News & market updates

IMF informed Sri Lanka it can access the next $350m EFF tranche within two weeks. Development partners pledged immediate humanitarian aid and to repurpose/provide concessional financing for medium- to long-term infrastructure, agriculture and tourism recovery after Cyclone Ditwah.

The UN is leading a Joint Rapid Needs Assessment with Sri Lanka's Disaster Management Centre after Cyclone Ditwah to map flood impacts and coordinate data collection; efforts prioritize food security and agriculture, livelihoods, health and nutrition, water and sanitation, shelter and early recovery.

SLT-Mobitel launched a free '247 Helpline' providing round-the-clock medical advice to flood-affected communities, connecting callers to a dedicated panel of medical professionals; the service is free and accessible to all mobile users across networks.

Avon Pharmo Chem Ltd. donated Rs. 2 million to support government flood relief efforts, with cheques handed to the Secretary to the President Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

Binance Charity pledged Rs. 61.6 million to the Sri Lanka Red Cross to support immediate relief and early recovery for communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah. Funds will be used for food, clean water, hygiene and medical supplies, temporary shelter materials and cash grants for displaced families.

Hemas Holdings said Ajith Fernando will become chairman effective Jan 1 following Husein Esufally's retirement on Dec 31; Murtaza Esufally has been appointed deputy chairman as Anura Ekanayake retires.

DMC reports 1,558,919 people from 437,507 families affected across 25 districts and 465 confirmed deaths; 366 missing. Fully damaged houses total 783, 31,417 partially damaged, and 1,433 safety centres are sheltering 232,752 people.

Multiple countries and international agencies have mobilised extensive humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah, with India leading immediate response and major consignments arriving (e.g., US 20,000 polysacks, UAE 1,116 food packets, Australia AUD1m). The UN is coordinating rescue, relief and early recovery efforts.

Uber Sri Lanka commits LKR 65 million to the Sri Lanka Red Cross to support relief and recovery for communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah. The package includes LKR 30m for dry-ration kits and care packages, LKR 17.5m in free rides for Red Cross teams and LKR 17.5m via Uber Eats for grocery procurement and deliveries, plus a CMC donation pick-up drive via the Uber app.

Cyclone Ditwah has affected about 275,000 children among 1.4 million people in Sri Lanka, causing floods, landslides, widespread displacement and damage to homes and infrastructure. UNICEF is coordinating with authorities, scaling up life‑saving support and appealing for funding for water, nutrition, psychosocial care and emergency education.

Melstacorp PLC appointed Sampath Jude Fernando as Group Chief Executive Officer effective December 1; he brings over 32 years' experience with senior roles at Hemas Pharmaceuticals, Janashakthi Insurance, Kotmale Holdings and Cargills.

The Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council appealed for support after Cyclone Ditwah, which has killed over 300 people, left hundreds missing and thousands homeless across Sri Lanka. CWEIC said its strategic partners stand ready to assist international recovery efforts.

Floods across Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia have killed over 1,000 people in less than a week, including 335 in Sri Lanka. The widespread flooding is likely to disrupt tourism, plantations, healthcare and logistics in the affected countries.

Cyclone Ditwah has killed 366 people, left 367 missing and affected 1,151,776 individuals across 25 districts, the Disaster Management Centre reported. More than 316,000 families are impacted, 218,526 people are displaced in 1,564 safety centres, with shortages of clean water, medical care and fuel and damaged access routes.

Customs has introduced a simplified, expedited duty-free clearance procedure for approved overseas humanitarian aid consignments to speed delivery to affected areas. Donors must consign to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), provide item lists/values, and some regulated goods will be inspected.

SLT-MOBITEL has launched a free '247 Helpline' with the University of Colombo to provide round-the-clock medical advice for communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah; callers on any mobile network can dial 247 for timely guidance on flood-related health issues.

Binance Charity pledged LKR ~61.6 million (USD 200,000) to the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society to support immediate relief and early-recovery efforts for communities hit by Cyclone Ditwah. Funds will be used for food, clean water, hygiene kits, medical supplies, temporary shelter materials and cash grants.

Cyclone Ditwah exposed critical gaps in Sri Lanka’s health and disaster response — at least 355 dead and over 200,000 displaced — with hospitals and access routes flooded or cut off. The authors call for integrated emergency coordination platforms, climate–health surveillance, and digital fortification of the health system.

The Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council urged Commonwealth nations to support Sri Lanka's recovery after Cyclone Ditwah, which has killed over 300 people, left hundreds missing and thousands homeless. CWEIC said its Strategic Partners in Sri Lanka stand ready to assist.

The Disaster Management Centre reports 998,918 people across 25 districts have been affected by severe weather linked to Cyclone Ditwah, with 51,228 families (180,499 people) sheltered in 1,275 safety centres as flood and landslide impacts continue.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared a State of Public Emergency and issued Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions and Powers) Regulations No.1 of 2025, allowing authorities to requisition private property and vehicles, mobilise essential-service workers, and exercise search, seizure and detention powers.

President Anura Dissanayake said Sri Lanka has Rs30 billion available for immediate disaster response and can seek further funds via supplementary estimates if needed. Cyclone Ditwah has downed power lines, blocked major roads and bridges, and flooded farmland including recently sown rice paddies.

Bybit will donate $100,000 to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to support relief, shelters and essential supplies after Cyclone Ditwah's severe flooding in Sri Lanka, which killed 123 people and displaced over 44,000.

The Government launched an official donation portal, 'Stand with Sri Lanka' (https://donate.gov.lk), to channel international and domestic contributions for Cyclone Ditwah relief, stating 100% of donations will go directly to emergency aid including food, water, medical care and shelter.

Japan is sending a 4-member team including JICA staff and medical personnel to Sri Lanka to assess Cyclone Ditwah damage and coordinate relief; the cyclone has killed 159, 203 are missing and 833,000 people were affected.

Access to Gampola and Kandy has been restored after Cyclone Ditwah; relief teams and the military are working to restore electricity (expected by evening) and water (within three days) while roads remain partially blocked and fuel supplies are being sent.

The Irrigation Department warned Kelani River levels have risen to 2.83m and could reach historic highs, and authorities have designated R. Premadasa Stadium as an emergency relief centre for up to 3,000 people. Officials said intense rainfall and increased upstream releases keep the flood threat high for the next 24 hours.

The Finance Ministry deposited Rs.220 million to District Secretariats and released an additional Rs.500 million to the Disaster Management Centre, supplementing earlier allocations of Rs.500 million for rescue and Rs.1 billion for affected businesses. The ministry has issued procurement waivers up to Rs.50 million, put state banks on alert with mobile banking units, and secured satellite phones and international aid for relief operations.

DBL Group donated a newly constructed women’s ward adding capacity for 15 patients to Matara General Hospital, built at a cost of Rs. 6 million and officially opened on September 30. The ward is fully furnished and continues DBL’s prior support to the hospital.

Nawaloka Hospitals Plc (NHL.N0000) was named Sri Lanka’s ‘Leading Hospital in AI and Innovation’ at the GlobalHealth Asia Pacific Awards 2025, driven by its introduction of the country’s first AI-powered Emergency Radiology Unit.