily life, highlighting the gap between national recovery and individual well-being.

Help but neighbours come first sent all over the world,

A quick and significant response to humanitarian crises across its borders is today a major ingredient in India’s foreign policy. India is justly proud of its reputation for being the “first responder” during emergencies and natural disasters especially in the neighbourhood.

Helping stranded dogs and removing snakes from flooded homes

Adversity brings out the best and worst in people. During the recent flood disaster, there are those who worked round the clock to help those in distress, and this article is about three young men with unusual occupations who braved flood waters to help not only people, but those abandoned or stranded without a voice – cats and dogs. Lakshan Madhushanka, Sameera Ramanayake and Dila Peiries spent four days from November 28, when the flooding began

Sri Lanka Federation of the Visually Handicapped: White cane project gives ‘mobility’ to visually impaired

Founded in 1974 by a dedicated group of visually impaired pioneers, Sri Lanka Federation of the Visually Handicapped (SLFVH) was established to voice the rights and address the needs of the visually impaired community.

How Losing Makes a Winner – Yevan David

It all started when a 6-year-old child got into a go-kart at the Bandaragama karting track in December 2013. Every year his family, living in Singapore at the time, would visit Sri Lanka.

Exemplary moral courage under pressure Autobiography of President’s Counsel Upul Jayasuriya launched in Colombo

The autobiography of President’s Counsel Upul Jayasuriya was launched in Colombo recently at a grand ceremony, where the first copy of the book was presented to his schoolteacher, Mr. S.D. Liyanage, in a gesture that reflected the author’s deep respect for the mentors who shaped his early life.

Grok’s Emotional Avatars Ani & Valentine Hit Sri Lanka

In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, Elon Musk’s xAI has carved out a distinct niche with “Grok” an AI (Artificial Intelligence) model. Unlike its competitors, Grok is directly integrated into X.com (formerly Twitter), giving it real-time access to the pulse of the world. It isn’t just a search engine; it is a conversationalist built with a “rebellious streak,” designed to engage users with wit and reduced filters. Howeve

Adding to the misery, shops were looted: Gampola: A Town’s Silent Struggle in the Dark

Cyclone Ditwah that struck Sri Lanka recently left behind a trail of devastation, plunging many regions into severe crisis. We continued to report from places where communication was possible, but there were areas from which no information emerged. One such place was Gampola.

Sri Lanka at a Crossroads: Strengthening National Security Through Smarter Disaster Preparedness

Sri Lanka is no longer facing isolated natural events. Each crisis now arrives as a multi-dimensional security threat—climate shocks, economic stress, misinformation, cyber disruptions, and social tensions converging at once. This is the new reality across Asia, and Sri Lanka must adapt quickly, drawing from the lived lessons of the Philippines, Indonesia, and regional disaster leaders.

UNDP to mobilise fast, transparent assistance Aiming at long-term resilience building

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka today launched the next iteration of the Giving Facility for Flood Relief & Livelihoods Support to mobilise fast, transparent assistance for communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah.

49th Anniversary of Taekwon-Do in Sri Lanka to be celebrated in Hendala

The 49th Anniversary of Taekwon-Do in Sri Lanka and 22nd ITF National Taekwon-Do Championship are to be held on December 7 (Sunday) in Hendala. According to the Sri Lanka Taekwon-Do Association’s founder Dr. Cyril Antony, the two events will be held at the WattalaPradeshiyaSabha Hall, in Hendala. The commemorative celebration of the 49th Anniversary of introducing Taekwon-Do to Sri Lanka is from 3.00pm onwards. Concurrently the 22nd ITF National

S. Thomas’ College Gurutalawa Largest residential school campus in Sri Lanka opens its doors for 2026

S. Thomas’ College, Gurutalawa (STCG)-the largest residential school campus in Sri Lanka-is now accepting applications for Nursery and Grade 1 for the 2026 academic year, with a limited number of vacancies available from Grades 2 to 11.

Building Back Better A comprehensive strategy for Sri Lanka’s post catastrophe reconstruction

A natural catastrophe presents a devastating challenge, but also a singular opportunity the chance to “Build Back Better” (BBB). For Sri Lanka, a nation highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, this means moving beyond simple restoration to creating a more resilient, sustainable, and equitably governed country. Successfully navigating this complex process requires national unity, competent leadership, strategic foreign aid mobilization, the e

Could Sri Lanka have been better prepared if warnings were heeded?

The worst natural disaster Sri Lanka faced in recent history was the tsunami. The next major disaster that struck the country after that was the Ditwah cyclone and the severe floods that followed. Disaster-management programmes were implemented in advance to handle any potential emergencies, and rehearsals were carried out for such situations. During the disasters that followed, the Ministry of Disaster Management, Ministry of Public Administrati

The earth swallowed the sleeping: The disaster that haunts Rambuk ela village

Disaster warnings Sri Lanka should adapt

The rising death toll and widespread infrastructure ruin from the latest deluges serve as a brutal, unmistakable warning: Sri Lanka’s socio-economic progress is fundamentally at risk. Climate change is no longer a future threat; it is a present danger. With the island facing a surge in extreme rainfall and crippling heatwaves -threatening food security and livelihoods- there is simply no time to waste.

After Cyclone Ditwah: Climate-Proofing Sri Lanka’s Health System

As Sri Lanka currently counts human and economic costs of Cyclone Ditwah, the images are both disturbing and somewhat familiar: flooded hospitals, access roads buried by landslides, evacuation centres overflowing with displaced families, and officials in health and Disaster Management Services scrambling to meet everyone’s needs. The death toll is at 355 and rising, with hundreds more missing and over 200,000 displaced, with effects being borne d

Reflecting on Cyclone Ditwah Communities struggle because warnings went unheeded

On the morning of November 30, 2025, a desperate message surfaced from Pattiyagama, Deltota, one of many remote hill-country communities devastated by Cyclone Ditwah. Typed under a failing phone signal, it described isolation, fear, and despair: “There is no current here and the network is also bad. Roads are still blocked. No one has come yet. Food items cost very high. No one came to see if we are alive or dead. Relatives got caught in the flo

Natural disasters show that marginalised communities need more help

Feminist Collective for Economic Justice, a collective of feminist economists, scholars, feminist activists, university students and lawyers, through a press release demands prioritising marginalised communities in disaster preparedness, equitable relief and economic justice.