SITC Campus Donates Rs. 1 Million to ‘Rebuild Sri Lanka’ Fund View(s):In a significant gesture of national solidarity, SITC Campus CEO Cader Rahmathulla has contributed Rs. 1,000,000.00 to the Government’s ‘Rebuild Sri Lanka’ Fund, supporting relief and recovery efforts following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah. The cheque was personally handed over by the CEO to Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake at the Presidential Secretariat, underscoring a hands-on commitment to national responsibility and leadership through action. As a leading private higher-education institution in Sri Lanka, SITC Campus continues to emphasize values of leadership, compassion, and civic duty—reinforcing the belief that sustainable national progress is achieved when education, responsibility, and action come together.

Maxi Rozairo, a household name from the 60s to 90s is no more View(s):Veteran singer Maxi Rozairo, who was a household name in the late 1960s to 1990s in the Sri Lankan western music scene, died yesterday morning at his home in Colombo. Mr Rozairo was part of the Spitfires band, with whom he toured many countries, including West Asia, then with Mahogany, and before his illness was part of a trio. His remains will lie at AF Raymond Funeral Parlour in Borella from 10 a.m. on Tuesday for the public to pay their respects. The funeral will take place at the Roman Catholic Section of the Kanatte cemetery after a service at 3 p.m. on Tuesday. Share This Post FacebookTwitterEmail × Send Email to FriendSend Please enter valid email WhatsappDeliciousDiggGoogleStumbleuponRedditTechnoratiYahooBloggerMyspaceRSS

Small businesses suffer a heavy blow View(s):Pix and text by Rehka FonsekaSmall-scale businesses that had prepared for months for the festive season when sales are higher have felt a bigger blow from the unprecedented natural disaster. Sanjeewa Pushpakumara, a food producer, shared his plight: “I produce food items with a long shelf life. When a festive season approaches, we invest extra beyond our savings by taking out loans or high-interest credit. In my small business, I have provided employment to several women; their families survive because of this business. “Now, our small businesses have collapsed, and there is no one to talk about us.

Judicial independence not a privilege vested in individual judges: CJ View(s):By Ranjith PadmasiriJudicial independence is constitutionally recognised as an intangible heritage of the people, preserved through successive generations as a safeguard of dignity, equality, and freedom. It is not a privilege vested in individual judges, Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena stressed. Justice Surasena made these remarks in his keynote address at the commencement of the two-day annual conference of the Sri Lanka Judicial Services Association (JSA), comprising Magistrates and District Judges serving throughout the island. Judicial power is neither personal nor institutional property, but an inalienable manifestation of the sovereignty of the people, exercised through courts pursuant to Article 3 of the Constitution, the CJ stressed. Judges, he observed, function not as proprietors of power but as its trustees, accountable to the citizenry whose confidence sustains the legitimacy of the judicial process.

Plastic bag charge redraws retail profits, raises policy issues By Bandula Sirimanna View(s): View(s):The charge for plastic shopping bags at major supermarkets, introduced as an environmental measure, is prompting growing public scrutiny over who ultimately benefits from the policy. 2456/41, to end the free distribution of plastic shopping bags and instead charge Rs. Retail analysts in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) trade note that while the environmental objective is clear, the commercial outcome has been more visible. The notification, enforced by the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) in coordination with the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), does not impose a tax or a ban on plastic bags. Retail analysts say elevated volumes throughout December and into early January are likely to push bag-charge collections to seasonal highs, further increasing gross inflows during the period of peak consumer spending.

Hayleys Fentons awarded at global event View(s):Hayleys Fentons Ltd has been recognised as the Best Integrated Solutions Provider in Engineering Services in Sri Lanka at the World Business Outlook Awards 2025, held in Bangkok, Thailand. Presented on a global platform, this international recognition positions Hayleys Fentons Ltd among the world’s leading engineering services providers, reinforcing its ability to operate at the highest international standards while clearly distinguishing itself from local counterparts, the company said in a media release. The World Business Outlook Awards honour organisations that demonstrate industry leadership, strong global vision and sustained business performance, with winners selected through a rigorous evaluation by an expert and independent panel of judges. Share This Post FacebookTwitterEmail × Send Email to FriendSend Please enter valid email WhatsappDeliciousDiggGoogleStumbleuponRedditTechnoratiYahooBloggerMyspaceRSS

Gunasekera WB report estimates damage at US$4.1bn View(s):Cyclone Ditwah, which swept through Sri Lanka in November triggering landslides and floods, caused the most damage to infrastructure, with a World Bank report estimating the damage at US$1.7 billion out of a total of US$4.1 billion. A Global Rapid Post-Disaster Damage Estimation (GRADE) report has provided a synopsis of the estimated direct physical damage in Sri Lanka due to the cyclone. According to the report, the total damage is estimated at US$4.1 billion, equivalent to approximately 4 percent of Sri Lanka’s 2024 gross domestic product (GDP). Residential building damage, including content, accounted for US$985 million, or 24 percent of the total estimated damage. Infrastructure damage was estimated at US$1.735 billion, accounting for approximately 42 percent of the total damage in Sri Lanka, with substantial damage to transport, water, and energy systems.

Suspect wealth to be investigated View(s):A senior Cabinet Minister said police investigations are underway by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) on individuals who amassed wealth through illegal means, including sand mining in the North. Speaking at a recent District Development Committee meeting in Kilinochchi, Fisheries and Aquatic Development Minister R. Chandrasekaran said some had become extremely wealthy in a short time through illegal activities such as sand mining and drug peddling. “We came to know that some sand miners amassed wealth to the extent of owning dozens of tippers and tractors. Those suspected individuals will be investigated on the source of their wealth,” he warned. Share This Post FacebookTwitterEmail × Send Email to FriendSend Please enter valid email WhatsappDeliciousDiggGoogleStumbleuponRedditTechnoratiYahooBloggerMyspaceRSS

Mayor issues Dec 31 deadline for Kandy hawkers View(s):Kandy Mayor Chandrasiri Wijewickrama has decided to remove hawkers from pavements within the municipal area. The council has set a December 31 deadline for them to vacate and seek alternative employment. A group representing the hawkers said it had requested more time to comply with the order. Share This Post FacebookTwitterEmail × Send Email to FriendSend Please enter valid email WhatsappDeliciousDiggGoogleStumbleuponRedditTechnoratiYahooBloggerMyspaceRSS

CLAF returns along with future writers programme View(s):The HSBC Ceylon Literary & Arts Festival (CLAF) has announced the third edition of its Future Writers Programme, reaffirming its commitment to nurturing the next generation of Sri Lankan creative voices. The Future Writers Programme is a core focus of the festival, dedicated to nurturing the creative talent of young individuals. With over 200 participants to date, the third edition of The Future Writers Programme will be announced at the festival for all young literary enthusiasts. Speaking about the programme, Ceylon Literary & Arts Festival Co-Founder and Creator Ajai Vir Singh stated: “We look forward to Edition Three of the Future Writers Programme as an extension of HSBC Ceylon Literary & Arts Festival. Through the HSBC Ceylon Literary & Arts Festival, now entering its third year in Colombo, HSBC is supporting Sri Lanka’s creative future.

Insurers approve 70% of Ditwah claims; Motor sector leads View(s):By Ishu BandaraSri Lanka’s insurance companies have responded strongly to the damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah, approving 70% of all claims by December 22. Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka data show that total claims received by the industry have reached Rs. Of the 70% of all claims approved by the industry, the motor insurance sector leads the way, with roughly 74.55% (11,690 claims) of the total 15,680 claims being approved. In the motor sector, estimated claims for vehicles stand at Rs. Total payments for motor claims have reached Rs.

Three shocks that shook the World in 2025 By Yanis Varoufakis FEATURE View(s): View(s):ATHENS – This was the year that the remaining pillars of the late-20th-century order were shattered, exposing the hollow core of what passed for a global system. The contradiction was fatal: If the Ukraine war ended with a peace deal, it would be hard to sustain this economic pump-priming. In 2025, the US proved incapable of slowing China’s rise and, instead, unwittingly propelled its tech sector toward full independence. In the G2 world, the imagined global village is a gladiatorial arena where the EU and the UK now wander aimlessly. A new, harder, colder world order has been erected on the grave of European ambition.

Sri Lanka Insurance supports 1000 cyclone-affected families View(s):Sri Lanka Insurance Life and Sri Lanka Insurance General, in collaboration with the National Disaster Relief Services Centre (NDRSC), have extended vital assistance to 1,000 families affected by the recent ‘Ditwah’ cyclone. The relief initiative was carried out in two phases reflecting the company’s continued commitment to supporting communities in times of distress, the company said in a media release. Both distribution programmes were held with the participation of local authorities and the management teams of SLIC Life and SLIC General, further strengthening the company’s close partnership with the communities it serves. Speaking on the initiative, Chairman of Sri Lanka Insurance, Nusith Kumaaratunga, said; “Sri Lanka Insurance has always placed community wellbeing at the heart of its purpose. In difficult times such as these, it is our responsibility to stand with the families who have been affected and offer meaningful support.

eMudhra and LankaSign make Digital Signing seamless View(s):eMudhra, a global leader in digital identity and security solutions, has entered into a strategic partnership with LankaSign, the only Certification Service Provider (CSP) in the country that complies with the Electronic Transactions Act No. 19 of 2006, operated by LankaPay, Sri Lanka’s national payment network. The LankaSign–eMudhra partnership brings together the strengths of LankaPay’s legally recognised digital signing certificates issued via LankaSign—the pioneering digital Certification Service Provider in Sri Lanka established in 2009—and eMudhra’s globally trusted emSigner platform, which has enabled secure digital document signing across more than 68 countries since 2008. This partnership with eMudhra aligns with the national agenda to promote adoption of digital documents, reduce dependency on paper-based processes, and facilitate a more efficient, transparent, and secure digital economy. By combining the trusted local acceptance of LankaSign digital signing certificates with eMudhra’s advanced signing platform, emSigner, we aim to make digital signatures more accessible and widely adopted across the country”.

Rhino Roofing Rises Up to Strengthen Children’s Education View(s):In a move that underscores its commitment to social responsibility, Rhino Roofing Products Limited has generously donated 300 roofing sheets to the Brothers of Charity Learning Disability Services, facilitating the completion of a new classroom building at their Daluwakotuwa centre. The Brothers of Charity Learning Disability Services is a non-profit organisation dedicated to educating and supporting children and young adults with learning disabilities and special needs. With centres in Ja-Ela, Negombo, Batticaloa, and Daluwakotuwa, the organisation provides education and care to over 120 students across Sri Lanka. Recognising the critical role that education plays in empowering every child, Rhino Roofing stepped forward to bridge this gap. By supporting the Brothers of Charity Learning Disability Services, Rhino continues to demonstrate how businesses can play a vital role in fostering social development and enhancing the quality of life for all.