News ADB approves $200 Mn emergency assistance for post-Ditwah recovery Published 9 mins agoon 2026/07/2 The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $200 million emergency assistance package for Sri Lanka’s recovery and reconstruction, following Cyclone Ditwah. According to…
News ADB approves $200 Mn emergency assistance for post-Ditwah recovery
Published 9 mins agoon 2026/07/2
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $200 million emergency assistance package for Sri Lanka’s recovery and reconstruction, following Cyclone Ditwah. According to an ADB statement, the package comprises a $100 million regular loan and a $100 million concessional loan from ADB’s ordinary capital resources, and a $500,000 technical assistance grant to help strengthen project implementation, readiness, and quality assurance. The Post-Cyclone Ditwah Reconstruction and Livelihood Support Project will finance priority investments to rehabilitate damaged road and irrigation infrastructure, restore the livelihoods of affected smallholder farmers, and support the reconstruction of severely damaged or destroyed houses. The project applies build-back-better principles to strengthen resilience to future disasters. “Cyclone Ditwah caused widespread damage to infrastructure, housing, and livelihoods across Sri Lanka, placing additional strain on communities already facing significant economic challenges,” said ADB Country Director for Sri Lanka, Shannon Cowlin. “This emergency assistance will help restore essential services, support affected households and farmers, and rebuild infrastructure to higher, climate-resilient standards.” Cyclone Ditwah made landfall in Sri Lanka on 28 November, 2025, bringing intense rainfall, flooding, and landslides that caused widespread damage across 22 districts and disrupted transport networks, irrigation systems, housing, and rural livelihoods. The project will support the rehabilitation and climate-resilient reconstruction of priority national and rural roads damaged by the cyclone. This includes slope stabilisation, drainage improvements, and repairs to carriageways and minor structures. These investments will restore safer, more reliable access to markets, services, and employment while reducing vulnerability to extreme weather events. The project will also finance the rehabilitation of damaged irrigation infrastructure, including tanks, canals, and associated water management structures, and will strengthen dam safety planning. By restoring irrigation functionality and improving resilience, the project will help farmers resume agricultural production, support food security, and reduce exposure to future environmental shocks. In addition, the project will provide targeted support to cyclone-affected households by building on the government’s recovery assistance programmes for smallholder paddy farmers and owner-driven housing reconstruction. Livelihood assistance will help farmers restore inputs and resume production, while owner-driven housing support will be provided through staged grants based on verified construction progress, enabling families to rebuild safely and with greater resilience. The project will be implemented through government agencies responsible for transport, irrigation, agriculture, and disaster recovery, supported by project implementation consultants and regular ADB review missions.
News Tame elephant kills man who tries to feed it
Published 9 mins agoon 2026/07/2
A 61-year-old man was killed by a tame elephant near the Menikhinna Ganesha Temple, on Monday afternoon, police said. Investigations have revealed that the victim had approached the elephant, named ‘Muthu’, while it was kept near the temple, and attempted to feed it. Police identified the deceased as K.M.M.G. Lalith Sujeewa, a resident of Menikhinna, and the paternal uncle of the elephant’s owner. According to police, the elephant, though tamed, has been linked to four previous fatal attacks. Police are conducting further investigations into the incident. by SK Samaranayake ✍️
News Sugeeshwara further remanded; order on bail application postponed till July 08
Published 9 mins agoon 2026/07/2
Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s private secretary and political activist Sugeeshwara Bandara was further remanded until July 8 after being produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena also postponed the order on Bandara’s bail application until July 8. During the proceedings, the Central Crimes Investigation Bureau (CCIB) informed the court that it had recorded a statement from former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as part of the ongoing investigation. Bandara was arrested on June 18 over allegations that he had drawn salaries from two government institutions simultaneously. He was subsequently remanded in custody.