Category: Daily Financial Times

CH and FC maintained their unbeaten run in the Inter Club Rugby League 2025/2026 with a gritty 43/25 victory over a brave Army Sports Club side in their encounter played at Panagoda last evening. While the final margin reflected CH’s late dominance, the contest was fiercely competitive for much of the game, with Army matching the visitors in intensity and physicality for long spells.

Army enjoyed the better share of the opening half, producing some superb forwards play which put the visitors under pressure. The hosts struck twice within the first 12 minutes, their forwards laying a solid platform and their backs attacking with confidence. CH, despite being starved of territory, remained composed and relied on swift ball movement across their three-quarters to breach the Army defence, edging ahead 19/17 at the short breather. The narrow halftime deficit was harsh on Army, who played some of their best rugby of the season in the first half. Missed kicks at goal and wayward penalty attempts, however, proved costly, denying them a deserved first half lead losing out as much as 7 points.

Army resumed the second half with the same determination, regaining the lead after the turnaround and keeping CH firmly under pressure through disciplined defence and tireless work rate.

The final 20 minutes belonged decisively to CH and FC. Raising their tempo and exploiting space with superior fitness and execution, they crossed for three crucial tries that broke Army’s resistance and sealed the result. Skipper Janidu Dilshan led by example, with Prasad Madushanka and Maliksha Perera delivering sharp, influential performances.

CH’s tries came from Prasad Madushanka (2), Maliksha Perera, Kavindu Yasas, Lahiru Thilakaratne, Devinda Rathnayake and Janith Chandimal, with Yasas and Chandimal converting two tries each. Army responded through a superb hat-trick by their number 8, Vinod Kumar and a try by Buddi Srimantha, with Kumar also adding a conversion and a penalty.

Referee Jeewaka Fonseka had very good control over the game. (SJ)

Sunshine Holdings PLC has always believed that its people are the heart of its success. In its journey to create a high-trust, purpose-driven culture, it partnered with Great Place To Work, ( GPTW) the global authority on workplace culture, to enhance the employee experience across its sectors. Through ongoing assessments, feedback, and values-driven initiatives, the Group strengthened its culture of care while guiding teams through periods of change.

Group Chief People and Corporate Communications Officer, Michelle Senanayake noted that a key shift was from, ‘Assumptions to evidence-based action.’ Insights from the Great Place To Work Trust Index Survey and regular pulse checks highlighted employees’ needs for clarity, trust, and belonging, leading to improvements in onboarding, leadership communication, and the launch of The Voice Sunshine feedback platform.

Employee surveys revealed gaps in onboarding and career visibility for frontline staff. In response, Sunshine enhanced its induction programs, added buddy systems, introduced cultural storytelling, and launched career clinics with clear growth paths, making employees feel seen, supported, and empowered.

A seal of trust

Sunshine’s recurring Great Place To Work Certified status also reinforced its commitment to people and culture, strengthening its employer brand and attracting talent, including returning overseas Sri Lankans. Since earning Great Place To Work Certification, Sunshine Holdings paired the recognition with internal changes and revamped employee programs. Post-survey analysis and focus groups by GPTW analysts identified root causes across levels and units, leading to collaborative improvements. Subsequent surveys confirmed that these efforts have greatly enhanced employee experience.

Sunshine Holdings Group CEO Shyam Sathasivam said, ‘You can’t fake culture, our people are the storytellers,’ a sentiment that reflects the organisation’s belief in the authenticity of its workplace environment.

Sunshine Holdings was named one of Sri Lanka’s Best Workplaces in 2024, further affirming its effective people practices and sustained trust and engagement across its employees.

Talent attraction and retention

Sunshine achieved stronger talent alignment with better-fit hires across entry-level, mid-career, and specialised healthcare roles. Retention strategies focused on purpose, growth, and belonging, reinforced through initiatives such as the Sunshine Skill Quest, cross-BU exposure, and guided interventions on recognition, psychological safety, and inclusive leadership.

Sunshine Holdings analysed insights at both group and unit levels, realising that a ‘one-size-fits-all all’ approach wouldn’t work. With post-survey consulting and Culture Audit feedback, it tailored actions to unit-specific challenges, aligning people practices and leadership accessibility. Structured manager check-ins and standardised performance conversations further improved integration, reduced early attrition, strengthened succession pipelines, and enhanced collaboration for building resilience through transformation.

Culture as a business driver

Michelle noted, ‘We witnessed a clear link between culture and business performance. By embedding fairness, wellness, recognition, and inclusion, we built a resilient, high-trust culture that sustains it even through political, economic, and sectoral challenges.’

Looking Ahead

Going forward, Sunshine plans to continue benchmarking their workplace culture and to transition from periodic assessments to continuous culture curation, and in strengthening ESG-HR linkages through initiatives. ‘We are bringing the Great Place To Work framework to life by how we live our values and lead with intention. The Great Place To Work assessment is a mirror, and not just a marketing tool. Culture takes time, but done right, it becomes your greatest asset. And above all, remember: when people find meaning in their work, business follows,’ emphasised Michelle.

Nature seems to be at war with a market-driven investment pattern slowly decaying the means of survival for the masses. In many ways, this ecological pushback expressed through Cyclone Ditwah, mirrors the 2022 people’s uprising, which sought to overthrow an entrenched political establishment. Just as that quest remains incomplete, nature is waging its own campaign against an economy dictated by self-interest. As the climate breaks, more decisive acts of defiance from the natural world appear inevitable, mirroring the political and economic struggles that lie ahead for the masses.

The scale of devastation to crops

The immediate scale of this conflict is now finally clear. Initial estimates from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO UN) following the Cyclone Ditwah, combined with ongoing monsoon rains, paint a harrowing picture. Over 1,200 landslides have been triggered in the hills while severe flooding in the low-lying areas affecting over 10% of the total population.

The National Building Research Organisation reports that 30% of Sri Lanka’s total land mass -home for 34% of the population- is under the risk of landslides. Flood waters have submerged 20% of the total land mass of the country, destroying roughly 380,000 acres of cultivated land. Out of this, 330,000 acres were paddy lands accounting for 86% of the destruction (FAO UN). Depending on the degree of destruction the machine rents may also rise in the absence of state intervention to restore the supply. International Food Policy Research Institute finds that 32.8% of households experience moderate to severe food insecurity while this figure is as high as 54.5% in the estates by November 2025, even before the cyclone’s devastation. Given that agricultural losses directly threaten food availability, inflation, employment and livelihood of millions, Government must prioritise the recovery and restructure of the affected agricultural land and industrial employment creation.

The trap of agricultural overextension

The current state of agriculture in Sri Lanka serves as an important catalyst to climate disasters. The graph below shows the extreme over-extension of agricultural land use in Sri Lanka, particularly since 2004. According to World Bank data, land under agriculture in Sri Lanka has surged from nearly 36% in 2004 to over 48% by 2023, which is significantly higher than the average for low and middle-income countries. This is further reflected by total paddy lands under cultivation increasing to over 700,000 hectares in 2024/25 Maha season from nearly 500,000 in 2004 (Department of Census and Statistics data). It is also important to note that agricultural land only constitutes 29% of the total in high income economies which has been on the decline over the years, indicating that developed capitalist centres have moved away from extensively exploiting the land compared to the periphery. This highlights mainly a dual problem: first, agricultural overextension increases the severity and vulnerability of average Sri Lankans to climate disasters. Secondly, a serious lack of qualitatively acceptable employment in the non-agricultural sector, is forcing people more and more to retreat into land-based incomes despite its many dangers and threats as the only means of survival, which in turn accelerates environmental destruction. This overreliance on land, ironically, has now become a serious threat to long-term survival.

By adopting Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) using small-scale machinery, which drills seeds directly into the soil rather than using traditional broadcasting or transplanting, farmers have reduced the water consumption by 15% to 20%, reduce methane emissions, and simultaneously freeing labour from the cultivation process. The Punjab government, for instance, actively plans to expand this technique to cover 700,000 acres across the state. Furthermore, paddy farmers in India use small-scale weeding machines instead of weedicides, made possible by the DSR method

Source: World Bank data

Sri Lanka urgently needs to uncover ways of reducing its landmass and workforce under agriculture, without stoking inflation, a drop in food availability and foreign reserves, while at the same time generating qualitatively acceptable employment outside agriculture. If we fail to do so, the requirement for emergency assistance and reconstruction due to climate disasters will become a permanent feature, given the high possibility of such future disasters.

Restructuring of Sri Lanka’s paddy economy is a significant priority in addressing environmental destruction and economic development. Given that over 86% of the cyclone-related damage to cultivated land is concentrated within paddy sector, the Government must establish ways of restructuring the paddy economy within the parameters set above.

The need to raise national savings through state control

It is critical to keep in mind the vulnerability of the external sector. Despite the sharp increase in labour remittances and moderate rise in exports, foreign reserves declined particularly in November 2025 to $6,090 million. This compromise makes a large-scale agricultural and industrial transformation difficult, without increasing national savings through restricting luxury imports, particularly personal vehicles, and reducing the foreign debt burden through creditor renegotiation, a strategy advocated by a group of 121 eminent economists, including Joseph Stiglitz, Jayati Gosh and Thomas Piketty. Rather than relying on luxury import taxes that deplete reserves to generate revenue, these savings should be channelled into a dedicated Treasury foreign exchange account through Central Bank (CBSL) market purchases. CBSL balance sheet should be integrated with this special account, preventing its liabilities outstripping assets. This can secure the capital required to launch a transformation in agriculture and industry that this discussion seeks to address.

Use of agrochemicals and yield

Two interconnected issues are crucial when understanding the structure of paddy agriculture in Sri Lanka and its overextension. Firstly, Sri Lanka’s agriculture as a whole is using over 50% more fertiliser per acre compared to India while yielding less per acre. The average fertiliser use in India and high-income economies is approximately 210kg and 114kg per hectare respectively, while Sri Lanka surged to nearly 300kg/hectare by 2020 from nearly 150kg/hectare in 1980 (see graph below). This massive increase in chemical input has not translated into better yields. Since 1980, while fertiliser use per hectare surged 100%, aggregate cereal yields shown by the FAO UN increased significantly less from 3 to 3.8 tons per hectare (see graphs below). This coupled with the rise in the share of total land under agriculture emphasised earlier shows that Sri Lankan farmers were moving into less fertile, marginal lands -areas that require more chemicals just to maintain baseline yields.

Source: World Bank data (XD – high income economies)

Source: World Bank data The same pattern holds for pesticides. Sri Lanka uses 1.08kg/acre compared to India’s 0.24kg/acre, which is well over four times (see graph below). This environmentally and biologically hazardous level of chemicals application likely contributes to the high prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu) among Sri Lankan farmers, while per hectare yield of cereals and paddy remains low compared to India’s approximately six to seven tons per hectare in some high yielding paddy lands. It is important to note that aggregate data for cereal yields may not fully reflect India’s higher paddy yields due to the aggregation effect with other, low-yielding grains. In spite of the low fertiliser use in India the incidence of CKDu among farmers has been on the rise recently while remaining below Sri Lanka’s percentage. The significant increase in the application of fertiliser since 2000 could potentially explain this trend. Source: FAO UN

Hazardous application of agrochemicals hand in hand with lower yields escalate unit production cost and the cost of food of the domestic workforce in the absence of cheaper food imports from the region. Sri Lanka in this context needs to release at least 20% of its paddy land (around 350,000 acres) -specifically the low-yielding, flood-prone areas encroached upon in recent decades- without a serious drop in output and transition the workforce into higher-quality non-agrarian employment.

Historical misconceptions and soil realities

This issue of higher agrochemicals application in Sri Lanka, insufficient yields and the resulting higher food costs is further compounded by the unfavourable climatic and soil conditions in the North Central Province (NCP) which supplies nearly 40% of country’s paddy output. As the late Dr S. B. D. De Silva often noted, unlike in the riverbeds of India or Bangladesh where paddy cultivation is carried out which are naturally replenished by slow overflowing rivers, Sri Lanka’s dry zone lands are subjected to flash floods and torrential monsoonal rains preceded by long spells of scorching dry weather, which tend to leach out the nutrients of the less cohesive soil. Reiterating this position, R. L. Brohier, Chairman of the Gal Oya Development Board, in 1941 noted that ‘[NCP] receives from 50 to 75 inches of rain during the year, but, instead of being distributed, the great bulk of it falls during the periodicity of one monsoon. Long and severe droughts are by no means unknown. No combination of physical conditions could have offered greater natural disadvantages for irrigation’ (History of Irrigation and Agricultural Colonization in Ceylon, 1941).

Sri Lanka urgently needs to uncover ways of reducing its landmass and workforce under agriculture, without stoking inflation, a drop in food availability and foreign reserves, while at the same time generating qualitatively acceptable employment outside agriculture. If we fail to do so, the requirement for emergency assistance and reconstruction due to climate disasters will become a permanent feature, given the high possibility of such future disasters

Following the 1935 soil chemistry findings of the Thopawewa and Parakarama Samudra Development Scheme, Brohier warned that the dry zone soil structure is not entirely suited to carry out large-scale resettlements centred on paddy cultivation. He noted that the ‘luxuriant tropical forest’ of the dry zone was a mirage of fertility caused by perennial plant foliage, and not by the soil itself. This vibrant plant growth in the uninhibited land in the dry zone misled the ancient settlers to believe that the soil itself was fertile. Once cleared for seasonal paddy, the soil exposed its inherent deficiencies. Historically, this weakness may have likely left the civilisation vulnerable to invasions due to the difficulty of sustaining a large standing army on a fragile food base. Brohier noted this paradox: ‘the growth of the trees led one to infer that the soil should surely be the richest, the analysis disclosed quite the reverse. in these circumstances, the soil reconnaissance of the Topawewa and the Parakrama Samudra Scheme confirms, and the report emphasizes, that in the event of the secondary soil [lower grade soil] being developed in paddy, it will follow that crop yields must necessarily be poor. Apparently the soil composition in these areas is more congenial for growing fruit trees such as coconut or citrus’. Emphasising the comparative disadvantage in the soil structure of the NCP he further states that ‘the secondary paddy soil in the Topawewa area from the same comparative standard can be placed only in the third class of Malayan paddy soil’ (page 46-47). The market mechanism and the ambitions of the political elites failed to account for these geological disadvantages, incentivising an expansion of paddy farming that now threatens both the national economy and the environment.

Some lessons from Indian agriculture: small-scale mechanisation and new techniques

Secondly, the seasonality of agriculture and its intricate relationship with the broader environment do not warrant the simplistic market led determination of its flow of resources based on individual profitability. The lower application of agrochemicals specifically in India’s paddy agriculture is an ongoing process, orchestrated by the Indian state Governments, and is not an outcome of free interaction of market forces. By adopting Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) using small-scale machinery, which drills seeds directly into the soil rather than using traditional broadcasting or transplanting, farmers have reduced the water consumption by 15% to 20%, reduce methane emissions, and simultaneously freeing labour from the cultivation process. The Punjab Government, for instance, actively plans to expand this technique to cover 700,000 acres across the state. Furthermore, paddy farmers in India use small-scale weeding machines instead of weedicides, made possible by the DSR method. Unlike the broadcasting method predominantly practiced in Sri Lanka, the use of a seed driller ensures uniform spacing between the rice plants. This allows greater sunlight absorption, which enhances the yields and reduce the duration required for the crops to mature. Additionally, this uniform spacing between the plants facilitates mechanical weeding, a process that uproots weeds and integrates them back into the earth, thereby converting them into organic matter.

These streamlined techniques hand in hand with alternate wet dry method of water use (which is now promoted by UNDP in Sri Lanka) have contributed to the increase in India’s paddy yield. This shift effectively converts working capital previously spent on agrochemicals, water and labour (wages), into fixed capital in the form of small machinery. Consequently, Indian farmers have successfully replaced the use of agrochemicals with a combination of mechanical tools and a more sophisticated understanding of cultivation and environmental factors. This structural shift reduces the production costs and the cost of food for the non-agricultural workforce. Simultaneously, the labour freed by introducing new machinery into agriculture is reabsorbed within the industrial sector.

This is an effective mechanism in reducing the marginal paddy lands by 20% without critically reducing the output, stoking inflation or increasing unemployment. To support this transition, compensation must be provided for farmers who will relinquish their less fertile marginal lands for reforestation. Another possible option would be to reduce or eliminate seafood exports to prioritise domestic consumption. This will reduce the nation’s dependence on staple grains while increasing the nutrition profile of the general population and reducing agricultural land. If Sri Lanka fails to adopt such State-led restructuring, the need for emergency assistance due to environmental disasters will become a permanent agonising feature of the national economy.

Export Development Board (EDB) Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe said Sri Lanka is projecting total export earnings of $ 20 billion in 2026, reflecting a year-on-year (YoY) growth of 10%, whilst expressing confidence in the country’s steady recovery and medium-term export expansion strategy.

‘Merchandise exports are forecast to exceed $ 15.7 billion in 2026, while services exports are expected to rise to $ 4.3 billion, supported by growth in key sectors and improving global demand conditions,’ he told the Daily FT.

The 2026 forecasts form part of a broader five-year roadmap aimed at strengthening Sri Lanka’s export competitiveness and diversifying its earnings base.

According to Wijesinghe, the projections are aligned with the national objective of increasing total export earnings to $ 36 billion by 2030, comprising $ 25 billion from merchandise exports and $ 11 billion from services exports.

He said this strategy is focused on scaling up value-added exports, improving market access, and strengthening services-led growth alongside traditional goods exports.

Commenting on near-term performance, Wijesinghe said Sri Lanka has already achieved 87% of its annual export target of $ 18.2 billion for 2025 within the first 11 months of the year. Export earnings from goods and services reached $ 15.77 billion during the January-November period, registering a 5.8% YoY growth and underscoring a consistent upward trend in export performance.

Merchandise exports showed particularly strong momentum, with total earnings amounting to $ 12.41 billion during the first 11 months of 2025, reflecting a robust 6.41% YoY increase. This growth was driven by improved performance in several key export categories despite ongoing global economic uncertainties.

Services exports also recorded positive growth, with cumulative earnings rising by 3.62% YoY to reach $ 3.35 billion during the January-November period.

Wijesinghe also noted that the continued expansion of services exports remains a critical pillar of Sri Lanka’s long-term export strategy, especially in areas such as ICT, logistics, and tourism-related services.

He said the strong performance in 2025 and the ambitious targets set for 2026 reflect growing confidence in Sri Lanka’s export sector, while adding the need for sustained policy support, market diversification, and private sector engagement to achieve the $ 36 billion export goal by the end of the decade.

Electronic card-based fare payments were introduced on Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses yesterday, marking another step in the Government’s broader digitalisation drive within public transport.

The system was launched at the Makumbura Multimodal Centre (MMC) in Kottawa, with the initiative implemented under the direction of the Transport, Highways and Urban Development Ministry, in coordination with the Digital Economy Ministry. SLTB Chairman Sajeewa Kanakaratne was present at the launch.

Under the new arrangement, passengers are able to settle bus fares using electronic cards at no additional cost, ensuring that only the approved fare is charged. Authorities say the system is intended to make fare payments more convenient while reducing reliance on cash transactions.

The card payment facility will initially be available on selected routes, including Makumbura-Galle and Makumbura-Embilipitiya. Officials said the pilot phase will be reviewed, with further refinements planned based on operational feedback before wider rollout.

The Sports Ministry yesterday issued the following clarification over the situation that has arisen concerning the use of the Sugathadasa Stadium for a musical concert.

‘The outdoor stadium was agreed to be provided for a musical concert scheduled to be held on 28 December. The current running track at the Sugathadasa Stadium is in a dilapidated condition, making it unsuitable for athletic competitions. Consequently, the process of calling for tenders to remove the existing track and reconstruct a new one has already commenced.

Due to the presence of potholes and significant wear, the track is currently not utilised for any sporting events. Since the stadium will remain inactive for sports during the upcoming reconstruction period, the management authority agreed to lease the premises for the concert subject to relevant charges.

The responsibility for the event lies with the organisers. Furthermore, the concert will not cause any additional significant damage to the track, as the current surface is already slated for complete removal.

We strongly condemn the distorted statements made by certain individuals and the unethical, false reporting by some media outlets that portray this event as a major blow to sports and the stadium infrastructure.’

Oil prices recorded their steepest annual decline since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2025, with markets facing continued pressure from excess supply as producers pump more crude than the global economy requires.

Crude prices fell by nearly 20% over the year, marking the largest annual drop since 2020 and the first instance of three consecutive years of yearly declines for the oil market.

The persistent weakness came despite ongoing geopolitical tensions in key energy-producing regions, as analysts pointed to a heavily oversupplied market overwhelming any risk premium.

Oil posts…

Prices slipped below $ 60 a barrel for the first time in almost five years last month, as expectations grew around a potential Russia-Ukraine peace agreement, which could add to global supply if Western sanctions on Russian exports are eased.

The International Energy Agency forecasts that oil supply will exceed demand by about 3.8 million barrels per day this year, even after OPEC decided recently to postpone any production increases until after the first quarter.

OPEC typically seeks to manage output to keep prices within a ‘Goldilocks’ range-high enough to sustain producer revenues, but not so elevated that consumers shift more rapidly to alternatives such as electric vehicles and heat pumps.

Brent crude settled at $ 60.85 a barrel on the final trading day of 2025, down sharply from nearly $ 74 at the end of 2024. US crude also slid around 20% over the year, closing at $ 57.42 on Wednesday, compared with about $ 74 a year earlier.

Cyclone Ditwah did more than uproot trees, wash away homes, and inundate businesses of all sizes. It revealed a truth Sri Lanka has ignored for far too long: the country lacks a coherent national security policy, strategy, and framework capable of safeguarding its people from both natural and man-made threats. With 620 confirmed deaths, around 200 still missing, and countless families displaced, Ditwah has now become one of the deadliest disasters in Sri Lanka’s recent history, not because the storm was unprecedented, but because the systems meant to protect citizens were unprepared, fragmented, and overwhelmed. Entire districts were left isolated, relief took days to organise, and confusion spread faster than official response. For a nation repeatedly tested by tragedy, from the nearly 30-year separatist war to the Easter Sunday bombings, from the economic collapse to recurring floods, this disaster exposes a deeper governance crisis.

Sri Lanka’s pattern is painfully consistent. The country responds to crises; it does not plan for them. Despite having defence forces, police, intelligence agencies, and a National Security Council, Sri Lanka has never developed or implemented a formal National Security Policy and Strategy. National security continues to be defined through a narrow, militarised lens. In contrast, the broader security of people, including environmental safety, health, livelihoods, personal safety, access to food, and community resilience, remains neglected. Ditwah revealed how dangerously this gap has become.

Early-warning communication faltered, leaving many communities unaware of the scale of the incoming storm. Reservoir operations became a source of public anxiety, as conflicting messages spread without central coordination. Evacuation facilities were insufficient and ill-prepared, forcing families into overcrowded shelters lacking water, sanitation, privacy, and medical support. When floodwaters rose, roads collapsed, and landslides cut off access, many districts were left waiting for assistance that arrived far too late. These were not isolated mistakes; they were structural failures.

And once the first pillar collapsed, a chain reaction unfolded across the seven dimensions of human security. Environmental insecurity from flooding and landslides quickly turned into human insecurity as homes were washed away and families scattered. Health insecurity rose as stagnant water, exposure, and overcrowded shelters created conditions for disease outbreaks. Food insecurity followed when transport routes were severed, preventing supplies from reaching affected communities. Economic insecurity deepened as small businesses, farms, and daily-wage livelihoods collapsed in the storm’s aftermath. Community insecurity worsened as displacement broke social networks and safety nets. Political insecurity grew as frustration mounted, and trust in state institutions declined. As the UN has long emphasised, human security is interconnected: a failure in one pillar can accelerate failures across all others (UN Human Security Unit, 2016).

Compounding this crisis, Sri Lanka is simultaneously grappling with a surge in shootings and organised crime, with nearly a hundred incidents reported in recent months. These violent episodes underline a widening gap in personal and community security at a moment when environmental shocks are intensifying. A country cannot speak of national security when both climate disasters and criminal networks threaten the daily lives of citizens and when institutions respond only after tragedies occur.

If Sri Lanka had a functional National Security Strategy based on a sound policy, the devastation caused by Ditwah, including the staggering number of deaths, might not have reached such a scale. If Sri Lanka had a functioning National Security Council, it would have established a unified chain of command, mandated clear early-warning protocols, empowered district-level officials with resources, and integrated ministries into a coordinated emergency structure. It would also have ensured that emergency shelters were identified and prepared, supply chains secured, and local authorities trained and equipped. It would have recognised that Sri Lanka, as an island nation on the frontline of climate change, cannot treat environmental threats as external shocks but as core national security risks.

Cyclone Ditwah has shown, with devastating clarity, that Sri Lanka is not vulnerable because of its geography but because of its governance. A country that has endured war, terrorism, pandemics, and economic collapse should not lose hundreds of lives to a storm in the 21st century. Any future security threats are unavoidable, but the scale of their destruction need not be. Whether Sri Lanka finally develops a National Security Strategy anchored in human security will determine the safety, dignity, and resilience of millions in the years to come

Countries around the world now recognise that national security is no longer only about military strength or border security. It is about protecting people: their lives, homes, healthcare, food supplies, economy, and democratic stability. Sri Lanka must adopt such a framework if it is to break the cycle of reaction and failure. Human security must become the foundation of national security, not a peripheral concern.

Cyclone Ditwah has shown, with devastating clarity, that Sri Lanka is not vulnerable because of its geography but because of its governance. A country that has endured war, terrorism, pandemics, and economic collapse should not lose hundreds of lives to a storm in the 21st century. Any future security threats are unavoidable, but the scale of their destruction need not be. Whether Sri Lanka finally develops a National Security Strategy anchored in human security will determine the safety, dignity, and resilience of millions in the years to come.

The Pathfinder Foundation has long felt the need for the development of a national security policy supported by a strategy to meet all facets of security challenges Sri Lanka has to face. In pursuance of that interest the Foundation published a report ‘The Pathfinder National Security Strategy 2020 for Sri Lanka.’ Five years later, having observed the numerous setbacks the country had to go through, covering political, social and economic, the Foundation will shortly release its latest report on the subject, ‘Pathfinder Proposals for a National Security Strategy for Sri Lanka-2026’ with the intention of drawing the attention of the government to the need to focus on the subject.

CR and FC ended Havelock Sports Club’s unbeaten run with a 33/14 bonus-point victory in their Inter Club Rugby League first-round encounter played under lights at Longdon Place last night.

The win also gave the Reds the upper hand in the first leg of the Col Easter Matthysz Trophy, with CR leading the tally 15/5. While the result was decisive, CR’s display was more efficient than emphatic, leaving room for improvement despite a deserved outcome with the next away game at Nittawela on 11 January against defending champions, Kandy SC.

CR held a 14/7 advantage at the short breather, having made better use of territory and possession in a closely fought opening half. Havelock; applied pressure in phases but struggled to convert opportunities into points, allowing frustration to creep into their play. Frequent appeals and protests against refereeing decisions disrupted their rhythm at crucial moments.

The Reds opened the scoring in the 18th minute through a sweeping three-quarter movement, finished neatly by Thenuka Nanayakkara, who also added the conversion. CR struck again soon after when fullback Mursheed Doray unexpectedly joined a strong forwards’ surge to touch down, with Nanayakkara once again accurate off the tee.

Havelocks responded through hooker Azmir Fajudeen, who produced a tireless performance and was rewarded with a well-earned try. Samuel Maduwantha converted, but earlier missed a difficult 40-metre penalty, a costly lapse in a tight first half.

After the interval, CR gradually asserted greater control, though discipline became a concern. Shenal Adikaram was sent off with a Red for stamping, while hooker Manilka Ruberu spent time in the sin bin, briefly unsettling the Reds. Mohamed Rifan, influential in recent outings, had a quieter game by his usual standards.

CR scored their second-half tries through Enesi Waqanisau, Chamod Muthunayake and skipper, Lasindu Karunathilake. Thenuka was on target with two try conversions and had a fantastic outing both in attack and defence. Havies scored their only second-half try through Amituanai Visesio with Yehan Bulathsinghalage adding the extras.

Referee Suranga Arunashantha officiated the game.

Bottom of the table Chilaw Marians CC had CCC in a bit of bother, capturing four wickets for 62 runs by the close of the first day after they had been dismissed for 185 in their Major Club 3-day League match played at the Colts grounds yesterday.

All-round seamer Thikshila de Silva caused the CCC slump picking up the wickets of Nishan Madushka, Lasith Croospulle and Pavan Rathnayake to end the day with figures of 3/30. Earlier Sri Lanka Test fast bowler Asitha Fernando ran through the Chilaw Marians CC batting taking 4/31 with only Tharindu Amarasinghe (47) and Kasun Vidura (46) offering any resistance. CCC trailed Chilaw Marians CC by 123 runs with six first innings wickets in hand.

Left-handed opener Gayan Maneeshan struck the only century of the day to place Kurunegala YCC in a strong position at 331-5 against Tamil Union at the NCC grounds. Maneeshan’s brilliant 160 off 162 balls (15 fours, 5 sixes) was the cornerstone of the Kurunegala YCC innings. Late in the day skipper Sadeera Sadamal added to Tamil Union’s woes scoring an unbeaten 72 off 102 balls with 11 fours.

Bad light followed by rain brought an early finish to the match between Group A leaders Police SC and Nugegoda SWC at the Galle Cricket Stadium. Invited to bat first, Police SC recovered from losing their first three wickets for 58 to end the day at 210-4. Opener Dhanuja Induwara scored 60 (off 90 balls, 7 fours) and captain Ashen Bandara 74* (off 135 balls, 4 fours).

Bad light also brought an early finish to two other matches. At Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium, Sooriyawewa, NCC put into bat by Badureliya SC scored 244-6 with half-centuries from Vinuka Rubasinghe (77 off 140 balls, 5 fours) and skipper Sahan Arachchige (76 off 107 balls, 5 fours). Lahiru Udara scored 47 before becoming one of tall 6ft, 2ins left-arm fast bowler Adeesha Thilanchana’s five victims (5/67).

The match at Surrey Village, Maggona also came to an early end due to bad light. Panadura SC invited to bat first by Bloomfield finished on 213-8, the highlight of the innings being the 92-run fifth wicket stand between skipper Shehan Jayasuriya (69 off 128 balls, 6 fours) and Dushan Vimukthi (40).

The match between BRC and Ace Capital CC was nicely poised at the P Sara Oval. Inviting BRC to bat first Ace Capital CC ran through their batting for 233 with spinners Wanuja Sahan (4/39) and Roshan Jayatissa (3/69) being the principal wicket-takers. Raminda Wijesooriya contributed 80 off 97 balls (7 fours, 1 six) to lift BRC from 113-6 to their final total. By stumps Ace Capital CC were struggling at 23-3, trailing by 210 runs.

All matches continue on their second day today.