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The Government of Japan has approved an emergency assistance package worth US$2.5 million to help Sri Lanka respond to the humanitarian impact of Cyclone Ditwah, Japanese officials announced on Tuesday.The funding will be channelled through three international agencies—the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)—with a focus on meeting immediate needs, including food aid, emergency shelter and essential non-food items.

Under the allocation, US$1 million will be provided to IOM to support emergency shelter and the distribution of non-food relief items. Another US$1 million will go to WFP to strengthen food assistance for affected communities, while UNICEF will receive US$500,000 to deliver water, sanitation and hygiene services, along with child protection support.Japan also announced plans to extend additional assistance through the Japan Platform (JPF), a framework that coordinates emergency humanitarian responses involving non-governmental organizations, the private sector and the Japanese government. Meanwhile, a team from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has begun a needs assessment to guide future recovery and reconstruction initiatives.

Reaffirming its longstanding ties with Sri Lanka, Japan said it remains committed to supporting the country during this difficult period and will continue to assist efforts aimed at early recovery and rebuilding in areas impacted by the cyclone.

Cyclone Ditwah made landfall in Sri Lanka on November 27, following weeks of intense monsoon conditions that began in mid-November. According to official figures as of December 16, the disaster has claimed 643 lives, left 183 people missing, and affected an estimated 1.62 million people across the island.

Deputy Minister of Tourism Ruwan Ranasinghe announced that the Badulla–Haputale train service, which was halted in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, is now ready to recommence operations after an 18-day suspension.

He said an inspection train completed a successful journey from Badulla Railway Station to Haputale Railway Station yesterday (15), confirming that the track has been fully restored and is safe for regular operations.

The Deputy Minister described the rapid restoration of the severely damaged railway line as a significant achievement, noting that it plays a vital role in supporting Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, particularly in the upcountry region.He also extended special appreciation to the Sri Lanka Railway Department, the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO), and volunteer groups for their dedicated efforts in completing the repair work within a short period.

Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance, Parliamentarian Dr. Harsha de Silva, has reiterated that the proposed ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund must be formally approved by Parliament and established as a statutory fund.

Speaking on the matter, Dr. de Silva emphasized that any such fund requires a proper legal framework and cannot be created informally. He pointed out that similar initiatives in the past lacked parliamentary approval and said the same approach should not be repeated. According to him, the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund should be brought before Parliament and approved without delay.

He further stressed the importance of transparency in managing the fund, noting that the responsibility of rebuilding should not rest solely with the government. Dr. de Silva said there is room for meaningful participation from the private sector, with the government focusing on areas that cannot be addressed privately.Meanwhile, the MP said a supplementary estimate of Rs. 500 billion should be presented to Parliament to support recovery efforts, adding that the government has adequate financial resources to meet this requirement.

Dr. de Silva explained that Rs. 1,400 billion has already been allocated for capital expenditure next year, including infrastructure projects such as roads and hospitals. He noted that funds could be reallocated from these provisions due to the damage caused by the recent cyclone, arguing that new sources of funding may not be necessary. However, he said additional expenditure would be required for immediate needs such as cleaning and rehabilitation activities, which he described as manageable.He also observed that while the IMF programme places a cap on primary expenditure at 13 percent, the current crisis allows for some flexibility. In addition, he noted that the government holds more than one trillion rupees within the banking system, providing further financial space to respond to the situation.

The Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Medical Team, comprising 31 members, has completed its humanitarian mission in Sri Lanka and departed for Japan last night. Over the course of nearly two weeks, the team provided critical medical support to communities affected by recent flooding.

Arriving in Colombo on December 3, the group of doctors, medical experts, relief workers, and rescue specialists set up a fully equipped mobile field hospital at the Chilaw Police Grounds. There, they delivered urgent medical care to residents impacted by the floods, addressing a wide range of health needs.

Before leaving the country, the team held a meeting with Health Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe to review their mission and share insights. Their work highlights continued international cooperation in supporting disaster-affected communities in Sri Lanka.

Showery weather is set to persist over large parts of the country over the next few days due to the continued influence of an Easterly wave, the Department of Meteorology said.

Rain is expected at intervals in the Northern, North-Central, Eastern, Uva and Central provinces. Very heavy rainfall exceeding 100 millimetres is likely in certain locations in the Eastern and Central provinces, as well as in the Badulla and Polonnaruwa districts.

In other regions, showers or thundershowers may develop at several places after 1.00 p.m., with fairly heavy rainfall of more than 75 millimetres possible in some areas.

Strong winds, reaching speeds of around 40 to 50 kilometres per hour, are also anticipated at times, particularly along the eastern slopes of the central hills, in the Northern, North-Central and North-Western provinces, and in parts of Trincomalee, Hambantota and Monaragala districts.Misty conditions are expected during the early morning hours in parts of the Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces, as well as in the Galle and Matara districts.

The public has been advised to take necessary precautions to reduce potential damage caused by sudden strong winds and lightning associated with thundershowers.

Former Minister C. B. Rathnayake, who was taken into remand custody following his arrest by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), has been released on bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.The court ordered his release on two surety bonds of Rs. 2 million each and imposed an overseas travel restriction, according to court proceedings.

Rathnayake was arrested on December 2 after appearing before CIABOC to give a statement in connection with an investigation under the Money Laundering Act, linked to corruption-related allegations. He had remained in remand custody until today (16).

The suspect, Ratnayake Mudiyanselage Chandrasiri Bandara Rathnayake, has previously held several cabinet portfolios, including Minister of Sports, Minister of Private Transport, and Minister of Livestock.The case stems from an inquiry conducted by CIABOC’s Assets Investigation Division under Section 23(a)(1) of the Bribery Act. Investigators allege that Rathnayake unlawfully acquired assets valued at more than Rs. 57.3 million.Further legal proceedings are expected as investigations into the matter continue.

The Cabinet of Ministers has given the green light to a series of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between leading Sri Lankan universities and foreign academic institutions, aimed at strengthening international cooperation in higher education and research.

The approvals cover partnerships involving the University of Peradeniya, the University of Kelaniya, and the University of Vavuniya with institutions in China, Japan, and India. These agreements focus on areas such as climate change, environmental pollution, antimicrobial resistance, informatics, and the exchange of students and academic staff.

Among the approved agreements is a project partnership between the University of Peradeniya and the Alliance of National and International Science Organizations for the Belt and Road Regions (ANSO) to jointly organise the International Water Summit on climate change and environmental pollution.

The Cabinet has also endorsed a research collaboration and material transfer agreement between the University of Peradeniya and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. This initiative will focus on studying the transmission of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) across humans, animals, and the environment, including research into antimicrobial resistance and genetic diversity.

In addition, approval has been granted for an MoU between the University of Kelaniya and Japan’s Kyoto College of Graduate Studies for Informatics (KCGI). The partnership seeks to expand educational cooperation, promote professional and cultural exchanges, and facilitate joint research projects, conferences, and workshops.

The University of Vavuniya will also enter into an MoU with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) to develop collaborative education and research initiatives, enable the exchange of academic resources, facilitate staff and student mobility, and organise joint academic events. Furthermore, an agreement between the University of Vavuniya and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations has been approved to secure visiting lecturers on a contractual basis.

These approvals were granted following a proposal submitted by Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya in her capacity as Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Professional Education, underscoring the government’s commitment to expanding Sri Lanka’s global academic engagement.

President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) Yang Wangmin paid a courtesy call on Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath, on 12 December 2025.

The Foreign Minister extended deep appreciation to the Government and the people of China for the steadfast and valuable support extended to Sri Lanka following the recent adverse weather conditions that impacted the entire country. The CPAFFC has also pledged RMB 500,000 for the rebuilding initiatives in Sri Lanka. The Minister highlighted that this was testament to the longstanding and strong bilateral relations between the two countries and that Sri Lanka is committed to further strengthening these ties in the future.

The President of the CPAFFC expressed confidence that under the able leadership of President Anura Kumara Disanayake, Sri Lanka would recover and rebuild stronger and extended the support of China for these efforts.  He further conveyed the intention of the CPAFFC to assist in urban planning and enhance people to people relations between China and Sri Lanka, including through youth exchanges. 

Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Aruni Ranaraja, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong and senior officials of the Ministry, CPAFFC and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Colombo were also present at the meeting.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism

Colombo

The man who tackled one of the Bondi shooters has spoken from hospital as he recovers from his injuries and has been visited by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who praised him as “the best of our country”.

Ahmed al-Ahmed, 43, risked his life to disarm one of the alleged Bondi attackers and save multiple lives in Sydney on Sunday evening.

Turkey’s public broadcaster, TRT World, on Tuesday posted a video of Ahmed being wheeled around hospital while he sent prayers to supporters.

“I appreciate the efforts of everyone,” he said in Arabic.

“May Allah reward you and grant you wellbeing. God willing, we will return to you with joy. Thank you for your efforts.

“I went through a very difficult phase, only Allah knows it … I ask my mother, the apple of my eye, to pray for me.”

The governor general, Sam Mostyn, visited the Syrian-born shopkeeper on Tuesday afternoon at St George hospital in Sydney’s south, where he had undergone surgery on two gunshot wounds.

Carrying flowers picked from Admiralty House, she thanked him on behalf of the public and of King Charles, who she said had specifically asked after the man overnight.

“For Ahmed, he wants to send thanks for … that moment of absolute heroics that we’ve all been staggered by and so grateful for,” Mostyn said.

She said she expected Ahmed would receive a bravery award and that he had already been nominated “many, many times”.

The prime minister on Tuesday morning spent nearly half an hour visiting the man he described as “the best of our country”

Ahmed thanked Anthony Albanese as he lay in his hospital bed, a fluid drip and bouquets of flowers beside him, with his left harm heavily bandaged.

“Your heart is strong, your courage is inspiring,” Abbanese said, shaking Ahmed’s right hand in a video posted to Instagram.

The prime minister told reporters the man was recovering ahead of further surgery on Wednesday and explained his thought processes on Sunday evening during their conversation.

“He was trying to get a cup of coffee, simple as that, and found himself at a moment where people were being shot in front of him,” the prime minister said.

“He decided to take action and his bravery is an inspiration for all Australians. He is a very humble man.”

Albanese also met Ahmed’s mother and father in the hospital, visiting from Syria, who he said were “very proud” of their son.

The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, visited Ahmed in hospital and spoke to him on Monday night.

The former prime minister John Howard also lauded Ahmed’s bravery, speaking to Sky News on Tuesday.

“The single act of greatest courage we’ve seen is that magnificent man who tackled the bloke with the gun, and I understand he’s a Muslim,” Howard said.

“There are good people of every persuasion in this wonderful country about and although it’s a terrible tragedy and a reminder that anything can happen here, we should not lose faith in the Australian achievement.”

A GoFundMe set up to support the man has attracted over $2m in donations, including a $99,999 donation from William Ackman, the US billionaire and founder of hedge fund Pershing Square. 

( source : Newswire )

India’s response to Sri Lanka’s devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah has marked an unprecedented chapter in regional humanitarian assistance, combining scale, speed, and strategic intent. Under Operation Sagar Bandhu, New Delhi deployed the largest foreign field hospital ever sent to Sri Lanka, underscoring not only humanitarian solidarity but also India’s evolving neighbourhood-first geopolitical strategy.

On December 2, 2025, a fully equipped Para Field Hospital staffed by a 78-member Integrated Task Force from the Indian Army’s Shatrujeet Brigade was airlifted to Sri Lanka. The mobile hospital was rapidly established in Mahiyanganaya, a severely affected area near Kandy, where local health infrastructure had been overwhelmed. According to the Indian High Commission, the deployment was designed to deliver immediate, high-impact medical relief while complementing Sri Lanka’s strained public health system.

The hospital provided trauma care, emergency surgeries, maternal services, and general treatment, attending to 1,000–1,200 patients daily. Over its 12-day mission, the facility treated 7,176 patients, conducted 513 minor procedures, and performed 14 major surgeries, offering lifesaving intervention in a region cut off by floods and infrastructure damage. Visiting the site on December 12, Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha reaffirmed India’s commitment to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with Sri Lanka during crises, a message echoed by Uva Province Governor Kapila Jayasekara.

Beyond healthcare, India’s assistance extended into critical infrastructure restoration. On December 10, at the request of Sri Lanka Telecom, Indian Army signallers repaired a damaged optical fibre cable, restoring communications after a cyclone-triggered blackout. Working in difficult terrain and adverse weather, the team completed precision OFC splicing near a base transceiver station close to the field hospital, enabling the resumption of normal network operations.

As the mission concluded, an Indian Air Force C-17 Globemaster returned the medical team to India on December 14, while simultaneously delivering 10 tonnes of essential medicines and 15 tonnes of dry rations to Sri Lanka. Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, present at the airport, described the deployment as the largest and most comprehensive field hospital ever provided by a friendly nation, expressing formal gratitude on behalf of the government.

Strategically, India’s intervention reflects more than humanitarian concern. It reinforces New Delhi’s role as the first responder in the Indian Ocean neighbourhood, countering regional influence competition while strengthening bilateral trust. As Sri Lanka navigates repeated climate-linked disasters, India’s rapid, high-capacity response has redefined disaster relief as both humanitarian action and strategic diplomacy.

President’s Counsel Daya Pelpola, a highly regarded figure in Sri Lanka’s legal, political, and diplomatic circles, has passed away at the age of 85.Pelpola served the United National Party for more than 15 years as its Legal Secretary and later as Acting General Secretary, where he was instrumental in strengthening the party’s organisational framework.

During the ‘Yahapalana’ administration, he was appointed Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Italy, a post he held from 2015 to 2019. While serving overseas, he worked to deepen bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Italy, focusing on cooperation in political, economic, cultural, and educational fields.In addition to his political and diplomatic career, Pelpola held several key positions in the public sector, including Chairman of SriLankan Airlines, the National Lotteries Board, and the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation.

His remains are lying at his residence at No. 78, Liyanage Mawatha, Pelawatta, Battaramulla. Preliminary religious observances will take place today  at 3.00 p.m. at the Pelawatta Lyon Baston Roman Catholic Church, followed by burial at the Borella Kanatte Cemetery at 4.30 p.m.

Sri Lanka’s external accounts have received a powerful boost from migrant worker remittances, offering short-term stability to an economy still healing from its 2022 collapse. Official data show remittances rising 27 percent year-on-year to US$673.4 million in November 2025, while inflows during the first 11 months of the year reached US$7.2 billion, a 20.7 percent increase compared to the same period last year. This already exceeds the previous annual record of US$7.16 billion set in 2017, underlining the growing dependence on overseas workers to keep the economy afloat.

The momentum is not accidental. Remittances rebounded strongly after the Central Bank abandoned the parallel exchange rate regime, narrowing the gap between official and informal rates. This policy shift effectively dismantled the incentive for expatriates to rely on Undiyal and Hawala networks, redirecting billions of dollars back into the formal banking system. The result has been a steady strengthening of official foreign exchange inflows at a time when export earnings and foreign investment remain fragile.

The trend follows a structural shift in Sri Lanka’s labour market. Since the 2022 sovereign default, the country has sent a record number of workers abroad, increasingly targeting skilled and professional employment to generate higher-value inflows. This strategy paid dividends in 2024, when remittances climbed 10.1 percent to US$6.57 billion, the highest level in six years. In contrast, inflows had fallen sharply in 2021, when artificial interest rate controls and money printing triggered parallel exchange rates, driving remittances underground.

However the current surge raises uncomfortable questions about sustainability. While remittances are now Sri Lanka’s largest single source of foreign exchange, they are also a reflection of domestic economic weakness. Rising migration points to limited job creation at home, skills leakage, and long-term demographic pressures. Moreover, remittances remain vulnerable to external shocks such as recessions in host countries, tighter immigration policies, or geopolitical instability in labour destinations.

Recognising the importance of this inflow, the government’s 2026 Budget proposes housing loans and a contributory pension scheme for overseas workers to incentivise continued remittance flows. While these measures may strengthen loyalty to formal channels, analysts warn that policy credibility, exchange rate stability, and low transaction costs will matter more than incentives alone.

 

In the immediate future, remittances are expected to remain strong, supported by seasonal inflows in December and continued outward migration. However, relying on migrant earnings as a cornerstone of macroeconomic stability is a risky substitute for export diversification and domestic growth. Without deeper structural reforms, today’s remittance windfall may simply mask unresolved vulnerabilities in Sri Lanka’s recovery.