News

Country grapples with one of its worst weather disasters

Published

10 months ago

2025/11/28

Images from Ampara, Badulla and Kandy districts show the damage caused by floods after yesterday’s heavy rains and storms. Sri Lanka continues to face severe weather as rising floodwaters and ongoing landslides disrupt daily life across most districts

The country is grappling with one of its worst weather disasters in recent years. Torrential rains and landslides have so far claimed more than 40 lives, left 14 others missing, and displaced thousands more across 17 districts. The hardest-hit areas include Badulla, Kegalle, and Nuwara Eliya Districts, with Badulla alone recording 18 fatalities.

According to the latest reports as of last night, over 4,000 individuals from 1,158 families have been affected. Three houses were destroyed while 381 sustained partial damage. At least 131 displaced residents are currently accommodated in five safe locations. Ten people have also sustained injuries.

Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any emergencies through the 117 hotlines, as relief efforts continue with cooked meals, dry rations, and medical assistance prioritised for affected communities.

Rail services along the Eastern and Matale lines have been suspended or severely delayed due to submerged tracks, landslides, and fallen trees, while the Kelani Valley Line has experienced further delays. Motorists have been advised to avoid the Colombo–Kandy and Kandy–Nuwara Eliya main roads, which remain closed due to ground instability. The Polonnaruwa–Batticaloa road has been closed until safety assessments are completed.

In a dramatic incident in Kumbukkana, a passenger bus became trapped in rising floodwaters. Emergency teams successfully rescued all 23 passengers without serious injuries. Authorities warn that sudden floods are likely to continue throughout the day.

The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued red-alert landslide warnings for eight high-risk districts, urging residents of hillside and flood-prone areas to remain on high alert and be prepared for immediate evacuation. Rugam in Batticaloa District recorded over 300 millimetre of rainfall in a short period, intensifying the risk of landslides and flash floods.

Meteorologists say a deep low-pressure zone dominating the country continues to strengthen, drawing moisture from surrounding seas and causing repeated heavy rainfall over central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, and eastern regions. Rainfall exceeding 200 mm is projected in several districts, further heightening the risk of floods and landslides.

Ongoing rainfall has undermined critical infrastructure. The right side of the Bentota old bridge has collapsed, and engineers are assessing the damage. Reservoirs, including Senanayake Samudra, have reached full capacity, prompting flood warnings for downstream communities.

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has advised households to report outages and downed power lines through its CEBCare app or web portal to speed up restoration efforts.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) continues to coordinate with local authorities, the Tri-Forces, police, and district officials to ensure timely relief and evacuation measures.

Officials urge the public to avoid unnecessary travel, especially in hilly or flood-prone areas, to report emergencies promptly via the 117 hotline and to keep essential supplies ready and remain attentive to official warnings.

With relief operations underway and warnings in place, authorities continue to stress the need for vigilance as Sri Lanka faces a prolonged period of heavy rains and accompanying landslide threats, especially in high elevations.

By Norman Palihawadane, Chaminda Silva, Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon

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News

Geneva takes up Sallay’s case and govt. ignores opportunity to answer accusations

Published

4 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

Suresh Sallay

The government has chosen not to respond to questions raised by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the detention of retired Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay in connection with the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the ex-official in late February this year. The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers have jointly raised the issue on 20 July, 2026.

Drawing attention of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to what they called alleged arbitrary detention of Sallay, former Director General of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and former Director of Military Intelligence (DMI), under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), as well as allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment while in custody, resulting in the grave deterioration of his health, and imminent risks of retaliation through further torture and ill-treatment resulting in irreparable harm, should he be released from hospital and returned to custody, the UN sought the government explanation with a 60-day period.

The UN has stated: “This communication, and any response received from your Excellency’s Government, will be made public via the communications reporting website at the 60 days mark. Should your Excellency’s Government respond within 60 days, both the communication and the response, may be published before the 60 days mark. The communications and responses

will also be made available in the subsequent periodic report to be presented to the Human Rights Council.”

In the absence of the government’s response, the UN posted the letter, dated 20 July, 2026, addressed to President Dissanayake. The full letter can be accessed https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=31125

News

Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area

Published

4 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

The Army, last week, vacated an area, within the wartime high security zone in the Jaffna peninsula. The Defence Ministry said that an extent of 187.56 acres of land, belonging to the Cement Corporation in Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, has been released by the military. The released land, located in Grama Niladhari Division J/233, Kankesanthurai West, within the Valikamam North (Tellippalai) Divisional Secretariat Division, had been utilised by the Sri Lanka Army since the middle of 1997.

The release of the 187.56-acre extent forms part of the initiative to make State land available for the proposed investment zone in Kankesanthurai, thereby facilitating future investment and economic development in the area.

News

Lawyer lodges complaint against Govt. Printer, Media Ministry Secy.

Published

4 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

A complaint has been lodged with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau against the Government Printer and the Secretary to the Ministry of Media regarding the online release of falsified documents bearing a forged Speaker’s certificate.

Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri has lodged a complaint with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau requesting legal action against the Government Printer of the Department of Government Printing (No. 118, Dr. Danister de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 08), Prasanna Jayaratne, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media (Asidisi Medura, 163, Kirulapone Mawatha, Polhengoda, Colombo 05), Dr. Anil Jasinghe.

The complaint alleges the commission of offences by forging and uploading falsified documents online using a forged Speaker’s certification, failure to perform statutory duties, and misappropriation of public property.

The complaint states that a copy of the English translation of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was downloaded and printed from the official website of the Government Printing Department (www.documents.gov.lk), which operates under the Ministry of Mass Media. On its outer cover and on page 1, the text “certified on 25th of September, 2026” is inscribed inside brackets.

The complaint pointed out that the Speaker has certified an English translation. Under Articles 23, 79, 83, and 80 of the Constitution, Parliament enacts laws and the Speaker certifies bills strictly in the Sinhala and Tamil languages; under the Constitution, therefore the Speaker cannot apply such certification to an English translation.