Newspaper
Daily FT
Prioritise marginalised communities in disaster preparedness, equitable relief and economic justice
IT has been many days of relentless rains and winds devastating the island as Cyclonic Storm Ditwah approached and made landfall in Sri Lanka. At the time of writing, we are heartbroken that 355 people have lost their lives and 366 people are missing. Nearly 15,000 to 25,000 homes are damaged, and more than 59,000 families have been displaced.
7 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
Public sector and Armed Forces work must be appreciated
ONE thing that is crystal clear in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah is that Sri Lanka's public sector workers and members of the triforces and Police rise to the occasion when the country is in dire need for their services.
2 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
Starlink offers free connectivity in Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah
Coordinates with Govt. on relief support
1 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
Pakistan sends first disaster-relief flight with specialised rescue team
PAKISTAN dispatched its first disaster-relief aircraft to Sri Lanka last night, delivering emergency supplies and a specialist rescue contingent to support national efforts following the severe weather calamity.
1 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
US ICE arrests Lankan with alleged history of sex crimes working as college professor
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) law enforcement officers arrested Sumith Gunasekera, a criminal illegal alien sex offender from Sri Lanka, in Detroit on 12 November 2025. During processing, Gunasekera claimed to be employed as an associate professor for Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan.
1 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
Rs. 20 m donated to Rebuilding Sri Lanka
DAILY contributions continue to flow into the Government's 'Rebuilding Sri Lanka' Fund, established to provide relief to
1 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
Probe Ditwah early warning failure, Rebuilding SL illegal: Opposition MPs
SJB MP Mujibur Rahman and SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa call for Parliamentary Select Committee to investigate allegations that Ditwah early warnings went unheeded Rahman claims new reconstruction Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund bypasses existing law, lacks proper oversight Cites notorious Helping Hambantota Fund and warns against repeating history Alleges emergency laws used to stamp out dissent
3 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
Not fighting corruption: From rhetoric to silence in Sri Lanka
Introduction: A borrowed warning
5 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
Sajith, Harsha split on Budget, IMF and response to Ditwah crisis
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa calls for new IMF deal, scrapping 2026 Budget and donor conference to deal with Ditwah crisis SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva counters sufficient funds already available, current IMF program allows flexibility
1 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
Inter-Club Top Division Rugby League Week 4 fixtures put off
SRI Lanka Rugby (SLR) has decided to postpone all Week 4 fixtures of the Inter-Club Top Division Rugby League 2025/26 following the severe impact of Cyclone Ditwah and the heavy rains that swept across the country.
1 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
US provides $ 2 m assistance to Sri Lanka's disaster response effort
IN response to the severe impact of Cyclone Ditwah, the US has provided $ 2 million in emergency lifesaving assistance for people in need in Sri Lanka, the US State Department said.
1 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
Bangladesh delivers essential aid to Sri Lanka
BANGLADESH dispatched a humanitarian relief consignment to Sri Lanka yesterday afternoon to support ongoing recovery efforts following the devastation caused by the recent adverse weather conditions.
1 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
Dutch Ambassador calls on Prime Minister
AMBASSADOR of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Sri Lanka Wiebe Jakob de Boer on Tuesday paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and discussed matters of bilateral interest.
1 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
England 'great' Robin Smith scored his first overseas Test hundred at SSC
■Batted 7 1/2 hours against the likes of Muralitharan and Warnaweera
2 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
Women’s Chamber calls for urgent support as Cyclone Ditwah floods trigger nationwide crisis
THE Women's Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC) has appealed for immediate assistance to help women-led businesses recover from the widespread destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah, warning that the unprecedented flooding has disrupted livelihoods across the country and
1 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
Binance contributes Rs. 61.6 m for flood relief in Sri Lanka
Funds directed through Sri Lanka Red Cross Society to support communities impacted by Cyclone Ditwah
2 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
IOM mobilises emergency response as Cyclone Ditwah displaces 209,000 people across Sri Lanka
THE International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is expanding its support to Sri Lanka's appeal for international aid as the death toll from Cyclone Ditwah has risen to more than 350, with over 360 more reported missing.
1 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
CHEC Port City Colombo extends Rs. 10 m and on-ground support to recovery efforts following Cyclone
AS Sri Lanka confronts the heartbreaking aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, one of the most devastating natural disasters in the nation's recent history, the country has witnessed people and organisations coming together in an extraordinary show of solidarity. With thousands of families displaced, communities destroyed, and critical infrastructure severely damaged, CHEC Port City Colombo Ltd., has stepped forward to extend critical financial and on-ground assistance.
1 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
Sri Lanka sniff innings win in second U17 three-day game
SRI Lanka were sniffing victory in the second three-day Under-17 match against Bangladesh after skipper Rehan Peiris had scored a brilliant 182 and left-arm spinner Himaru Deshan had captured five wickets at the end of the second day at Bashundhara yesterday.
1 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
Central Bank was not under Finance Ministry purview in 2015: Ravi K.
UNITED National Party (UNP) MP and former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake yesterday firmly rejected suggestions made in Parliament on 26 November that the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) operated under his purview in 2015, insisting that official records clearly show he had no ministerial oversight of the institution at the time.
1 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
SLT-Mobitel launches free ‘247 Helpline’ to support flood-affected communities
CARING for communities affected by the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, SLT-Mobitel has introduced the free '247 Helpline' in collaboration with the University of Colombo, offering round-theclock medical advice.
1 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
Cargills ‘Heart for the Nation’ program supports flood-affected communities
CARGILLS has once again extended its support to the people of Sri Lanka in a time of national hardship, stepping forward to assist families affected by the recent floods through its Heart for the Nation program.
1 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
UK delivers emergency aid to Sri Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah
$ 890,000 of UK support will provide emergency supplies and life-saving care to those affected Assistance delivered through humanitarian partners already on the ground, including Red Cross
1 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
Lanka Premier League sixth edition from 8 July
THE sixth edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) will be held from 8 July to 8 August 2026.
1 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
A neighbour in need, a friend indeed
India's support to Sri Lanka continues under operation Sagar Bandhu
2 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
Cyclone Ditwah and India-Sri Lanka relations: playbook for diplomacy in the neighbourhood
THE Hindustan Times: I vividly remember boarding the then INS Vikrant formerly HMS Hercules with my father during a special port call to Colombo in the 1970s. I was a young boy then, absorbed in a hobby of building model airplanes and ships, especially aircraft carriers. The encounter was unforgettable. It was my first time aboard a carrier a steel giant that captured both my imagination and my awe.
3 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
Avon Pharmo Chem donates Rs. 2 m for flood relief
IN support of the Government's program to provide relief to those affected by the adverse weather conditions, Avon Pharmo Chem Ltd. Managing Director Kumara Ekanayake, and Australian Immigration lawyer Hemanta Punchihewa donated Rs. 2 million to aid relief efforts.
1 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
Sri Lankan powerlifters bag 21 medals
This year's group was also the largest Sri Lankan powerlifting delegation to compete at the Pro League World Championship, marking a significant milestone for the sport domestically and highlighting the depth of talent emerging nationwide.
1 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
We were too late: Lives lost to another system failure
WHILE the institutional architecture for earlywarning and preparedness existed, proactive, structured early evacuation did not occur at the scale or speed required to limit loss of life or mitigate the worst outcomes of Cyclone Ditwah. The lack of major preemptive action warrants closer investigation.
4 min |
December 04, 2025
Daily FT
Need for collective political leadership post-Cyclone Ditwah says Justice for All
JUSTICE for All, a good governance activist group, yesterday stressed the need for collective political leadership in the wake of Cyclone Ditwah.
2 min |