Australia’s Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs, and International Education, Julian Hill, has concluded a two-day visit to Sri Lanka aimed at deepening cooperation across border security, education, and humanitarian support. In a statement shared on X, the Australian High Commission highlighted that the visit reaffirmed Australia’s solidarity with Sri Lanka as the…
All preschools and early childhood development centers that were closed due to the emergency disaster situation and are now deemed safe to resume operations will be reopened from 16 December 2025. The National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development has announced this in a statement.
Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Education has announced that the 2025 G.C.E. Advanced Level (A/L) examinations—previously postponed due to adverse weather and widespread flooding—will now take place from January 12 to January 20, 2026. The Department of Examinations has released an updated timetable reflecting the revised schedule. According to the announcement, students affected by the disaster…
Australia has partnered with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance aimed at protecting women and girls across Sri Lanka following catastrophic floods and landslides caused by Cyclone Ditwah — one of the most severe climate-related disasters to hit the island in recent years. The Australian Government has contributed AUD 500,000…
The Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) has called on the Sri Lankan government to immediately introduce a concessional relief programme for teachers and school principals affected by the recent floods and landslides across the country. CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin said a large number of educators have been severely impacted by the disaster and are struggling…
Sri Lanka will reopen the vast majority of its schools for academic activities on Tuesday, December 16, following disruptions caused by recent floods and landslides, the Ministry of Education announced. According to Education Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewe, 9,929 out of the country’s 10,076 schools across the Western, Southern, Northern, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and North-Central provinces will resume…
Sri Lanka recorded 50,222 international tourist arrivals in December so far, according to data released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA). India remained the island nation’s largest source market for the month, accounting for 10,453 visitors, or 21% of total arrivals. This was followed by Russia with 5,420 visitors, Germany with 4,822, the…
Sri Lanka’s post-disaster recovery drive, the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” programme launched in response to the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, has secured a total of Rs. 1.893 billion (approximately USD 6 million) in funding, according to the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma. The funds have been mobilised…
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has assured full government support to restore the University of Peradeniya after severe flooding caused extensive damage to the country’s largest and oldest university. The Prime Minister visited the Peradeniya campus to assess the impact of floods that struck on 27 November, meeting student representatives and heads of…
The United Nations has allocated US$4.5 million (approximately LKR 1.38 billion) from its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to strengthen Sri Lanka’s emergency response following Cyclone Ditwah, which made landfall on 28 November. The funding will allow the UN and its partners to rapidly scale up life-saving assistance, including emergency food aid, temporary shelter, and…
