As severe weather continues to rage, more than a thousand people are dead, while millions are affected across vast swathes of Southeast Asia and South Asia. In Sri Lanka, all 25 districts have reported damage of varying degrees. In Indonesia, illegal logging has contributed to soil erosion, making the devastation worse.
In Sri Lanka, the preliminary death toll from Typhoon Ditwah stands at 56, with 44,000 people affected. Hundreds of millimetres of rain fell in just a few hours. Government offices and schools are closed. In Indonesia, 19 people are confirmed dead with scores trapped by mud and debris. The archbishop of Medan has launched a fundraiser.
Growth linked to increased global demand, with new opportunities for the country to monetise its natural resources responsibly. For environmentalists, mangroves could yield ‘over a million carbon credits per year’. A regulatory framework is being developed to distribute the proceeds from emissions trading to local communities.
The 35th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was celebrated in Sri Lanka on World Children's Day with immersive films and an exhibition at the Lotus Tower. More than 200 works created by children from across the country were on display. For the authorities, urgent action is needed so that “no one is left behind”.
Banned since 2017, the Minister of Environment himself admits that state agencies have not taken sufficient measures to curb their widespread use. Environmentalists: burning them for disposal produces toxic gases. But behind the failure to abandon them are, above all, the absence of intervention at production sites and the lack of affordable alternatives.
The diplomatic mission will be operational by the first quarter of next year, to consolidate the growth reported at the start of the 2025 with the Lunar New Year. The People's Republic is currently Sri Lanka’s fifth-largest source country for visitors. The government has set an ambitious target of three million arrivals this year to boost this sector of the economy.
