December 21, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka Railways is set to widen access to its ticket refund services, extending the facility beyond Colombo with effect from December 25, Transport Minister Bimal Ratnayake announced.

Until now, passengers seeking refunds were required to visit either Fort or Maradana railway stations. From Christmas Day, the service will be made available at several key stations in the up-country region, including Badulla, Ella, Bandarawela, Haputale, Nanu Oya and Hatton, easing the burden on travellers outside the capital.

In addition, the Ministry of Transport plans to roll out the refund facility on a trial basis at Anuradhapura, Jaffna and Batticaloa, with a view to assessing demand and operational feasibility in other parts of the island.

The Minister also confirmed that Kandy railway station is expected to be incorporated into the system in January, as part of a broader effort to improve passenger convenience and decentralise railway services.

Starting Dec 25,Sri Lanka Railways expands ticket refunds beyond Colombo!
For decades,refunds were only at Fort & Maradana.From Dec 25,
✅ Badulla,Ella,Bandarawela, Haputale
✅ Nanuoya,Hatton
✅ Anuradhapura,Jaffna,Batticaloa (Pilot)
Kandy joins d list in Jan! #SriLanka #Railway

— Bimal Rathnayake (@BimalRathnayake) December 20, 2025

December 21, Colombo (LNW): The Road Development Authority has announced a revised toll ticketing arrangement at the Kerawalapitiya Interchange on the Outer Circular Highway, with the new system set to come into effect from noon on December 22, 2025.

Under the updated procedure, motorists accessing the Colombo–Katunayake Expressway via Seeduwa or Peliyagoda will no longer receive entry tickets at Kerawalapitiya. Instead, tickets will be issued directly at the Seeduwa and Peliyagoda interchanges when vehicles enter the expressway.

The RDA explained that vehicles travelling from the Outer Circular Highway onto the Colombo–Katunayake Expressway will also see a simplified process. Drivers will no longer need to collect an exit receipt and then obtain a fresh entry ticket at Kerawalapitiya. As before, exit receipts will only be issued to vehicles leaving the expressway at Kerawalapitiya Interchange, where the applicable toll will be charged.

Accordingly, all vehicles entering the Colombo–Katunayake Expressway must secure their entry tickets at Seeduwa or Peliyagoda. Vehicles arriving from the Outer Circular Highway will be permitted to merge onto the expressway without taking an entry ticket, while those exiting at Kerawalapitiya will settle toll payments at that point.

The authority further clarified that electronic toll payment options will remain available solely for travel on the Colombo–Katunayake Expressway. Motorists using e-toll facilities to access the Outer Circular Highway will still be required to use cash payment lanes.

Officials said the changes are intended to reduce congestion, improve traffic flow and enhance overall efficiency at one of the country’s busiest interchanges.

December 21, Colombo (LNW): A dedicated Public Assistance Helpdesk will begin operations at the Galle Face Green from December 21, 2025, following instructions issued by the Secretary of Defence.

The facility will be located opposite the Presidential Secretariat and is intended to support the growing number of visitors expected during the festive and holiday period.

The move comes in response to the sharp rise in public activity in the area at this time of year. The Helpdesk will be jointly managed by the Tri-Forces and the Sri Lanka Police, ensuring a coordinated and clearly visible presence to assist the public and respond swiftly to any developing situations.

Officials said the centre will serve as a single point of contact for visitors seeking assistance, information or emergency support. It is expected to improve overall safety, strengthen coordination among security agencies and enable faster action during unexpected incidents.

Medical support will also be available nearby, with ambulance services and basic healthcare facilities on standby to handle emergencies and provide first aid when needed. The Ministry of Defence stated that these measures reflect a broader commitment to public safety while allowing people to enjoy the Galle Face area in a calm and orderly environment.

Members of the public requiring urgent assistance have been advised to contact the Helpdesk via the dedicated hotline on 071 859 5880, which will link callers to emergency coordination, medical services and police support as necessary.

December 21, Colombo (LNW): More than a thousand places of religious and archaeological significance across Sri Lanka have sustained damage as a result of the recent disaster, the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs has revealed.

Deputy Minister Muneer Mulafer said assessments carried out so far indicate that 1,054 temples, shrines and heritage locations have been impacted, with 33 of them suffering complete destruction. He noted that the damage spans several regions, highlighting the scale of the impact on the country’s cultural landscape.

According to the Ministry, restoration and rehabilitation efforts have already begun, with priority being given to sites that have been most severely affected. Technical teams are currently evaluating structural damage to determine the scope of work required to return these locations as closely as possible to their original state.

Officials added that coordinated measures are being put in place to document losses, mobilise resources and safeguard what remains of the affected sites. The Ministry emphasised that protecting religious and cultural heritage remains a key focus of the recovery process, alongside broader relief and rebuilding efforts underway nationwide.

December 21, Colombo (LNW): Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe has called on the public to exercise prudence when accessing government-backed relief payments and concessional bank loans extended to those affected by recent disasters.

Addressing a public forum in Kandy yesterday (20), Dr Weerasinghe stressed that financial assistance, while essential in times of hardship, must be managed responsibly by recipients. He noted that the State has committed substantial resources to support recovery efforts and that these funds should be drawn only to the extent genuinely required.

He reminded citizens that relief schemes are designed to reach a wide range of people in need, and that careful and honest use of allocated funds would allow assistance to be channelled to others facing similar difficulties. Sound financial management, he said, is just as important after receiving support as it is in normal times.

Reflecting on lessons from the recent economic downturn, the Central Bank Governor referred to the period when the tourism sector was supported through low-interest loan facilities. He observed that in several cases, businesses—both directly affected and otherwise—borrowed beyond their actual needs, later struggling to service their debts.

Dr Weerasinghe cautioned that such practices could lead to unnecessary financial strain and emphasised that borrowing only what is essential helps avoid future credit difficulties. He concluded by urging individuals and businesses to use relief funds and loans as tools for sustainable recovery, ensuring that public resources contribute effectively to rebuilding livelihoods and strengthening the economy.

December 21, Colombo (LNW): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake chaired a high-level meeting at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday to assess progress on district-based recovery efforts under the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ initiative and to address obstacles slowing implementation.

The discussion brought together senior ministry secretaries overseeing key sectors such as defence, agriculture, irrigation, water supply, fisheries, transport, housing and construction, along with heads of state institutions and District Secretaries from across the country, according to the President’s Media Division.

During the meeting, the President directed officials to ensure that financial assistance earmarked for affected households is released without delay. He instructed that the Rs. 25,000 grant allocated for house cleaning and the Rs. 50,000 allowance intended for replacing essential household items must reach eligible recipients before 31 December.

Officials presented updates on compensation schemes for damaged homes and crops, the operation of safe centres, resettlement initiatives, livelihood restoration and infrastructure repairs. Particular focus was placed on difficulties encountered in disbursing compensation, with the President stressing the need for efficiency, accuracy and fairness so that no entitled family is overlooked.

The meeting also examined plans for relocating families from vulnerable locations, including the identification of suitable land and the development of district-specific housing projects. The President indicated that further consultations involving all relevant stakeholders would be organised to finalise and accelerate these plans.

Attention was also given to preparations for the Maha cultivation season, with reviews of irrigation rehabilitation, farmer assistance programmes and the supply of seeds and other inputs. In addition, officials discussed compensation for damaged livestock farms, measures to help small businesses resume operations, the revival of fisheries activities and the timely distribution of the Rs. 15,000 allowance for schoolchildren affected by the disaster.

The session concluded with a review of steps taken to streamline the reissuance of lost passports and national identity cards, underscoring the government’s intention to remove administrative hurdles faced by displaced and affected citizens.

December 21, Colombo (LNW): A significant number of reservoirs managed by the Department of Irrigation have reached capacity and begun to overflow following recent rainfall, officials confirmed on Tuesday. Of the 73 major reservoirs overseen by the department, just under half are currently releasing excess water, alongside dozens of medium-scale tanks experiencing similar conditions.

Engineer L.S. Sooriyabandara, Director of Hydrology and Disaster Management at the department, said the situation remains under control and does not warrant public concern at this stage. He explained that the controlled spilling of reservoirs is a routine response to sustained rainfall and is not, by itself, an indicator of impending floods.

Nevertheless, he cautioned that river levels remain sensitive to further monsoon activity, noting that changes could occur if heavier rains arrive in the coming days. Continuous surveillance of river basins and reservoirs is therefore being maintained, with precautionary measures ready to be implemented if required.

According to departmental data, the most intense rainfall over the past 24 hours was recorded in regions linked to the Nilwala River basin. Several locations in the area experienced between 50 and 100 millimetres of rain, while much of the wet zone received around 25 millimetres. Comparable rainfall totals of roughly 50 millimetres were observed in parts of the Central Highlands and the Kelani River basin.

Elsewhere, sections of the Eastern Province saw rainfall ranging from 25 to 50 millimetres. Despite this widespread precipitation, officials report that river levels across most catchment areas have remained within safe limits.

Sooriyabandara noted a modest rise in the Nilwala River’s water level but stressed that it remains well below thresholds associated with flooding. He also said that water levels at Manampitiya along the Mahaweli River, though still elevated, are showing a gradual downward trend.

Overall, the department maintains that current conditions do not pose a flood risk, while reiterating the importance of vigilance as the monsoon season continues.

December 21, Colombo (LNW): Several spells of showers will occur in Eastern, Uva and Central provinces and in Polonnaruwa and Hambantota districts, the Department of Meteorology said today (21).

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Sabaragamuwa province and in Galle, Matara and Kalutara districts after 2.00 p.m.

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

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, 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 minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.


Marine Weather:

Condition of Rain:
Showers may occur at several places in the sea areas off the coast extending from Batticaloa to Colombo via Hambantota and Galle.

Winds:
Winds will be north-easterly. Wind speed will be (30-40) kmph. Wind speed can increase up to (50-55) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Colombo to Mannar via Puttalam and from Matara to Batticaloa via Hambantota.

State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coast extending from Colombo to Mannar via Puttalam and from Matara to Batticaloa via Hambantota will be rough at times. The other sea areas around the island will be moderate.