A national post-cyclone reflection period? – II

A call to transform schools from shelters of safety into sanctuaries of solidarity

(Part I of this article appeared on 10 Dec. 2025— https://ift.tt/X8gbqaU)

What Could NPCRP Look Like in School?

In the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, Sri Lankan schools can play a crucial role in helping children process their experiences, rebuild their sense of safety, and find meaning in collective healing. To achieve this, schools can employ a period of at least two or three weeks of continuous reflection and creative processing, a rich set of classroom, school-wide, and community-level activities, tailored to the needs of students in the post-disaster landscape.

Classroom Level: Beyond morning assemblies and daily curricular learning, classrooms can engage in reflection-based group projects that deepen understanding and reconstruct a sense of narrative around the disaster. Students may create timelines of the cyclone, maps of affected areas, and “hero stories” honoring rescuers, first responders, volunteers, teachers, parents, and neighbours. They can also explore environmental dimensions by studying land management, erosion, and deforestation—connecting personal trauma with broader ecological lessons. Using ordinary mobile phones, groups may produce mini documentaries capturing their community’s stories, strengthening both empathy and agency.

One powerful approach could be to dedicate the first period of each school day to guided sharing circles facilitated by teachers. During these sessions, students can explore gentle prompts such as: What did I experience? What did I witness? What am I feeling now—and why? What do I need to feel safe? How can I help my family or community? What have I or haven’t I done that would have contributed to natural disasters? What am I or am I not doing to contribute to environmental preservation? What more could I or couldn’t I do to avoid further ecological harm? Children may express themselves through spoken reflection, creative writing, drawing, painting, journaling, storytelling, role-play, poetry, song, or even handicrafts made from safely cleaned, recycled flood debris.

School Level: At the school level, exhibitions of student expressions, multi-faith remembrance ceremonies, guest talks by mental-health professionals, environmental awareness workshops, tree-planting memorials, disaster drills, and student-led volunteer clubs can bring the whole school community together in collective learning and restoration. Peer-support groups and simple grounding exercises can help students process emotions gently and safely. Collaborative murals and wall paintings portraying hope and resilience can serve as both an emotional outlet and a communal act of rebuilding.

Community Level: Beyond the school walls, community-based initiatives—such as joint parent-student rebuilding projects, clean-up campaigns, home-visit systems for affected families, partnerships with clergy and village leaders, parental sharing groups, and collaborations with NGOs for counselling and disaster training—help weave stronger bonds between families, educators, and local institutions.

Throughout the NPCRP process, teachers and parents can play an essential psychosocial role by observing children with quiet attentiveness. Signs such as withdrawal, silence, unusual aggression, disturbed sleep routines, anxiety triggered by rain or thunder, sudden academic decline, or persistent sadness may indicate deeper distress. Those showing significant symptoms can be gently referred to school counsellors, psychosocial officers, or local mental-health teams for additional support. Early identification can be life-changing, especially for children who may otherwise suffer in silence.

After the NPCRP period, schools might organize a simple but meaningful internal exhibition showcasing student artwork, posters on resilience and disaster preparedness, documentary videos, and a “wall of gratitude” dedicated to rescue workers and volunteers. A remembrance corner honoring victims and survivors can provide a quiet space for communal reflection. Parents, guardians, religious leaders, and community members may be invited to witness the strength and vulnerability of their young people and to reaffirm a shared commitment to rebuilding lives and landscapes.

The reflection period may culminate in a closing ceremony of remembrance and resolve—an inclusive event that reflects Sri Lanka’s multicultural and multi-religious identity. The program could include a moment of silence, the lighting of oil lamps or candles, blessings from clergy of different faith traditions, and the felicitation of survivors and volunteer responders. Schools may also unveil a small, simple memorial—perhaps a stone, a tree, or a bench—created collaboratively by students, parents, and teachers, bearing a message such as: “From suffering, we rise — Cyclone Ditwah, 2025.” Even the simplest symbol can become a powerful reminder of shared endurance and collective hope.

Finally, schools could document this entire journey by gathering student photographs, stories, artwork, and personal reflections into a printed booklet or digital archive. Such a record would serve not only as a testimony of what the children endured, but also as a chronicle of resilience, solidarity, and renewal, something future generations can look back on as they continue the work of building a safer, more compassionate, and more environmentally conscious Sri Lanka.

Why Does NPCRP Matter?

Creating space for reflection and healing after Cyclone Ditwah should not be an optional exercise, but a national imperative. Emotional healing is essential because children recover best when they are encouraged to express what they have lived through; silence, on the other hand, often deepens fear, while shared storytelling strengthens resilience. This process, when adhered to within an established framework such as the Canadian sharing model or Jesuit spiritual conversation, is therefore therapeutic, nurturing respect and community-building through active listening and intentional speaking. As young people hear one another’s experiences, they develop empathy, and empathy in turn strengthens social cohesion—the foundation of a healthy democracy. Psychosocial activities that students engaged in during this period further facilitate opportunities to identify and support those students who show early signs of distress, while transforming schools into nurturing spaces that form whole persons, not just exam-takers.

Crucially, this period allows schools to integrate values that often remain outside the syllabus—emotional intelligence, ecological responsibility, national solidarity, and ethical reflection—contributing to strengthening national identity, as young people from diverse ethnic, linguistic, and social backgrounds discover a common narrative of suffering and survival. Also, fostering an understanding of environmental responsibility encourages sustainable behaviors that benefit the nation’s ecosystems for decades to come. Ultimately, these efforts strengthen the triangle of school–home–community relationships, building trust networks that not only support healing now but fortify the Sri Lankan nation against the uncertainties of the future. In that light, the cyclone, devastating as it was, offers a real-world context through which these values can be meaningfully taught and internalized.

Just as early psychosocial support leads to healthier long-term mental health outcomes, preventing deep-seated trauma from taking root, the long-term benefits of reflection extend well beyond the current disaster. Sri Lanka’s increasing vulnerability to monsoons and cyclones underscores the need to prepare the next generation for future disasters; children who learn to respond proactively, intelligently, and compassionately today will grow into adults who can lead communities safely through tomorrow’s crises. Children who are given tools to process trauma today will mature into resilient, compassionate, and confident adults capable of leadership in difficult times. A culture of solidarity can begin to take root when young people learn to care for “the other”, helping to soften and heal the country’s longstanding divisions. Improved disaster preparedness becomes a natural by-product of an educated and emotionally informed younger generation, reducing future loss of life and enhancing community responsiveness.

Conclusion

Cyclone Ditwah has forced Sri Lanka into a moment of profound reckoning—one that goes beyond the damaged infrastructure and broken landscapes. It has confronted us with the emotional and moral responsibility we hold toward our children, who have witnessed, endured, and responded to this disaster in countless ways. As the nation embarks on the long road to recovery, the reopening of schools becomes more than a logistical necessity; it becomes a national act of renewal, a declaration that our commitment to healing is as strong as our commitment to rebuilding.

If we are courageous enough to embrace this moment, schools can become powerful spaces of transformation. Not only can they restore stability and routine, but they should be the first places to cultivate empathy, resilience, ecological responsibility, and a shared sense of belonging, the qualities that Sri Lanka urgently needs as it confronts both old and emerging challenges. By creating structured opportunities for reflection, dialogue, creativity, and community engagement, we ensure that our children do not merely “move on” but move forward with understanding, resilience, educated solidarity, and purpose.

To that end, if the experiences carried by Sri Lankan children today are met with guided reflection and compassionate mentorship at school, they can become the seeds of a more humane and united nation. But if ignored, suppressed, or treated with less urgency and priority, they risk hardening into private wounds that isolate rather than connect. This is why the Ministry of Education’s choices in the coming weeks matter so profoundly. Like NPCRP, an intentional, well-structured reflective period within schools is not a delay in learning; it is learning in its highest form. It is the education that acknowledges life, loss, dignity, and responsibility, the kind of education that prepares children not only for examinations but for citizenship. Reopening schools without systematically addressing the emotional and moral dimensions of this tragedy, therefore, would be a missed opportunity

Hence, let us allow this disaster to teach us something enduring: that Sri Lanka rises strongest not when it focuses solely on rebuilding walls and bridges, but when it rebuilds its people, beginning with the youngest among us. Let us empower children to speak, share, create, question, and hope. Let us help them connect their experiences to a greater moral and ecological awareness. Let us show them that solidarity is not a distant ideal but a lived reality, learned through compassion and strengthened through community.

In the months and years to come, a new story will be told about how Sri Lanka responded to Cyclone Ditwah. Let that story be one of unity, vision, and courage. Let it be said that we refused to let our children carry their fears alone. Let it be remembered that our schools became sanctuaries of healing and hubs of civic renewal. And let it be known that from the grief of 2025 emerged a generation—educated, empathetic, and resilient—capable of guiding Sri Lanka toward a more just, prepared, and environmentally conscious future. As the legendary image of the Phoenix reminds us, from mud, we rise, and from learning, we (re)build the Sri Lanka she was always meant to be. (Concluded)

Dr. Rashmi M. Fernando, S.J., is a Jesuit priest, educator, and special assistant to the provost at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California, USA.

by Dr. Rashmi M. Fernando, S.J.

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Manitha, Mevindu bag 11 wickets each as Mahinda, Sri Sumangala record big wins

Under 19 Cricket

Manitha Rajapaksha collected a match bag of 11 wickets as Mahinda romped to an innings and 25 runs victory over Lumbini in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ cricket encounter at Galle.

‎Forced to follow on after being bowled out for 173 runs, the visitors managed to last only 33 overs as bowlers used the home advantage to good effect.

‎In a similar performance, Sri Sumangala reduced Isipatana to just 69 runs in the second innings to record an innings and 96 runs win in the Tier ‘B’ match at Panadura. While Mevindu Kumarasiri excelled once again to claim a match bag of 11 wickets, overnight batsmen Sandeep Wijerathna and Neksha Iddamalgoda went on to score centuries for Sri Sumangala to boost the score to 301 for eight wickets declared.

‎Meanwhile at DSS ground the home team scored a first innings win over Nalanda.‎

Match Results

‎Mahinda in innings win at Galle

‎Scores

‎Mahinda 284 all out in 72.2 overs

(Dulsith Darshana 63, Randula Mabarana 28, Manitha Rajapaksha 23, Kaveesha Githmal 43, Kavindu Nimsara 66; Yashod Kavindu 5/100, Dinal Sewmina 2/32)

‎Lumbini 76 for 4 overnight 173 all out in 53.4 overs

(Kisandu Dulneth 33, Yashod Kavindu 26, Jayanitha Mendis 41, Pasindu Mahisha 38; Manitha Rajapaksha 6/64, Sadev Nethmina 2/27) and 86 all out in 32.4 overs (Nikil Abilash 33; Manitha Rajapaksha 5/25, Gesandu Bisas 2/12, Arosha Udayanga 2/15)

‎

‎Sri Sumangala in innings win at Panadura

‎‎Scores

‎Isipatana 136 all out in 47.2 overs (Yuveen Keshan 21, Dasith Senal 31; Mevindu Kumarasiri 6/54) and 69 all out in 25.2 overs (Janith Selaka 25; Mevindu Kumarasiri 5/32, Methum Fernando 4/23)

‎Sri Sumangala 158 for 2 overnight 301 for 8 decl. in 79.4 overs (Sandeep Wijerathna 100, Neksha Iddamalgoda 110, Mevindu Kumarasiri 34; Dasith Senal 2/86, Dimuthu Tharuka 2/34)

‎First innings win for DSS at DSS ground

‎Scores

‎DSS 365 all out in 79 overs (Savain Kalansooriya 54, Bihan Gamage 102, Janindu Ranasinghe 50, Shevan Welgama 73; Osanda Pamuditha 2/69, Dunitha Anusara 4/66, Sahas Godage 3/76) and 144 for 3 in 35.2 overs (Miyuru Bandara 41, Savain Kalansooriya 57, Shanaal Binuksha 34)

‎Nalanda 28 for 1 overnight 197 all out in 66.1 overs (Nemindu Akmeemana 40, Ranmith Dinuwara 42; Shanaal Binuksha 6/61, Randisha Bandaranayake 2/40)

 

by Reemus Fernando

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Shafali, Renuka close in on top five in ICC T20I rankings

India’s opening batter Shafali Verma and swing bowler Renuka Singh have moved up to sixth spots in the ICC’s T20I batting and bowling rankings respectively.

Shafali is the leading scorer in the ongoing bilateral series against Sri Lanka by a distance, her 236 runs nearly twice as many as second-highest scorer Smriti Mandhana’s 120. Renuka is also the leading wicket-taker, her four wickets level with team-mates Deepti Sharma, Vaishnavi Sharma and Shree Charani.

Shafali went up four places with back-to-back scores of 69*, 79* and 79 in the second, third and fourth T20Is. Renuka, meanwhile, climbed eight places to reach the joint-sixth position along with South Africa’s Nonkululeko Mlaba, particularly through her 4 for 21 in the third game of the series. Deepti leads the bowlers’ rankings after taking that position last week. Both Shafali and Renuka have also bagged one Player-of-the-Match award each in the series that India lead 4-0, with the last match scheduled for Tuesday in Thiruvananthapuram.

If India win today (30), this will be their third 5-0 series win in T20Is. They won by that scoreline in the West Indies in 2019 and in Bangladesh last year. Sri Lanka have, however, never before lost a T20I series 5-0.

(Cricinfo)

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Listening to the Language of Shells

The ocean rarely raises its voice. Instead, it leaves behind signs — subtle, intricate and enduring — for those willing to observe closely. Along Sri Lanka’s shores, these signs often appear in the form of seashells: spiralled, ridged, polished by waves, carrying within them the quiet history of marine life. For Marine Naturalist Dr. Malik Fernando, these shells are not souvenirs of the sea but storytellers, bearing witness to ecological change, resilience and loss.

“Seashells are among the most eloquent narrators of the ocean’s condition,” Dr. Fernando told The Island. “They are biological archives. If you know how to read them, they reveal the story of our seas, past and present.”

A long-standing marine conservationist and a member of the Marine Subcommittee of the Wildlife & Nature Protection Society (WNPS), Dr. Fernando has dedicated much of his life to understanding and protecting Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems. While charismatic megafauna often dominate conservation discourse, he has consistently drawn attention to less celebrated but equally vital marine organisms — particularly molluscs, whose shells are integral to coastal and reef ecosystems.

“Shells are often admired for their beauty, but rarely for their function,” he said. “They are homes, shields and structural components of marine habitats. When shell-bearing organisms decline, it destabilises entire food webs.”

Sri Lanka’s geographical identity as an island nation, Dr. Fernando says, is paradoxically underrepresented in national conservation priorities. “We speak passionately about forests and wildlife on land, but our relationship with the ocean remains largely extractive,” he noted. “We fish, mine sand, build along the coast and pollute, yet fail to pause and ask how much the sea can endure.”

Through his work with the WNPS Marine Subcommittee, Dr. Fernando has been at the forefront of advocating for science-led marine policy and integrated coastal management. He stressed that fragmented governance and weak enforcement continue to undermine marine protection efforts. “The ocean does not recognise administrative boundaries,” he said. “But unfortunately, our policies often do.”

He believes that one of the greatest challenges facing marine conservation in Sri Lanka is invisibility. “What happens underwater is out of sight, and therefore out of mind,” he said. “Coral bleaching, mollusc depletion, habitat destruction — these crises unfold silently. By the time the impacts reach the shore, it is often too late.”

Seashells, in this context, become messengers. Changes in shell thickness, size and abundance, Dr. Fernando explained, can signal shifts in ocean chemistry, rising temperatures and increasing acidity — all linked to climate change. “Ocean acidification weakens shells,” he said. “It is a chemical reality with biological consequences. When shells grow thinner, organisms become more vulnerable, and ecosystems less stable.”

Climate change, he warned, is no longer a distant threat but an active force reshaping Sri Lanka’s marine environment. “We are already witnessing altered breeding cycles, migration patterns and species distribution,” he said. “Marine life is responding rapidly. The question is whether humans will respond wisely.”

Despite the gravity of these challenges, Dr. Fernando remains an advocate of hope rooted in knowledge. He believes public awareness and education are essential to reversing marine degradation. “You cannot expect people to protect what they do not understand,” he said. “Marine literacy must begin early — in schools, communities and through public storytelling.”

It is this belief that has driven his involvement in initiatives that use visual narratives to communicate marine science to broader audiences. According to Dr. Fernando, imagery, art and heritage-based storytelling can evoke emotional connections that data alone cannot. “A well-composed image of a shell can inspire curiosity,” he said. “Curiosity leads to respect, and respect to protection.”

Shells, he added, also hold cultural and historical significance in Sri Lanka, having been used for ornamentation, ritual objects and trade for centuries. “They connect nature and culture,” he said. “By celebrating shells, we are also honouring coastal communities whose lives have long been intertwined with the sea.”

However, Dr. Fernando cautioned against romanticising the ocean without acknowledging responsibility. “Celebration must go hand in hand with conservation,” he said. “Otherwise, we risk turning heritage into exploitation.”

He was particularly critical of unregulated shell collection and commercialisation. “What seems harmless — picking up shells — can have cumulative impacts,” he said. “When multiplied across thousands of visitors, it becomes extraction.”

As Sri Lanka continues to promote coastal tourism, Dr. Fernando emphasised the need for sustainability frameworks that prioritise ecosystem health. “Tourism must not come at the cost of the very environments it depends on,” he said. “Marine conservation is not anti-development; it is pro-future.”

Dr. Malik Fernando

Reflecting on his decades-long engagement with the sea, Dr. Fernando described marine conservation as both a scientific pursuit and a moral obligation. “The ocean has given us food, livelihoods, climate regulation and beauty,” he said. “Protecting it is not an act of charity; it is an act of responsibility.”

He called for stronger collaboration between scientists, policymakers, civil society and the private sector. “No single entity can safeguard the ocean alone,” he said. “Conservation requires collective stewardship.”

Yet, amid concern, Dr. Fernando expressed cautious optimism. “Sri Lanka still has immense marine wealth,” he said. “Our reefs, seagrass beds and coastal waters are resilient, if given a chance.”

Standing at the edge of the sea, shells scattered along the sand, one is reminded that the ocean does not shout its warnings. It leaves behind clues — delicate, enduring, easily overlooked. For Dr. Malik Fernando, those clues demand attention.

“The sea is constantly communicating,” he said. “In shells, in currents, in changing patterns of life. The real question is whether we, as a society, are finally prepared to listen — and to act before silence replaces the story.”

 

By Ifham Nizam

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From Diyabariya to Duberria: Lanka’s Forgotten Footprint in Global Science

For centuries, Sri Lanka’s biological knowledge travelled the world — anonymously. Embedded deep within the pages of European natural history books, Sinhala words were copied, distorted and repurposed, eventually fossilising into Latinised scientific names of snakes, bats and crops found thousands of kilometres away.

Africa’s reptiles, Europe’s taxonomic catalogues and global field guides still carry those echoes, largely unnoticed and uncredited.

Now, a Sri Lankan herpetologist is tracing those forgotten linguistic footprints back to their source.

Through painstaking archival research into 17th- and 18th-century zoological texts, herpetologist and taxonomic researcher Sanjaya Bandara has uncovered compelling evidence that several globally recognised scientific names — long assumed to be derived from Greek or Latin — are in fact rooted in Sinhala vernacular terms used by villagers, farmers and hunters in pre-colonial Sri Lanka.

“Scientific names are not just labels. They are stories,” Bandara told The Island. “And in many cases, those stories begin right here in Sri Lanka.”

Sanjaya Bandara

At the heart of Bandara’s work is etymology — the study of word origins — a field that plays a crucial role in zoology and taxonomy.

While classical languages dominate scientific nomenclature, his findings reveal that Sinhala words were quietly embedded in the foundations of modern biological classification as early as the 1700s.

One of the most striking examples is Ahaetulla, the genus name for Asian vine snakes. “The word Ahaetulla is not Greek or Latin at all,” Bandara explained. “It comes directly from the Sinhala vernacular used by locals for the Green Vine Snake.” Remarkably, the term was adopted by Carl Linnaeus himself, the father of modern taxonomy.

Another example lies in the vespertilionid bat genus Kerivoula, described by British zoologist John Edward Gray. Bandara notes that the name is a combination of the Sinhala words kiri (milky) and voula (bat). Even the scientific name of finger millet, Eleusine coracana, carries linguistic traces of the Sinhala word kurakkan, a cereal cultivated in Sri Lanka for centuries.

Yet Bandara’s most intriguing discoveries extend far beyond the island — all the way to Africa and the Mediterranean.

In a research paper recently published in the journal Bionomina, Bandara presented evidence that two well-known snake genera, Duberria and Malpolon, both described in 1826 by Austrian zoologist Leopold Fitzinger, likely originated from Sinhala words.

The name Duberria first appeared in Robert Knox’s 1681 account of Ceylon, where Knox refers to harmless water snakes called “Duberria” by locals. According to Bandara, this was a mispronunciation of Diyabariya, the Sinhala term for water snakes.

“Mispronunciations are common in Knox’s writings,” Bandara said. “English authors of the time struggled with Sinhala phonetics, and distorted versions of local names entered European literature.”

Over time, these distortions became formalised. Today, Duberria refers to African slug-eating snakes — a genus geographically distant, yet linguistically tethered to Sri Lanka.

Bandara’s study also proposes the long-overdue designation of a type species for the genus, reviving a 222-year-old scientific name in the process.

Equally compelling is the case of Malpolon, the genus of Montpellier snakes found across North Africa, the Middle East and southern Europe. Bandara traced the word back to a 1693 work by English zoologist John Ray, which catalogued snakes from Dutch India — including Sri Lanka.

“The term Malpolon appears alongside Sinhala vernacular names,” Bandara noted. “It is highly likely derived from Mal Polonga, meaning ‘flowery viper’.” Even today, some Sri Lankan communities use Mal Polonga to describe patterned snakes such as the Russell’s Wolf Snake.

Bandara’s research further reveals Sinhala roots in the African Red-lipped Herald Snake (Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia), whose species name likely stems from Hothambaya, a regional Sinhala term for mongooses and palm civets.

“These findings collectively show that Sri Lanka was not just a source of specimens, but a source of knowledge,” Bandara said. “Early European naturalists relied heavily on local names, local guides and local ecological understanding.”

Perhaps the most frequently asked question Bandara encounters concerns the mighty Anaconda. While not a scientific name, the word itself is widely believed to be a corruption of the Sinhala Henakandaya, another snake name recorded in Ray’s listings of Sri Lankan reptiles.

“What is remarkable,” Bandara reflected, “is that these words travelled across continents, entered global usage, and remained there — often stripped of their original meanings.”

For Bandara, restoring those meanings is about more than taxonomy. It is about reclaiming Sri Lanka’s rightful place in the history of science.

“With this study, three more Sinhala words formally join scientific nomenclature,” he said.

“Who would have imagined that a Sinhala word would be used to name a snake in Africa?”

Long before biodiversity hotspots became buzzwords and conservation turned global, Sri Lanka’s language was already speaking through science — quietly, persistently, and across continents.

By Ifham Nizam

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Christmas Full Mass is held in Brussels in remembrance of victims of Cyclone Ditwah in Lanka

The Sri Lankan Catholic and non-Catholic community in Belgium gathered for a Christmas Full Mass organised by the Embassy of Sri Lanka on 21 December 2025 at the Sri Lanka Residence in Brussels, in remembrance of the victims of Cyclone Ditwa. The service was attended by clergy and members of the Sri Lankan diaspora, combining the spirit of Christmas with solidarity and compassion.

As Sri Lanka continued to face the aftermath of the disaster, which caused loss of life, displacement of families, and damage to infrastructure, the Mass provided a space for collective mourning, reflection, and hope.

While welcoming the Sri Lankan community, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Belgium Chandana Weerasena stated that although Christmas is traditionally a celebration of joy, the Full Mass carried a deeper purpose of standing in solidarity with affected families and offering spiritual support for their healing and recovery. He also called upon the community to respond with compassion and action.

The Mass was presided over by Reverend Father Ranil Camilus and Reverend Father Anton Rohitha, who emphasised that the message of Christmas extended beyond celebration and symbolised love, generosity, and shared humanity. Prayers were offered for comfort, strength, and restoration for those affected.

The service included special prayers for the deceased, blessings for survivors, and for rescue workers and volunteers engaged in relief efforts. Candle lighting, a moment of silent reflection, floral tributes, and hymns reflecting peace and hope were also observed.The Mass concluded with refreshments served to the participants.

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Over 1,500 flights cancelled as winter storm Devin hits US holiday travel

Thousands of flights have been cancelled and delayed in the United States due to winter storm Devin, airline monitoring website FlightAware reports, dealing a blow to air travel during peak holiday time.

A total of 1,581 flights “within, into or out of the” US were cancelled and 6,883 delayed as of 4pm US Eastern Time (21:00 GMT) on Friday, according to FlightAware, which describes itself as the world’s largest flight tracking data company.

The delays and cancellations came as the US National Weather ⁠Service warned of winter storm Devin causing “hazardous travel conditions” and heavy snow forecast across parts of the Midwest and northeast.

More than 40 million Americans were under winter storm warnings or weather advisories on Friday, plus another 30 million under flood or storm advisories in California, where a so-called atmospheric river has brought a deluge of rain.

New York City, the largest US city, was bracing for up to 250mm (10 inches) of snow overnight on Friday, the most expected in four years. Temperatures were forecast to drop into the weekend when an Arctic blast is expected to swoop down from Canada.

New York’s John F Kennedy airport, ⁠Newark Liberty international airport and LaGuardia airport warned travellers of potential delays or cancellations. More than half of the flight cancellations and delays took place at these three airports, according to FlightAware.

[Aljazeera]

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FACETS 2026 to unveil new era for Sri Lanka’s gem and jewellery trade

The gem and jewellery sector is poised for a transformative start to 2026 as FACETS Sri Lanka, the country’s premier international exhibition, prepares to open its doors on January 3rd at a bold new location. Marking its 33rd edition, the event will debut at The Forum, Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams, signalling a major upgrade in scale and ambition for the industry’s flagship showcase.

Relocating to the integrated resort’s state-of-the-art convention facility, FACETS 2026 will span two floors, offering the most expansive platform in its history for buyers, traders, and connoisseurs. The modern infrastructure of Cinnamon Life is expected to provide an elevated and immersive experience, injecting fresh energy into the presentation of Sri Lanka’s celebrated gemstone heritage.

In a landmark development for the local trade, the globally revered Gübelin Gem Lab will participate for the first time as the Official Gem Lab Partner. This partnership, a first at any Sri Lankan gem exhibition, grants exhibitors and international visitors direct access to world-class on-site gem testing and certification from an institution with over a century of expertise.

The exhibition is bolstered by a robust consortium of premier corporate partners. Cinnamon Life serves as the Hotel and Venue Partner, with support from John Keells Properties as Real Estate Partner, Brinks as Official Security Partner, and LMD as Official Business Magazine. The strengthened backing underscores the event’s significant economic footprint.

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Renuka and Deepti back with a bang as India seal the series

Shafali Verma continued her superb form, cracking a 42-ball 79 as India brushed aside Sri Lanka once again to win the third T20I in Thiruvananthapuram and complete a series victory.

The template was familiar and ruthlessly executed: win the toss, bowl, restrict Sri Lanka, and then stroll through the chase. Just as in the first two matches, India were clinical. Renuka Singh spearheaded the bowling, with support from Deepti Sharma, to keep Sri Lanka to 112 for 7 before Shafali wrapped up the chase with 40 balls to spare.

Sri Lanka shuffled their opening combination, leaving out Vishmi Gunaratne and promoting Hasini Perera to partner Chamari Athapaththu. Perera showed early intent, striking two boundaries off Renuka, who returned to the XI in place of Arundhati Reddy, in the first over.

India introduced Deepti in the third, and Perera greeted her with another boundary. While Perera looked positive, Athapaththu struggled to find her rhythm, managing just 3 off 12 in a stand worth 25 – Sri Lanka’s highest opening partnership of the series. The pressure told in the fifth over when Athapaththu attempted a cross-batted swipe and top-edged to mid-on, handing Deepti her first wicket.

Renuka then turned the screws in her second over of the powerplay. After Perera pierced the infield early in the over, Renuka placed Deepti at short third, a move that paid dividends as Perera edged one straight to the fielder. She fell for 25 off 18, unable to capitalise on her start. Renuka capped off the over in style, having Harshitha Samarawickrama caught and bowled off the final delivery, swinging the powerplay decisively India’s way.

From there, the contest drifted into territory that had become all too familiar over the course of the series.

With Sri Lanka at 45 for 4 at the halfway stage, Imesha  Dulani – coming into the XI for this match – combined with Kavisha Dilhari to add some much-needed runs for the fifth wicket. Dulani, reprieved on 8 when Shree Charani put down a chance, found the gaps, while Dilhari injected some intent, launching Kranti Gaud for a six.

The partnership, however, was short-lived. Deepti ensured it did not go beyond 40 runs, having Dilhari caught at deep midwicket for 20 en route to becoming the joint highest wicket taker in women’s T20Is.

India were not flawless in the field, putting down two more chances – Kaushini Nuthyangana on 4 by Gaud and Malsha Shehani on 5 by Deepti – but Sri Lanka failed to make India pay, drifting to 112 for 7 at the end of 20 overs.

Shafali Verma’s 79 not out made up 68.7% of India’s total (BCCI)

Shafali set the tone for the chase immediately, launching Shehani for 6, 4 and 4 in the opening over. Smriti Mandhana struggled to find fluency at the other end, but it scarcely mattered with Shafali in full flow. She took on debutant Nimasha Meepage in the third over, picking up two boundaries, before Mandhana fell for 1 in the fourth, also burning a review in the process.

Shafali, meanwhile, continued to show her full range. In the fifth over, she took Meepage for 19 runs: starting with an uppish drive to the extra cover boundary, a back-foot whip that raced through midwicket, a full toss that was muscled for six over extra, and finishing the over by dropping to one knee to loft another boundary over cover. By then, she had raced to 43 off just 19 balls, bringing up her half-century in the following over from 24 deliveries. India, on the whole, were 55 for 1.

Dilhari, who had bowled tidily in the fourth over, was reintroduced in the eighth and immediately created a chance, but Jemimah Rodrigues was put down by captain Athapaththu. The miss proved inconsequential as Dilhari struck the very next ball, bowling Rodrigues.

Shafali continued to dictate terms, scoring 68.7% of her team’s runs in a completed innings – which is a new national record – and rising to No. 4  on the list of India’s highest run-getters in women’s T20Is.

The win, along with a 3-0 lead in the five-match series, marked Harmanpreet Kaur’s 77th as captain, going past Meg Lanning to become the most successful captain in the format.

Brief scores:

India Women 115 for 2 in 13.2 overs (Shafali Verma 79*,  Harmanpreet Kaur 21*; Kavisha Dilhari 2-18) beat Sri Lanka Women 112 for 7 in 20 overs  (Hasini Perera 25, Imesha Dulani 27, Kavisha Dilhari 20, Kaushini Nuthyangana 10*; Renuka  Singh 4-21, Deepti Sharma 3-18) by eight wickets

(Cricinfo)

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Superstition – Major barrier to learning and social advancement

At the initial stage of my six-year involvement in uplifting society through skill-based initiatives, particularly by promoting handicraft work and teaching students to think creatively and independently, my efforts were partially jeopardized by deep-rooted superstition and resistance to rational learning.

Superstitions exerted a deeply adverse impact by encouraging unquestioned belief, fear, and blind conformity instead of reasoning and evidence-based understanding. In society, superstition often sustains harmful practices, social discrimination, exploitation by self-styled godmen, and resistance to scientific or social reforms, thereby weakening rational decision-making and slowing progress. When such beliefs penetrate the educational environment, students gradually lose the habit of asking “why” and “how,” accepting explanations based on fate, omens, or divine intervention rather than observation and logic.

Initially, learners became hesitant to challenge me despite my wrong interpretation of any law, less capable of evaluating information critically, and more vulnerable to misinformation and pseudoscience. As a result, genuine efforts towards social upliftment were obstructed, and the transformative power of education, which could empower individuals economically and intellectually, was weakened by fear-driven beliefs that stood in direct opposition to progress and rational thought. In many communities, illnesses are still attributed to evil spirits or curses rather than treated as medical conditions. I have witnessed educated people postponing important decisions, marriages, journeys, even hospital admissions, because an astrologer predicted an “inauspicious” time, showing how fear governs rational minds.

While teaching students science and mathematics, I have clearly observed how superstition acts as a hidden barrier to learning, critical thinking, and intellectual confidence. Many students come to the classroom already conditioned to believe that success or failure depends on luck, planetary positions, or divine favour rather than effort, practice, and understanding, which directly contradicts the scientific spirit. I have seen students hesitate to perform experiments or solve numerical problems on certain “inauspicious” days.

In mathematics, some students label themselves as “weak by birth”, which creates fear and anxiety even before attempting a problem, turning a subject of logic into a source of emotional stress. In science classes, explanations based on natural laws sometimes clash with supernatural beliefs, and students struggle to accept evidence because it challenges what they were taught at home or in society. This conflict confuses young minds and prevents them from fully trusting experimentation, data, and proof.

Worse still, superstition nurtures dependency; students wait for miracles instead of practising problem-solving, revision, and conceptual clarity. Over time, this mindset damages curiosity, reduces confidence, and limits innovation, making science and mathematics appear difficult, frightening, or irrelevant. Many science teachers themselves do not sufficiently emphasise the need to question or ignore such irrational beliefs and often remain limited to textbook facts and exam-oriented learning, leaving little space to challenge superstition directly. When teachers avoid discussing superstition, they unintentionally reinforce the idea that scientific reasoning and superstitious beliefs can coexist.

To overcome superstition and effectively impose critical thinking among students, I have inculcated the process to create a classroom culture where questioning was encouraged and fear of being “wrong” was removed. Students were taught how to think, not what to think, by consistently using the scientific method—observation, hypothesis, experimentation, evidence, and conclusion—in both science and mathematics lessons. I have deliberately challenged superstitious beliefs through simple demonstrations and hands-on experiments that allow students to see cause-and-effect relationships for themselves, helping them replace belief with proof.

Many so-called “tantrik shows” that appear supernatural can be clearly explained and exposed through basic scientific principles, making them powerful tools to fight superstition among students. For example, acts where a tantrik places a hand or tongue briefly in fire without injury rely on short contact time, moisture on the skin, or low heat transfer from alcohol-based flames rather than divine power.

“Miracles” like ash or oil repeatedly appearing from hands or idols involve concealment or simple physical and chemical tricks. When these tricks are demonstrated openly in classrooms or science programmes and followed by clear scientific explanations, students quickly realise how easily perception can be deceived and why evidence, experimentation, and critical questioning are far more reliable than blind belief.

Linking concepts to daily life, such as explaining probability to counter ideas of luck, or biology to explain illness instead of supernatural causes, makes rational explanations relatable and convincing.

Another unique example that I faced in my life is presented here. About 10 years ago, when I entered my new house but did not organise traditional rituals that many consider essential for peace and prosperity as my relatives believed that without them prosperity would be blocked.  Later on, I could not utilise the entire space of my newly purchased house for earning money, largely because I chose not to perform certain rituals.

While this decision may have limited my financial gains to some extent, I do not consider it a failure in the true sense. I feel deeply satisfied that my son and daughter have received proper education and are now well settled in their employment, which, to me, is a far greater achievement than any ritual-driven expectation of wealth. My belief has always been that a house should not merely be a source of income or superstition-bound anxiety, but a space with social purpose.

Instead of rituals, I strongly feel that the unused portion of my house should be devoted to running tutorials for poor and underprivileged students, where knowledge, critical thinking, and self-reliance can be nurtured. This conviction gives me inner peace and reinforces my faith that education and service to society are more meaningful measures of success than material profit alone.

Though I have succeeded to some extent, this success has not been complete due to the persistent influence of superstition.

by Dr Debapriya Mukherjee
Former Senior Scientist
Central Pollution Control Board, India

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Donald Trump says Merry Christmas to 'dead terrorists' as he launches Nigeria ISIS strikes

The US President says 'perfect strikes' were carried out by US forces in northwest Nigeria on Christmas Day

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So this is Christmas …

The world over, Christmas is being celebrated today. However, in our part of the world, Christmas, and the lead up to the New Year, will be observed on a sombre note.

With this in mind, I wish my readers a Blessed Christmas and let’s hope 2026 will be a good one … without any fear.

Several known personalities also send their greetings and best wishes to The Island readers:

*  Noshin De Silva (Actress):

Happy Holidays to everyone across our beautiful island! As we move toward the end of the year, my heart goes out to all communities affected by the recent floods and severe weather. In these challenging weeks, we have also witnessed the true spirit of Sri Lanka through the humility, compassion, and unity of people coming together to support one another. May this season bring comfort to those rebuilding, gratitude to those giving, and hope to us all. Wishing everyone Peace, Healing, Great Health, and a very Happy New Year!

*  Melloney Dassanayaka (Miss Universe Sri Lanka 2024):

As we celebrate the blessings of Christmas and step with hope into a brand-new year, I am reminded of the strength, resilience, and spirit that define us as Sri Lankans. This festive season invites us to reflect, to appreciate what we have, and to look ahead with courage.

Be positive and embrace every opportunity that comes your way. Be smart, be brave, and work hard for yourself, because your future is shaped by the determination you carry within.

May this Christmas fill your hearts with peace and joy, and may the New Year bring you endless possibilities, renewed strength, and the confidence to pursue every dream.

Wishing you a Blessed Christmas and a Bright, Prosperous New Year!

With love and warm wishes.

*  Raffealla Fernando (Photographer/Designer):

Wishing you a beautiful, light-filled Christmas and a New Year overflowing with inspiration.

As a photographer and designer, I’m constantly searching for the moments, colours, and stories. that make life extraordinary and this season always reminds me how much beauty there is in the simple things: warm laughter, shared memories, and the quiet magic of togetherness.

Thank you for being part of my creative journey this year.

May your holidays be filled with genuine joy, and may 2026 bring you new adventures, brighter light, and endless reasons to smile.

This season, I’m also wishing for something close to my heart: for Sri Lanka to rise up bigger, better, and stronger. Nothing more to ask for than peace in these turbulent hearts, peace of mind for every soul, and the strength to rebuild our country in the coming year.

Merry Christmas, and a Vibrant, Inspiring New Year.

*  Andrea Marr (Singer – Australia):

Wishing you all a Blessed Christmas and a Joyful New Year. May the message of Christmas remain in your hearts and give you peace.

*  AROH (Music group):

We thank you for sharing your year with us, for every lyric sung, every rhythm embraced, and every stage shared. Your incredible support fuels our passion and continues to inspire the music we create.

Although the past few weeks have seen heaps of problems cropping up, may your Christmas be filled with Joy, Peace, and the beautiful harmony of family and friends.

Also, may the New Year bring you prosperity, health, and a score of exciting new possibilities.

We look forward to connecting with you through music in the coming year, as well.

*  Melantha Perera (Singer):

Music heals the soul, and sharing its gift this season fills our hearts with joy.

May our melodies spread love to every soul, making our Creator smile as we celebrate His birth.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a New Year in perfect harmony!

*  Natasha Rathnayake (Singer):

As we close another year and step into a new one, may this season remind us of what truly matters — kindness, connection, and love for all living beings.

Let’s carry forward the lessons, the healing, and the gratitude we’ve gathered, and step into 2026 with open hearts, courage, and compassion.

Wishing you and your loved ones a Christmas filled with blessings and joy, and a New Year that inspires clarity, creativity, and love in all that you do.

With love, and abundance of blessings!

God bless.

AROH

*  Sohan Weerasinghe (Singer):

Yes, Christmas is back and 2026 is around the corner. It’s time once again to convey my good wishes and also to remind myself to be careful of my waistline as I have a weakness for goodies, especially Christmas cake!

Have a fabulous Christmas and New Year and you also must do your utmost to help the needy people around you, especially those affected by the disaster that took us all by surprise; give till it hurts!

*  JJ Twins (Duo):

As the magic of Christmas fills the air and a brand-new year approaches, we extend our heartfelt thanks to our wonderful community for your continued support. May this festive season bring you joy, peace, and time spent with those you cherish.

We also take this moment to warmly wish Ivan Alvis a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year filled with success and happiness.

Jesus bless you all, and may you have a Christ-filled Christmas and New Year!

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Bright, Successful New Year!

*  SEVEN NOTES (Music group – Dubai):

SEVEN NOTES

As we celebrate the joy of Christmas and welcome the dawn of a brand-new year, we extend our heartfelt wishes to the readers and the dedicated team of The Island newspaper.

May this festive season bring peace, love, and harmony into your homes, and may the New Year 2026 be filled with success, good health, and new opportunities.

Thank you for inspiring communities across the globe with trusted journalism and unwavering service.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year 2026.

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DFCC Bank advances acquisition of Standard Chartered Sri Lanka’s retail and wealth business

DFCC Bank PLC has informed the public that with the necessary approval from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to proceed with its proposed acquisition of the Wealth and Retail Banking business of Standard Chartered Bank Sri Lanka Branch, it will continue the process in the coming months.

An announcement made by the DFCC Bank in compliance with the Colombo Stock Exchange Listing Rules stated:

“With this key regulatory clearance secured, DFCC Bank will now move forward with the subsequent phases of the transaction, including the integration and migration of the business operations.”

“The acquisition is scheduled for completion by the second quarter of 2026. A further update will be provided upon the finalisation of the transaction.”

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Top 10 Most Popular Festive Songs

Certain songs become ever-present every December, and with Christmas just two days away, I thought of highlighting the Top 10 Most Popular Festive Songs.

The famous festive songs usually feature timeless classics like ‘White Christmas,’ ‘Silent Night,’ and ‘Jingle Bells,’ alongside modern staples like Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You,’ Wham’s ‘Last Christmas,’ and Brenda Lee’s ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.’

The following renowned Christmas songs are celebrated for their lasting impact and festive spirit:

*  ‘White Christmas’ — Bing Crosby

The most famous holiday song ever recorded, with estimated worldwide sales exceeding 50 million copies. It remains the best-selling single of all time.

*  ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ — Mariah Carey

A modern anthem that dominates global charts every December. As of late 2025, it holds an 18x Platinum certification in the US and is often ranked as the No. 1 popular holiday track.

Mariah Carey: ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’

*  ‘Silent Night’ — Traditional

Widely considered the quintessential Christmas carol, it is valued for its peaceful melody and has been recorded by hundreds of artistes, most famously by Bing Crosby.

*  ‘Jingle Bells’ — Traditional

One of the most universally recognised and widely sung songs globally, making it a staple for children and festive gatherings.

*  ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ — Brenda Lee

Recorded when Lee was just 13, this rock ‘n’ roll favourite has seen a massive resurgence in the 2020s, often rivaling Mariah Carey for the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100.

*  ‘Last Christmas’ — Wham!

A bittersweet ’80s pop classic that has spent decades in the top 10 during the holiday season. It recently achieved 7x Platinum status in the UK.

*  ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ — Bobby Helms

A festive rockabilly standard released in 1957 that remains a staple of holiday radio and playlists.

*  ‘The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)’— Nat King Cole

Known for its smooth, warm vocals, this track is frequently cited as the ultimate Christmas jazz standard.

Wham! ‘Last Christmas’

*  ‘It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year’ — Andy Williams

Released in 1963, this high-energy big band track is famous for capturing the “hectic merriment” of the season.

*  ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ — Gene Autry

A beloved narrative song that has sold approximately 25 million copies worldwide, cementing the character’s place in Christmas folklore.

Other perennial favourites often in the mix:

*  ‘Feliz Navidad’ – José Feliciano

*  ‘A Holly Jolly Christmas’ – Burl Ives

*  ‘Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!’ – Frank Sinatra

Let me also add that this Thursday’s ‘SceneAround’ feature (25th December) will be a Christmas edition, highlighting special Christmas and New Year messages put together by well-known personalities for readers of The Island.

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Lankan monks, activists demand an end to human-elephant conflict

Video footage of a wild elephant being shot and set on fire caused outrage and renewed scrutiny

(UCAN) Buddhist monks and environmentalists have urged the Sri Lankan government to adopt a nationwide programme to prevent human-elephant conflict, after video footage of a wild elephant being shot and set on fire went viral on social media.

Police arrested three men, on 18 December, in the north-central district of Anuradhapura on charges of cruelty to animals, according to media reports.

Wildlife officials said the elephant sustained more than a hundred bullet injuries before it was set alight. Veterinary surgeons’ attempts to save its life failed, they added.

The arrests were made after the video drew widespread outrage and increased concerns over escalating human-animal conflict.

Buddhist monks and environmentalists demanded that the government take immediate measures to prevent such inhuman acts in the future.

Ven. Pahiyangala Ananda Sagara Thera, a Buddhist monk and environmental activist, condemned the act as “shameful.”

“The innocent animal came to fulfil its hunger but was shot and burned alive,” he told reporters.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa urged “an emergency national response to the crisis, calling attention to the necessity of collaboration between the government, the Department of Wildlife, and civil society to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts.”

He also called for a nationwide education programme, beginning with schools in areas where such conflicts exist.

Shanilaka Nayanajith, head of the We for Environment group, stressed the need to establish elephant corridors, implement early warning systems, and install additional electric fencing to prevent such incidents.

He also called for community awareness programmes, the use of deterrents to prevent crop damage by animals, and the relocation of problem elephants to safer locations, among other measures.

“There is a need for greater collaboration between the government and the communities to reduce human-elephant conflicts,” Nayanajith told UCA News.

Priyadarsani Saduni, an environmental activist based in Colombo, said existing laws in the country are inadequate to address the perpetrators and called for stronger laws to protect wildlife.

Ven. Walawahengunawawe Dhammaratana Thera, chief monk of Mihintale Rajamaha Temple, urged the government to take immediate action, enforce strict penalties, and protect elephants.

Sri Lanka is home to an estimated 7,000 elephants. It is illegal to kill them in this Buddhist-majority nation, with the animal having religious significance.

However, more than 2,000 elephants have died in the last five years, including 130 this year.

Sri Lanka lost 433 elephants in 2022, 488 in 2023, and 386 in 2024, according to official data. The deaths are mainly a result of shooting, poisoning, and electrocution.

Wildlife experts report that elephant habitats are shrinking due to increased human activity and development. Villagers chase away elephants when they stray, torturing them and driving them into wildlife reserves.

Opposition leader Premadasa demanded swift legal action against those responsible for such actions.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Parliament in November that it was proposed to allocate Sri Lankan rupees 1,000 million (US$3.23 million) to accelerate the construction of electric fences and 10 million rupees to research long-term solutions to mitigate human–elephant conflict.

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Prof. G. L. Peiris offers a rare insider’s account of Sri Lanka’s peace talks with the LTTE

As global attention focusses on high-stakes peace negotiations, a definitive Sri Lankan perspective on the promise and perils of negotiated conflict resolution comes to print

At a moment when the world is closely watching peace efforts linked to conflicts in Thailand and Cambodia, Gaza and Ukraine, a new book by Prof. G. L. Peiris revisits one of the most closely scrutinised peace initiatives of recent times: the negotiations between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Titled ‘The Sri Lanka Peace Process: An Inside View,’ the book is published by Vijitha Yapa Publications. The hardcover volume provides a scholarly, candid and first-hand account of the peace process that began in Sattahip, Thailand, on 16 September 2002, amid widespread international expectation that a brutal 30-year conflict was finally nearing its end.

The talks drew global attention not only for their ambition, but also for what they symbolised: the hope that dialogue could succeed where decades of violence had failed, and that Sri Lanka might offer lessons for the negotiated resolution of other ethnic conflicts. The reality proved more complex. The process unfolded amid international scrutiny, encountering structural weaknesses, competing agendas and political vulnerabilities that ultimately led to its collapse.

This book examines that journey in detail. It analyses the design of the peace process, its strengths and inherent flaws, the limited gains that were achieved, and the factors that precipitated its failure. Importantly, it does so through the lens of the individual who led the Government of Sri Lanka’s negotiations in face-to-face talks with one of the world’s most ruthless terrorist organisations, the LTTE.

Prof. Peiris brings exceptional authority to this narrative. A former Dean of the Faculty of Law and Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo, he has also served Sri Lanka as Minister of External Affairs, State Minister of Defence, Minister of Education and Minister of Justice. His academic credentials include a Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours from Ceylon, and Doctorates from Oxford University and Sri Lanka.

Drawing on this blend of academic rigour and experience at the highest levels of governance, Prof. Peiris offers an objective, analytical and deeply personal account of the peace talks. The narrative is enriched by first-hand insights into the personalities involved, the strategic calculations on both sides, and the realities of negotiating under intense domestic and international pressure.

As contemporary global leaders grapple with the complexities of ending armed conflicts through dialogue, ‘The Sri Lanka Peace Process: An Inside View’ serves as a timely reminder of both the potential and the fragility of peace processes, and of the high cost of missteps along the way.

The book is available in hardcover at Rs. 7,500.

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Indices dip as bearishness overcomes bourse; right issue by Colombo Dockyard

The CSE was extremely bearish yesterday, with a right issue by Colombo Dockyard proving a feature of some importance in the day’s trading.Amid those developments both indices moved downward. The All Share Price Index went down by 143.48 points, while the S and P SL20 declined by 3.85 points.

Turnover stood at Rs 3.45 billion with five crossings. Those crossings were reported in Hemas where 12.7 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 441 million; its shares traded at Rs 34.70, CT Holdings 150,000 shares crossed for Rs 97.5 million; its shares traded at Rs 150, Royal Ceramic 1.2 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 53.6 million; its shares traded at Rs 44.70, JKH two million shares crossed for Rs 42.2 million; its shares traded at Rs 21.10 and Access Engineering 200,000 shares crossed for Rs 29.4 million; its shares sold at Rs 73.50.

In the retail market companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; Colombo Dockyard Rs 796 million (9.2 million shares traded), Tokyo Cement Rs 166 million (1.5 million shares traded), Hemas Holdings Rs 99 million (2.8 million shares traded), JKH Rs 90.4 million (4.3 million shares traded) and Hayleys Rs 73.6 million (381,000 shares traded). During the day 75.1 million share volumes changed hands in 24715 transactions.

It is said Colombo Dockyard led the market while construction related companies, especially Tokyo Cement and Access Engineering, performed well. The manufacturing sector, especially JKH, was among the top performers as well.

Yesterday the rupee was quoted at Rs 309.30/50 to the US dollar in the spot market, strengthening from Rs309.40/55 the previous day, after having depreciated over the week, dealers said, while bond yields moved up slightly.

The rupee closed at 309.05/15 last Friday.

Sri Lanka’s rupee has fallen from around 292 to the dollar in December 2024, amid record current account surpluses and narrowing budget deficits.

By Hiran H Senewiratne

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Tourist arrivals satisfactory – SLTDA

In spite of the devastation caused by cyclone Ditwah, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has reported a considerable number of tourist arrivals. According to SLTDA over 93,000 tourists arrived here during the first two weeks of December 2025.

According to the SLTDA, a total of 93,031 tourists arrived in the country between December 01 and 14, 2025. The majority of these visitors were from India, totaling 21,156 arrivals.

In addition, a significant number of tourists arrived from number of other countries, including Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany, and China.

Accordingly, the authority further stated that the total number of tourists who visited Sri Lanka from January 01 to December 14, 2025, now stands at 2,196,624.

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Norway supports flood-affected communities in Sri Lanka

Norway is providing more than USD 2.4 million to assist those affected by severe flooding in Sri Lanka.

“Norway is contributing emergency assistance to people who have lost both their homes and livelihoods in Sri Lanka. A rapid response is crucial to ensure that those affected have shelter, food, healthcare and support to rebuild their communities,” said Norway’s Minister of International Development, Åsmund Aukrust.

The United Nations estimates that nearly 11 million people have been impacted by catastrophic floods and landslides across large parts of South and Southeast Asia. Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia have experienced record rainfall since 17 November. In total, approximately 1,600 people have lost their lives, and 1.2 million have been forced to leave their homes. Critical infrastructure such as houses and roads has been destroyed, and health risks are increasing due to waterborne diseases and poor sanitation.

“Norway is now contributing NOK 20 million (approx. USD 2 million) to the Red Cross Movement and the UN system in Sri Lanka. These organisations have presence in the country and the capacity to respond quickly based on local needs,” Aukrust said.

Sri Lanka is among the hardest-hit countries. On 28 November, Cyclone Ditwah struck the country, bringing heavy rain and strong winds. The cyclone triggered landslides and caused the most severe floodsing in recent history. The Sri Lankan authorities have led the search and rescue operations and allocated significant resources for immediate relief. “When disasters of this magnitude occur, it is vital that the international community and countries like Norway step up and support local actors in managing the crisis,” Aukrust said.

In addition, the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has allocated USD 4.5 million for flood response in Sri Lanka. Around one in ten dollars in the fund comes from Norway.

Norway is also assisting flood-affected communities in Sri Lanka through an immediate response mechanism in the World Food Programme (WFP). The International Labour Organization (ILO) has re-allocated around USD 100,000 in a Norway-funded job generation project, to assist flood-affected participants. Furthermore, Norway has funded a UN expert to help coordinate ongoing relief efforts in the affected areas.

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The Hour of the Invisible

Picking-up the pieces in the bashed Isle,

Is going to take quite a long while,

And all hands need to be united as one,

To give it even a semblance of its former self,

But the more calloused and hardy the hands,

The more suitable are they for the task,

And the hour is upon us you could say,

When those vast legions of invisible folk,

Those wasting away in humble silent toil,

Could stand up and be saluted by all,

As being the most needed persons of the land

By Lynn Ockersz

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Donald Trump surrounds 'terrorist' Nicolás Maduro Venezuela regime with 'largest Armada'

In a bold move, President Trump has intensified his stance against Venezuela, declaring a blockade on oil tankers. The tension is palpable as the world watches.

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Ranwala’s blood samples sent to Government Analyst

Blood samples from former Speaker and NPP MP Asoka Ranwala, involved in a road accident at Sapugaskanda last Thursday, had been sent to the Government Analyst’s Department (GAD) to determine whether he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident, police said yesterday.

The accident occurred on the night of December 11 at the Denimulla junction when MP Ranwala’s jeep collided with a car carrying a 25-year-old woman, her six-month-old infant, and her 55-year-old mother. All three sustained injuries and were hospitalised. The child was admitted to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital. The MP and others received treatment at the National Hospital in Colombo.

Sapugaskanda Police have taken into custody both vehicles, along with a motorcycle knocked down by Ranwela’s vehicle, prior to colliding with the car, as part of the ongoing investigation. MP Ranwala was arrested while receiving treatment and released on bail on 12 December by order of the Mahara Magistrate’s Court. He faces charges of failing to prevent an accident and reckless driving.

Police Media Spokesman ASP F.U. Wootler told the media that investigations had revealed a mechanical defect in MP Ranwala’s jeep, including a brake malfunction. A report from the Department of Motor Traffic confirmed that the fault had not been properly addressed, and legal action will follow in relation to this finding.

by Norman Palihawadane

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Lasting power and beauty of words

Novelists, poets, short story writers, lyricists, politicians and columnists use words for different purposes. While some of them use words to inform and elevate us, others use them to bolster their ego. If there was no such thing called words, we cannot even imagine what will happen to us. Whether you like it or not everything rests on words. If the Penal Code does not define a crime and prescribe a punishment, judges will not be able to convict criminals. Even the Constitution of our country is a printed document.

A mother’s lullaby contains snatches of sweet and healing words. The effect is immediate. The baby falls asleep within seconds. A lover’s soft and alluring words go right into his or her beloved. An army commander’s words encourage soldiers to go forward without fear. The British wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s words still ring in our ears: “… we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender …”

Writers wax eloquent on love. English novelist John Galsworthy wrote: “Love is no hot-house flower, but a wild plant, born of a wet night, born of an hour of sunshine; sprung from wild seed, blown along the road by a wild wind. A wild plant that, when it blooms by chance within the hedge of our gardens, we call a flower; and when it blooms outside we call a weed; but flower or weed, whose scent and colour are always wild.” While living in a world dominated by technology, we often hear a bunch of words that is colourless and often cut to verbal ribbons – “How R U” or “Luv U.” Such words seem to squeeze the life out of language.

Changing medium

Language is a constantly changing medium. New words and forms arrive and old ones die out. Whoever thought that the following Sinhala words would find a place in the Oxford English Dictionary? “Asweddumize, Avurudu, Baila, Kiribath, Kottu Roti, Mallung, Osari, Papare, Walawwa and Watalappan.” With all such borrowed words the English language is expanding and remains beautiful. The language helps us to express subtle ideas clearly and convincingly.

You are judged by the words you use. If you constantly use meaningless little phrases, you will be considered a worthless person. When you read a well-written piece of writing you will note how words jump and laugh on the paper or screen. Some of them wag their tails while others stand back like shy village belles. However, they serve a useful purpose. Words help us to write essays, poems, short stories and novels. If not for the beauty of the language, nobody will read what you write.

If you look at the words meaningfully, you will see some of them tap dancing while others stand to rigid attention. Big or small, all the words you pen form part of the action or part of the narrative. The words you write make your writing readable and exciting. That is why we read our favourite authors again and again.

Editorials

If a marriage is to succeed, partners should respect and love each other. Similarly, if you love words, they will help you to use them intelligently and forcefully. A recent survey in the United States has revealed that only eight per cent of people read the editorial. This is because most editorials are not readable. However, there are some editorials which compel us to read them. Some readers collect such editorials to be read later.

Only a lover of words would notice how some words run smoothly without making a noise. Other words appear to be dancing on the floor. Some words of certain writers are soothing while others set your blood pounding. There is a young monk who is preaching using simple words very effectively. He has a large following of young people addicted to drugs. After listening to his preaching, most of them have given up using illegal drugs. The message is loud and clear. If there is no demand for drugs, nobody will smuggle them into the country.

Some politicians use words so rounded at the edges and softened by wear that they are no longer interesting. The sounds they make are meaningless and listeners get more and more confused. Their expressions are full of expletives the meaning of which is often soiled with careless use of words.

Weather-making

Some words, whether written or spoken, stick like superglue. You will never forget them. William Vergara in his short essay on weather-making says, “Cloud-seeding has touched off one of the most baffling controversies in meteorological history. It has been blamed for or credited with practically all kinds of weather. Some scientists claim seeding can produce floods and hail. Others insist it creates droughts and dissipates clouds. Still others staunchly maintain it has no effect at all. The battle is far from over, but at last one clear conclusion is beginning to emerge: man can change the weather, and he is getting better at it.”

There are words that nurse the ego and heal the heart. The following short paragraph is a good example. S. Radhakrishnan says, “In every religion today we have small minorities who see beyond the horizon of their particular faith, not through religious fellowship is possible, not through the imposition of any one way on the whole but through an all-inclusive recognition that we are all searchers for the truth, pilgrims on the road, that we all aim at the same ethical and spiritual standard.”

There are some words joined together in common phrases. They are so beautiful that they elevate the human race. In the phrase ‘beyond a shadow of doubt’, ‘a shadow’ connotes a dark area covering light. ‘A doubt’ refers to hesitancy in belief. We use such phrases blithely because they are exquisitely beautiful in their structure. The English language is a repository of such miracles of expression that lead to deeper understanding or emphasis.

Social media

Social media use words powerfully. Sometimes they invent new words. Through the social media you can reach millions of viewers without the intervention of the government. Their opinion can stop wars and destroy tyrants. If you use the right words, you can even eliminate poverty to a great extent.

The choice of using powerful words is yours. However, before opening your mouth, tap the computer, unclip a pen, write a lyric or poem, think twice of the effect of your writing. When you talk with a purpose or write with pleasure, you enrich listeners and readers with your marvellous language skills. If you have a command of the language, you will put across your point of view that counts. Always try to find the right words and change the world for a better place for us to live.

By R. S. Karunaratne
karunaratners@gmail.com

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Pera Alumni Colombo Chapter commemorate its late members

The Social & Cultural Committee of the Alumni Association of the University of Peradeniya, Colombo Chapter chaired by Mrs. Kumudini Kulatunga together with its members offered lunch, medicine, milk powder, sanitary items, pillows, sherbet etc. to the 45 residents of the Paramitha Elders Home, Wanawasala Road, Kelaniya on October 23 to bestow merits on their late members and families.

Other necessities were offered to venerable Balapitiye Gnanasiri Thero addressing a range of needs such as paint for the maintenance of the home.

Venerable Kahawatte Dhammapala Thero delivered the Dharmadeshana and blessed the current members, their families and donors those who supported the event and wished them good health and longevity states the President of the association Mr. Palitha Siyambalapitiya.

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SLT MOBITEL honoured at CMA Excellence in Integrated Reporting Awards 2025

SLT‑MOBITEL, the National ICT Solutions Provider, reaffirmed leadership in corporate accountability and transparency, winning top honours at the CMA Excellence in Integrated Reporting Awards 2025, organised by the Institute of Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka (CMA Sri Lanka), held at Cinnamon Life, Colombo, recently.

The company was feted as the Winner of Best Integrated Report – Telecommunications Sector (State) and further recognized with a Certificate of Compliance, demonstrating commitment to sustainable value creation and world‑class reporting standards.

The achievement showcases SLT‑MOBITEL’s ability to expand from traditional reporting, and deliver a comprehensive, stakeholder‑focused narrative incorporating financial performance with sustainability, governance, and social impact.

In aligning the annual reporting with global best practices, SLT‑MOBITEL has strengthened credibility, reinforced investor confidence, and established how cohesive thinking drives long‑term value.

The award also affirms SLT-MOBITEL’s success in embedding ESG principles and sustainability into every aspect of operations and dedication to building trust, and driving innovation, shaping a more transparent and sustainable future for Sri Lanka. The company aims to leverage innovation and integrated thinking to empower communities, strengthen its business, and contribute to the country’s digital future.

Now in its 11th consecutive year, the CMA Excellence in Integrated Reporting Awards is a benchmark for corporate reporting excellence in Sri Lanka. The awards recognize organizations that demonstrate best practices in integrated reporting, ensuring that companies communicate a clear, holistic view of their strategy, governance, and performance.

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Comfort for some, death for others: The reality of climate change

The recent Cyclone Ditwah struck South and Southeast Asia in an unprecedented way, causing floods, landslides, deaths, displacement of thousands, and severe soil degradation. For many in Sri Lanka, the disaster is seen as a natural event that the government should have anticipated. Yet, the reality is that small countries like ours have little power to prevent disasters of this scale. Despite contributing minimally to global carbon emissions, we are forced to bear the consequences of ecological harm caused largely by wealthier nations. Excessive consumption and profit-driven production in capitalist economies fuel climate change, while the Global South suffers the resulting losses in lives, homes, and livelihoods. The dead, the disappeared, and the displaced from Cyclone Ditwah demand climate justice—a justice that addresses structural inequality, exploitation of nature for profit, and the failure of global powers to take responsibility.

The Role of Excessive Consumption

The environmental crisis is driven by excessive consumption, particularly in developed countries. Cars, electronics, clothing, and other consumer goods require immense energy to produce, much of it from fossil fuels such as coal, gas, and oil. The transportation of raw materials and finished products adds further emissions, while waste from overconsumption ends up in landfills, releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas. This cycle of consumption, production, and waste underscores a systemic problem: climate change is not merely an environmental issue, but a symptom of an economic system built on profit, not sustainability.

Market-Based “Solutions” and Greenwashing

Neoliberal economies are not silent in the face of climate change—they perform “sustainability” while offering superficial solutions. Many corporations engage in green branding to appear environmentally responsible, even as their practices remain unchanged. Carbon trading, for example, allows companies to buy and sell the right to emit CO₂ under a capped system. While intended to reduce emissions, it often commodifies pollution rather than eliminating it, enabling wealthy actors to continue environmentally harmful practices. Since many developing countries do not strictly enforce carbon caps, wealthy corporations often relocate their factories to these regions. Meanwhile, the burden of “reductions” is shifted to marginalised communities, turning these areas into pollution havens that endure the worst effects of climate disasters despite contributing the least to the problem. Market-based solutions, therefore, frequently reinforce existing inequalities rather than addressing the structural causes of climate change.

International Agreements and Structural Limitations

The global community has reached multiple climate agreements, including the UNFCCC (1992), the Kyoto Protocol (1997), and the Paris Agreement (2015). Yet these agreements remain constrained by capitalist agendas and weak enforcement mechanisms. Most rely on voluntary national commitments, peer pressure, and reporting transparency rather than legally binding obligations. Countries can submit inadequate Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and remain technically compliant, rendering the agreements more symbolic than transformative. While not entirely ineffective, international agreements often prioritise narrative performance over real structural change, allowing wealthy nations to avoid meaningful responsibility for emissions and ecological harm.

Climate Justice and Social Inequalities

Climate change is inseparable from social injustice. Marginalised communities—those affected by poverty, colonial histories, racial discrimination, or gender inequality—face the greatest risks from environmental disasters. These populations generally lack safe housing, and even when warned to evacuate, they have few resources or means to recover from disasters. General climate policies, which have been influcned by capitalist agendas, that focus solely on emissions reduction or “green” initiatives fail to address these deeper inequalities. True climate action must empower communities, redistribute wealth, and integrate social justice with environmental sustainability. Only by tackling the structural drivers of both inequality and ecological harm can we move toward genuine climate justice.

Conclusion

Cyclone Ditwah and other climate disasters are reminders that the effects of environmental degradation are unevenly distributed. The Global South pays a heavy price for the consumption patterns and industrial practices of the Global North. Market-based solutions, superficial sustainability initiatives, and weak international agreements are insufficient to address the systemic roots of climate change. Achieving climate justice requires a fundamental rethinking of economic priorities, social structures, and global responsibility—placing people and the planet above profit.

The author is a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Divinity School.

by Anushka Kahandagamage

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Outstanding AI & Fintech Governance Leadership Award 2025 for Sopnendu Mohanty

Sopnendu Mohanty, former Chief FinTech Officer of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and current Group CEO of the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), has received the Outstanding AI & Fintech Governance Leadership Award 2025 for his global contribution to responsible fintech advancement, cross-border policy innovation, and AI governance.

While the recognition was announced at the Asian Digital Finance Forum & Awards held at Port City Colombo, the formal handing-over ceremony was held recently in Singapore, during the GFTN Insights Forum that took place in parallel with the Singapore FinTech Festival 2025 at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre.

Presenting the award, Rajkumar Kanagasingam, Convener of the Asian Digital Finance Forum & Awards and Industry Fellow of the Global Fintech Institute (Singapore), lauded Mohanty’s unique global impact.

“Sopnendu has set global benchmarks in innovation-friendly regulation, Kanagasingam said.

“From cross-border payment connectivity to AI ethics and multi-CBDC frameworks, his leadership has not only shaped Singapore’s fintech ecosystem but has helped entire regions transition into the digital economy responsibly.”

He added that Mohanty’s strategic influence continues beyond regulatory leadership.

“His ability to galvanise central banks, policymakers and innovators onto common platforms is rare. What he built in Singapore is now influencing multiple jurisdictions, and that continuity through GFTN is immensely valuable.”

Serving from 2015 to 2025 as MAS’s inaugural Chief FinTech Officer, Mohanty is widely acknowledged for transforming Singapore into one of the most forward-looking and trusted digital finance environments.

Mohanty has also endorsed Sri Lanka’s initiative to shape the Colombo International Financial Centre (CIFC) at Port City Colombo as a South Asian fintech gateway. He was presented with an interim policy blueprint during the DigiEcon Global Investment Summit.

By Ifham Nizam

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UNDP assessment paints a frightening picture in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah

Areas flooded 1.1 hectares

Population exposed 2.3 mn

Landslides recorded 1.2 k = Buildings exposed 919 k

The UNDP has estimated that almost 720 thousand buildings were exposed to cyclone-related flooding across Sri Lanka. According to UNDP analysis, this includes 243 hospitals (as estimated by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Health) and hundreds of educational facilities. Overall, about 1 in every 12 buildings in Sri Lanka was exposed to flooding during Cyclone Ditwah, the UNDP stated.

At the level of divisional secretariats, Ja-Ela in the Gampaha district recorded the highest number of affected buildings with more than 44 thousand structures exposed. Kolonnawa and Kaduwela in the Colombo District as well as Katana and Wattala in the Gampaha District also recorded over 35 thousand exposed buildings each, according to the UNDP.

The flooding was so severe Cyclone Ditwah resulted in 1.1 million hectares of flooding across Sri Lanka – equal to about 20% of Sri Lanka’s land mass, the UN agency stated.

Based on the Department of Surveys’ 2024 national road dataset, the UNDP analysis estimated that more than 16 thousand kilometers of roads were exposed to flooding across the country, enough to circle Sri Lanka’s coastline 12 times over. The cyclone has also exposed over 480 road bridges nationwide.

At the level of divisional secretariats, Katana, Gampaha, and Ja Ela in the Gampaha District all recorded over 300 km of exposed roads each. Other secretariats like Kaduwela in the Colombo District and Wattala in the Gampaha District also registered high levels of road exposure.

Railways and railway bridges (railroad system), too, suffered significant damages according to the UNDP analysis. Accordingly, over 278 km of railways were exposed to cyclone-related flooding, including 35 railroad bridges nationwide. The UNDP emphasized that this figure reflected flooding only, but other hazards (such as localized debris, landslides, or damage to a single bridge) could also disrupt operations, meaning that even relatively small obstructions could render long stretches of railway non-operational. Like road exposure, railway exposure limits mobility and the capacity of affected populations to access key services and infrastructure.

At the level of divisional secretariats, Colombo and Thimbirigasyaya in the Colombo District, Ja Ela in the Gampaha District, as well as Mannar Town and Nanaddan in the Mannar District all registered over 10 km of exposed railways each.

The UNDP has warned the removal of debris posed quite a challenge with preliminary estimates indicating that Cyclone Ditwah generated more than 240,000 tonnes of non-construction waste and over 60,000 m³ of construction-related debris. These figures were expected to increase and evolve as field verification advances and more areas become accessible, the UNDP stated.

The UNDP dealt with the crisis experienced by the agriculture sector.

The UNDP stated: “It is estimated that Cyclone Ditwah has exposed over 530 thousand hectares of paddy lands to flooding across Sri Lanka. The most impacted divisional secretariat is Dimbulagala (Polonnaruwa District) with almost 19 thousand hectares of exposed paddy lands. Other secretariats like Welikanda and Medirigiriya, also in the Polonnaruwa District, as well as Horowpathana (Anuradhapura District) and Dehiattakandiya (Ampara District) have also been heavily affected by cyclone-related flooding. There are also areas where 20 to 30% of households do not have sufficient stocks of dry food (such as rice) to last at least a week. Therefore, it is clear that the cyclone’s agricultural impacts are also located in areas with a high degree of food-related vulnerability.”

A key finding of latest UNDP analysis is that over half of the people in flooding areas were already living in households facing multiple vulnerabilities before Cyclone Ditwah, including unstable income, high debt, and a limited capacity to cope with disasters. These communities face heightened challenges in recovery, underscoring the need for targeted interventions.

According to the UNDP major recovery needs were concentrated in areas where cyclone impacts intersect with preexisting multidimensional vulnerability. “This pattern is evident across the central highlands and the northern, western, eastern, and central regions. Among the divisional secretariats with the highest recovery needs are Mundel and Arachchikattuwa in the Puttalam District, as well as Kandavalai in the Kilinochchi District.”

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