Sri Lanka’s globally renowned Ceylon Tea industry is poised to enter a new phase of value-added, knowledge-based exports with the introduction of Biotechnology 4.0 to the country’s botanical sector.

A major step in this science-driven transformation was marked this week when the Board of Investment (BOI) approved the establishment of a state-of-the-art botanical extraction facility by Natex Extracts (Pvt) Limited.

The project, supported by foreign direct investment (FDI) of USD 1.5 million (over LKR 450 million), will be set up at the Pallekele Export Processing Zone in Kandy, strategically located in Sri Lanka’s central tea-growing region. The facility aims to harness advanced biotechnological processes to enhance the global competitiveness of Sri Lanka’s botanical and tea-based exports.

Technological leadership for the initiative will be provided by Dr. Samuel Perm Mathi Maran, a distinguished scientist with expertise in phytopharmaceutical innovation, botanical drug research, and green biotechnology. His involvement is expected to position the facility at the forefront of sustainable, high-value botanical extraction.

The project is seen as a key milestone in Sri Lanka’s shift toward science-led industrialisation, strengthening the country’s presence in the global botanical and nutraceutical markets while adding greater value to its iconic Ceylon Tea brand.

Sri Lanka has taken a major step toward strengthening its national cybersecurity framework, as the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) convened its first stakeholder consultation under the Ministry of Digital Economy to discuss the ratification of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime.

The consultation was chaired by Acting Secretary to the Ministry of Digital Economy, Varuna Sri Danapala, and brought together officials from key institutions including the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Public Security and Defence, the Attorney General’s Department, Sri Lanka Police, the National Child Protection Authority and the Bribery Commission.

SLCERT stated that the meeting marked an important milestone in advancing Sri Lanka’s cybersecurity agenda through inclusive and informed dialogue among relevant stakeholders.

Senior Counsel Jayantha Fernando presented key technological and legal perspectives, outlining the evolution of international cybercrime frameworks and their implications for Sri Lanka. Senior State Counsel Sehan Soysa of the Attorney General’s Department provided an overview of the UN Convention against Cybercrime and explained how it could be integrated into the country’s existing legal and regulatory structures.

The signing of the Convention by Sri Lanka was highlighted as a landmark achievement reflecting the country’s commitment to building a secure, trusted and resilient digital environment. The move aligns Sri Lanka with internationally recognized standards for preventing, investigating and prosecuting cybercrime.

Acting CEO of SLCERT, Kanishka Karunasena, emphasized that the decision to sign the Convention is firmly grounded in national policy and aligns with the Cabinet-approved Information and Cyber Security Strategy for 2025–2029. He noted that these measures are aimed at enabling the growth of the digital economy while safeguarding citizens, institutions and critical infrastructure.

The consultation also outlined broader government initiatives to strengthen cybersecurity readiness, ensuring that Sri Lanka’s digital ecosystem remains resilient and future-ready amid evolving cyber threats.

SLCERT reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with government agencies, the private sector, civil society and international partners as Sri Lanka moves toward the ratification and implementation of the UN Convention against Cybercrime.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 2 Travel Health Notice for Sri Lanka, advising travelers to “practice enhanced precautions” due to an increase in cases of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus.

The notice, released in December 2025, comes as Sri Lanka continues to grapple with the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, which caused widespread damage to infrastructure and placed additional strain on the country’s health services.

The CDC cautioned that conditions following heavy rainfall and flooding can increase mosquito breeding, heightening the risk of transmission. Travelers are advised to take preventive measures such as using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved clothing, and staying in accommodations with proper mosquito control.

Chikungunya is spread by infected mosquitoes and typically causes fever and severe joint pain, though symptoms can vary. The CDC urged travelers to monitor their health closely during and after travel and to seek medical attention if symptoms develop.

Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake on Thursday (18) announced a series of administrative and policy reforms following an inspection visit to the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) office in Werahera, aimed at improving service efficiency, easing congestion and modernising operations.

Among the key decisions, the Minister directed that a queue management system be introduced at the Werahera office without delay. Trilingual name boards in Sinhala, Tamil and English will also be installed near the main entrance as a matter of urgency to improve accessibility for the public.

The Minister further announced that a new DMT system will be mandatorily implemented by 30 April 2026. Following prior public notice, services without prior appointments will be suspended from 28 February 2026, as part of efforts to streamline operations.

Steps will also be taken to provide the required facilities and resources for volunteer staff, while measures are to be introduced to expedite the printing of the existing backlog of driving licences. In addition, special facilities will be arranged at the Werahera office for individuals who face difficulties obtaining driving licences under the standard procedures of the National Transport Medical Institute.

Legal action will be initiated to extend the initial validity period for driving licence renewal up to the age of 35, alongside an assessment of the potential revenue implications of this change.

Officials from the Ministry of Digital Economy, the Ministry of Transport, and the Department of Motor Traffic, including the Commissioner General of Motor Traffic, were present during the inspection.

Sri Lanka Police have raised concerns over the increasing misuse of the ‘119’ emergency hotline by certain members of the public, stressing that such actions undermine the effectiveness of emergency response services.

Police Media Spokesman ASP F.U. Wootler stated that false and non-emergency calls to the ‘119’ service have continued even during periods of adverse weather, forcing the Police to take enforcement action against offenders. He emphasized that the hotline is intended strictly for emergencies, urgent situations, criminal incidents, and information requiring immediate police intervention to protect citizens’ civil rights.

However, the Police have observed a rise in misleading and unnecessary calls, including inquiries related to water and electricity services, financial matters, and land disputes. Such misuse, ASP Wootler warned, disrupts operations and can delay assistance to those facing genuine emergencies.

He revealed that several phone numbers responsible for repeated abuse of the hotline have been identified, and access to the ‘119’ service has been temporarily suspended for those numbers as a preventive measure.

Reiterating an appeal to the public, the Police urged citizens to use the ‘119’ emergency service responsibly and only for urgent police-related matters. To help reduce misuse, the Police also reminded the public of alternative hotline numbers available for non-emergency services and other specific public needs, including fire and rescue services, disaster management, child and women’s protection, transport, and government information services.

The Anuradhapura Magistrate’s Court has ordered that three suspects arrested in connection with the alleged torture and burning of a wild elephant in the Sippukulama area of Mihintale be remanded until December 24.

The arrests followed the circulation of a disturbing video on social media that showed a wild elephant being subjected to torture using fire. Acting on information obtained from the footage, Mihintale Police arrested three suspects aged 42, 48 and 50, all residents of the same locality.

The injured elephant was later found dead in the Sippukulama area. A post-mortem examination revealed that the animal had suffered from pre-existing kidney and liver conditions, which were severely aggravated by intense shock and fear caused by the burn injuries.

Investigations into the incident are continuing.

Two Sri Lankan fishing vessels were seized near Kelaa in Haa Alifu Atoll yesterday during an operation carried out by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), according to Maldivian media reports.

The MNDF stated that the vessels were detained by the Coast Guard for illegally entering the Maldives’ Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The operation was conducted as part of a joint surveillance effort involving the Coast Guard and the Air Corps, based on intelligence shared by foreign and regional partners.

The vessels were intercepted at around 8:30 a.m., approximately 51 nautical miles off Kelaa. Following the seizure, the boats were handed over to the Maldives Police Service, which has launched further investigations into the incident.

The development comes amid heightened maritime security in the region, particularly in the wake of a major drug trafficking case last month. In that incident, a Sri Lankan fishing vessel carrying approximately 350 kilograms of narcotics was seized in Maldivian waters, leading to the arrest and remand of five Sri Lankan nationals. A Sri Lankan investigative team has since arrived in the Maldives in connection with that case.

Violence has broken out in Bangladesh following the death of prominent youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, a key figure in the movement that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Hadi, 32, was shot by masked attackers while leaving a mosque in Dhaka last week and later died from his injuries on Thursday while undergoing treatment in Singapore. The attack occurred just a day after authorities announced the date for Bangladesh’s first national elections since the 2024 uprising, elections that Hadi had planned to contest as an independent candidate.

As news of his death spread, hundreds of supporters gathered in central Dhaka in protest. The demonstrations later turned violent, with protesters vandalising the offices of leading newspapers The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, setting fire to one of the buildings. Police said troops were deployed to restore order, while firefighters rescued journalists trapped inside the premises.

Hadi was a senior leader of the student protest group Inqilab Mancha and a vocal critic of India, where former Prime Minister Hasina has remained in self-imposed exile since fleeing the country on 5 August last year.

Political parties across Bangladesh condemned the killing and called for swift justice. Interim government head and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus described Hadi’s death as “an irreparable loss for the nation,” warning that attempts to derail the country’s return to democracy through violence would not succeed.

“The country’s march toward democracy cannot be halted through fear, terror, or bloodshed,” Yunus said in a televised address, adding that the shooting appeared to be a premeditated attempt to disrupt the election process.

The interim government has declared a day of national mourning on Saturday. Investigations into the killing are ongoing, and several suspects have reportedly been detained.

The unrest comes amid continued political instability following the 2024 student-led protests that ended Hasina’s 15-year rule. In November, she was sentenced to death for crimes against humanity over the use of lethal force against protesters, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,400 people.

All schools in the Central Province will remain closed on Friday, December 19, and Monday, December 23, due to prevailing adverse weather conditions, according to the Chief Secretary of the Central Province.

The decision follows weather forecasts issued by the Department of Meteorology, which indicate that showers will occur at times in the Eastern, Uva and Central provinces, as well as in the Polonnaruwa and Hambantota districts. Fairly heavy rainfall exceeding 75 mm is expected in several areas.

The Meteorology Department has also warned of fairly strong winds reaching up to 40 kmph at times over the eastern slopes of the central hills, and across the Northern, North-Central and North-Western provinces, as well as in the Trincomalee, Hambantota and Monaragala districts.

Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions in view of the expected weather conditions.