Sri Lanka’s Main Railway and the Limits of a Colonial Alignment
Sri Lanka’s repeated railway disruptions following extreme weather events have renewed scrutiny of a long-standing structural issue: the continued reliance on a railway corridor designed in the 19th century for a colonial economy, rather than a modern, climate-resilient transport system. Cyclone Ditwah did not introduce a new failure into the system. Instead, it highlighted vulnerabilities […]
Sri Lanka Cannot Grow by Looking Inwards: Why an Export-Driven, Green Investment Brand Is No Longer Optional
Sri Lanka stands at a familiar crossroads. The country has emerged from its most severe economic crisis in decades with macro-stability slowly returning, yet the deeper structural question remains unresolved: what kind of economy does Sri Lanka want to be? Speaking at the Sri Lanka Economic Summit, International Finance Corporation (IFC) South Asia Regional Director […]
Climate Change Is No Longer a “Future Threat” for Countries Like Sri Lanka
Climate change is no longer a distant environmental concern. For countries like Sri Lanka, it has become an immediate development, economic, and humanitarian challenge. Extreme weather events that were once considered rare are now occurring with alarming frequency, placing immense pressure on Governments, communities, and already‑strained public resources. Recent warnings from the United Nations following […]
Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban: Lessons for Sri Lanka on Digital Policy and Youth Protection
On December 10, 2025, Australia became the first country in the world to enforce a nationwide ban on social media use for children under 16. Platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, Twitch, and Threads are now legally required to block accounts belonging to minors. Companies face fines of up to A$49.5 million (USD […]
Social Media and Digital Communication: Transforming Disaster Relief in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has faced devastating natural disasters over the past two decades. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami claimed over 35,000 lives, while Cyclone Ditwah and subsequent floods in late 2025 left hundreds dead, thousands missing, and millions displaced. Though both events caused immense suffering, the way ordinary citizens accessed help has changed dramatically. The defining […]
Central Bank of Sri Lanka Issues Relief Measures for Cyclone and Flood-Affected Borrowers
In the aftermath of the devastating cyclonic and flood disasters that struck Sri Lanka in late 2025, thousands of individuals and businesses have been left struggling to recover. Recognizing the urgent need for financial relief, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) issued Circular No. 04 of 2025 on December 5, 2025, directing all licensed […]
Wetlands and Flooding in Sri Lanka’s Western Province: A Call for Awareness and Action
Wetlands are often misunderstood in Sri Lanka. Many see them as wastelands, but in reality they are life-saving ecosystems. They absorb excess rainwater, filter waste, and release clean water into rivers and the sea. In the Western Province, wetlands such as Muthurajawela, Diyawanna Oya, and Bellanwila-Attidiya have historically protected Colombo and surrounding cities from floods. […]
Sri Lanka’s Cyclone Ditwah Recovery: The President Stressed the Importance of Stable Housing Plans
Cyclone Ditwah has left Sri Lanka grappling with one of its most severe natural disasters in recent history. With many people lost their lives, missing, and over 1.5 million affected, the scale of devastation has triggered a nationwide response involving government agencies, private sector partners, and international donors. This article outlines the key recovery efforts, […]
IMF Signals Expanded Support as Sri Lanka Faces Severe Economic Shock After Cyclone
Economic implications, recovery priorities, and fiscal outlook Sri Lanka is once again confronting economic turbulence this time not from external debt markets or inflationary pressures, but from nature itself. The recent cyclone and severe flooding have disrupted daily life, forced mass displacement, damaged infrastructure, and halted business activity across several provinces. Early estimates from disaster-management […]
Sri Lanka’s Cyclone Ditwah Response: Infrastructure, Aswesuma & Mahapola Welfare, and the Urgency of Systemic Reform
Cyclone Ditwah has emerged as one of the most devastating climate events in Sri Lanka’s recent history. As of early morning December 4, 2025, official figures report 479 deaths, 356 people missing, and over 1.58 million individuals affected across all 25 districts. The government has declared 22 districts as national disaster-affected areas, triggering emergency protocols […]