Showers will occur at times in Northern, Eastern and Uva provinces and in Matale, Nuwara-Eliya and Polonnaruwa districts. Fairly heavy falls above 50 mm are likely at some places in these areas.

Several spells of showers will occur in Kandy and Anuradhapura districts.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces and in Kaluthara district after 2.00 p.m.

Fairly strong winds of about 40 kmph can be expected at times over Eastern slopes of the central hills, and in Hambantota, Monaragala and Ampara districts.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts during the early hours of the morning.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

By Adolf

The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka is witnessing a quiet but significant shift, one that raises serious questions about its current leadership and its approach to spiritual guidance. At the center of this unfolding narrative is Prophet Jerome, whose increasing influence among the faithful appears to be growing in parallel to the dissatisfaction with the formal Church hierarchy. But why is this happening, and what does it reveal about the state of the Church today?  

A large part of the answer lies in the conduct of the Church leadership itself. Under the guidance of Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, the hierarchy seems to have lost sight of its fundamental purpose: to be spiritual shepherds of the people. Instead, the Church appears preoccupied with internal politics, changing regimes, and involvement in disputes that have little to do with faith. This preoccupation has left ordinary Catholics feeling neglected, spiritually disconnected, and increasingly drawn toward alternative figures like Prophet Jerome, who promise guidance and attention.  

Failure of Cardinal Ranjith

The image of Cardinal Ranjith—always accompanied by armed bodyguards and a backup vehicle—signals authority, but also distance. To many clergy and followers alike, he is seen as unapproachable. There are complaints that he favors certain priests while marginalizing others, creating a cohort around him that insulates him from the wider community of followers. Such conduct stands in stark contrast to the lives of saintly predecessors like Archbishop Nicholas Marcus Fernando and Cardinal Corray, whose leadership was defined by humility, accessibility, and genuine care for the people. Their example reminds the faithful that spiritual authority is earned through service, not ceremony or security.  

Prophet Jerome, in this context, has emerged as a figure the faithful can relate to. He represents attention, connection, and a form of spiritual service that the formal hierarchy currently seems unable to provide. Yet, it is not merely the personality of Jerome that attracts people—it is the gap left by a Church that, while administratively powerful, appears spiritually distant. In attempting to consolidate authority through fear or exclusivity, the hierarchy risks alienating those it is meant to shepherd, creating space for alternative leaders to step in.  

The Church, however, does not lack clever minds. Jerome may be perceived as astute or strategic, but cleverness alone is not sufficient for true spiritual leadership. The Church requires leaders who embody the principles of service, humility, and guidance. Late Pope Francis repeatedly emphasized the need for pastoral care that places the faithful at the center, leading by example and fostering accessibility and compassion. Sri Lanka’s Church leadership today seems far from this ideal, leaving the faithful searching for spiritual fulfillment elsewhere.  

Expectation of the Church 

If the Church is to reclaim its moral and spiritual authority, it needs a fresh approach—one that re-centers the followers, values transparency, and fosters genuine engagement with clergy and laity alike. Without such reform, the rise of figures like Prophet Jerome may not just continue but accelerate, as the faithful naturally gravitate toward leadership that reflects their spiritual needs. There is a real risk that, should the Church remain complacent, Jerome could become the de facto “Cardinal” in the eyes of the people, regardless of formal ecclesiastical titles.  

Ultimately, the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka is at a crossroads. It must decide whether it will continue a model of leadership characterized by hierarchy, exclusivity, and political maneuvering, or whether it will embrace a renewed vision of spiritual service, humility, and accessibility that truly mirrors the teachings of Christ and the standards set by Late Pope Francis and his prodigy Pope Leo. The time for reflection and reform is now—before the faithful turn decisively to leaders like Jerome who embody what the Church itself has neglected to nurture.

Sri Lanka’s once-recovering vehicle market has suffered a sharp reversal, with sales falling by nearly 50 percent following Cyclone Ditwah, according to industry leaders and provisional import and registration data for December 2025. The downturn has exposed structural weaknesses in the sector and raised concerns about broader economic effects heading into 2026.

Prasad Manage, President of the Ceylon Automobile Importers Association, said the cyclone’s aftermath has left many potential buyers unable to complete purchases already underway. Hard-hit districts such as Kandy saw customers withdraw from deals as household repairs and recovery costs took priority over vehicle ownership. “When homes are flooded, buying a car becomes the last concern,” he noted.

Preliminary comparisons between December 2025 and the monthly average for 2025 show vehicle imports and new registrations down by around half. While 2025 as a whole benefited from a gradual reopening of imports—boosting tax revenue and registrations earlier in the year—the momentum slowed sharply by mid-year and collapsed after the cyclone. Importers report that letters of credit opened for vehicles in December were significantly below the 2025 monthly average, mirroring the fall in showroom sales.

The decline has created financial stress for dealers. Unsold vehicles held for more than three months attract a 3 percent monthly penalty, in addition to interest costs of around 10 percent on import financing. With margins already thin, importers say these costs are unsustainable amid weak demand. Many buyers have requested refunds of advances, further tightening cash flow.

Beyond weather-related damage, analysts point to ongoing macroeconomic constraints. Exchange and import controls, imposed following monetary instability, have continued to affect consumer confidence. Despite periods of current account surpluses in 2025, the rupee weakened after a mid-year policy rate cut, increasing uncertainty around future vehicle prices and financing.

The vehicle trade has been a key contributor to government revenue through import duties and registration fees. The December 2025 slump suggests a revenue gap that could widen in 2026 if demand does not recover. Industry estimates suggest that without policy relief such as temporary extensions on penalties and improved credit conditions vehicle imports in 2026 could remain 30–40 percent below 2025 levels.

 However, there are cautious data targets for next year. If reconstruction spending revives household incomes and credit flows stabilize, registrations could recover modestly by late 2026. Importers project a gradual rebound only if exchange rate volatility eases and financing costs fall.

For now, Cyclone Ditwah has done more than disrupt roads and homesit has derailed a fragile automotive recovery, with implications for employment, tax revenue, and consumer confidence across Sri Lanka’s economy.

The controversy surrounding foreign oversight of a bilateral credit line comes at a particularly sensitive moment for Sri Lanka’s economy, already under strain from repeated cyclone-related disruptions.

While governance reforms and tighter monitoring may be fiscally prudent, their design and communication carry significant implications for a recovery that depends heavily on confidence, speed, and institutional coherence.

Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) especially those in climate-exposed sectors remain highly vulnerable. Cyclones in recent years have disrupted agriculture-linked industries, coastal livelihoods, and fragile supply chains.

For these businesses, access to timely credit is not an abstract policy debate but a matter of survival. Any perception that credit disbursement could be slowed by layered oversight or external approvals risks compounding existing economic stress.

The government’s recent decision to establish seven Industry Consultancy Committees suggests an awareness of this vulnerability.

By integrating MSME-dominated sectors such as ornamental fish, seaweed cultivation, poultry, traditional handicrafts, and creative industries into formal policy dialogue, the State has acknowledged that recovery must be grounded in sector-specific realities.

These committees have the potential to channel real-time feedback on post-cyclone losses, insurance gaps, and infrastructure damage directly into policy responses.

However, the effectiveness of such mechanisms depends on alignment across the broader financial system.

If donor-funded credit lines are subject to opaque oversight structures, delays or uncertainty could undermine precisely the enterprises these committees aim to protect. Cyclone-hit MSMEs operate on narrow margins; missed seasons or delayed working capital can translate into permanent closures.

Constructively, analysts argue that the solution lies not in rejecting external oversight outright, but in embedding it within a transparent, uniform national framework.

Parliamentary scrutiny of all credit lines, independent audits, and publicly disclosed reporting requirements would reassure both donors and domestic stakeholders. Crucially, this approach would ensure that foreign monitoring complements—rather than substitutes local institutional authority.

There are also lessons in comparative practice. India’s use of parliamentary committees to oversee domestic credit schemes and infrastructure projects demonstrates that rigorous monitoring need not undermine sovereignty when accountability remains internal.

Sri Lanka could adapt similar principles, ensuring that final authority over project execution and fund allocation rests unequivocally with domestic institutions.

For cyclone-affected regions, the stakes are high. Climate shocks are no longer episodic but structural risks. Recovery financing must therefore be fast, predictable, and tailored to local conditions. Consultancy committees can help design such responses, but only if financing channels remain efficient and trusted.

In this context, silence is costly. Clear communication about oversight arrangements, coupled with reforms that strengthen not dilute domestic governance, would help align fiscal discipline with economic resilience. Without it, even well-meaning credit support risks becoming another obstacle in a recovery already battered by storms.

Road Development Authority (RDA) Director General K. W. Kandambi said that 302 roads damaged by floods and landslides during the recent adverse weather conditions have now been reopened for traffic, while urgent repair work is underway on the remaining 14 severely damaged roads.

Speaking at a media briefing yesterday, the Director General said the roads currently under repair are located in several provinces, with nine in the Central Province, two in the Uva Province, two in the Northern Province, and one in the North Western Province.

In the Central Province, repair and development work is ongoing on the Peradeniya–Rikillagaskada, Galaha–Delpitiya, Nawalapitiya–Dolosbage, Matale–Illukkumbura–Laggala, Kalalpitiya–Ukuwela–Elkaduwa, Moragahakanda–Wellawa, Gonboruoya–Balapokuna, Kandehandiya–Adikaramgoda–Loggaloya, and Ramboda–Pusulpitiya roads.

Kandambi said the Peradeniya–Rikillagaskada Road is expected to be reopened within 10 days, while the Matale–Illukkumbura–Laggala Road is scheduled to be completed within three weeks. He noted that the Kalalpitiya–Ukuwela–Elkaduwa Road has suffered extensive damage, requiring the addition of a new road section, for which land acquisition will be necessary. A new bridge also needs to be constructed on the Moragahakanda–Wellawa Road.

In the Uva Province, the Randapola–Ambewela Road and the Demodara–Spring Valley Road are expected to be reopened to traffic within the next 10 days.

Meanwhile, a Bailey bridge is to be installed on the damaged Nainamadu–Iranawila Road in the North Western Province. In the Northern Province, the RDA, together with the Sri Lanka Army, is constructing two new bridges on the Mullaitivu–Kokilai–Nayaru Road. In addition, a Bailey bridge is proposed for the Paranthan–Karachchi–Mulakivu Road.

The Director General said the restoration programme is being implemented as a short-, medium- and long-term initiative, with all necessary measures being taken to restore the country’s entire transportation network to its previous condition.