News
Lanka on verge of becoming failed state, say bishops
Prelates call for unity among politicians as the country faces its worst economic crisis since independence
(UCAN) Catholic bishops have called for unity among politicians to save Sri Lanka from becoming a failed state.
Bishop Winston S. Fernando, president of the Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka, said successive governments were responsible to varying degrees for the present state of affairs.
“The country is fast approaching the precipice of a failed state that will in its wake inflict irreversible injuries on the people,” the prelate said in a statement on behalf of bishops.
The South Asian nation of 22 million people is facing its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948 after its foreign reserves hit a record low.
The dollar shortage has caused power shortages affecting all sectors while skyrocketing prices of essential goods have disrupted life across the country.
Bishops have urged all Catholic institutions, parishes and private institutions as well as men and women of goodwill to organize assistance to help those severely affected by the economic crisis.
“The rulers are under obligation to serve all the citizens by putting the country first and not act out of political expediency but principle,” said Bishop Fernando.
“What the country needs is an immediate solution to remedy the critical situation and to work on short-term and long-term solutions to put the country on a solid foundation of sustainable development.”
Sri Lanka needs nearly US$7 billion to service its external debt this year.
Thousands of people gathered near the private residence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on March 31 to protest against rising prices and demand his resignation. The police fired tear gas and imposed a curfew for a few hours. Nearly 50 people were injured.
There were strict roadblocks and the police and army were deployed to prevent protesters entering the president’s house.
The crisis has caused massive public anger, with people unable to find gas for cooking, medicines, fuel and basic items of food such as milk powder because the country has run out of foreign currency to pay for imported goods.
Hundreds of people chanted for Rajapaksa and the entire cabinet to resign over the crisis. Videos circulating on social media showed protesters shouting “Lunatic go home”.
With no air conditioners or fans, people are sweltering during the 10-12 hour power cuts. The government does not have the money to pay for the fuel needed by power plants.
People with serious medical conditions are struggling to find medicines and hospitals have cancelled operations as they have no diesel to operate generators during blackouts.
The government has switched off street lighting to save electricity. Mobile phones have been affected because the standby generators used at the phone base stations have run out of diesel.
The government’s decision to adopt organic farming last year turned out to be disastrous. The ban on all chemical fertilizers led to a surge in prices and food shortages. Although the policy was partially reversed later, the damage had been done
Activist Nuwani De Silva said people have to queue from morning until evening to buy essential items.
“How do we manage our daily work with a 12-hour power cut? People are in an aggressive mood everywhere in the country,” she said. “Wherever government ministers are seen on streets, the public protest against them.”
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo recently called for a national transformation to tackle the crisis.
“The country today is in a hopeless situation and it is the result of a series of wrong choices made not only by politicians but also by citizens who have allowed themselves to be exploited by the political and cultural forces that handed down our destiny,” Cardinal Ranjith said at Colombo’s Anglican Cathedral on March 27.
News
Showers expected in the Northern, North-Central, Eastern and Uva provinces and Batticaloa and Ampara districts
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
Showers expected in the Northern, North-Central, Eastern and Uva provinces and Batticaloa and Ampara districts
New landslide alerts as Ditwah aftermath worsens
Over 35,000 drug offenders nabbed in 36 days
Rising water level in Malwathu Oya triggers alert in Thanthirimale
US INDOPACOM deploys airlift and logistics support for Lanka’s Cyclone Ditwah response
Seizure of drug haul off Kalpitiya:Father, son among 5 arrested
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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