Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the Government stands ready to support the University of Peradeniya in rebuilding stronger, safer, and more resilient than before. She made these remarks while visiting the University of Peradeniya today (07), where she met with student representatives and Heads of Departments affected by the sudden floods that swept through the campus on 27 November.

The visit aimed to personally inspect the damage, which caused extensive harm to academic buildings, student facilities, and key infrastructure. University officials briefed the Prime Minister on the severity of the impact, highlighting significant losses to the Faculties of Management, Agriculture, and Veterinary Medicine, as well as the IT Centre, CDCE, gymnasium, swimming pool, and playgrounds.

The Prime Minister was also briefed on how the disaster disrupted both academic activities and the wellbeing of students and staff, including the loss of more than 110 computers, vital laboratory equipment, examination documents, and four central IT servers, with preliminary damage estimates exceeding Rs. 6 billion. She commended the swift evacuation of nearly 750 students from hostels located along the Mahaweli River and acknowledged the resilience shown by nearly 11,000 students who remained on campus during the crisis.

She expressed her appreciation to the Sri Lanka Army, the Disaster Management Centre, and local donors for providing food, water, and essential supplies at a time when access and communication were severely disrupted.

A joint engineering team has confirmed that university buildings remain structurally stable, although several require urgent repairs. With academic activities suspended until 15 December.

The Prime Minister discussed with the Vice Chancellor and emergency response teams the immediate steps required to restore normalcy and provide necessary support to students whose studies and daily routines have been significantly affected.

During these discussions, the Prime Minister issued a series of directives focusing on both immediate relief and long-term safety. These include restoring essential services such as water, electricity, and safe access pathways for students; accelerating the rehabilitation of heavily damaged faculties and laboratories; strengthening early warning systems for flood-prone areas; and implementing long-term mitigation measures such as riverbank protection, improved drainage, and the relocation of vulnerable facilities. She also directed the relevant agencies to fast-track government assistance, assuring the university community that the Government stands ready to help Peradeniya rebuild stronger, safer, and more resilient than before.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Nalaka Kaluwewa, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education; Kandy District Parliamentarian Thanura Dissanayake, Professor Terrence Madhujith, Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya; and Professor R. W. Pallegama, Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya, along with Heads of Departments, officials, and student representatives of the University of Peradeniya.

Prime minister’s media division

සුරක්ෂා කඳවුරුවල සිටින දරුවන්ගේ මානසික සෞඛ්‍ය පිලිබඳ වැඩි අවධානයක් යොමු කළ යුතුයි.

ජන ජීවිතය සමාන්‍ය තත්ත්වයට පත්කිරීම සඳහා රජය ලබා දිය හැකි උපරිම සහන සහ ප්‍රතිපාදන ලබා දෙන බවත්, ජනතාවට කඩිනමින් අවශ්‍ය සහන ලබා දෙමින් ජන ජීවිතය යථාතත්ත්වයට පත් කිරීමට නම් ප්‍රාදේශිය මට්ටමේ නිලධාරීන්ගේ කාර්යක්ෂම සහයෝගය අවශ්‍ය බවත් අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය ආචාර්ය හරිනි අමරසූරිය පැවසුවාය.

පැවති ආපදා තත්ත්වය හමුවේ මහනුවර දිස්ත්‍රික්කයට සිදු වූ හානියෙන් අවතැන් ජනතාව වෙත සහන ලබාදීමේ සහ ජන ජීවිතය යථාතත්ත්වයට පත් කිරීමේ කටයුතු පිළිබඳ නිරීක්ෂණය කිරීමෙන් අනතුරුව මහනුවර උඩපළාත ප්‍රදේශීය ලේකම් කාර්යාලයේ දෙසැම්බර් 07 දින පැවති ආපදා කළමනාකරණ කමිටු සාකච්ඡාවේදි අග්‍රාමාත්‍යතුමිය මේ බව පැවසීය.

ගෙලිඔය, උඩපලාත, දොළුව ප්‍රදේශවල ආපදාවෙන් සිදු වූ හානිය සහ සහන සැපයීම් කටයුතුද අග්‍රාමාත්‍යතුමියගේ නිරීක්ෂණයට ලක්විය.

උඩපළාත සහ දොළුව ප්‍රදේශය ආවරණය වන පරිදි විදුලිය බිඳවැටීම් බොහෝ දුරට යථාතත්වයට පත්කර ඇති බවත්, ප්‍රධාන මාර්ග මේ වනවිට විවෘතව පවතින බවත් අනෙකුත් ග්‍රාමීය මාර්ග පිරිසිදු කරමින් පවතින බවත් මෙහිදී නිලධාරීන් පැවසීය. ප්‍රදේශයට අවශ්‍ය පානීය ජල සැපයුම් ලබා දෙමින් පවතින අතර සන්නිවේදන බිඳවැටීම් යථාතත්ත්වයට පත් වූ පසු බැංකු කටයුතු නිසි පරිදි සකස් කරන බවත් නිලධාරීන් පැවසීය.

මෙහිදී අදහස් දැක් වූ අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය ආචාර්ය හරිනි අමරසූරිය,

ආපදාවට ලක් වූ රටේ ජන ජීවිත වගේම ආර්ථිකය යථා තත්ත්වයට පත් කිරීමට හැකි වන්නේ අප සියලු දෙනා නම්‍යශීලී භාවයෙන් යුක්තව හා කැපවීමෙන් සිදු කරනු ලබන කාර්යභාරය මත පමණයි, විශේෂයෙන් සුරක්ෂා කඳවුරුවල සිටින දරුවන්ගේ මානසික සෞඛ්‍ය පිළිබඳ අපි වැඩි අවධානයක් යොමු කළ යුතුයි.

මේ වගේ බිහිසුණු ව්‍යසනයක් යටතේ ජනතාවගේ ජීවිත රැක ගන්න අපිට හැකි වුණේ මෙවැනි අපදා තත්වයන් පිළිබඳ අත්දැකීම් තිබුණත් නැතත් ඔබ කළ කැප කිරීම නිසයි.

මේ අතිශය දුෂ්කර අවස්ථාවේදී රාජකාරී ඉක්මවා යමින් සිදු කළ කැපකිරීම වෙනුවෙන් සියලු දෙනාට සිය ස්තූතිය පුද කරන බවද අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය ආචාර්ය හරිනි අමරසූරිය පැවසුවාය.

මහනුවර දිස්ත්‍රීක් පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්‍රීවරුන් වන පෂ්මින් ෂරීෆ්, තනුජ දිසානායක, අතිරේක දිස්ත්‍රික් ලේකම් ලලිත් ඇටම්පාවල, උඩ පළාත් ප්‍රාදේශිය ලේකම් ආත්මා ජයරත්න, දොළුව ප්‍රාදේශිය ලේකම් යමුණා දයාරත්න යන මහත්ම මහත්මීන් ද, විදුලිය බලමණ්ඩලය, ජලසම්පාදන මණ්ඩලය, මාර්ග සංවර්ධන අධිකාරිය, පොලීසිය, ආපදා කළමණාකරණ මධ්‍යස්ථානය යන ආයතන නියෝජනය කරමින් නිලධාරීන් ද මෙම අවස්ථාවට සහභාගී විය.

අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය මාධ්‍ය අංශය

A special briefing for the diplomatic community in Sri Lanka was held on 4 December at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, chaired by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya together with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Mr. Vijitha Herath. Senior government officials, including representatives of the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), also participated.

Opening the session, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya expressed her deep appreciation to the diplomatic community for their immediate support and solidarity following the recent floods and landslides. She noted that Sri Lanka had endured one of the most severe disasters in recent years, but the resilience of the people and the coordinated efforts of government agencies had enabled a rapid response and significant progress in relief operations. She confirmed that not a single tourist has been reported harmed during the disaster and noted that the previously inaccessible areas are now reachable. Massive cleanup and decontamination operations are underway to ensure that lands and public spaces are safe for return, and communications have been restored in the affected areas.

The Prime Minister emphasized that relief, evacuation, and emergency assistance were carried out with the collective effort of the tri-forces, police, public officers, health workers, volunteers, and local authorities. She acknowledged the continuing challenges, including the restoration of infrastructure, resettlement needs, and long-term disaster-mitigation work, and welcomed the technical, humanitarian, and financial support offered by partner countries.

Maj. Gen. Sampath Kotuwegoda (Retd), Director General of the Disaster Management Centre, delivered a detailed presentation on the current status of the disaster, including the number of affected families, evacuation centres, damage assessments, and the ongoing coordination with international agencies for recovery planning. The cyclone affected almost the entire country, with 22 districts severely impacted. Some locations recorded up to 540 mm of rainfall and winds of up to 70 km/h, causing widespread infrastructure damage. Early assessments indicate that 2.3 million people were exposed to flooding, with 1.8 million people directly affected on the ground and 1.1 million hectares of land impacted. The assessment also identified 40,152 pregnant women among those affected, who have been prioritized for support. He also highlighted areas where further technical cooperation, such as early-warning systems, mapping capabilities, and climate-response technologies would be valuable.

Mr. Buddhika Hewawasam, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, briefed the diplomatic community on the impact of the disaster on the tourism sector. He reassured attendees that major tourism zones remain operational, safety assessments are underway, and contingency measures have been activated to support visitors and protect the industry during the upcoming peak season. The Chairman of the Hotel Association of Sri Lanka Ashoka Hettigoda confirmed that the Coastal and resort hotels from Maravila to Passikudah are operating, with many reporting 60–65 percent occupancy; the hotels in Nuwara Eliya are partially operational. He made an appeal that the best assistance that the international community can give to Sri Lanka is the continued support provided through tourism.

Several diplomats conveyed their condolences to affected communities and reaffirmed their governments’ readiness to assist Sri Lanka in both immediate relief efforts and long-term rebuilding. They expressed appreciation for the government’s transparent engagement and the coordinated approach to managing the crisis.

Prime Minister thanked the diplomats for their continued cooperation and underscored the government’s commitment to ensuring an effective and inclusive recovery. She stressed that strengthening disaster preparedness, climate resilience, and institutional capacity will be central to Sri Lanka’s national development agenda moving forward. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Mr. Arun Hemachandra, Secretary to the Prime Minister, Mr. Pradeep Saputhanthri, and Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Aruni Ranaraja, also attended the meeting.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

Addressing Parliament today (05), the Prime Minister stated that, in accordance with the Supreme Court decision, the recommendations issued by the Public Service Commission, and the Sri Lanka Teachers’ Service Minute, all parties have agreed to recruit teachers through a competitive examination. The Prime Minister further noted that during the second phase of the recruitment process, the Development Officers currently serving in schools will be granted a special advantage during the interviews.

Addressing further, the Prime Minister stated,

In compliance with the final order of the Supreme Court and the provisions of the Sri Lanka Teachers’ Service Minute, the Development Officers will be given the opportunity to join the Sri Lanka Teachers’ Service.

It has been decided to revise the maximum age limit of 40 years, as specified in the examination notification for applicants, to 45 years for this instance only.

The Prime Minister further stated that, in accordance with the Supreme Court decision, arrangements have been taken to revise the age limits for graduates employed in the public service and graduates not employed in the public service, and to conduct separate examinations accordingly, in order to recruit teachers to Grade 3. i (a) of the Teachers’ Service to fill the available vacancies.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said that despite the recent devastation caused by severe flooding and landslides, Sri Lanka continues to recover rapidly due to the exceptional strength and solidarity demonstrated by the people. “We have taken a blow, but we are far from fallen. Our people have shown remarkable resilience, and that spirit has carried us through every crisis we have faced,” she stated while addressing the visiting NASSCOM Executive Committee and SLASSCOM leadership during their interaction held on 4th December at ICT Rathnadeepa Hotel, Colombo.

The meeting brought together NASSCOM—the apex body of India’s technology industry representing over 3,000 companies—and SLASSCOM, Sri Lanka’s national chamber for the IT and BPM sector with more than 350 member companies, to discuss digital-economy collaboration, investment opportunities, and the path forward for Sri Lanka’s ICT landscape.

The Prime Minister thanked the NASSCOM delegation for proceeding with their annual visit to Sri Lanka despite the country’s recent challenges, noting that their presence sends a strong message of confidence in Sri Lanka’s stability and recovery. She explained that the government, together with the World Bank and the United Nations, is conducting short- and long-term assessments to guide reconstruction efforts, which will include resettlement, improved disaster preparedness, flood control, and major infrastructure restoration.

During the discussion, the Prime Minister highlighted that Sri Lanka’s economic recovery plan remains firmly on course. She noted that the government has set a medium- to long-term target of 7% economic growth and emphasized two key priorities relevant to the visiting technology leaders: export diversification and accelerating the digital economy. “We are committed to developing a strong digital economy. This is an area where we look forward to India’s continued collaboration and partnership,” she said.

Responding to questions on how digital transformation is progressing within government institutions, Prime Minister stated that the Ministry of Education has already begun implementing a National Education Management System, which is expected to be launched in January. She also noted that other ministries have commenced their own digitalisation work and will be ready to introduce their systems in the coming months.

The Prime Minister also welcomed an offer of support from an Indian technology company specialising in drones for disaster response, mapping, and geospatial data. The representative proposed extending technical assistance to improve Sri Lanka’s disaster-management capabilities, including documentation and real-time monitoring. In response, Prime Minister acknowledged that Sri Lanka must strengthen early-warning systems and invest in modern technologies to better manage future disasters, noting that inadequate systems had limited the ability to predict this year’s extreme rainfall.

Detailing the government’s broader reform agenda, the Prime Minister explained that regulatory frameworks, governance reforms, and digital transformation initiatives are underway to make Sri Lanka an attractive destination for major IT and BPM investments. She stressed that Sri Lanka aims to reach USD 5 billion in export value in the IT and BPM sector by 2030, supported by improved human-resource development, education reforms, and a national plan to expand skilled employment. She further highlighted that the government is working closely with India on digitising the public sector, implementing a universal digital ID system, and introducing integrated platforms such as the National Education Management System.

The NASSCOM delegation’s visit forms part of a long-standing collaboration between NASSCOM and SLASSCOM, aimed at strengthening Sri Lanka’s ICT sector and positioning the country as a strategic extension market for leading Indian and global technology industries. Their visit also coincides with SLASSCOM’s preparations for the 2026 NASSCOM Technology & Leadership Forum.

Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne, Chief Advisor to the President on Digital Economy Dr. Hans Wijesuriya, Indian High Commissioner H.E. Santosh Jha, and representatives from SLASSCOM and NASSCOM attended the event.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

In response to the challenges faced by students affected by the adverse weather conditions in the country, many individuals and organizations have come forward to provide commendable support. In order to facilitate the receipt of financial donations from both local and international donors, the Government has introduced several designated bank accounts.

The Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Higher Education, and the Ministry of Vocational Education, and other relevant government ministries, are responsible only for financial donations made to the official accounts introduced by the Government. The Ministry has not granted consent or approval for any financial contributions directed to the accounts of any other association or individual. Therefore, responsibility for such donations lies solely with the respective organizations or individuals concerned. While appreciating the contributions made by the public during this difficult time, the Ministry urges donors to exercise caution and ensure accountability when making financial contributions for the welfare of the affected students.

For official government account information, please visit: www.donate.gov.lk

For Bank Transfers

1. US Dollar (USD)
Bank: Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, New York, USA
Recipient Account Name: Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Account Number: 04015541
Routing Number: 021001033
SWIFT: BKTRUS33XXX

2. Euro (EUR)
Bank: ODDO BHF Bank, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Recipient Account Name: Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Account Number: 0000739854
IBAN: DE39500202000000739854
SWIFT: BHFBDEFF500

3. Pound Sterling (GBP) – Account 1
Bank: HSBC Bank Plc, London, UK
Recipient Account Name: Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Account Number: 39600144
Sort Code: 40-05-15
IBAN: GB48MIDL40051539600144
SWIFT: MIDLGB22XXX

4. Pound Sterling (GBP) – Account 2
Bank: Bank of Ceylon (UK) Ltd, London, UK
Recipient Account Name: Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Account Number: 88001249
Sort Code: 40-50-56
IBAN: GB89BCEY40505688001249
SWIFT: BCEYGB2LXXX

5. Japanese Yen (JPY)
Bank: MUFG Bank, Tokyo, Japan
Recipient Account Name: Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Account Number: 653-0407895
SWIFT: BOTKJPJTXXX

6. Australian Dollar (AUD)
Bank: Reserve Bank of Australia
Recipient Account Name: Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Account Number: 81736-4
BSB: 092002
SWIFT: RSBKAU2SXXX

7. Sri Lankan Rupees (LKR)
Account Name: Deputy Secretary to the Treasury
Account Number: 2026450
Bank: Bank of Ceylon
Branch Name : Thaprobane branch
Swift: BCEYLKLX

8. Sri Lankan Rupees (LKR)
Account Name: Deputy Secretary to the Treasury
Account Number: 014100130110432
Bank: People’s Bank
Branch: Union Place Branch
SWIFT: PSBKLKLX

Prime Minister’s Media Division