As of today, Monday, December 22, 2025, Sri Lanka is navigating a heavy news cycle dominated by the ongoing aftermath of the Ditwah disaster, high-stakes parliamentary budget debates, and major developments in land and economic investigations.
Here are the key stories making headlines this evening:
1. The One Trillion Rupee Recovery
The massive Ditwah relief and recovery plan remains the talk of the town. Following the Deputy Treasury Secretary’s briefing to the Committee on Public Finance (COPF), the government is under intense pressure to justify the 1,000 billion rupee price tag over the next three years. Specifically, the re-allocation of 130 billion rupees for 2025 has raised eyebrows among fiscal watchdogs, as the country is expected to exceed its legal primary spending limit of 13% of GDP by about 1.4% this year.
2. Parliamentary Budget Debates
The 2026 Budget is currently at the center of a heated session in Parliament. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and his administration are defending their fiscal strategy, which includes a delicate balance between anti-austerity measures and IMF-mandated discipline. Opposition members have criticized the government for shifting funds away from other vital services to cover disaster recovery, questioning if “fiscal discipline” is becoming a myth.
3. Land Issues & Major Breakthroughs
In the North, there are reports of a “major breakthrough” regarding the Thaiyitti land issue, a long-standing point of contention. Local news outlets are reporting significant progress in land releases or resolutions that could impact community stability in the Jaffna region.
4. Economic Investigations & Namal Rajapaksa’s Statements
In a move that’s trending across social media, Namal Rajapaksa has made public statements regarding “hidden millions” in foreign currency, challenging the current government’s narrative on asset recovery. This has reignited the political debate over the progress of anti-corruption investigations into the previous regime’s wealth.
5. Weather & Safety Alerts
New weather alerts have been issued for several parts of the island. Following the destructive nature of the recent cyclone/monsoon activity, the Meteorological Department is urging caution as further rainfall is expected, potentially complicating the already slow reconstruction of bridges and roads.
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