News

The President has appointed a national-level committee to ensure the proper coordination of foreign aid distribution to affected communities.

Deputy Minister of Defence, Retired Major General Aruna Jayasekara made the announcement during a special media briefing held at the Disaster Management Centre.

The committee has been established under his chairmanship to oversee and streamline relief efforts.

The arrival of two U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules aircraft in Sri Lanka with full media visibility and an unusually high-profile diplomatic presence marks a striking departure from Washington’s historically discreet approach to military disaster assistance on the island.

U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules aircraft in Sri Lanka

While past U.S. military deployments for emergency relief have often been conducted with minimal publicity due to geopolitical sensitivities, this week’s response to Cyclone Ditwah has been accompanied by extensive public messaging, embassy-issued photographs, and top-level diplomatic commentary.

The aircraft, deployed under U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, were welcomed at Katunayake Air Base by Ambassador Julie Chung and senior Sri Lankan officials. The Embassy’s announcement highlighted America’s “airlift and logistics muscle,” presenting the operation as a visible symbol of U.S. commitment to Sri Lanka.

The messaging stood in contrast to earlier instances such as disaster operations following floods or landslides over the past decade when U.S. air assets were deployed more quietly, sometimes without advance public disclosure.

Diplomatic observers note that the sudden emphasis on visibility comes at a time when major powers are intensifying humanitarian diplomacy across the Indian Ocean.

Sri Lanka’s strategic location makes disaster-relief optics a valuable tool for influence. Several analysts argue that the U.S. may be signalling greater operational transparency or strategic presence amid heightened competition with other regional actors.

The official narrative frames the deployment squarely as humanitarian. According to the U.S. Embassy, the C-130Js and personnel from the 36th Contingency

 Response Group will provide rapid airlift to deliver shelter materials, sanitation supplies, medical aid, and food to cyclone-affected regions.

Additional support from the 374th Airlift Wing and the U.S. Marine Corps reinforces what officials call a “multinational, inter-service humanitarian partnership.”

Ambassador Chung praised Sri Lankan responders and underscored the urgency of logistics following severe damage to road infrastructure.

“The United States is here to take on some heavy lifting,” she said. Defense Attaché Matthew House emphasized that the mission builds on long-running military cooperation, noting that joint exercises have strengthened coordination for crises like Cyclone Ditwah.

Yet beneath the humanitarian partnership lies a broader geopolitical context. The public roll-out of this operation raises questions about why previous U.S. military-supported relief missions some involving aerial surveillance, airlift support, or operational planners received little or no publicity.

Officials who follow defense cooperation note that the U.S. typically keeps deployments low-profile to avoid triggering regional sensitivities,

 but the robust public messaging in this instance suggests a shift: either an effort to demonstrate commitment to Sri Lanka, or an intention to maintain visibility in a crowded strategic theatre.

The United States has also recently provided SLAF with $2.1 million worth of airlift-support equipment fuel trucks, loading platforms, and ground-power units now deployed in the cyclone response. This accompanies the $2 million in humanitarian aid announced within 72 hours of landfall.

As relief operations continue, the high-visibility American deployment raises a new question: Is this transparency a one-off gesture for Cyclone Ditwah, or the beginning of a more assertive U.S. humanitarian footprint in Sri Lanka?

U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung and Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Defense Major General KP Aruna Jayasekara (Retd.) welcome U.S. Air Force Airmen at Katunayake Air Base

Sri Lanka will receive full support from the United Nations (UN) for recovery and reconstruction following the recent extreme weather disaster, the UN Resident Representative in Sri Lanka Marc-André Franche said on Monday.

He made the pledge during a meeting with Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath at the ministry.

Marc-André Franche said the UN has decided to provide an initial US$ 4.5 million under its Emergency Response Fund to support immediate relief for affected communities. The amount was symbolically handed over to Minister Herath during the meeting.

According to the UN, the financial and technical assistance will focus on food security, housing, drinking water, education, health, agriculture and fisheries.

Marc-André Franche further noted that a five-member team from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has already arrived in Sri Lanka to conduct a detailed assessment of needs. The UN expects to work closely with Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre for all related coordination.

Minister Herath pointed out that the disaster has severely affected the country’s population, economy, agricultural sector and essential infrastructure, and emphasized the importance of international cooperation for national recovery efforts.

The Resident Representative said the UN will continue working with its offices in New York and Geneva to facilitate support from international partners contributing to Sri Lanka’s rebuilding programme.

Sri Lanka’s economic recovery has been shaken by revelations that the Central Bank is excluding billions in short-term domestic forex swaps from its reserve calculations, prompting accusations from Parliament’s Committee on Public Finance (COPF) that the Bank may be overstating the country’s true financial safety net.

At a heated session, COPF Chairman Dr. Harsha de Silva confronted Central Bank officials over why domestic dollar swaps with local and foreign banks operating in Sri Lanka are kept off the books when computing Net International Reserves (NIR). COPF Chairman Dr. Harsha de Silva

“These may be domestic obligations but they are liabilities in dollars,” he emphasized. “You still need forex to settle them.”

CBSL Director of Economic Research Sujatha Jegajeevan confirmed the omission. “We only deduct external liabilities,” she said.

The Bank currently deducts the PBoC (US$1.36 bn), RBI (US$880 mn), and IMF (US$580 mn) obligations to arrive at an NIR figure of US$ 3.4 billion from US$ 6.2 billion gross reserves.

But COPF members say the domestic swaps could amount to a massive hidden liability not reflected in headline figures.

COPF member MP Ravi Karunanayake a former finance minister blasted the arrangement:“That is more of a hot money operation.”

De Silva added that similar schemes were used in the past to “inflate” reserves artificially, claiming that the practice “misleads policymakers and the public.”

Why the Omission Matters

In simple terms:A swap is a loan the central bank takes dollars today and promises to return them later.If these loans are hidden or underreported, Sri Lanka’s reserve strength could be overstated by hundreds of millions of dollars.

Analysts say such swaps: expand rupee liquidity,fuel imports,weaken the rupee, and ultimately force the central bank to lose reserves defending the currency.

In 2022, CBSL booked Rs. 788 billion in forex losses from reserve-related debt, much of it linked to swap-driven instability.

Governor Weerasinghe’s Defence

Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe insisted the swap lines are short-term liquidity tools for banks and part of standard reserve management.

“These instruments provide rupee liquidity. If banks have an opportunity, they use swaps,” he said, adding that swaps help build gross reserves “on a short-term basis” while genuine market purchases continue.

In the last three years, the Bank claims to have purchased: US$ 1.8 billion in year one,US$ 2.8 billion in year two,  US$ 1.4 billion in 2025 up to November.

However COPF members argue that such purchases cannot mask the structural weakness created by swap-driven liquidity injections.

A Systemic Risk That Could Trigger another Crisis, Economists caution that swap-driven liquidity expansion can trigger a dangerous cycle:

Liquidity boosts credit and imports.

Dollars leave the economy.

CBSL must intervene, losing reserves.

More liquidity must be injected to prevent a credit collapse.

The rupee comes under pressure, causing further losses.

This dynamic worsened several Asian crises in the 1990s, where central banks relied heavily on swaps that later blew up when currencies fell.

A Call for a Full Audit of Swap Liabilities

COPF members now want the Central Bank to disclose:the total value of outstanding domestic swaps,the maturity profile,settlement risks, and how these obligations impact the NIR.

Dr. de Silva stressed that transparency is the only way to prevent “another disaster created by misreported reserve strength.”

Karunanayake added that “hot money flows give a false sense of stability,” warning that if swap liabilities are large, the country’s true reserve buffer may be significantly weaker than publicly stated.

As Sri Lanka navigates its post-default recovery, the COPF revelations highlight a hard truth: a country cannot stabilise its currency with temporary borrowed dollars especially when those dollars remain hidden behind accounting gaps.

 Today at Katunayake Air Base, two C-130J Super Hercules and Airmen from the U.S. Air Force 36th Contingency Response Group (CRG) arrived to provide American airlift capability in support of Sri Lanka’s Cyclone Ditwah response. U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung and Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Defense Major General KP Aruna Jayasekara (Retd.) welcomed the team on arrival U.S. and Sri Lankan counterparts are moving immediately to begin deliveries of critical relief supplies to affected communities. U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 36th CRG, operating out of Guam, and other units, will provide immediate transportation and logistics support to areas identified by the Sri Lankan Disaster Management Center. Additional supporting units include the U.S. Air Force’s 374th Airlift Wing (Yokota Air Base, Japan) and the U.S. Marine Corps’ III Marine Expeditionary Force (Okinawa, Japan). Also present for the arrival were Hon. Prof. Chrishantha Abeysena, Minister of Science and Technology, Hon. Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku, Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation, and Major General Sampath Kotuwegoda, Director General of the Disaster Management Center.

“Sri Lanka’s responders are doing heroic work,” said Ambassador Chung. “The United States is here to take on some heavy lifting—bringing American airlift and logistics muscle to push critical supplies into the hardest-hit areas so Sri Lanka’s frontline teams can stay focused on people, not transportation. The United States stands steadfast with Sri Lanka in this challenging time, committed to supporting recovery and rebuilding efforts.” 

“When roads are strained and time is short, logistics becomes the lifeline,” said Matthew House, U.S. Embassy Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché. “America is here with airlift capacity and coordination to keep that lifeline of critical assistance moving. The C-130J Super Hercules is a workhorse airlifter—built to move essential cargo rapidly and reliably when access is limited. Our regular joint training exercises with the Sri Lankan Armed Forces have built strong relationships and enhanced our ability to work together in crises like Cyclone Ditwah.” 

Following a request from the Government of Sri Lanka and in coordination with the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) deployed U.S. military aircraft and personnel to provide airlift and logistics support for Sri Lanka’s Cyclone Ditwah response. Working alongside the Sri Lanka Air Force, U.S. aircraft will support Sri Lanka-led airlift missions to move emergency relief supplies—temporary shelter materials, safe water, sanitation and hygiene support, food assistance, and other essential supplies—from Katunayake Air Base to affected areas, as Sri Lankan authorities assess needs and set priorities.  

The United States has also recently provided the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) a package of critical airlift and logistics-enabling equipment valued at approximately $2.1 million (about LKR 640 million) —capabilities already in active use and directly supporting Sri Lanka’s Cyclone Ditwah response. Delivered through U.S. security cooperation, the package includes fuel trucks, forklifts with sustainment parts, flood lights, ground power units with sustainment parts, and portable cargo-loading platforms , which strengthens the SLAF’s ability to rapidly receive, fuel, power, load, and move relief supplies—day or night—so assistance can reach affected communities faster and at greater scale. 

The United States announced $2 million to support disaster response efforts within 72 hours of Cyclone Ditwah’s landfall, reflecting the goodwill of the American people and our long-standing partnership with Sri Lanka. Through trusted implementing organizations, this assistance will support emergency shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene, and health services for communities impacted by the storm. The United States remains in close coordination with the Government of Sri Lanka as it leads recovery and reconstruction efforts following Tropical Cyclone Ditwah. 

U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung and Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Defense Major General KP Aruna Jayasekara (Retd.) welcome U.S. Air Force Airmen at Katunayake Air Base following the arrival of two C-130J Super Hercules aircraft supporting Sri Lanka’s Cyclone Ditwah response. A U.S. C-130J Super Hercules is positioned on the flight line at Katunayake Air Base as part of U.S. airlift and logistics support for Cyclone Ditwah response operations.    

IndiGo is on track to operate over 1,650 flights, up from 1,500 yesterday, the airline said in a status update this evening. It said 137 out of 138 destinations are in operation with on-time performance of 75 per cent, up from 30 per cent yesterday.

The airline iterated it will give full waiver on cancellations and reschedule requests for bookings till December 15. The process of refunds and sorting luggage is going on fast, it said.

“We are working round the clock to resume normal service. Please bear with us,” IndiGo said in its latest status update today.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has taken rapid and decisive steps to address the disruption caused by IndiGo’s operational crisis and to ensure that passengers do not face continued inconvenience, officials said.

Air travel operations across the country are stabilising at a fast pace as all other domestic airlines are operating smoothly and at full capacity, while IndiGo’s performance has shown steady improvement today, with flight schedules moving back towards normal levels, they said.

Airfare Regulation To Prevent Overcharging

In light of recent cancellations leading to a shift in demand and temporary surge in airfares, the ministry intervened and introduced a cap on airfares with immediate effect. This measure ensures fairness and affordability for travellers, officials said.

Since the implementation of this order, fare levels across affected routes have moderated to acceptable limits. All airlines have been instructed to comply strictly with the revised fare structure, they said.

Passenger Refunds And Rescheduling Support

To ensure financial protection for passengers, the ministry issued strict directives to IndiGo requiring that all refunds for cancelled or severely delayed flights be completed by 8 pm today. IndiGo has so far processed refunds totalling INR 6.1 billion. 

No additional fees are permitted for rescheduling travel impacted by cancellations. Dedicated support cells have been created to proactively assist passengers so that refund and rebooking issues are resolved without delay or inconvenience.

Baggage Reconciliation And Delivery

The ministry has instructed IndiGo to trace and deliver all baggage separated from passengers due to disruptions within 48 hours. Continuous communication is mandated throughout the process. With this push, IndiGo has successfully delivered 3,000 pieces of baggage to passengers across India as of yesterday.

Airport Operations And On-Ground Facilitation

Airport directors from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Goa have confirmed normal conditions across terminals today. Passenger movement remains smooth with no crowding at check-in, security, or boarding points, officials said.

On-ground support has been strengthened through enhanced monitoring and timely deployment of assistance by airport operators and CISF.

Real-Time Monitoring And Control Measures

The MoCA’s 24x7 control room continues to function as an integrated coordination hub, overseeing flight operations, airport conditions, and passenger support requirements. Passenger calls are being promptly attended to, with necessary assistance as required. Our teams remain deployed on the ground to supervise operational planning, crew rostering, and passenger handling standards, ensuring full compliance.

Reassurance To Passengers

The Ministry of Civil Aviation said it wishes to reassure the travelling public that passenger safety, convenience, and dignity remain the highest priority of the government. The aviation network is moving swiftly toward full normalcy, and all corrective measures will remain in place until operations stabilize entirely, it said.

The ministry will continue vigilant monitoring to ensure full protection of passenger rights and interests, and further updates will be shared as required.

( Source : adaderana.lk)

The Department of Meteorology announced that Northeast monsoon conditions are gradually taking hold across Sri Lanka, bringing an increase in rainfall over parts of the island.

According to the forecast, showery weather is expected to strengthen over the Northern, North-Central, and Eastern provinces from tonight. Intermittent showers are likely in these regions as well as in the Uva Province.

Some areas in the Batticaloa and Ampara districts may receive fairly heavy showers exceeding 50 mm.

Meanwhile, several other parts of the country could experience showers or thundershowers after 1.00 p.m. tomorrow. Misty conditions are also expected during the early morning hours in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, and Uva provinces.

The Met Department advised the public to remain cautious and take necessary measures to prevent damage from sudden strong winds and lightning that may accompany evening thundershowers.

Sri Lanka’s agricultural heartland has been dealt a severe blow as Cyclone Ditwah struck at the peak of the country’s Maha season, inundating large stretches of farmland and placing the upcoming rice harvest at risk.

According to a Joint Rapid Needs Assessment by the United Nations and the Disaster Management Centre, 563,950 hectares of paddy sown by nearly 775,000 farmers were already at various stages of growth when the cyclone unleashed prolonged, intense rainfall.

The Maha season normally covers 800,000–850,000 hectares, making it the country’s most important cultivation cycle. However, vast areas are now submerged or heavily waterlogged, with officials warning of significant yield losses.

While paddy can tolerate short-term flooding, the extent of damage varies by growth stage; young seedlings in early-sown districts such as Ampara face the highest risk of complete destruction. Fields left underwater for days may see plants suffocate, while strong currents can sweep away newly sown plots or leave thick layers of sand, making resowing difficult.

Although time remains to replant in certain areas, the availability of seed paddy has emerged as a major concern. Stocks stored by farmers have also been damaged by flooding, raising fears that the country may struggle to recover the lost extent.

 Sri Lanka’s long-criticised land regulations further complicate recovery: farmers are barred from planting alternative crops on paddy lands and are required to navigate a maze of permissions simply to remove sand deposited by floods. In past disasters, farmers noted they could have earned income by selling sand to contractors but only if the state authorised removal before weeds contaminated it.

Beyond rice, an estimated 95,799 hectares of other field crops including maize, pulses, bananas and 13,463 hectares of vegetables have sustained extensive flood damage. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), together with the Department of Agriculture, is conducting field-level assessments to determine district-specific losses that will inform input support and livelihood restoration.

The cyclone’s fallout extends to the livestock sector. Heavy rains and collapsing shelters resulted in the drowning of cattle and poultry. Feed stocks, grazing lands, and water points have been damaged or contaminated, heightening the risk of disease outbreaks.

The report warns that disruptions to veterinary services, transport links, and breeding inputs could further undermine farmers’ ability to restart operations, threatening rural incomes and nutrition.

The fisheries and aquaculture sectors have also reported widespread destruction. Nearly 200 small boats and traditional crafts have been damaged, along with an undetermined number of multi-day vessels operating offshore.

Inland reservoirs suffered structural damage, leading to the escape of stocked fish. Aquaculture sites shrimp farms, ornamental fish units, seaweed and sea cucumber operations—have all incurred losses.

The potential economic and social consequences are profound. Losing a large portion of the Maha harvest could tighten domestic rice supply, push prices upward, and strain household food security. With thousands of farmers affected, the damage threatens to ripple through rural economies, weakening livelihoods at a time when the country cannot afford another shock.

The death toll due to the adverse weather conditions experienced in the country over the past few days has climbed to 611, the Disaster Management Center (DMC) has confirmed.

According to the DMC, another 213 individuals remain missing as rescue and search operations continue.

The extreme weather has impacted all 25 districts of the island, affecting a total of 2,054,535 people from 576,626 families.

Of these, 114,126 individuals from 33,622 families are currently sheltered in 956 relief centres, the DMC stated.

Furthermore, 4,309 houses have been completely destroyed, while another 69,635 houses have sustained partial damage as a result of the disaster, it added.

(adaderana.lk)

In a milestone for regional cultural relations and women’s empowerment, Mrs India Pride of the Nation, one of India’s most respected platforms celebrating married women, is set to stage its first-ever international Grand Finale in Colombo.

The Season 7 finale, scheduled for 11 December 2025 at the prestigious ITC Ratnadipa, marks the first time the pageant has stepped outside India, signalling its evolution into a global movement.

The event is being hosted with the support of the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau and SriLankan Airlines, whose collaboration has elevated the pageant’s international profile and positioned Sri Lanka as a warm and vibrant partner in this cultural celebration.

This strategic partnership also underscores both nations’ commitment to deepening cultural, social, and people-to-people connections.

This year’s edition carries increased significance as it unfolds over a week-long program in Colombo, welcoming more than 125 accomplished women from across India.

Participants will engage in tailored leadership sessions, grooming workshops, professional development training, and cultural immersion activities that aim to reflect the diversity of India while showcasing the hospitality and heritage of Sri Lanka.

The contestants represent a new generation of Indian womanhood—bold, compassionate, ambitious, and purpose-driven.

 The Colombo platform will celebrate their strengths, identities, and personal journeys, shifting the spotlight beyond traditional beauty standards toward leadership, self-discovery, and empowerment.

Founder and Director of Mrs India Pride of the Nation and Glamour Gurgaon, Barkha Nangia, emphasised that the pageant has never been solely about glamour:

“Mrs India Pride of the Nation is a mission to help women rediscover their inner power and limitless potential.

Taking our Grand Finale to Sri Lanka proves that empowerment transcends borders. Every woman on our stage is a symbol of courage, transformation, and inspiration. This international edition is truly a celebration of global sisterhood.”

Over the years, the platform has evolved into a powerful social movement that highlights real stories and real women.

Thousands of participants have used the program to strengthen their identities, build confidence, and become role models in their families, workplaces, and communities. Season 7 seeks to extend this mission to an international audience, reinforcing the message that the spirit of empowerment knows no boundaries.

The Grand Finale is expected to be a vibrant blend of fashion, cultural expression, confidence, and storytelling. It will highlight the transformational journeys of all participants women who have embraced change, overcome challenges, and emerged stronger with renewed purpose.

As Mrs India Pride of the Nation takes its historic step onto Sri Lankan soil, the Colombo edition promises to serve as a bridge between two nations, celebrating unity, diversity, and the powerful shared values that define modern womanhood.

 With compelling narratives, global partnerships, and world-class production, Season 7 is poised to create an unforgettable international chapter for the pageant one that celebrates women who bring their culture, confidence, and inspiration across borders.

Sri Lanka’s airports continue to operate without disruption, with all scheduled flights running smoothly despite the recent adverse weather conditions, Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL) said.

Accordingly, a total of 84 flight arrivals and 87 departures were recorded across the country’s airports yesterday.

Notably, no flight cancellations or weather-related diversions were reported.

AASL said that airport operations remain stable and that necessary measures are in place to ensure uninterrupted services for passengers and airlines.

(source - dailymirror)