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In the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, while Sri Lanka Police officers worked tirelessly to safeguard lives and property across the country, many of their own families endured significant hardship. 

Recognising this silent struggle, Prime Group launched a national-level initiative to support the children of affected police families, providing essential educational supplies and ensuring that their education could continue uninterrupted despite the challenges they faced.

Prime Group supplied essential school materials to children affected by Cyclone Ditwah, helping them resume their studies with confidence and dignity. 

Through this initiative, undertaken as a responsible corporate citizen, 1000 students across Sri Lanka received support, with an investment of Rs. 10 million.

The donations were handed over at a ceremonial event held at Sri Lanka Police Headquarters, attended by the Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Public Security Ministry senior officials, the Inspector General of Police,

Senior DIGs, and representatives of the Police Family Welfare Association and the Police Seva Vanitha Unit, along with police officers. 

Prime Group was represented by its Chairman, Co-Chairperson, CEO, and senior management. The initiative was carried out under the coordination of Aruna Prasad Lekamge and Prof. Krishantha Pathiraja.

Prime Group Co-Chairperson Sandamini Perera said, “Prime Group is honoured to stand with police families and support their children, as a gesture of gratitude for the selfless service rendered to our country. Despite facing personal loss and hardship, the officers of the Sri Lanka Police continued to serve the nation with unwavering dedication during Cyclone Ditwah. 

Their commitment to safeguarding communities under the most challenging circumstances deserves our deepest respect.”

As Prime Group celebrates 30 years of leadership in Sri Lanka’s real estate sector, the Group continues to reinforce its commitment to building resilient communities and supporting the nation beyond business. 

This program underscores Prime Group’s long-standing belief in creating lasting value for families and standing with those who serve the country in times of need.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser and Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa has launched a strong attack on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), accusing him of failing to act independently in the face of alleged misconduct by members of the ruling government.

Speaking to the media about an incident in which National People’s Power (NPP) MP Shantha Padma Kumara is accused of assaulting a police officer, Rajapaksa said the IGP was functioning not as the head of the police force, but as a political appointee serving the interests of the NPP administration.

He argued that such incidents have fostered an atmosphere of fear within the police service, discouraging officers from performing their duties impartially due to concerns over political retaliation.

Rajapaksa further claimed that some MPs who previously accused the Rajapaksa family of involvement in drug-related activities are now allegedly connected to cannabis cultivation. He alleged that police officers who raided a cannabis plantation believed to be linked to a government MP were subjected to harassment, including the transfer of an officer involved in the operation.

According to Rajapaksa, the same MP later allegedly assaulted another police officer in a separate roadside incident following the raid.

He also accused the government of obstructing investigations into a traffic accident involving former Speaker Ashoka Ranwala, claiming that officers handling the case were transferred to suppress the inquiry.

Concluding his remarks, Rajapaksa alleged that political authority is being misused to interfere with law enforcement and questioned the IGP’s silence on these matters, calling it a serious failure of leadership within the police service.

A high-ranking delegation from the Communist Party of China (CPC) held discussions with the leadership of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) at the party’s headquarters in Colombo on Wednesday , reaffirming ties between the two political parties.The Chinese delegation was led by Wang Junzheng, a member of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC and Secretary of the Party Committee of the Xizang Autonomous Region. Also present were Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong and Peng Xiubin, Director-General of the East and South Asian Affairs Bureau of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, along with other officials.

Representing the JVP were its General Secretary Tilvin Silva, Politburo member and Minister of Industry and Enterprise Development Sunil Handunneththi, Central Committee member and Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe, and several senior party figures.The discussions covered the history of cooperation between the CPC and the JVP, Sri Lanka’s current political developments, and collaborative initiatives carried out in 2025 under agreements reached during President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent visit to China.

During the meeting, Tilvin Silva conveyed appreciation for the assistance extended by the Chinese government to Sri Lankans affected by Cyclone Ditwah. In response, Wang Junzheng reaffirmed that China would continue to provide support in the future.

Wang also referred to the successful conclusion of the 4th Plenary Session of the CPC’s 20th Central Committee held in October, as well as a related programme conducted in Sri Lanka earlier this week. He further shared perspectives on China’s ongoing discussions surrounding its 15th Five-Year Plan.

Both sides emphasized the importance of strengthening party-to-party engagement and explored ways to deepen cooperation between the CPC and the JVP in the year ahead.

Wang Junzheng, a member of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Secretary of the CPC Committee of Xizang Autonomous Region, visited Galle Fort for an observation tour earlier today .

The Chinese delegation, headed by Wang, arrived at the historic fort in the morning and carried out a detailed inspection of the fort walls, with security personnel closely monitoring the proceedings.The tour was attended by Deputy Minister Nalin Hewage along with several other officials, who accompanied the delegation during the visit. The inspection forms part of the delegation’s broader engagement with Sri Lanka’s cultural and heritage sites

A Sri Lankan national has been arrested in Japan for an alleged breach of the country’s Swords and Firearms Control Law following an incident in central Tokyo, Japanese media reported.

The arrest took place on Monday after the man was observed holding a utility knife and causing injuries to himself in a public area near Shinagawa Station in Minato Ward. Witnesses reported that the individual was standing outside a Yoshinoya restaurant when the incident occurred.Police said the man sustained bleeding injuries to his hand and neck but remained conscious throughout the encounter. Law enforcement officers swiftly secured the surrounding area to ensure public safety and initiated dialogue with him.

After continued communication, officers were able to de-escalate the situation and convince the man to put down the knife, following which he was taken into custody for further investigation. Japanese authorities are continuing inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to France and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Manisha Gunasekera, held a high-level meeting with UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany at the organization’s headquarters in Paris on December 19 to discuss assistance for Sri Lanka in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah.

During the discussion, Ambassador Gunasekera briefed the Director-General on the extensive impact of the cyclone and outlined the government’s rebuilding and recovery plans. She also expressed appreciation for UNESCO’s rapid deployment of emergency aid under the Heritage Emergency Fund, which helped stabilize and conserve archival records damaged by flooding.

In response, Director-General El-Enany conveyed his condolences to Sri Lanka and reaffirmed UNESCO’s commitment to providing both immediate and long-term support. He highlighted plans for an integrated intersectoral response tailored to Sri Lanka’s priorities, including the recovery of cultural heritage, educational support for schools, psychosocial assistance, and technical cooperation to enhance hydrological risk assessment and early warning systems. Assistance will be coordinated through UNESCO’s Regional Office in New Delhi.

The meeting also included a ceremonial element, with Ambassador Gunasekera delivering a congratulatory message from Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath on the Director-General’s election, emphasizing Sri Lanka’s commitment to supporting UNESCO’s mandate.

Director-General El-Enany acknowledged the efforts of Prime Minister and UNESCO National Commission Chairperson Harini Amarasuriya and Minister Herath for Sri Lanka’s continued engagement with UNESCO.

Senior UNESCO officials attending the meeting included Ahmed Zaouche (Chief, Crisis Preparedness and Response), Omar Monieb (Chief, Relations with Member States), and Manh Ha Tran (Chief, Asia and the Pacific, Priority Africa and External Relations Sector). Ambassador Gunasekera was accompanied by Rifa Wadood, Minister/UNESCO at the Sri Lankan Permanent Delegation.

The Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) has obtained court approval to detain suspects arrested in connection with a major drug seizure uncovered during a Sri Lanka Navy operation at sea. The seven-day detention orders were issued after the suspects were produced before the Hulftsdorp Magistrate’s Court, police confirmed.The drugs were first detected on December 20 when Navy personnel inspected a multi-day fishing vessel operating off the southern coastline. The vessel, along with five individuals on board, was escorted to the Dikkowita Harbour on December 24. Subsequent searches at the harbour uncovered a large cache of narcotics, including 21 kilograms of heroin and 172 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as ‘Ice’.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the illicit cargo had been transferred to the fishing vessel from a foreign ship believed to be of Iranian origin. In a related development, the PNB arrested six additional suspects at the Mirissa Fisheries Harbour, who are suspected of assisting in bringing the drugs ashore.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Navy reported that it has seized around 99 boats and multi-day fishing vessels used for narcotics trafficking so far this year, from January 1 to December 24. During the same period, approximately 360 suspects were taken into custody.

The Navy also revealed that more than 4,000 kilograms of illegal drugs have been intercepted in 2025, including nearly 3,000 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and over 1,050 kilograms of heroin. In addition, authorities seized 33 kilograms of hashish, more than 1.6 million narcotic pills, and around 5,900 kilograms of locally and foreign-grown cannabis during the year.

Member of Parliament Ramanadan Archchuna was arrested after surrendering to the Fort Police, authorities confirmed.

The arrest followed Archchuna’s voluntary appearance at the Fort Police station, after the Fort Magistrate’s Court issued a warrant for his arrest yesterday (23).

The warrant was issued due to his failure to appear in court in connection with an ongoing case.

Festive activities are gradually returning across the West Bank as a delicate ceasefire continues in the Gaza Strip, even as hundreds of thousands of displaced residents endure harsh winter conditions in temporary shelters and face critical shortages of basic necessities.

Marking the start of Christmas observances in Bethlehem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, led the customary procession from Jerusalem to the city revered as the birthplace of Jesus. The ceremony followed his recent visit to Gaza’s Church of the Holy Family—the territory’s only Catholic parish—where he conveyed the Catholic Church’s solidarity with the local faithful.

Speaking after arriving at Manger Square, the Cardinal said he carried warm greetings from Gaza’s small Christian community, highlighting their determination to rebuild despite ongoing hardships. He also expressed hope that the Christmas season would be one of light and renewal amid continued uncertainty.

Sampath Manamperi, currently under the custody of the Police Western Province North Crimes Division in connection with accusations of concealing two containers of raw materials allegedly used to manufacture crystal methamphetamine (‘Ice’) and possession of weapons, appeared before the Walasmulla Magistrate’s Court today .

During the hearing, police requested a 90-day extension to continue questioning Manamperi as part of the ongoing investigation.The court subsequently approved the request, ordering that Manamperi remain in detention until March 20, 2026.

Jaffna District Parliamentarian Ramanathan Archchuna was released on anticipatory bail today after being produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.

The case relates to allegations that the MP obstructed the duties of police officers attached to the Colombo Fort Police. When the matter was previously taken up in court, Archchuna failed to appear, prompting the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court to issue a warrant for his arrest.Subsequently, the MP surrendered to the police and was produced before court. After considering the submissions, the Magistrate ordered his release on anticipatory bail, allowing him temporary freedom while legal proceedings continue.

Sri Lanka’s tea industry demonstrated resilience in 2025, with higher export volumes cushioning the impact of fluctuating global prices and exchange rate movements. Data compiled by Forbes & Walker Research, based on Sri Lanka Customs statistics, show that tea export earnings reached an estimated $1.4 billion in the first 11 months to November, marking a solid year-on-year improvement.

While international tea prices remained under pressure in several key markets, Sri Lanka managed to expand its shipment volumes significantly. Total exports rose to 239.57 million kilograms, compared to 223.22 million kilograms during the same period in 2024. With the exception of Bulk Tea, all major product categories recorded positive volume growth, highlighting a gradual shift towards higher-value and specialty segments.

Monthly performance in November reflected some short-term softness, with exports declining by 0.71 million kilograms year-on-year. The contraction was mainly driven by lower shipments of bulk and packeted tea, even as Instant Tea and Green Tea continued to gain traction among buyers seeking convenience and health-oriented products.

Price movements were mixed across currencies. The average FOB value in rupees strengthened during November, supported partly by domestic cost adjustments and currency factors. In contrast, dollar-denominated prices edged lower, underscoring the challenges faced by exporters competing in price-sensitive global markets.

Despite these pressures, the cumulative dollar FOB average for the January–November period remained broadly stable at $5.85 per kilogram, allowing earnings to grow in line with higher volumes. Analysts note that this performance reflects strong demand from traditional Middle Eastern and Eurasian markets, alongside renewed buying from North Africa.

Iraq continued to dominate as the largest destination, accounting for more than 36 million kilograms of imports. Türkiye and Libya emerged as key growth markets, while shipments to Russia softened amid economic and logistical constraints.

However, industry stakeholders caution that reliance on volume-led growth alone may not be sustainable. Rising production costs, labour constraints, and climate-related disruptions pose ongoing risks to margins. They argue that increasing value addition, strengthening branding, and expanding premium offerings will be essential to protect earnings in the medium term.

As global competition intensifies, Sri Lanka’s tea sector faces a strategic choice: continue defending market share through volume, or pivot more decisively toward differentiated, higher-margin products that can withstand pricing volatility.