Category: Daily Financial Times

Local ride-hailing giant PickMe has activated its full digital and logistical network to support nationwide relief efforts as Sri Lanka confronted one of its most devastating flood disasters in recent memory.

With hundreds dead, thousands displaced, and rescue operations still underway, the company has launched a three-pronged emergency initiative to mobilise citizen donations, coordinate deliveries, and assist rescue teams navigating submerged regions.

‘Our objective is simple-to help get our fellow citizens back on their feet with immediate focus on the relief aids,’ said PickMe CEO Jiffry Zulfer. ‘We are invested in this country. Our drivers, our riders, and our users are all part of this emergency. We want to make sure people can return to their normal lives as quickly as possible.’

PickMe rolled out a special in-app feature ‘AID,’ enabling citizens to request free doorstep pickups of relief packs. The new feature allows users to simply open the app, select the ‘Rides’ service and the specially activated relief pickup vehicle option named ‘AID,’ and schedule a collection request for your donations, including dry rations and other essentials, from their homes to be passed on to flood victims.

This is in addition to a central physical collection point established at PickMe Headquarters in High Level Road, Colombo 6, now functioning as a primary aggregation hub.

‘Many people want to help but cannot leave home due to weather or transport issues. So we wanted to bring the collection mechanism to them,’ the CEO explained.

The company has also opened digital monetary donations through its Events platform, normally used for ticketing and payments. PickMe has partnered with vetted humanitarian groups to manage the funds. Currently, the company is channelling contributions through Round Table Sri Lanka, while other recognised organisations are also being onboarded.

‘Every cent goes directly to these organisations. They are registered, credible groups with long experience in humanitarian work,’ Zulfer added.

Although no public dashboard is yet active, PickMe says total collections will be published at the conclusion of the project to ensure transparency.

For physical donations collected from homes or at PickMe Headquarters, the company has partnered with Ada Derana’s humanitarian program, enabling immediate collection and dispatch to flood-affected zones across the country.

With one of the largest on-ground gig networks in the country, drivers registered with PickMe, many residing in affected districts, have begun participating in urgent transport and rescue operations from the beginning of the crisis.

‘Road conditions are changing by the hour. Digital mapping is difficult because the situation is fluid, but we stay updated through our driver network on the ground, although routes from Kurunegala and parts of Kandy have slowly begun to clear, allowing more movement of essential supplies.’ he said.

This is the first large-scale humanitarian response of its kind by a Sri Lankan digital platform, demonstrating the capacity of homegrown shared-economy infrastructure to support national emergencies.

‘A disaster of this magnitude requires every digital capability the country has,’ Zulfer noted. ‘The PickMe network touches every layer of society-riders, drivers, merchants, tourists.’

How citizens can contribute

Members of the public are urged to support ongoing relief efforts by opening the PickMe app and selecting ‘AID,’ which enables free collection of relief packs directly from their homes. Those preferring to drop off items may deliver them to the official collection centre at PickMe HQ, High Level Road.

Financial contributions can also be made through the PickMe Events platform, with proceeds channelled to Round Table Sri Lanka and other partner NGOs coordinating emergency response. Priority items include dry rations, bottled water, sanitary products, baby essentials, essential medicines, blankets, and clean clothing.

In line with the directive issued by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as Finance Minister, the Ministry of Finance has approved an increase in the assistance granted for cleaning flood-affected houses and property. Accordingly, the support amount has been raised from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 25,000. This decision is intended to accelerate the restoration of normal living conditions for communities impacted by the Ditwah cyclone.

Treasury Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma yesterday said that this decision was taken based on a request made by the Disaster Management Centre and in accordance with the President’s instructions.

A sum of Rs. 7.5 billion has been allocated for this assistance program. This funding has been released from the Rs. 30 billion already earmarked in the national budget for disaster management.

The Secretary further noted that the strengthened financial management practices of the Treasury and the ongoing anti-corruption efforts have made it possible to implement this expanded assistance more effectively.

He added that these allocations will significantly accelerate the restoration of lives and livelihoods in the affected areas.

The mechanism for disbursing the assistance has already been established. Through coordination with Grama Niladhari officers, the funds will be made available to affected households as well as small and medium-scale entrepreneurs.

Dr. Suriyapperuma further stated that, should additional relief be required, the Ministry stands ready to allocate further provisions based on recommendations issued by the Disaster Management Centre

Fernando brings with him over 32 years of experience in senior positions across many industries, particularly in Finance, Supply Chain Management, Sales and Marketing, and International Marketing.

His previous roles include Managing Director of Hemas Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and Hemas Surgical and Diagnostics Ltd., Director/CEO of Janashakthi Insurance PLC, Director/CEO of Kotmale Holdings PLC,and Executive Director – Sales and Marketing for Cargills FMCG Brands.

He has also served on the Boards of Dunamis Capital PLC, Kelsey Homes, and First Capital Holdings PLC. He held the position of Director – Supply Chain at Hemas Manufacturing prior to joining Kotmale PLC in 2008.

Fernando is an accountant by profession and holds an MBA from the University of Wales. He is a Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK), a Chartered Global Management Accountant (UK), a Fellow Member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (UK), and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK).

He has also completed Executive Leadership Development Programmes at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and at INSEAD.

As predicted, the ‘Cyclone Ditwah’ has already turned into an opportunity seeking game in Sri Lanka. While most of the public, young and old, are focused on addressing the immediate disaster response in the form of providing redress for victims, a ‘Group of Business Sector Leaders – All Men’ have been appointed by the Government to manage the funds for rebuilding Sri Lanka.

This sounds like an ‘Early Warning for a Greater Disaster’ and therefore I wish to present a few quick thoughts to be able to rethink our way forward with greater strategic foresight. If years of investment into disaster preparedness did not work, reimagining a new way forward must be understood not as an option but a mandatory approach. If this latest disaster in its scale of uncertainty has not shaken us to the skull of reality, then the central idea of people’s intent for a ‘Systems Change’ would have washed away in the floods. An exclusive planning process that excludes all other stakeholders will not result in an inclusive transformation towards sustainable development. It is not time to panic or engage in a blame game; but it’s time for hard talk leading to long term climate sustainability and not pacification to maintain the failed system.

Taking the wrong early mover advantage

Sensing the panic of a Government still getting used to macro dynamics of governance of a country bankrupt not too far ago, the influencers and manipulators of all recent Governments have stepped in early. Most of them are seasoned players of trade and commerce and will know better than many how to navigate disaster into advantage. To be clear, most of them are the best in spinning money – but with profit in mind. Most of the companies they represent have been part of the problem in the context of climate justice, social justice or even economic justice when it comes to exploitation of a human resource invested largely through a welfare state system including education and health. For example, tea plantation companies have been exploiting the ‘Natural Capital of the Central Highlands’ as well as extending slavery through poorly paid labour and control of plantation worker lives for generations. Then comes a whole heap of industries from garments to food that continue to exploit the human and natural capital with a justification of creating jobs and bringing foreign currency etc. But who represents the voices of over a million migrant workers generating such ‘dollars’ for the nation? Does this committee largely dominated by ‘Male Corporate Leaders’ relate to the realities of the common people and challenges faced by eco-climatic changes threatening the wellbeing and prosperity of the nation?

If years of investment into disaster preparedness did not work, reimagining a new way forward must be understood not as an option but a mandatory approach. If this latest disaster in its scale of uncertainty has not shaken us to the skull of reality, then the central idea of people’s intent for a ‘Systems Change’ would have washed away in the floods. An exclusive planning process that excludes all other stakeholders will not result in an inclusive transformation towards sustainable development

The missing actors

While not taking away anything from members of the team appointed with considerable capability and even credibility, Rebuilding Sri Lanka is the primary responsibility of a Government elected with a 2/3 majority. While the political blame game has started already inside the Parliament by Opposition politicians, stating lack of response to early warnings, the Government has no right to sub-contract its responsibility of ‘Leading the Rebuilding of the Nation’. While many issues of discontent prevail, a majority of the population wants this Government ‘Not to Fail’. The President still commands that hope of the people, but a Cabinet of Ministers does not appear the most equipped for the job. Where are the nine Provincial Councils in a committee of rebuilding Sri Lanka? Constitutionally, Sri Lanka is based on a three-tiered governance structure – Central, Provincial and Local. Never in its history, Sri Lanka has trusted the empowerment of provincial governments. This is a disaster that covers the entire country, but the scale of impact in the different provinces are diverse and will require serious decentralised assessment for rebuilding. A ‘single template for rebuilding’ will not work nor will mere collection of money.

No seat at the table for women, youth and civil actors

Surprisingly, even in a corporate team of leaders, no women have been thought of worthy. If Sri Lankan decision makers still have no value for SDG5 to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, at least they must realise that a vast percentage affected by the disaster are women that need special attention. Men trying to represent women have never demonstrated success and wellbeing and are totally misrepresented in development planning. A Government that was elected as a result of the ‘Youth Led Uprising – Aragalaya’ now appears to not even provide for an annexure in ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’. Please understand the global trends of uprising by the GenZ and be mindful of not making another historical governance mistake – we cannot afford another change of Government. Some in the current Government are champions of youth activism and they can still trust the goodness and innovation younger generations can bring to the planning and implementation. Meanwhile, the role of a highly fragmented civil society is a mystery that they need to solve themselves. To gain a seat at the table and be relevant in national planning, civil society will need to appreciate their diversity and stop fighting for individual gain. Also, the old approach of criticism alone makes no sense if alternatives are not presented – not any alternative but researched, factual, analytical and foresight driven proposals. While blaming corporate capture, it’s the ideal time to put your house in order as well. Exclusive vs. inclusive planning for policy coherence

Planning has been an exclusive affair for those in decision making. They have excluded people and stakeholders from planning to implementation. Tokenistic invitation to fill selected meeting rooms has not worked as only the favoured are in those rooms most of the time. This disaster is not exclusive to a single or a few communities or regions. Hence, planning for rebuilding cannot be exclusive. The Government has various mechanisms including the ‘District Development Committees’ that can finally play its intended role by dumping the regional politician’s dominant approach. Building the district to sub-national level officials needs to be a priority if an accurate assessment of the damage is to be made. Stakeholder engagement must be strengthened if an honest assessment is intended. Owning one of the most fragmented institutional mechanisms for public service delivery, Sri Lanka also has a seriously incoherent policy architecture where environmental, social, economic and governance policies contradict each other to prevent proper planning and implementation. It is time to revisit the public delivery mechanism or the public service as called in general.

Abandoning sustainable development

The disaster that has broken a large intrusive infrastructure-based development system, now has an opportunity to recalibrate its system for change. The call for a ‘Systems Change’ can be addressed if the Government takes a brave and smart approach. Leading to the disaster and now planning for the aftermath, rebuilding Sri Lanka appears to be treading on the failed old path with a surprisingly larger affinity towards the exploitative and destructive development model and its proponents. This development model will not provide any base for rebuilding the nation and will lead to nurturing repetitive disasters as we have been witnessing. Preparing reports for multilateral agreements is an easy way out for any Government on earth. The recently concluded UNFCCC COP30 in Brazil demonstrated how ‘Corporate Capture’ has failed the world from climate sustainability and how weak and fragmented approaches by Governments and the so called civil society has let down people.

While the political blame game has started already inside the Parliament by Opposition politicians, stating lack of response to early warnings, the Government has no right to sub-contract its responsibility of ‘Leading the Rebuilding of the Nation’. While many issues of discontent prevail, a majority of the population wants this Government ‘Not to Fail’. The President still commands that hope of the people, but a Cabinet of Ministers does not appear the most equipped for the job. Where are the nine Provincial Councils in a committee of rebuilding Sri Lanka?

Recalibrate the systems – Reimagine, Reorganise and Reinvest

Development planning in Sri Lanka is prone to working in silos. Economic development planning and climate sustainability planning continue to be on two separate tracks and require convergence in order to address the economic challenges presented by climate vulnerability such as this disaster. Policy makers must be made aware that all investment plans must ensure climate resilient sustainable development if economic prosperity is to be achieved. This disaster provides Sri Lanka a massive opportunity to recalibrate the failed and erred system. For that, we will need to Reimagine our resource mobilisation, Reorganise the resource governance, and start Reinvesting in transformational pathways that drives the nation towards a more sustainable and resilient nation.

Hemas Holdings PLC yesterday announced upcoming changes to its Board of Directors, reflecting the Group’s commitment to strong governance and a seamless leadership transition.

Husein Esufally, who has served Hemas for over four decades in various leadership capacities including Group Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, will retire from the Board with effect from 31 December.

Under his stewardship, Hemas evolved into one of Sri Lanka’s most respected and diversified conglomerates, delivering consistent value to stakeholders. The Board of Directors and the Hemas Group expressed its profound appreciation for his vision and dedication, which have been instrumental in shaping the Group’s purpose-driven culture and long-term success, a statement from the Company said.

The Group also announced that Deputy Chairman Dr. Anura Ekanayake will retire on 31 December upon completion of his term. Dr. Ekanayake’s contributions to the Board and the Group have been significant, particularly in strengthening governance and providing strategic counsel during periods of transformation.

Effective 1 January 2026, Ajith Fernando will assume the role of Chairman of Hemas Holdings PLC. A veteran in investment banking with over 30 years of experience, Fernando is widely recognised for his strategic insight and disciplined execution. His proven track record in building and scaling businesses positions him to guide Hemas through its next phase of growth and innovation.

To ensure continuity and reinforce Board oversight, Murtaza Esufally, current Chairman of the Healthcare cluster, has been appointed Deputy Chairman of Hemas Holdings PLC, effective 1 January 2026. His deep industry expertise and longstanding leadership within the Group will support Hemas’ strategic priorities and governance framework.

The statement said these appointments reflect Hemas’ commitment to balancing continuity with renewal, preserving the Group’s heritage while strengthening its leadership to achieve its growth priorities and deliver shareholder value.

The Sri Lanka Dawoodi Bohra community has donated Rs. 10 million to support relief efforts, the President’s Media Division said.

On behalf of His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the global head of the Dawoodi Bohra community, the donation cheque was handed over by Sri Lanka Dawoodi Bohra Community Chairman Ibrahim Sainy to Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

Representatives of the Dawoodi Bohra community expressed their appreciation for the Government’s ongoing efforts to assist those affected by the disaster and assured their continued support for future relief initiatives.

In September 2020, a five-storied house in Buwelikada, Kandy, collapsed, killing three people. The victims were neighbours in a house below, a young couple and their infant daughter. Public outcry and demands by the Bar Association (one of the victims was a lawyer) compelled the police to act. The owner of the house, Anura Lewke, a former Basnayake Nilame of the Dodanwala Natha Devalaya, was arrested and remanded.

According to media reports, Lewke’s house had been built over a stream flowing down to the Udawattakale Sanctuary. As the NBRO (National Building Research Organisation) pointed out in its preliminary report, ‘Existing surface and subsurface drainage systems have been blocked by the construction of the building and the other structures in the vicinity.’ (https://www.nbro.gov.lk/images/special_projects/BUWELIKADA/PRELIMINARY-INVESTIGATION-REPORT-ON-BUILDING-COLLAPSE.pdf). Moreover, the initial permission had been for a two-story structure. Three more levels were added in stages, turning the house into a death trap, not for the owners who escaped in time, but for three innocents. The tragedy brought to limelight a problem which lies at the intersection of economics, environment and the rule of law – illegal and unsafe constructions, by the poor and the rich, from shacks to multi-story apartment complexes, eating into hillsides, wetlands, and river reservations. The NBRO announced it was conducting a survey to identify illegal constructions in Kandy together with the Municipal Council. It subsequently stated that it has identified high risk areas in the Central Province for landslides and was preparing a proposal to deal with buildings in those areas, from tuition classes to residences and hotels. That was that.

In December 2022, heavy rains caused substantial flood and landslide damages in Kandy. 2 were killed, 98 houses damaged, and 1630 families affected. The then Mayor Kesara Senanayake identified illegal constructions as the main reason for the flooding. Immediate steps should be taken to remove constructions blocking waterways irrespective of the nature of the structure or the status of the owner, he said. If not, the city will be destroyed soon, he warned (https://ceylontoday.lk/2022/12/28/illegal-constructions-claim-lives/).

Three years later, his grim warning has become a reality. Three years of more and more illegal and unsafe constructions, three years of public inattention and official indifference.

Even where ample early warnings had been given, tragedies were allowed to happen. The Koslanda landslide of 2014, the worst natural disaster after the 2004 tsunami, was a case in point. The first warnings about the precarious conditions in the Meeriyabedda division of the Koslanda Estate appeared in May 2005; the NBRO issued a second warning in November 2011. The Government and the Maskeliya Plantation Company which owned the estate ignored the warnings. Over 100 people paid for this official apathy and private greed with their lives.

Landslides were mostly minor and uncommon in Sri Lanka until 2002. In 2003, the number of landslides almost doubled (http://www.sundaytimes.lk/141102/news/brace-for-more-landslides-with-climate-change-125882.html). Since then, landslides have grown from occasional mishaps into an existential danger. In 2014, the NBRO warned that one fifth of Sri Lanka’s land mass, housing one third of the country’s population, is landslide-prone: ‘20% of the country’s land area has been identified as prone to landslides – this includes territory in the districts of Badulla, Galle, Hambantota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Matale, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura’ (Ibid). When 5,066 square miles in a country of just 25,332 square miles become landslide-prone, none of us can afford to remain bystanders. Yet that is precisely what most of us – rulers and we, the people – did. Today, landslide risk has crept into three more districts, Gampaha, Kurunegala, and Moneragala. Ignoring that 2014 NBRO warning was a key reason for the enormity of harm we are experiencing currently. Further inaction risks turning Sri Lanka into an unlivable land.

Does the Anura Kumara Dissanayake Government possess the courage, and the political will to withstand pressure from vested interests and establish a new culture of responsible land use and management? Or will he do what his predecessors did – speak poetically about the environment and allow its degradation by political, business, and religious interest groups?

Futureless growth

The 1996 Human Development Report by the UNDP began with a seminal statement: ‘Human Development is the end – economic growth a means.’ The report dealt with a contradiction that had been apparent in the real world for decades but remained unacknowledged by orthodox economics – that growth doesn’t automatically lead to development, that the two can move in opposite directions, with high economic growth translating into low human development. ‘Policymakers are often mesmerised by the quantity of growth,’ the Report stated. ‘They need to be more concerned with its structure and quality’ (https://www.un-ilibrary.org/content/books/9789210576857/read).

The report identified five types of negative growth which cause regression in human development. Jobless growth – growth without employment creation; Ruthless growth – growth leading to greater inequality; Voiceless growth – growth without an extension of democracy or empowerment; Rootless growth – growth which undermines cultural identities and minority rights; and Futureless growth – growth that degrades and destroys nature.

The first four types of growth are unsustainable socio-politically because they can lead to violent explosions of human anger. The fifth, Futureless growth, might seem less risky to policymakers, economic actors, and even citizens. After all, mountains have no voices, forests have no votes, and rivers cannot protest. Yet, growth that destroys nature is the most unsustainable, the riskiest, the deadliest of all negative growth types. Years, even decades of economic and other achievements can be wiped out by one natural catastrophe. As we are

experiencing today.

Where we go from here depends on whether – or not – we continue to be possessed by the goal of high growth without bothering to count its socio-political, human, and environmental cost.

Take tourism, for example. Tourism is necessary. But it shouldn’t be a numbers game, a senseless drive to attract more and more tourists in order to ace last year’s (and the previous Government’s) record. In this numbers mania, no cost-benefit analysis is made, from allowing illegal hotels, hostels, and cafes to mushroom in landslide prone areas to permitting IDF tourists to bring Gaza genocide to the East. Political, environmental, and even profit considerations are ignored in the obsession to attract 3 million tourists in 2025. In that myopic pursuit, basic realities are forgotten, that most tourists prize safe destinations, not lands riven by political violence or environmental disasters.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe managed to stabilise the economy but did so by placing most of the burden of recovery on the already bent backs of poor and middle class Lankans. The future of Sri Lanka – not to mention the political fortunes of the NPP/JVP – will depend on how President Anura Kumara Dissanayake approaches the task of post-Ditwah reconstruction

Warnings about the consequences of this heedless promotion of tourism had been around for over a decade. In May 2014, R.M.S. Bandara, the then head of the NBRO’s Landslide Division, said, ‘.Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority should look into tourist hotels or inns built on landslide-prone areas. (He) said the recent earth-slip at Ella was a result of lack of retaining structure in nearby tourist hotels and weaknesses in road construction.’ (http://www.sundaytimes.lk/140511/news/officials-helpless-as-landslide-danger-grows-98939.html). Professor of Geology of the Peradeniya University, Kapila Dissanayake warned, ‘There has been a wave of road construction without giving due concern to landslides. Such road constructions trigger the landslide process.’ Those warnings were ignored, then, and for the next 11 years.

Take Ambuluwawa for instance. In 2009, the then prime minister D.M. Jayaratne set up the Ambuluwawa Biodiversity Centre including a 157-feet tall observation tower. Whether the project received a proper environment assessment or a Mattala airport type blank cheque is unknown. Minor landslides began to be reported soon after construction began. In 2023, the Government gave approval to a BOI project to build a cable car system in Ambuluwawa, a collaboration between a company called Amber Adventures and China Machine Building International Corporation. Whether a proper investigation was conducted into the reasons for landslides before permission was given is again unknown.

Last year, the residents of the nearby Sinhapitiya village complained to the Grama Niladhari (GN) about massive excavation of soil on the hilltop. The GN relayed the complaint to Gampola Udapalatha divisional secretary Aathma Dilrukshi Jayaratne. D.S. Jayaratne examined the site and put a stop to the cable car project citing environmental harm. Amber Adventures went to Appeal Court. The Court held with Amber Adventures because the project had been approved by the relevant authorities. The verdict mentions that the Divisional Secretary (herself a lawyer) personally tendered a large number of documents to the court which the court was unable to consider since they were not tendered by the AG’s Department. The question is, what were these documents? The question is, why didn’t the AG’s Department tender them to the court?

According to media reports, there has been another minor landslide in Ambuluwawa this time, rendering the hilltop inaccessible, for now. Whether the Government allows the cable car project to go ahead or halts it until a proper environment assessment is made would be a test case. Does the Anura Kumara Dissanayake Government possess the courage, and the political will to withstand pressure from vested interests and establish a new culture of responsible land use and management? Or will he do what his predecessors did – speak poetically about the environment and allow its degradation by political, business, and religious interest groups?

After all, mountains have no voices, forests have no votes, and rivers cannot protest. Yet, growth that destroys nature is the most unsustainable, the riskiest, the deadliest of all negative growth types. Years, even decades of economic and other achievements can be wiped out by one natural catastrophe. As we are experiencing today. Where we go from here depends on whether – or not- we continue to be possessed by the goal of high growth without bothering to count its socio-political, human, and environmental cost

New deals require new visions

The horrific tragedy we are living through is the climatic equivalent of the economic collapse of 2022. The consequences though will be way more extensive both in scale and depth and far-reaching.

In his recent address to the nation, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake pledged to ‘start from zero’. Doing so would give Sri Lanka an opportunity to rethink its growth path, to avoid and – where possible – undo old mistakes. Such action is bound to be unpopular with voters, and go against the vested interests of powerful groups, both secular and religious. Do the President and his Government possess the courage and the vision to make those difficult decisions and stick to them? Or are we going to continue on an economic path which regards nature at best as a commodity, generally as a nuisance, and at worst as an enemy? If so, whatever recoveries we make in terms of growth and human development might be undermined by the next act of nature.

The NBRO has warned that nearly 15,000 families (60,000 men, women, and children) are still living in 230 landslide and 20 rockfall zones in Badulla, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Gampaha, Moneragala, and Kurunegala districts. The NBRO can warn, but its warnings lack effect. A bill giving it the necessary powers to prosecute those engaged in illegal constructions has been vegetating with the Legal Draughtsman since 2012. This year, a new National Building Research Institute Act came into force, enabling legal action against local Government authorities who ignore landslide warnings. This is an improvement but it doesn’t obviate the urgent need for a new act enabling the NBRO to take legal action against those who engage in illegal constructions. Another urgent need is to expedite the completion of the National Building Code, so that it becomes effective in 2026 rather than 2028. Once the waters of the floods recede and the debris from landslides are cleared, attention should also be paid to the vital question of whether the high-rises mushrooming across the land contain basic safety measures, especially vis-à-vis fires. The recent inferno in a housing complex in Hong Kong which caused over 150 deaths is a warning of the next disaster waiting round the corner for us. While the original cause of the Hong Kong fire is still unclear, authorities claim that its speedy spreading was caused by Styrofoam placed outside the windows of apartment blocks and substandard building materials brought in for renovation work.

Another urgent need is to expedite the completion of the National Building Code, so that it becomes effective in 2026 rather than 2028. Once the waters of the floods recede and the debris from landslides are cleared, attention should also be paid to the vital question of whether the high-rises mushrooming across the land contain basic safety measures, especially vis-à-vis fires

President Ranil Wickremesinghe managed to stabilise the economy but did so by placing most of the burden of recovery on the already bent backs of poor and middle class Lankans. The future of Sri Lanka – not to mention the political fortunes of the NPP/JVP – will depend on how President Anura Kumara Dissanayake approaches the task of post-Ditwah reconstruction. While foreign assistance is necessary, the bulk of the burden of revival will have to be borne by Lankans. How this burden is distributed among haves and have-nots could be fundamental in deciding the nature and the direction of recovery. If the Government opts to take the indirect taxation route, it will lead to an exponential increase in poverty and inequality, followed by its obvious – and explosive – socio-political consequences.

Preventing future tragedies depends on more than restoring water and electricity and rebuilding roads. Families will have to be evicted from danger zones, after providing them with liveable alternate accommodations. Other constructions in danger zones too will have to be relocated, from hotels and schools to temples and other religious structures. The most vulnerable areas must be allowed to heal, by freeing them of human activity. Which means many of the landslide victims will have to be provided with alternate loci of accommodation. Money will be necessary, political will even more so, the courage to do what is unpopular, with political and business interests, with monks and other clergy, and with ordinary voters, especially those who have been victimised and traumatised already.

It will be a hard path. Yet, not taking it will be tantamount to opening the door wide to the next catastrophe. As Lankan climate scientist Dr. Thasun Amarasinghe said, ‘Nature had delivered its warning. If Sri Lanka fails to respond with decisive action, the next disaster will not be an accident – it will be a consequence’ (https://island.lk/weather-disasters-sri-lanka-flooded-by-policy-blunders-weak-enforcement-and-environmental-crime-climate-expert/).

While foreign assistance is necessary, bulk of the burden of revival will have to be borne by Lankans. How this burden is distributed among haves and have-nots could be fundamental in deciding the nature and the direction of recovery. If the Government opts to take the indirect taxation route, it will lead to an exponential increase in poverty and inequality, followed by its obvious – and explosive – socio-political consequences

Cyclone Ditwah has left children across Sri Lanka facing an escalating humanitarian crisis. After making landfall on the East Coast early on 28 November, the storm caused widespread floods and devastating landslides. Initial estimates suggest that over 275,000 children are among the 1.4 million people affected, although disrupted communications and blocked access routes imply the actual number may be even higher.

‘UNICEF remains deeply concerned about the destruction the cyclone has caused to children and the vital services they depend on for their safety and well-being. We stand in solidarity with families who have suffered losses and displacement and extend our deepest condolences to those mourning loved ones,’ said UNICEF Representative in Sri Lanka Emma Brigham.

‘Children urgently need help. It is a race against time to reach the most vulnerable families who direly require lifesaving services,’ she added. ‘And while the cyclone may have passed, the consequences have not.’ The severe damage to homes and vital infrastructure, along with the disruption of essential services, has caused widespread displacement and increases the risk of disease outbreaks, malnutrition, unsafe living conditions, and severe emotional distress among children.

The cyclone will only deepen the struggles of Sri Lanka’s most vulnerable communities, who are still reeling from successive shocks, including the 2022 economic crisis. According to a World Bank 2025 report, poverty has more than doubled since 2019, rising from 11.3% to 24.5%. For millions of families, life remains unaffordable, with basic needs increasingly out of reach.

UNICEF Sri Lanka is coordinating closely with the Government, national authorities, and partners to assess the situation and has initiated life-saving support. To respond to the urgent needs of children and families in the hardest-hit districts, UNICEF is further scaling up its efforts and appealing for additional funding to provide clean drinking water, essential nutrition supplies, psychosocial support, and emergency education kits to displaced children and mothers who need them most.

Amana Bank has further expanded its people-friendly and development-focused banking footprint with the opening of its 40th Self Banking Centre (SBC) in China Fort, Beruwala. Responding to the long-standing need for a convenient and accessible banking facility in the area, the new SBC, located at 115E China Fort, Beruwala offers customers 24/7 access to cash withdrawals, cash deposits, and cheque deposits, ensuring unmatched ease and convenience for residents, merchants, and traders.

The opening ceremony was graced by the presence of the bank’s Chief Operating Officer Imitaz Iqbal, Senior Vice President – Business Banking Irshad Iqbal Vice President – Retail Banking and Marketing Siddeeque Akbar, Chief Internal Auditor Numair Cassim, Head of Retail Sales and Acquisition Channels Mohamed Asmil, Manager – Offsite SBC Operations Imran Mohamed, and Beruwala Branch Manager Irshardh Nazeel. The event also saw participation from the Beruwala Urban Council Chairman, the Beruwala Division Secretary, the Officer-in-Charge of the Beruwala Police, gem merchants, local business representatives, and area residents.

Chief Operating Officer Imtiaz Iqbal said: ‘China Fort is one of Sri Lanka’s most dynamic trading zones, especially for the gem and jewellery industry, where business takes place from early morning until late evening. We are pleased to establish this Self Banking Centre right at the heart of the marketplace, ensuring that gem merchants, traders, and residents have 24/7 access to fast and secure banking services. By bringing essential services closer to the community, we aim to support the daily cash flows of the gem trade, uplift local businesses, and contribute to the continued growth of this vibrant commercial hub.’

With the opening of the China Fort SBC, Amana Bank continues to strengthen its commitment to enhancing financial inclusion and providing accessible, convenient, and ethical banking solutions to communities across Sri Lanka.

Tourism Deputy Minister Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe said the latest survey conducted in collaboration with the Market Development Facility (MDF) Australia and the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) revealed critical gaps in tourism data systems, underscoring the need for stronger research, better methodologies, and modern technology to guide decision-making in the industry.

He noted that for years, Sri Lanka calculated key indicators such as per-day tourist spending using outdated or inconsistent methods, which is why the new survey findings are especially significant.

‘We must thank the Australian High Commission and MDF for working hand in hand with the SLTDA to produce this outcome. It finally allows us to steer the industry based on realities,’ he said at the launch of the report last week.

Prof. Ranasinghe said one of the most striking findings of the survey, the largest Sri Lanka has ever conducted was that 58% of visitors are female, which has major implications for tourism offerings and marketing strategies.

He added that more than 55% of tourists fall within the 20-35 age bracket, indicating a complete shift in Sri Lanka’s traditional visitor profile.

‘These insights help us make informed policy decisions, guide our marketing and promotional investments, design campaigns, and incorporate new technology. While the world has moved to real-time, data-driven marketing, we are still relying heavily on traditional methods,’ he added.

He emphasised that the study marks a turning point, enabling the tourism sector to move away from guesswork and towards scientifically produced data. ‘This is the foundation on which we must build destination management structures, both nationally and regionally,’ he said, adding that the new data will be used effectively in shaping operational mechanisms across the sector. Reflecting on global practices, he pointed out that countries like Australia began building tourism-focused research systems as far back as the 1980s, while others such as Canada developed Tourism Satellite Accounting (TSA) to capture the true economic impact of the industry, including employment and government investment.

‘Malaysia and Singapore later incorporated advanced technology into their systems. We still have a long distance to go,’ he said, stressing the need to integrate immigration data and other national databases to enable real-time policy decisions and targeted marketing.

He thanked all institutions and partners involved in the study and expressed hope that the findings would support effective dialogue and maximise tourism opportunities through collaborative approaches.