Latest Sri Lanka News and Top Stories

Gift Sri Lanka Foundation and the Georgia Buddhist Vihara (GBV), USA, have made a financial contribution of USD 16,000 to the Government’s ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund.

Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), met with the United Nations Resident Coordinator to Sri Lanka, Mr. Marc-André Franche, at the Office of the Deputy Minister of Defence yesterday (December 17) to review ongoing disaster response efforts, institutional reforms, and the coordination of international humanitarian assistance.

Three suspects linked to the death of an elephant in the Seeppukulam area have been remanded by the Anuradhapura Magistrate’s Court until December 24, 2025.

All schools in the Central Province will be closed on Friday (December 19), and Monday (December 22), due to adverse weather, officials confirmed.

The European Union has provided €2.35 million in humanitarian assistance and delivered 83 tonnes of relief supplies to Sri Lanka to support communities affected by Tropical Cyclone Ditwah.

The Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, announced today (December 18) that he endorsed certificates on December 17, 2025, for three key Amendment Bills, namely the Social Security Contribution Levy, the Betting and Gaming Levy, and Strategic Development Projects, bringing them into law.

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) reports that over 90,000 tourists arrived in Sri Lanka during the first two weeks of December 2025.

United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, praised American companies and institutions for aiding Sri Lanka’s recovery following Cyclone Ditwah.

Investigations have revealed that several police officers, including the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) and the Traffic OIC of the Sapugaskanda Police Station, failed to properly handle a road accident involving former Speaker and MP Asoka Ranwala.

Mr. D.D. Priyantha Ranasinghe, a work assistant in the maintenance department, has made history as the first entry-level staff member at the University of Ruhuna to earn a university degree.

Indra Traders (Pvt) Ltd has made a financial contribution of Rs. 100 million to the Government’s ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, established to provide relief to those affected by Cyclone Ditwah.

The renovated children’s park and new Sensory Garden at the Senehasa Education, Resource, Research and Information Centre (SERRIC), which strengthen care and therapy services for children with special needs from military families, were inaugurated yesterday (December 17) by Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd).

The Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Bangkok, working closely with Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, and the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Myanmar, has successfully rescued and repatriated 25 Sri Lankan nationals who were trafficked into cybercrime centers in Myawaddy, Myanmar, with their safe return to Sri Lanka completed on December 16, 2025.

A Police Sergeant serving as the Acting Officer-in-Charge (Traffic) at the Chilaw Headquarters Police Station was arrested on December 17, 2025 for allegedly accepting a Rs. 3,200 bribe to return a motorcyclist’s driving licence without taking legal action.

Sri Lanka Army Engineers have restored essential connectivity following the complete collapse of the Nayaru main bridge in Mullaitivu, which was severely damaged by intense flooding caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

China has pledged its fullest support to Sri Lanka’s efforts to rebuild public life after the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah, with senior Chinese leader Wang Dongming expressing confidence that the country will return to normal swiftly under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s leadership.