December 13, Colombo (LNW): Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur at some places in Kalutara, Ratnapura, Galle and Matara Districts, the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology said in a warning statement.

There may be temporary localised strong winds during thundershowers.

The general public is kindly urged to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by lightning activity.

December 13, Colombo (LNW): The Irrigation Department has confirmed that a significant number of the country’s reservoirs are currently spilling, reflecting continued rainfall in several regions.

H.M.P.S.D. Herath, Director of Irrigation (Water Management), reported that 36 major reservoirs and more than 46 medium-sized tanks are releasing water.

In the Ampara District, three of the nine principal reservoirs have begun spilling, while all main reservoirs in Anuradhapura are at capacity. Meanwhile, three of seven in Badulla and three of four in Batticaloa are also releasing water.

Spill gates have additionally been opened at selected reservoirs in other districts: four out of ten in Hambantota, two of three in Kandy, four of ten in Kurunegala, and one of three in Monaragala. In the North and East, two of four in Polonnaruwa, three of five in Trincomalee, and one of four in Mannar are overflowing.

Herath noted that the current volume of water being released is relatively small, and the extent to which spill gates remain open will depend on forthcoming rainfall. He urged residents living downstream to stay alert and follow official updates regarding water discharges.

Importantly, the Director reassured the public that, despite the spilling, there is no immediate threat of flooding or a sudden rise in water levels in downstream areas. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure community safety.

December 13, Colombo (LNW): Almas Holdings Pvt Ltd has announced a donation of Rs. 225 million to aid recovery efforts in the wake of Cyclone Ditwah, with a significant portion earmarked for the government’s ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ President’s Fund.

The long-established investment and real estate group confirmed that the contribution would be made via its subsidiary, Almas Equities Pvt Ltd, a licensed stockbroking firm regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Colombo Stock Exchange.

On Friday, Chairman Imtiaz Buhardeen personally handed over a cheque for Rs. 100 million to President’s Secretary Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake at the Presidential Secretariat. He also pledged an additional Rs. 125 million specifically to support recovery and rebuilding initiatives in the flood-hit Kandy District.

Buhardeen emphasised that Almas Holdings is committed to helping communities affected by the floods, focusing both on immediate relief and long-term rehabilitation. “We aim to provide support where it is most urgently needed and contribute to sustainable recovery,” he said.

The handover ceremony was attended by senior executives of Almas Equities and Almas Holdings, including Managing Director Shameer Buhardeen, Directors Risvi Abdul Majeed and Ruzly Shamsudeen, CEO Ifadh Marikar, and Strategic Development Consultant Thakshila Hulangamuwa.

The government-established ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund serves as a central mechanism to channel financial assistance for relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction projects following natural disasters, ensuring swift and coordinated support for affected communities.

December 13, Colombo (LNW): Dr Kapila Kannangara, Director of the National Dengue Control Unit, has urged both citizens and authorities to adopt a more proactive mindset in tackling dengue, emphasising that environmental cleanliness is a shared responsibility.

“The environment itself acts as a breeding ground for mosquitoes, so maintaining it properly is critical. Cleanliness is not just a duty of the authorities—it is the community’s responsibility too,” he explained, addressing the unveiling of the world’s first Simplified Early Action Protocol (SEAP) for dengue prevention.

Dr Kannangara also noted shortcomings in local government efforts, citing factors such as competing priorities, lack of awareness, and a tendency to underestimate the risk. “Prevention must continue alongside other recovery or relief efforts. Dengue does not wait for people to catch up,” he warned.

The SEAP initiative represents a significant move from reactive responses to anticipatory public health action. Scheduled to operate over the next two years, until June 2027, the project will initially focus on high-risk districts including Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Jaffna, and Kandy.

With monsoon rains and recent events such as Cyclone Ditwah creating ideal conditions for mosquito proliferation, dengue remains a major public health concern in Sri Lanka, placing considerable strain on hospitals and medical services. By enabling early interventions, SEAP aims to reduce community vulnerability, prevent outbreaks, and save lives before case numbers escalate.

Dr Kannangara issued a stark reminder of the risks posed by delayed action: “When people are exhausted or distracted, their immunity drops. A standard dengue infection can escalate to a severe form, which can be fatal. Continuous prevention efforts are essential to avoid turning dengue into another disaster.”

This launch signals a major step forward in Sri Lanka’s fight against dengue, combining innovative strategy with community engagement to protect public health.

December 13, Colombo (LNW): The Government has approved a temporary financial facility for public sector employees, granting them access to a special advance allowance aimed at easing short-term monetary pressures.

A circular issued by the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Aloka Bandara, confirms that eligible officers may obtain an advance of up to Rs. 4,000. The measure is intended as a limited support mechanism rather than a permanent entitlement.

However, the directive makes it clear that the benefit will not be extended to officials who have failed to meet repayment obligations on earlier special advances or designated bank loans. Only those with a satisfactory repayment record will qualify.

The advance may be drawn during the period from January 01 to February 28, 2026. Recovery of the amount will be carried out over ten equal monthly instalments, with interest applied at an annual rate of eight per cent.

December 13, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka and Italy have reaffirmed their long-standing cooperation on road transport by renewing the bilateral arrangement that allows for the mutual recognition of driving licences, following a formal signing ceremony held in Rome.

The agreement was endorsed on behalf of Sri Lanka by its Ambassador to Italy, Satya Rodrigo, while Italy was represented by the Deputy Minister and Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Maria Tripodi.

The renewed pact marks the successful conclusion of extensive discussions between the respective transport and motor traffic authorities of both countries.

Originally introduced in 2011, the agreement has played a key role in easing mobility for Sri Lankan and Italian nationals living abroad. After a previous renewal in 2016, the arrangement lapsed in 2021, prompting renewed negotiations to restore the facility in line with current administrative and regulatory requirements.

The updated agreement enables eligible residents who have settled permanently in either country to exchange their valid domestic driving licences for a local one, without the need to sit written or practical driving tests.

This provision applies to individuals who have been resident in the host country for up to six years, offering a significant convenience for expatriate communities.

Officials from both sides described the renewal as a practical step that strengthens bilateral ties and supports the everyday needs of citizens living and working overseas, while also reinforcing cooperation in transport and consular affairs.

December 13, Colombo (LNW): The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has issued an urgent appeal for US$8.3 million to safeguard the health, safety and dignity of women and girls in Sri Lanka following the devastation caused by last month’s cyclone.

The storm, which struck on 28 November, has affected more than two million people across multiple districts, sweeping away homes, damaging hospitals and clinics, and forcing large numbers of families into temporary shelters.

As recovery efforts struggle to keep pace with the scale of destruction, women and girls are facing growing risks, including disrupted access to sexual and reproductive healthcare, heightened exposure to gender-based violence and increasing psychological distress.

UNFPA estimates that those impacted include around 520,000 women of reproductive age, among them more than 22,000 pregnant women, as well as nearly 194,000 elderly women. Flooded roads, debris and damage to medical facilities have sharply limited access to essential services, including emergency obstetric care, placing expectant mothers and newborns in particular danger.

Conditions in evacuation centres have further compounded vulnerabilities. Overcrowding and a lack of privacy have raised safety concerns, especially for adolescent girls, older women and women living with disabilities.

UNFPA’s Officer-in-Charge in Sri Lanka, Phuntsho Wangyel, said the agency moved quickly in coordination with national authorities, dispatching more than 1,200 maternity and dignity kits within a day of the emergency being declared.

However, he warned that the situation is deteriorating and that far more resources are needed to prevent women and girls from being overlooked as the crisis deepens.

The agency plans to expand its operations to reach over 200,000 women and girls with life-saving services. These include mobile health clinics for displaced and remote communities, the distribution of maternity supplies and essential care kits, and efforts to restore damaged health centres.

UNFPA also aims to strengthen protection measures by supporting safe spaces, providing targeted cash assistance, improving referral systems for survivors of abuse and scaling up mental health and psychosocial support.

Despite the urgency, only a small fraction of the appeal has been funded so far. UNFPA has cautioned that without swift international backing, critical gaps in care will widen, leaving women, girls, newborns and the elderly to shoulder the heaviest burden of the disaster. The agency has called on governments and donors to respond quickly to ensure vital services reach those most at risk.

December 13, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s Court of Appeal has underscored the profound and lasting damage caused by sexual violence, describing rape as a grave offence that harms not only individual victims but society as a whole.

The remarks were made while rejecting an appeal by a man convicted of sexually assaulting a teenage girl.

Delivering the judgement, Justice Amal Ranaraja, with Justice Sasi Mahendran concurring, noted that sexual offences remain disturbingly common in Sri Lanka and continue to erode social trust and security.

The Court stressed that rape inflicts enduring psychological trauma on victims and creates a climate of fear, particularly among women and girls, making firm judicial responses essential.

The case centred on offences committed in Adippala, Chilaw, between November and December 2006. At the time, the offender was a 27-year-old married man, while the victim was just 15.

Evidence before the trial court established that the abuse resulted in the birth of a child, with DNA analysis conclusively identifying the accused as the father.

The Attorney General had brought three charges of rape under the Penal Code, to which the accused pleaded guilty. The High Court in Chilaw subsequently imposed 18 years of rigorous imprisonment on each count, with the sentences ordered to run concurrently.

In appealing against the ruling, the convict argued that the punishment was excessive. However, the prosecution pointed out that he had occupied a position of trust and effectively acted as a guardian to the girl, a responsibility he had grossly betrayed.

Dismissing the appeal, the Court of Appeal ruled that the sentence was lawful and proportionate to the seriousness of the crimes. The judges emphasised that strong penalties in such cases are necessary both to deliver justice to victims and to send a clear deterrent message.

The Court also highlighted the severe physical and emotional suffering endured by the victim, who was forced to face pregnancy and childbirth while still a child herself, a burden the judges described as particularly cruel given her age and vulnerability.

December 13, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s Parliament has been called to sit on December 18, 2025, with proceedings scheduled to begin at 9.30 a.m., Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne confirmed on Thursday (12).

The decision was formalised through an Extraordinary Gazette notification issued under Standing Order 16.

The notice followed a formal request by the Prime Minister, paving the way for legislators to reconvene later this month to take up pending parliamentary business and address key national matters.