News
Trincomalee Port employees allege misuse and neglect of JICA-funded pilot vessel
By Upali de Seram
A group of employees attached to the Trincomalee Port has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, alleging that a state-of-the-art high-tech pilot vessel, provided through Japanese government (JICA) aid, was improperly used for a private excursion and subsequently damaged in an accident.
They claim that no investigation has been conducted into the incident for six years and that a senior port official has actively worked to suppress the information.
The employees allege that the vessel was damaged in 2019 during a pleasure trip arranged for the son of a former chairman of the port. They claimed that the vessel was repaired at a cost exceeding Rs. 20 million, but remains unusable to this day.
The employees also state that plans are underway to hand the vessel over to the Navy for further repairs, despite the presence of qualified engineers within the Ports Authority. They allege that this is being done to obscure accurate details regarding the expenditure.
Lakbima Rice Mills (Pvt) Ltd, based in Polonnaruwa, has contributed Rs. 100 million to the Government’s ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, established to provide relief to communities affected by Cyclone Ditwa.
The donation cheque was handed over this morning (13) at the Presidential Secretariat to Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President, by Dudley Sirisena, Chairman of the Araliya Group of Companies.
Latest News
Advisory for severe lightning issued to the Districts of Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara
Advisory for Severe Lightning
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
at 12.30 p.m. 13 December 2025 valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 13 December 2025 for Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara Districts
The public are warned that thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur at some places in the Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara Districts.
There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.
ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
Based on the prevailing disaster situation and the upcoming festive season, arrangements have been made to provide a nutrition allowance worth Rs. 5,000 to pregnant mothers.
This allowance, which will be provided only once, will be given to pregnant mothers who were registered at maternal clinics on or before 30 November 2025.
The distribution will take place through the Divisional Secretariat offices from 16 December, as a program of the National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.
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