News

Leading religious figures in Sri Lanka have appealed to the public to embrace unity and cooperation in the year ahead, stressing that national recovery depends on overcoming divisions and working collectively.In his New Year message, the Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter of the Siam Nikaya, Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thero, called on citizens to put aside ethnic differences and contribute jointly to rebuilding the nation. He expressed hope for a prosperous and blessed New Year, underscoring the need for a shared sense of responsibility and equal participation in national development.

Echoing these sentiments, the Anu Nayake of the Malwatte Chapter of the Siam Nikaya, Most Venerable Dimbulkumbure Sri Saranankara Wimaladhamma Thero, pointed to examples of countries that have successfully recovered from natural disasters. He said Sri Lanka too could move forward if its people remained united and committed to rebuilding efforts.

Adding to the call for solidarity, Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith also issued a New Year message urging all communities to come together without division, highlighting unity as a cornerstone for the country’s renewal.

The island of Kiritimati, also known as Christmas Island, is welcoming in the new year - the first place in the world do so.

It’s part of the Pacific Ocean nation Kiribati, located south of Hawaii and north-east of Australia. It is made up of several atolls - ring-shaped coral reefs - and spans almost 4,000km from east to west.

Kiribati - pronounced Kiribass - became independent from the United Kingdom in 1979. Home to the South Pacific’s largest marine reserve, many of the atolls are inhabited; most of them are very low-lying and at risk from rising sea levels as a result of global warming.

The archipelago has a population of about 116,000. Despite being almost directly south of Hawaii, Kiribati celebrates New Year a whole day earlier.

New Zealand’s remote Chatham Island sees in new year

Meanwhile, the 600-odd people who live on New Zealand’s Chatham Island (GMT +13:45) have become the next group to welcome 2026!

About a sixth of the population of the remote archipelago - mainly locals - are spending the last moments of 2025 at Hotel Chatham’s bar, its owner says.

But Toni Croon, who owns the hotel, tells me not everyone is staying up until the clock strikes midnight.

“Our team will be up ‘til daylight, but us oldies will be gone,” she says.

It will be the youngsters on the island, Toni predicts, who’ll have the willpower to stay up and watch this year’s first sunrise.

“What unites all of us is the love we have for this place. We’ll always have that in common,” says Toni.

“It’s special to welcome 2026 in such a remote and isolated place.”

(Source:adaderana.lk)

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has announced the closure of its Public Debt Department (PDD), with effect from today (01), marking a significant restructuring of the country’s public debt management framework. As part of the transition, the LankaSecure Division previously operating under the PDD has been moved to the Central Bank’s Payments and Settlements Department (PSD).

The change follows the establishment of the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) within the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development under the Public Debt Management Act No. 33 of 2024. The PDMO, which became fully operational in December 2025, has now taken over all debt management responsibilities that were earlier handled by the CBSL’s PDD.

According to a statement issued by the Central Bank, the transfer of functions is aimed at improving institutional accountability while enhancing efficiency and transparency in the management of Sri Lanka’s public debt.

The CBSL noted that, in line with provisions of the Public Debt Management Act and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Act No. 16 of 2023, it will continue to operate the Scripless Securities Settlement System and the Central Depository System for government securities. These functions will be carried out under the Payments and Settlements Department, with the Director of the PSD appointed as the Registrar of Government Securities, effective from today.

Johan Fernando, the son of former Minister Johnston Fernando, has been remanded until January 9, 2026, following his arrest by the Financial Crimes Investigation Department (FCID), according to court proceedings at the Wattala Magistrate’s Court.

Fernando was taken into custody yesterday (30) in Kurunegala in connection with multiple allegations, including the suspected misappropriation of a lorry belonging to Lanka Sathosa and other state-owned vehicles during the period when Johnston Fernando served as Minister of Trade.

Investigators have cited several charges against him, including money laundering, violations of the Public Property Act, misuse of government assets, and criminal misappropriation.

Police said investigations are ongoing to arrest former Minister Johnston Fernando under the same set of allegations, as authorities continue to expand their probe into the case.

A new concessionary pledge loan facility for small and medium-scale paddy millers and cooperative societies has been rolled out in preparation for the Maha cultivation season 2025/26, the Ministry of Finance announced.The scheme, which comes into effect today (01), is intended to help maintain fair prices for farmers by strengthening the capacity of millers and cooperatives to purchase paddy during the peak harvest period.

Eligibility for the facility is limited to paddy millers and cooperative societies with a maximum daily milling capacity of 25 metric tonnes. Applicants must also hold a valid business registration from a recognized government authority and possess a license issued by the Paddy Marketing Board, the Ministry said.

Under the programme, eligible borrowers can obtain loans of up to Rs. 50 million at a concessional annual interest rate of 7 percent. All loans must be settled within a repayment period of 180 days. A total of 15 licensed banks have been selected to participate in the scheme.

The Ministry of Finance estimates that approximately Rs. 10 billion will be disbursed through the banking sector under this initiative during the Maha 2025/26 season. Paddy purchases under the scheme will be conducted at the Minimum Purchase Price (MPP) set by the Department of Agriculture, with the objective of safeguarding reasonable returns for farmers.

The passing away of veteran singer Mrs Latha Walpola, "The Queen of Songs of Lanka", has created an unfillable void in the Lankan music world. The boundless body of creations she gifted to Sri Lankan singing culture will remain as a cultural heritage of ours. Her melodious voice and her singing ability, which won hearts for generations, set a benchmark in Sri Lankan music.

We sang many of her songs on numerous occasions while enjoying ourselves. Her immortal songs like සැළලිහිණි කොවුල් හඬ රැව් දෙන්නා, මල් බර හිමිදිරියේ, සහ ලෝ අඩ නින්දේ still remain fresh in our memories. The songs of the era she sang, especially with her life partner, veteran singer Dharmadasa Walpola, continue to hold a prominent place among the most popular song collections in Sri Lanka even today.

The last time we sang those songs was when the 55th anniversary of our group, students of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya, from 1965-69, was held in Sri Lanka last year. In addition to noting my enjoyment of her songs, I would like to take this opportunity to write about several occasions when some of her life events had an impact on my social life.

One was during the 1981-82 period, when the Walpola family was beset by political harassment. Facing the threat of eviction from their home due to pressure from political authorities, they sought the support of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna. Mrs Walpola had sent one of her sons to the then JVP Head office, which was located at Weerasinghe Saw Mills, in Armour Street, Colombo, to inform us about their situation. I brought to the notice of the relevant authorities, the harassment they were enduring, but it did not yield any success. History bears witness to the manner the then-President and certain political powers thought about professionals engaged in the sphere of arts.

Chitra and I had the opportunity to meet Mrs Walpola in person at one of her singing concerts held in Canberra, Australia in the 1990s. The concert, organised by the Australia Sri Lankan Association Inc., ACT (ASLA) in collaboration with other organisations, was a great success. Our very cordial meetings also gave us the opportunity to reflect on our past.

The ‘Sri Lanka Day’ organised in Canberra in 1998 to commemorate the half-century since Sri Lanka gained independence is a historic event that deserves special mention. The fact that February 4th coincided with the annual Australian National Multicultural Festival held in Canberra further enhanced the significance of the event. Under the leadership of ASLA, of which I was the president, with the support of other Sri Lankan organisations, and under the guidance of the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Australia, late Mr. Elmo Perera, and the High Commission, the event was to be held on a grand scale.

The event featured a series of exhibitions on Sri Lankan arts and crafts, heritage and photography, a Sri Lankan cricket exhibition, a Sri Lankan documentary film exhibition, a Sri Lankan cooking demonstration, and several Sri Lankan food, tea and tourism stalls. To conclude the one-day event on a grand note, preparations were also being made to hold a dance and songs recital at the Llewellyn Hall of the Australian National University. The dance program was organised by the Canberra School of Sri Lankan Dance and its principal, late Mrs Vijitha Lokusooriya. The singing program was organised by the School of Eastern and Western Music of Canberra (සංගීත් මංජරී) and its principal, Sangeetha Visharada Ranjith Madurapperuma.

The final item of this dance and singing program was proposed to be a group sing-along of the song "පෙරදිග මුතු ඇටයයි මේ - ලෝකේ සිරි බර සිරි ලංකා", a song full of national pride, sung by the nightingale, Mrs Latha Walpola. It was also proposed to involve Sri Lankan as well as Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Fijian and Australian students who were associated with  the Sri Lankan School of Eastern and Western Music, in singing the finale. It highlighted Sri Lanka’s cultural diversity and multi-ethnic harmony, using a blend of South Asian and Australian cultures.

However, a strong campaign of various kinds had been launched against both these proposals. One of the main allegations levelled was that the song "පෙරදිග මුතු ඇටයයි මේ" was a liberation song of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and that it could not be allowed to be sung at all. The other allegation was that the song should only be sung  by Sinhalese students and that non-Sinhalese students should not be allowed to sing it. Although both of these allegations were based on absurd facts, it should be specially noted that those were disseminated throughout Australia by certain Sinhala supremacists.

It can be assumed that the basis for these absurd allegations may have been the anti-Christian sentiments among those supremacists. Mrs Latha Walpola was born as Rita Genevieve Fernando. She was raised in a Catholic family. She was educated in a Catholic convent. Her singing career began in church choirs. Her religious beliefs and the background in which she was raised may have influenced her early musical path. However, ‍her singing abilities were considered very similar to those of Latha Mangeshkar, who was considered India's greatest and most powerful singer. Although Lata Mangeshkar's singing style was noted as a benchmark in Indian playback singing, the religious bias of some appeared to have become an obstacle for Mrs Latha Walpola.

The Organising Committee met for the last time at the Sri Lankan High Commissioner's residence to make final decisions on the 50th Independence Day program. As the president of the committee, I included the proposals that had been debated and the allegations that had been made against them on the agenda of that meeting. The representatives of the Sinhala Cultural Association in Canberra spoke in support of those allegations. When the High Commissioner asked for my views, I denied both allegations and presented the necessary facts to negate them.

First, I confirmed that the song "පෙරදිග මුතු ඇටයයි මේ" is not a liberation song of the JVP. I explained that the song was a very popular song that evoked Sri Lankan pride and national sentiment, that the lyrics were written by Karunaratne Abeysekara, and that the song was sung around 1956, long before the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna came into being. Accordingly, it was confirmed that the allegation was completely false and fabricated.

Second, I emphasized that rather than limiting the singing of such a song filled with national pride to Sinhalese, we should be proud that citizens of South Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, or any other country in the world, should come together and sing "This is the pearl of the East". I also explained that this is a very important occasion that proclaims Sri Lanka’s multicultural diversity and international friendship. All the non-supremacists unanimously approved the ideas I presented. The supremacists remained silent. At the end, having taken all those facts into consideration, the High Commissioner agreed that the program should be organised as proposed.

The result of that decision was the successful conclusion of the 50th Independence Day celebrations, Sri Lanka Day, on 4 February 1998, under the patronage of the Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory, Mrs. Kate Carnell. A highlight of the event was the singing of the song "පෙරදිග මුතු ඇටයයි මේ - ලෝකේ සිරි බර සිරි ලංකා" by students of various nationalities together. This was a wonderful occasion of expressing national harmony and cultural diversity.

Discussing these events reminds us that Mrs Latha Walpola leaves behind an unfillable void in the universe of Sri Lankan cultural creativity. Born Rita Genevieve Fernando, she transformed her musical journey, which began with church choirs, into an immortal chapter in the history of Sri Lankan music. Her contribution to Sri Lankan music was also a means of promoting national harmony, cultural diversity and human equity. Her contribution to the art of Sri Lankan singing was immeasurable, and her melodious voice will remain in the hearts of many generations. Her melodious voice will resonate in our hearts forever, and her musical legacy will represent a high point in Sri Lankan culture.

We pay tribute to Mrs. Latha Walpola for her immeasurable contribution to the art of Sri Lankan singing. We express our deepest condolences to all of her family, friends and countless followers.

Lionel Bopage

31 December 2025

A 38-year-old man has been taken into custody in Gandara, Dondra, after police uncovered a significant quantity of illegal narcotics and cash believed to be proceeds from drug trafficking, authorities said.

The arrest was made yesterday afternoon (31) following a tip-off received by officers of the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB). During the operation, police recovered 115 grams and 200 milligrams of heroin, along with 23 grams and 700 milligrams of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as ‘Ice’. Approximately Rs. 500,000 in cash was also seized.Police said the suspect, a resident of Dondra, is believed to be closely connected to a major drug trafficker currently based overseas. Investigations indicate that he was responsible for managing and transferring money generated through the trafficker’s narcotics network.

The suspect is due to be produced before the Matara Magistrate’s Court today (01), while further investigations are continuing under the Police Narcotics Bureau.

Former Member of Parliament Dullas Alahapperuma has formally appealed to United States President Donald J. Trump to consider granting temporary tariff relief on Sri Lankan imports, citing the country’s urgent need for economic recovery following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

In a letter addressed to President Trump, Alahapperuma expressed deep appreciation for the United States’ swift humanitarian response to the disaster, including USD 2 million in emergency assistance and the deployment of US military airlift capabilities to deliver essential relief supplies. He described the support as “generous and timely,” noting that it had played a critical role in Sri Lanka’s ongoing relief operations.

Cyclone Ditwah, one of the most severe natural disasters in Sri Lanka’s recent history, has affected nearly 10 per cent of the population—more than two million people—through widespread flooding, landslides, and infrastructure damage across all districts. Alahapperuma emphasized that children have been disproportionately impacted, with UNICEF estimating that over half a million children are facing long-term risks such as displacement, loss of parents, disruption to education, and increased vulnerability.

Highlighting President Trump’s recent initiative to establish “Trump Accounts,” a program designed to provide seed funding for the financial security of American children from birth, Alahapperuma drew attention to what he described as a shared commitment to child welfare.

Against this backdrop, he requested that the US administration consider temporarily reducing tariffs on Sri Lankan imports to 12 per cent for a one-year period in 2026. According to Alahapperuma, such targeted trade relief would significantly strengthen Sri Lanka’s economic recovery by supporting export-driven industries, restoring livelihoods, and enabling the government to channel resources toward rebuilding infrastructure and essential services—particularly those benefiting children.

He noted that the estimated annual value of the proposed tariff reduction would exceed the value of a single tranche of International Monetary Fund (IMF) funding to Sri Lanka, underlining its potential impact on the country’s recovery efforts.

Alahapperuma made the appeal in his capacity as a former Minister of Education and a main candidate in Sri Lanka’s 2022 presidential election, stressing the long-term developmental importance of safeguarding children during times of crisis.

Concluding his letter, he described the proposed tariff relief as an act of solidarity that would offer renewed hope to Sri Lankan families, calling it a “perfect Christmas and New Year gift” to the children of Sri Lanka as the nation seeks to rebuild after the cyclone.

The Sri Lankan rupee depreciated by 5.6 percent against the US dollar in 2025, data released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) shows.

As of the close of trading yesterday, the CBSL reported the US dollar buying rate at Rs. 306.29, while the selling rate stood at Rs. 313.83.By comparison, on December 31, 2024, the dollar was quoted at a buying rate of Rs. 288.32 and a selling rate of Rs. 297.01. The year-on-year movement highlights a steady weakening of the local currency against the greenback during 2025.

China fired rockets into waters off Taiwan on Tuesday, showcased new assault ships and dismissed prospects of U.S. and allied intervention to block any future attack by Beijing to take control of the island in its most extensive war games to date.

As part of drills rehearsing a blockade, China's Eastern Theatre Command conducted 10 hours of live-fire exercises, launching rockets into waters to the north and south of the democratically governed island.Chinese naval and air force units also simulated strikes on maritime and aerial targets and carried out anti-submarine drills around the island, while state media released images touting Beijing's technological and military superiority and its ability to take Taiwan by force if necessary.

Named "Justice Mission 2025", the drills began 11 days after the U.S. announced a record $11.1 billion arms package to Taiwan, drawing the Chinese defence ministry's ire and warnings that the military would "take forceful measures" in response.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who said on Monday he has a "great relationship" with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, has downplayed the threat of the drills, though U.S. lawmakers and the European Union condemned Beijing's actions as undermining regional peace and stability.

DETERRING 'EXTERNAL FORCES'

For the first time, China's military said the drills were aimed at deterring outside intervention. "Any external forces that attempt to intervene in the Taiwan issue or interfere in China's internal affairs will surely smash their heads bloody against the iron walls of the Chinese People's Liberation Army," China's Taiwan Affairs Office said in a statement on Monday.

Beijing has also intensified its rhetoric over Taiwan in the weeks since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested a hypothetical attack on the island could trigger a military response from Tokyo.

Xi last week promoted the commander of the Eastern Theatre Command, which oversees Taiwan-facing operations, to full general - a move which analysts say serves to shore up the military's combat readiness after a leadership purge.

"China not only has vast numerical superiority, it now has qualitative superiority across the board in weaponry and probably in training as well," said Lyle Goldstein, Asia programme director at U.S.-based think tank Defense Priorities.

"This is an arms race Taiwan cannot possibly win."

Trump on Monday said he was not worried about the drills, adding that China has carried out naval exercises around Taiwan for more than 20 years.

In contrast, John Moolenaar, the Republican chair of the U.S. House of Representatives' select committee on China, said China's actions represented a "deliberate escalation."

"By rehearsing coercive military scenarios and projecting force beyond its borders, the Chinese Communist Party is seeking to reshape the regional order through aggression and intimidation," Moolenaar said in a statement on Tuesday.

Washington would work to "preserve Taiwan's security," he added.

The European Union also said it had a "direct interest in the preservation of the status quo in the Taiwan Strait," adding in a statement that Beijing "endangers international peace and stability", opens new tab with its latest exercises.

While Trump has repeatedly said Xi told him he will not attack Taiwan while the U.S. president is in office - something Beijing has never confirmed - Trump's first and second administrations have a track record of ramping up weapon sales approvals to Taiwan compared with other U.S. administrations.

The drills this week, the sixth major round of war games since 2022, were the largest by area and the closest yet to Taiwan.

Hsieh Jih-sheng, deputy chief of the general staff for intelligence at Taiwan's Defence Ministry, told reporters China had ramped up its drills around the island over the past three years to make people doubt the government's ability to defend them.

SHOW OF FORCE

A senior Taiwan security official told Reuters that China appeared to be simulating striking land-based targets such as the U.S.-made HIMARS rocket system, a mobile artillery system with a range of about 300 km (186 miles) that could hit coastal targets in southern China.

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te said in a post on Facebook that frontline troops were primed to defend the island but that Taipei did not seek to escalate the situation.

China's state media rolled a stream of propaganda posters, including one titled "Hammers of Justice" that showed Lai being crushed by one hammer striking the island's south while another hits its north.

Chinese newspapers also highlighted the first deployment of the Type 075 amphibious assault ship. Zhang Chi, an academic at China's National Defence University, said the vessel can simultaneously launch attack helicopters, landing craft, amphibious tanks and armoured vehicles.

CHINA BELIEVED TO BE EYEING 2027 READINESS TARGET

Taiwan sits alongside key commercial shipping and aviation routes, with some $2.45 trillion in trade moving through the Taiwan Strait each year and the airspace above the island a conduit between China, the world's second-largest economy, and the fast-growing markets of East and Southeast Asia.

Taiwan's Civil Aviation Authority said that although 11 of Taipei's 14 flight routes were affected by the drills, no international flights had been cancelled. Routes to the offshore islands of Kinmen and Matsu near China's coast were blocked, affecting around 6,000 passengers.

Taiwan's defence ministry said 71 Chinese military aircraft and 24 navy and coast guard vessels had been operating around the island on Tuesday. The ministry added that China fired 27 rockets in Taiwan's waters. Chinese coast guard ships were tracking Taiwanese vessels during the drills, a Taiwan coast guard official told Reuters.

A Pentagon report released last week said the U.S. military believed China was preparing to be able to win a fight for Taiwan by 2027, the centenary of the founding of the PLA.

China's military said on Monday that simulating a blockade of Taiwan's deep-water Port of Keelung to the island's north and Kaohsiung to Taiwan's south, its largest port city, was central to the drills.

The Pentagon report said U.S. military planners believed Beijing was also contemplating carrying out strikes from China to take Taiwan by "brute force" if needed.

(Source - Reuters)

Sri Lanka marked the arrival of 2026 with a colorful fireworks display that illuminated the skyline of Colombo in the early hours of the New Year. The celebrations were centered in the capital’s bustling commercial district, drawing enthusiastic crowds eager to welcome the fresh beginning.

At Galle Face Green, fireworks burst overhead, creating a festive atmosphere as revelers cheered and celebrated the moment. The iconic seaside promenade became a focal point of the city’s New Year festivities.Sri Lanka welcomed the New Year shortly after several other Asian countries, including Singapore, China, and Japan, had already marked the transition into 2026.

Opposition MP and President’s Counsel Faiszer Musthapha has called for wide-ranging reforms to Sri Lanka’s divorce, marriage, and personal laws, including the introduction of no-fault divorce, an increase in the minimum marriage age, and strengthened women’s rights under Muslim and Tesawalamai legislation.

At present, Sri Lanka’s divorce system is fault-based, requiring couples to prove a recognized matrimonial offense to obtain a decree of divorce. Critics argue the framework is outdated, encourages false allegations, burdens courts, and intensifies conflict between parties. Musthapha’s proposed reforms would allow divorce on the basis of irreconcilable differences, creating a no-fault system aimed at more humane and efficient resolution of marital breakdowns.

He also recommends amending the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act to raise the minimum age of marriage to 18 years. Under current law, girls under 12 may be married with the consent of a Quazi, a provision Musthapha says conflicts with modern child protection standards.

In addition, he proposes transferring maintenance claims under Muslim law from exclusive Quazi Court jurisdiction to Magistrates’ Courts under the general Maintenance Ordinance. Musthapha said this would improve accessibility, consistency, and procedural fairness, particularly for women seeking timely relief.

The lawmaker also advocates allowing women to serve as Quazis, noting that the current male-only restriction is outdated and inconsistent with Sri Lanka’s record of female leaders, including Chief Justices and Presidents.

Musthapha further highlighted entrenched gender inequality under Tesawalamai law, which prevents married women from disposing of immovable property without their husband’s written consent. He said such restrictions undermine constitutional equality and violate Sri Lanka’s international obligations. His reforms would remove these barriers, recognizing women’s full legal capacity over their property.

Drawing on his experience as former Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government, where he helped introduce a 25% quota for women in local authorities, Musthapha said the proposed reforms would modernize Sri Lanka’s matrimonial and personal laws, strengthen gender equality, and align national legislation with international standards.