Cabinet Spokesman and Minister of Mass Media Nalinda Jayathissa on Tuesday cautioned media institutions against disseminating unverified information, as the government rejected allegations that it failed to act on early warnings related to severe weather conditions caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

Speaking at a media briefing following Cabinet decisions taken on December 15, Jayathissa defended the accuracy of official information released to the public and dismissed opposition calls for a parliamentary select committee to investigate the matter.

“They are free to go to court if necessary. Then we can demonstrate how certain media institutions edited and distorted these clips,” he said.

Jayathissa said the government had already provided detailed explanations through multiple television discussions and a comprehensive statement in Parliament, maintaining that allegations circulating in sections of the media were misleading and inaccurate.

He reiterated that the Department of Meteorology formally issued information on critical weather conditions on November 25, rejecting claims that authorities were alerted significantly earlier.

The minister dismissed allegations broadcast by some television channels that the government had received information about the cyclone as early as November 12, describing such claims as false and irresponsible.

“These are completely false allegations,” Jayathissa said.

Responding to claims that authorities were informed through 23 red notices, Jayathissa said official records showed that 19 of those notices were issued after November 27, a timeline he said could be verified via the Disaster Management Centre’s website.

He also criticised reports based on an article published by India’s Indian Express, which some Sri Lankan media outlets cited as evidence that Indian meteorological authorities had warned of the cyclone from November 12. Jayathissa said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the Ministry of Defence, had sought clarification on the issue.

Jayathissa said Sri Lanka’s Department of Meteorology confirmed on the morning of November 25 that the weather system had weakened into a deep depression, and stated only on November 27 that it had the potential to develop into a cyclone.

“All of this can be verified through archives and online sources,” he said, adding that repeatedly revisiting the issue was unnecessary.

The minister warned that the government would not hesitate to take action if false reporting continued, cautioning that misinformation could lead to public unrest, social conflict and threats to national security.

The Japanese government has decided to provide an emergency grant of US$2.5 million to Sri Lanka in response to the severe humanitarian situation caused by recent cyclone-related disasters, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegiannounced on Tuesday.

The grant will be channeled through international aid agencies to support humanitarian assistance efforts, including the provision of food, daily necessities and other essential relief items for affected communities.

Landslides and flooding triggered by a cyclone that struck Sri Lanka in late November have resulted in the deaths of more than 600 people, causing widespread damage and displacement across several parts of the country.

Speaking at a press conference, Minister Motegi said Japan would continue to extend “seamless support to our long-time friend, Sri Lanka” to ensure the earliest possible recovery and reconstruction of the disaster-affected areas.

He also noted that a Japanese disaster relief medical team returned home earlier on Tuesday after providing approximately 1,250 medical treatments over a period of about two weeks in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka’s Road Development Authority (RDA) has incurred an estimated loss of Rs. 75 billion following widespread damage to roads and bridges caused by recent disaster conditions across the country, officials revealed before a parliamentary committee.

Officials from the Ministry of Transport and Highways and Urban Development informed the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development that preliminary assessments show damage to 316 roads and 40 bridges under the RDA’s authority. They said approximately Rs. 190 billion would be required to fully rehabilitate the affected infrastructure.

The disclosures were made at a committee meeting held on December 11 at Parliament, chaired by MP S.M. Marikkar, which focused on reviewing the disaster’s social, economic and environmental impacts.

The committee chair noted that assessments of damage to railway lines and regional roads are yet to be completed and stressed the need for the ministry to take the lead in establishing a proper mechanism to allocate funds for the rehabilitation of regional road networks.

Officials also said plans are underway to secure a Rs. 2 billion loan from the World Bank, with additional funding expected from other institutions to support recovery efforts.

Meanwhile, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) reported losses of around Rs. 20 billion due to disaster-related damage. CEB officials said discussions are ongoing with the World Bank to obtain funding assistance. However, the committee chair urged the board to seek grant funding instead of loans, warning that borrowing could eventually lead to increased electricity tariffs.

The Lanka Electricity Company (Pvt) Ltd. reported losses of approximately Rs. 252 million, stating that repair costs could be met through existing budgetary allocations without the need for additional external funding.

The National Water Supply and Drainage Board estimated losses at around Rs. 5.6 billion, with damage reported to 156 water supply schemes. Officials said all affected schemes have since been restored following maintenance work. The Ministry of Housing, Construction and Water Supply added that efforts are underway to obtain grant assistance from the Asian Development Bank for rehabilitation work.

Emphasizing the importance of disaster preparedness, the committee chair said the Sectoral Oversight Committee remains ready to support relevant ministries and institutions in strengthening resilience against future disasters.

The meeting was attended by MPs Nalin Bandara Jayamaha, Ajith P. Perera and Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana, along with senior government officials.

Under the influence of the Easterly wave, the prevailing showery conditions over the Northern and Eastern parts of the island are expected to continue further during the next few days.

Showers will occur at times in Northern, North-Central, Eastern, Uva and Central provinces. Heavy falls above 100 mm are likely at some places in Eastern and Central provinces and in Badulla and Polonnaruwa districts.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places in the other areas of the island after 1.00 p.m. Fairly heavy falls above 75 mm are likely at some places in these areas.

Strong winds of about (40-50) kmph can be expected at times over Eastern slopes of the central hills, Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Trincomalee, Hambantota and Monaragala 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.

By: Staff Writer

December 16, Colombo (LNW): India’s swift disaster relief operation in Sri Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah illustrates how humanitarian assistance has become a cornerstone of New Delhi’s regional strategy. While the medical and material support delivered under Operation Sagar Bandhu addressed urgent needs, the operation also signalled India’s intent to institutionalise its role as South Asia’s primary crisis responder.

The centrepiece of the mission was the deployment of a full-fledged mobile field hospital with a 78-member Indian Army medical and logistics team to Mahiyanganaya. Equipped to function independently, the hospital filled a critical gap as local facilities struggled with patient surges, damaged infrastructure, and supply shortages. The Indian High Commission noted that the hospital was configured to deliver rapid, high-volume care in disaster-hit zones, reflecting lessons drawn from earlier regional emergencies.

The medical outcomes were significant: over 7,000 patients treated, hundreds of procedures completed, and complex surgeries performed in a temporary setup. Yet the operation’s broader significance lay in its integration of medical, logistical, and technical assistance. The repair of Sri Lanka’s damaged fibre-optic backbone by Indian Army specialists restored communication links essential for emergency coordination, governance, and economic activity.

India’s decision to combine personnel withdrawal with the delivery of 25 tonnes of relief supplies including medicines and dry rations highlighted a layered assistance model that prioritises continuity even after frontline teams depart. Sri Lankan authorities publicly acknowledged the scale and efficiency of the support, reinforcing perceptions of India as a dependable partner rather than a transactional donor.

From a geopolitical perspective, the operation aligns with India’s “Neighbourhood First” and “Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)” doctrines. In a region increasingly shaped by strategic competition, disaster response has emerged as a soft-power instrument that builds influence through trust and responsiveness rather than financial leverage alone.

For Sri Lanka, the assistance provided immediate relief at a time of fiscal stress and climate vulnerability. For India, it reinforced strategic depth in the Indian Ocean and demonstrated operational readiness unmatched by other regional actors. As extreme weather events become more frequent, such interventions may increasingly define regional leadership not through rhetoric, but through boots, beds, and bandwidth delivered when it matters most.