Newspaper
The Island
It's Christmas time.
Yes, December is the festive month... and the lead up to Christmas, and lots of festive happenings are taking place.
1 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
COPA: Irrigation Dept. projects worth over Rs. 55,000 mn abandoned or suspended, 464 vehicles missing
The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) has recently pointed out that 11 development projects implemented by the Department of Irrigation were either failed to achieve their intended objectives or were abandoned.
1 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
SLAF chief orders probe into chopper emergency landing in Lunuwila
Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, has ordered the appointment of a board of inquiry to probe the emergency landing made by a Bell 212 helicopter on Sunday (30) evening that resulted in the death of a pilot.
1 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
Mahaweli flood warning extended by 48 hours: Authorities urge high alert
The Irrigation Department yesterday extended the Red-Level Flood Warning issued for the Mahaweli River Basin, cautioning residents in vulnerable areas to remain on high alert as water levels continue to rise due to persistent rainfall.
1 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
The folly of imported ignorance: Why Sri Lanka must reject the foreign anti-vaccine delusion
For decades on end, Sri Lanka has stood as a global beacon of public health success. Our nation's commitment to comprehensive, routine immunisation has cultivated a shield against catastrophic diseases, resulting in one of the highest vaccination coverage rates in the world. This is a profound, hard-won victory, achieved through the diligent work of our healthcare professionals and the commonsense trust of the people of our nation.
6 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
Opposition stages walkout in Parliament, claiming govt. ignored cyclone warning
A stormy scene unfolded in Parliament yesterday as the Opposition staged a walkout, accusing the government of blocking a debate on urgent policy measures, amid the worsening disaster situation. It claimed the government had ignored a warning of the Ditwah cyclone.
1 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
Ditwah: An unusual cyclone
The increase in the temperature of the equatorial ocean is caused by climate change
3 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
Cyclone Ditwah: 355 deaths, 366 missing as at 9 am Monday
The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) yesterday (01) reported that by 9 am, a total of 355 deaths had been confirmed and 366 persons had gone missing due to disasters triggered by Cyclone Ditwah.
1 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
Elusive unity in crisis
'Hope is said to 'spring eternal'. So, when the Opposition urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to declare a state of emergency and offered to cooperate with the government on disaster management, many may have thought that the NPP and its political rivals would sink their political differences and unite for the sake of the country. But the government and the Opposition went for each other's jugular soon afterwards.
2 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
Navy rescues 309 people following Mavil Aru tank embankment breach
The Navy continues extensive rescue and relief operations in the areas affected by the flooding, triggered by the breach of a section of the Mavil Aru tank embankment in Trincomalee, on 30 November, following heavy rainfall.
1 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
Christina Aguilera ... preview of 'Christmas In Paris'
In the latest teaser video for Christina Aguilera's upcoming international holiday spectacular, she counts down a few of her favourite things.
1 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
Cyclone weakens into 'deep depression' as it nears India
Cyclone Ditwah also brought heavy rain to India's southern state of Tamil Nadu over the weekend, where three people were killed in rain-related incidents, AI Jazeera reported.
1 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
Sierra Cables delivers strong six-month performance for period ended 30th September 2025
Sierra Cables PLC, a subsidiary of Browns Investments (the strategic investment arm of the LOLC Group), announced a robust financial performance for the first half of the 2025/26 financial year, reflecting a period of strengthened business fundamentals, operational discipline and continued expansion across international markets.
1 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
Ranithma bags runners-up position at Welsh International Open 2025
Sri Lanka’s national women’s champion Ranithma Liyanage delivered one of the finest performances of her young career after finishing as the runner-up at the Welsh International Open 2025 in Cardiff.
1 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
Spain's Bonmati suffers broken leg in training
Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after breaking her leg in training.
1 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
England can hit Australia with pace again - Carse
Brydon Carse believes England can once again hit Australia with pace in the second Ashes Test in Brisbane.
3 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
Prima Group Sri Lanka supports National Flood Relief Efforts with over Rs. 300 Million in dry rations
Prima Group Sri Lanka has pledged assistance valued at over Rs. 300 million, providing essential Prima food products to support communities affected by the recent floods across the island. This relief initiative is being coordinated through the Ministry of Defence to ensure the timely and effective distribution of aid to impacted families.
1 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
Putin to visit India on Dec 4-5 for annual India-Russia summit
Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin will be on a state visit to New Delhi on December 4-5 for the 23rd annual India-Russia summit. He will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited Russia last year for the annual summit, the external affairs ministry announced on Friday.
2 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
Govt. sets up emergency unit to streamline relief efforts
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism has established an Emergency Coordination Unit to manage and streamline relief efforts for Sri Lankan nationals affected by the recent floods.
1 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
IChemC guest lecture: Counselling as a tool for navigating life
The Women Chemists Committee (WCC) of the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon (IChemC) recently hosted a guest lecture, titled “Counselling is Helping Individuals to Navigate Through Life’s Challenges,” at the PPGL Siriwardene Auditorium.
1 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
A national and international partner ship catalysed by a national tragedy
Sri Lanka was one of four Asian countries to be hit by cyclones at virtually the same time. The international media reported that cyclone-fueled downpours battered parts of Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia while Sri Lanka was struck by a separate storm. In those countries too, which are visited more regularly by cyclones than Sri Lanka, the death toll reached the hundreds.
5 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
Sri Lanka facing post-deluge multi-billion rupee recovery bill
Sri Lanka’s already-stretched public finances are bracing for another significant setback, with senior officials confirming that the economic losses from the recent floods will far exceed initial expectations.
2 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
Flood disaster taking toll on share market
The CSE was trading down yesterday shortly after open, as the full extent of the disaster following Cyclone Ditwah was becoming more apparent.
2 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
“Regulatory Impact Assessment — Not a bureaucratic formality but essentially an advocacy tool for smarter governance”: A response
Having meticulously read and reread the above article published in the opinion page of The Island on the 27 Nov, I hasten to make a critical review on the far-reaching proposal made by the coauthors, namely Professor Theekshana Suraweera, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Standards Institution and Dr. Prabath.C.Abeysiriwardana, Director of Ministry of Science and Technology
2 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
SLISM sets stage for Sri Lanka's premier CX Event of 2026
The Sri Lanka Institute of Service Management (SLISM) today announced it will host the much-awaited CXM Conference 2026 on February 11, 2026 at the Cinnamon Life, Colombo. Under the theme “CX Revolution: AI, Personalization, and Beyond,” the event is set to be a gathering for customer experience professionals in the region.
1 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
Top global arms producers’ revenues surge as major wars rage: SIPRI report
Revenues from sales of weapons and military services by the 100 largest global arms-producing companies reached a record $679bn in 2024, according to new data released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
3 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
How to solve a problem like Virat Kohli?
How do you solve a problem called Virat Kohli? You don't. You sit back and marvel at what the man can do, even at 37 and even if you're supporting his opponents. And be happy you don't have to bowl to him.
4 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
Duplantis and McLaughlin-Levrone named World Athletes of the Year
World champions Mondo Duplantis and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone have been announced as the World Athletes of the Year, receiving top honours in Monaco in recognition of their standout achievements in 2025.
2 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
GEMS Modern Academy clinch dual crown at DP World ILT20 Schools Cup 2025
GEMS Modern Academy swept both titles at the DP World ILT20 Schools Cup 2025, emerging champions in the boys' final as well as the first-ever girls' final, held on recently at the ICC Academy as part of the DP World ILT20 Junior Cricket Festival, marking a significant step forward for grassroots cricket in the UAE.
1 min |
December 02, 2025
The Island
Ceylon Chamber affirms support for national recovery efforts following Cyclone Ditwah
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce is deeply saddened by the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, and our thoughts are with all individuals, families, and communities affected by this tragedy.
1 min |