Assistant Secretary of the National Disaster Relief Services Centre, Jayatissa Munasinghe
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Cyclone Ditva has caused widespread damage across the country. According to the Disaster Management Center, 833,985 people from 234,503 families have been affected as of 6.00 am today (30). A total of 159 deaths have been reported, and 203 people are still missing.
Sri Lanka Police has released the telephone numbers of the operation rooms of 47 police stations across the island. The press release is given below.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured Sri Lanka of India’s unwavering support during times of disaster, reaffirming the country’s commitment under the Neighbourhood First Policy and Ocean Vision.
President instructs ‘A Nation United’ National Steering Council
President directs Ministry of Justice to formulate new laws aimed at the swift disposal of seized dangerous drugs.
A low-pressure area has formed over South Andaman Sea area. It is likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a depression over South-east Bay of Bengal today (24).
Prevailing showery condition over the island is expected to continue further during the next few days.
The students of the Faculty of Law of the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), Malabe, were given the opportunity to participate in the ‘Vision’ programme organised by the Presidential Secretariat, today (21).
This programme is implemented for students jointly by the Presidential Secretariat, the Ministry of Education and the Department of Communication of the Parliament.
In parallel with this programme, a valuable donation of saplings was made to the institute as a symbolic gesture highlighting the importance of environmental conservation.
Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Mr. Roshan Gamage, Lecturer of the Faculty of Law of the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), Mr. Gimhan Sooriyabandara and Major Nadeeka Dangolla, Assistant Director of the Tri-Forces Coordination Unit at the Presidential Secretariat participated at the event.
“Let us rebuild this country together, without creating a situation where you keep asking and I simply keep giving.” – President
A discussion aimed at formulating a systematic programme to address the issues faced by local big onion farmers was held this morning (17) at the Presidential Secretariat. It was held under the patronage of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, K. D. Lal Kantha, together with the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, Wasantha Samarasinghe.
Minister K. D. Lal kantha pointed out that while a concrete programme has long existed to safeguard paddy farmers, no such systematic plan had been developed for other crops. He stated that this is the first time a government is preparing a definitive programme to resolve the problems of big onion farmers, emphasising that the present government’s objective is to protect all farmers and improve their living standards.
During the discussion, it was highlighted that while seeking solutions to issues in the big onion sector, priority must be given to farmer-related challenges, while also ensuring onions are made available to consumers at affordable prices. The Minister further emphasised that all decisions must be based on accurate data.
Matters relating to increasing big onion production and the pricing mechanism were discussed in detail. The Department of Agriculture also presented a report outlining strategies and actions for sustainable production and marketing related to local big onion cultivation.
A planned programme is currently underway to increase big onion production from 17% in 2025 to 22% in 2026 and 27% in 2027.
It was also stressed that the government has decided to introduce a stable price for big onions in a manner that is fair to farmers. Lengthy discussions were held on steps that could be taken to improve storage and other facilities for farmers.
Farmers pointed out that sharp price fluctuations caused by wide market gaps posed a major challenge, yet they continue with their cultivation amidst this risk. They requested the government to provide the necessary facilities to allow them to continue big onion cultivation as a sector that could generate significant income.
As many of the farmers engaged in this sector operate on small landholdings, Minister K. D. Lalkantha emphasised the need to consider such factors when calculating production costs and making policy decisions. He also urged all farmers to register under the Department of Agrarian Development so that necessary interventions can be made promptly in emergencies.
Farmers expressed their appreciation to the government for intervening with a definitive programme, where something is being done for the first time to address their challenges. They noted their confidence in the present government and said they were ready to work together with it in seeking solutions.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Namal Karunaratne; Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, D. P. Wickramasinghe; Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Kapila Janaka Bandara; Director General of Agriculture, Dr W. A. R. T. Wickramarachchi; senior officials of the Department of Agriculture; and a group of big onion farmers representing Dambulla and Galenbindunuwewa also took part in this discussion.
All sectors must work in collective effort to empower local entrepreneurs for a digital economy.
Cabinet Decisions taken at 10.11.2025
The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Maldives M. Rizvi Hassen called on the Minister of Cities, Local Government and Public Works, Adam Shareef Umar, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Welfare, Dr. Maryam Mariya, Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed and Minister of Dhivehi Language, Culture and Heritage, Adam Naseer Ibrahim to discuss potential areas of collaborations between Sri Lanka and Maldives in local government systems, agriculture and culture.
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