News

Police say several areas in Colombo have been affected by the severe weather conditions sweeping across the island, with flooding and fallen trees blocking multiple roads.

The disruptions have caused heavy traffic, and motorists are advised to use alternate routes until clearance operations are completed.

The affected locations include:

• Premasiri Khemadasa Mawatha and Keppetipola Mawatha, near Lionel Theatre

• National Hospital Gate 4

• Elvitigala Mawatha

• Queen’s Road Junction

• Kotahena Armor Barber Junction, near the temple

27 November 2025, Colombo – A transformative South-South Cooperation initiative between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) of China, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture of Sri Lanka has delivered remarkable results in strengthening Sri Lanka’s fruit value chains. The two-year project, which ended this year, was implemented in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS) and achieved significant productivity, quality, and capacity gains for banana, mango, and pineapple production across ten model farms established in Colombo, Kurunegala and Anuradhapura districts.

Key achievements include:

• Boosting productivity: Pineapple yields tripled to 55 t/ha with high density planting of 25,000 – 32,000 plants per acre, versus 4,000 plants per acre traditionally.
• Improving quality: Advanced pruning and fruit bagging techniques increased export-grade mango production to 90 percent.
• Cutting costs: Banana tissue cultured seedling production doubled, with costs reduced by 30 - 40 percent.
• Building capacities: Over 2,000 farmers and officers were trained at 10 model farms and six training videos were produced and integrated into national training curricula, supporting the long-term dissemination of improved practices.

A landmark achievement was the establishment of a state-of-the-art Banana Tissue Culture Laboratory at the North Central Provincial Department of Agriculture. This facility supplies disease-free, high-yielding planting materials to farmers across three provinces, reducing dependency on distant suppliers, lowering transport-related losses, and ensuring consistent access to affordable, quality inputs.

Inclusive and Sustainable Impact

The project placed strong emphasis on inclusivity, with women comprising 40 percent of trained beneficiaries. Targeted training addressed gender-specific challenges in agriculture, ensuring women farmers gained equal access to new technologies and practices.

The introduced technologies are being integrated into official training curricula and approved through national technology evaluation committees, ensuring institutional uptake and scaling.

“China is proud to partner with Sri Lanka in advancing agricultural innovation through this South-South Cooperation initiative. By sharing knowledge and technology, we are helping farmers achieve higher yields, better quality, and stronger livelihoods. said H E Qi Zhenhong, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Sri Lanka.

The initiative has also become a model for South-South Cooperation, inspiring similar partnerships in the region. Technical protocols and innovations developed in Sri Lanka are now being adapted for use in other developing countries facing comparable agricultural challenges.

“The success achieved in Sri Lanka is not only improving the lives of farmers today but is also shaping a stronger, more resilient fruit value chain for the future. FAO looks forward to building upon these successes in close partnership with the Government and private sector stakeholders, including the country’s fruit farmers, to ensure sustainable growth and resilience in the sector.” said Vimlendra Sharan, FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

“This initiative directly supports Sri Lanka’s Food Production Programme and strengthens our national capacity to meet future food security challenges. By empowering farmers with the latest knowledge and tools, we are improving productivity today and securing the long-term sustainability of our fruit sector,” said Mr D. P. Wickramasinghe, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture.

Speaking on the initiative, Ms. Dong Moli, Division Director of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China said, “These achievements clearly demonstrate that South–South Cooperation is not only a channel for technology transfer but also an important pathway for building a country’s own development capacity, fostering knowledge sharing, and promoting multiple benefits.”

IMAGE 1 Nochchiyagama, Sri Lanka. LSM Dissanayake, a mango farmer, prunes one of his trees, under the supervision of Zengxian Zhao, a Chinese expert advisor on crop cultivation. Dissanayake is receiving Chinese agricultural expertise and technological support to improve his harvests.

IMAGE 2Horana, Sri Lanka. Dr RNI Perera (L), Deputy Director of Research, FRDI, and Lijun Guo (R), a Chinese tissue culture expert advisor, examine banana and pineapple suckers in the culture room of the Food Research and Development Institute.

IMAGE 3 Makandura, Sri Lanka. Nimali Wijesooriya works on her banana farm. Nimali is receiving Chinese agricultural expertise and technological support to improve her plantation’s yields.

IMAGE 4 Horana, Sri Lanka. BHS Lakmal (L), a pineapple farmer, and Jifeng Li (R), a Chinese agriculture expert advisor, cover pineapples with paper protection against pests and the elements, as the fruit approach harvest time.

IMAGE 5Makandura, Sri Lanka. (L-R) Dr Darshani Jayamanne, an agronomist, and Additional Director of the pineapple Research Centre, Krishan Poorna, a pineapple farmer, Zengxian Zhao, a Chinese crop cultivation expert, and Poorna’s 13-year-old son, Thuhan, inspect the family fields. Poorna has just begun receiving Chinese agricultural expertise and technological support to improve his farm’s yields.

A stretch of the Colombo–Kandy main road between the 88 km and 89 km posts in Meepitiya, Kegalle, has been closed due to landslide risks.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) has urged motorists to take alternate routes and exercise caution.

The public has also been advised to avoid travelling on this section of the road unless absolutely necessary.

The Kandy District Secretary has announced the temporary closure of the Kandy - Mahiyanganaya main road between Medamahanuwara and Hasalaka. Officials say the measure was necessary due to the unsafe conditions caused by the current spell of severe weather.The closure will remain in effect until authorities determine that the route is safe for travel again. Motorists are advised to seek alternative roads in the meantime.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Ismail Muththu Mohamed has announced that he is stepping down from his position in Parliament.
He revealed his decision while making a statement in the House today (28).

The Department of Irrigation has announced that eight spill gates at the Deduru Oya reservoir have been opened in response to heavy rainfall across the catchment region. According to the Wariyapola Divisional Irrigation Office, four of the gates have been lifted by 12 feet each, while the remaining four have been raised by 13 feet.

This adjustment has resulted in a combined water discharge of 69,000 cubic feet per second. Authorities are closely monitoring downstream conditions as water levels continue to rise.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reports that three bodies have been recovered following an earthslip in the Gangoda area of Kandy. Authorities also state that at least 17 people are currently unaccounted for.Emergency response teams are on-site carrying out search and rescue operations, while officials monitor the area for further risks. The DMC says updates will be provided as efforts continue to trace the missing individuals.

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale struck the Indian Ocean off Northern Sumatra, Indonesia, at 10.26 a.m. today (27), the National Tsunami Early Warning Center of the Meteorology Department said.

According to the Earthquake Information Bulletin, the quake occurred at a depth of 25 km and was pinpointed at latitude 2.68°N and longitude 96.07°E.

Although no tsunami warning has been issued for Sri Lanka at this time, authorities have urged coastal residents to remain vigilant for further updates. 

A 6.6 magnitude earthquake struck off western Indonesia's Sumatra Island on Thursday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

The quake struck at 4.56 am, with a depth of 25.4 kilometers (15.7 miles), 45 km (27.9 miles) west-northwest of Sinabang town on the east coast of Simeulue Island.

https://meteo.gov.lk/

(Source - Dailymirror)

Severe rainfall in the Monaragala district has caused the Colombo–Wellawaya main road in the Kumbukkana area to become flooded, according to the Disaster Management Centre. The flooding resulted from the Kumbukkan Oya overflowing its banks, leaving parts of the roadway impassable.During the incident, a bus carrying 23 passengers was caught in powerful currents and swept off course as it attempted to navigate the submerged stretch. Emergency teams responded swiftly, rescuing all passengers without delay. Efforts to retrieve the stranded bus from the floodwaters are continuing.

The Commissioner General of Examinations, AKS Indika Kumari Liyanage, has announced that the 2025 G.C.E. Advanced Level examinations scheduled for today (27), tomorrow (28), and Saturday (29) will not take place as planned. The exams have been rescheduled for December 7, 8, and 9.

According to the Department of Examinations, the decision was made in response to the widespread disruptions and risks posed by the ongoing adverse weather conditions, which have created a disaster situation in several parts of the country. Authorities emphasized that the postponement aims to safeguard students and ensure fair access to examination centers.

Three people lost their lives in a road accident in the Sainthamaruthu area of Ampara after the vehicle they were travelling in skidded off the road and fell into a canal near Bolivia village. According to police, the incident occurred earlier today, and all three occupants of the vehicle were confirmed dead.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the vehicle plunging into the canal. Further updates are expected as inquiries continue