Former Speaker and National People’s Power parliamentarian Asoka Ranwala, arrested after a collision at Sapugaskanda on 11 December, has been granted bail. The Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court released him on cash bail of Rs. 200,000, police said. Ranwala, who is being treated at the Colombo National Hospital, was taken into custody earlier in the day on charges of dangerous driving and failing to prevent an accident. The incident occurred when his jeep collided with a car in Denimulla.&nbsp; A woman, her six-month-old infant, and her mother were injured, with the infant later transferred to Lady Ridgeway Hospital for further treatment.

Former Speaker Asoka Ranwala granted bail

More than 5,700 houses have been completely destroyed by the recent severe weather, according to the Disaster Management Centre(DMC).&nbsp; Kandy is the worst-affected district, with 1,568 houses destroyed and 14,111 partially damaged, followed by Nuwara Eliya with 767 fully and 3,742 partially damaged homes. Puttalam reports 627 houses destroyed and over 20,813 partially damaged.&nbsp; The highest number of affected individuals is in Colombo, where 330,443 people from 86,147 families have been impacted. The national death toll has risen to 640, with Kandy reporting the highest fatalities at 234. More than 82,000 people remain in 847 displacement camps islandwide.

Over 5,700 houses destroyed in severe weather

China pledges support to strengthen bilateral ties, provides aid for disaster-affected

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has called for immediate assistance to smallholder farmers and fishers severely affected by Cyclone Ditwah, warning that delays could threaten Sri Lanka’s food security well into 2025. FAO Representative Vimlendra Sharan said many paddy farmers, vegetable growers, and small-scale fishers have lost fields, equipment, boats, and essential inputs, hindering their ability to resume production.&nbsp; Government data shows the cyclone destroyed 108,000 hectares of paddy, 11,000 hectares of Other Field Crops, and 6,600 hectares of maize. FAO is working with the Government on recovery plans and using satellite data and cultivation assessments to identify impacts. The organization will also gather information from nearly 5,000 affected farmers and fishers. Sharan stressed that timely, coordinated support will help rural communities rebuild livelihoods and stabilize national food supplies

FAO urges urgent support for farmers and fishers after Cyclone Ditwah

The Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre has issued a severe lightning advisory for Kalutara, Ratnapura, Galle, and Matara, effective until 11:00 p.m. today. The Meteorology Department warns of thundershowers with strong lightning and temporary gusty winds. The public is urged to take precautions to avoid injury or property damage.

Severe lightning advisory issued for four districts

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at blocking states from enforcing their own artificial intelligence (AI) regulations. "We want to have one central source of approval," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday. It will give the Trump administration tools to push back on the most "onerous" state rules, said White House AI adviser David Sacks. The government will not oppose AI regulations around children's safety, he added. The move marks a win for technology giants who have called for US-wide AI legislation as it could have a major impact on America's goal of leading the fast-developing industry. AI company bosses have argued that state-level regulations could slow innovation and hinder the US in its race against China to dominate the industry, with firms pouring billions of dollars into the technology. The BBC has contacted AI firms OpenAI, Google, Meta, and Anthropic for comment. But the announcement has been met with opposition. The state of California, which is the home to many of the world's biggest technology companies, already has its own AI regulations. California's Governor Gavin Newsom, who is a vocal critic of Trump, issued a strongly-worded statement in response to the executive order, accusing him of corruption. "Today, President Trump continued his ongoing grift in the White House, attempting to enrich himself and his associates, with a new executive order seeking to preempt state laws protecting Americans from unregulated AI technology." Earlier this year, Newsom signed a bill requiring the largest AI developers to lay out plans to limit risks stemming from their AI models. States including Colorado and New York have also passed laws regulating the development of the technology. Newsom has said the law sets a standard that US lawmakers could follow. Other critics of Trump's executive order argue that state laws are necessary in the absence of meaningful guardrails at the federal level. "Stripping states from enacting their own AI safeguards undermines states' basic rights to establish sufficient guardrails to protect their residents," said Julie Scelfo, from advocacy group Mothers Against Media Addiction in a statement. Source : BBC

Trump signs order to block states from enforcing own AI rules

The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development has issued Excise Notification No. 03/2025, introducing a revised fee structure for multiple excise licence categories.&nbsp; The regulations, made under Sections 25 and 32 of the Excise Ordinance and confirmed by Parliament on 5 December, take effect from 12 December.&nbsp; The changes revise annual licence fees, security deposits and a one-time, non-refundable industry entry fee payable upon first issuance. Licensees must pay any increase in the security deposit within 30 days.&nbsp; The notification also revokes several previous fee regulations, including Gazette Nos. 2049/4, 2065/57, 2366/38 and 2369/32.

Govt. implements revised excise licence fee structure

Former Speaker and NPP MP Asoka Ranwala has been arrested following a vehicular collision that occurred last night (11).

Former Speaker Asoka Ranwala arrested

Nuwara Eliya District Secretary Thushari Tennakoon has advised motorists to avoid all routes into Nuwara Eliya at night because of increased landslide risks linked to ongoing adverse weather.&nbsp; She issued the warning during a media briefing on 11 December. A fresh earth slip on the Gampola–Nuwara Eliya main road at Katukithula, recently reopened, has highlighted continuing instability.&nbsp; Tennakoon said all necessary relief, including food supplies, has been provided to residents affected by the Ditwah cyclone.&nbsp; She rejected claims of shortcomings in the government’s response, calling them misleading and disruptive.

Former Speaker Asoka Ranwala granted bail

Over 5,700 houses destroyed in severe weather

Over 5,700 houses destroyed in ...

China pledges support to strengthen bilateral ties, provides aid for d ...

China pledges support to stren ...

FAO urges urgent support for farmers and fishers after Cyclone Ditwah

FAO urges urgent support for f ...

Severe lightning advisory issued for four districts

Severe lightning advisory issu ...

Trump signs order to block states from enforcing own AI rules

Trump signs order to block sta ...

Govt. implements revised excise licence fee structure

Govt. implements revised excis ...

Former Speaker Asoka Ranwala arrested

Former Speaker Asoka Ranwala a ...

Drivers urged to avoid nighttime travel to Nuwara Eliya due to landsli ...

Drivers urged to avoid nightti ...

Over 5,700 houses destroyed in severe weather

Over 5,700 houses destroyed in ...

China pledges support to strengthen bilateral ties, provides aid for d ...

China pledges support to stren ...

FAO urges urgent support for farmers and fishers after Cyclone Ditwah

FAO urges urgent support for f ...

Severe lightning advisory issued for four districts

Severe lightning advisory issu ...

Trump signs order to block states from enforcing own AI rules

Trump signs order to block sta ...

Govt. implements revised excise licence fee structure

Govt. implements revised excis ...

Former Speaker Asoka Ranwala arrested

Former Speaker Asoka Ranwala a ...

Drivers urged to avoid nighttime travel to Nuwara Eliya due to landsli ...

Drivers urged to avoid nightti ...

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Over 5,700 houses destroyed in severe weather

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China pledges support to stren ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

FAO urges urgent support for farmers and fishers after Cyclone Ditwah

FAO urges urgent support for f ...

Severe lightning advisory issued for four districts

Severe lightning advisory issu ...

Trump signs order to block states from enforcing own AI rules

Trump signs order to block sta ...

Govt. implements revised excise licence fee structure

Govt. implements revised excis ...