WEATHER FORECAST FOR 08 DECEMBER 2025
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 08 December 2025 by the Department of Meteorology 

The Northeast monsoon conditions are gradually establishing over the island. Showery weather condition is expected to enhance over the Northern, North-central and Eastern provinces from tonight.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces during the early hours of the morning.

Showers will occur at times in the Northern, North-Central, Eastern and Uva provinces. Fairly heavy showers  above 50 mm are likely at some places in the Batticaloa and Ampara districts.
Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places in other areas of the island after 1.00 p.m.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Death toll hits 627, over 2.17 mn affected across 25 districts

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) has issued fresh landslide warnings as relentless heavy rains continue to pound regions still reeling from Cyclone Ditwah.

The Department of Meteorology has cautioned that thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rainfall are likely across parts of the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces, as well as Galle and Matara districts. Rainfall is expected to intensify further on the 9th, 10th, and 11th of this month.

Authorities urged the public to stay indoors in safe buildings or vehicles and avoid open areas such as coconut and tea plantations, playgrounds, and reservoirs, during adverse weather events. The public has also been advised against using fixed-line phones, electrical appliances, and open vehicles like bicycles, tractors, and boats due to the risk of lightning strikes and strong winds.

With the northeast monsoon gradually intensifying, occasional rains are also expected in the Northern, North Central, Eastern, and Uva provinces, with some areas of the Batticaloa district expected to receive up to 75 mm of rainfall. Misty conditions may affect parts of the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, and Uva provinces during early mornings.

The DMC has said the floods and landslides, triggered by Cyclone Ditwah, have so far claimed 627 lives, with 190 people still missing. More than 2.17 million people, across 25 districts, have been affected, including 611,530 families. A total of 4,517 houses have been destroyed, and 76,066 partially damaged, leaving over 80,500 homes affected, nationwide.

Kandy is the hardest hit District, recording 232 deaths, 81 missing persons, 1,800 fully destroyed houses, and over 13,000 partially damaged homes. Puttalam and Kurunegala reported 573 and 480 fully destroyed houses, respectively, while Kegalle, Ratnapura, Badulla, and Gampaha also suffered extensive property losses.

Authorities have set up 956 safety centres across the country, currently sheltering 27,663 families, totaling 89,857 people. Relief and rehabilitation efforts are ongoing, with priority given to food, water, and medical aid. Officials warned residents in landslide-prone areas to remain in shelters until conditions stabilise.

by Chaminda Silva

In a massive nationwide crackdown under the Ratama Ekata (A Nation United) Drug Prevention Programme, police have taken 35,855 drug traffickers and users into custody across the country in just 36 days, according to Deputy Inspector General of Police Ashoka Dharmasena.

During the operation, authorities had seized 268 kilos of heroin and 994 kilos of ‘Ice’ (crystal methamphetamine), Dharmasena added.

He also highlighted that since January 2025, the ongoing campaign had resulted in the confiscation of 1,754 kilos of heroin, 3,535 kilos of ‘Ice,’ and 15,975 kilos of cannabis, marking a significant blow to drug networks operating nationwide.

The Police Narcotics Bureau Chief said that the drive was part of an ongoing effort to curb drug abuse and trafficking across the country, sending a strong message to offenders that law enforcement would leave no stone unturned in tackling the menace.

by Norman Palihawadane and Hemantha Randunu