Arundathie Abeysinghe

A research team from the Sri Lanka Blue Resources Trust found a new ridge linking the Yakampita and Gingiripita reefs. The discovery reveals the surprising richness of the marine ecosystem near the capital, where some areas show over 50 per cent hard coral cover. But researchers warn that the reefs remain outside protected areas and are threatened by pollution and illegal fishing.

Built 160 years ago, the historic iron bridge, long a tourist attraction in the Badulla district, has been in a state of disrepair for over a year after part of it was swept away by bad weather. Local residents are protesting because during the rainy season they are forced to travel 70 kilometres to sell their vegetables at the market.

According to CBSL data, declared exports of precious stones in 2024 were less than £382 million. However, the value is much higher for unaccounted exports and clandestine trade. The main destinations are Hong Kong, Thailand and Dubai. Experts find it difficult to intervene because those responsible ‘enjoy political protection’.

Most of the abandoned building that the current administration had repurposed for national interest ventures are closed and in disrepair. Many heritage buildings have become havens for criminals and drug addicts, while furniture and other assets have been stolen. Former lawmakers and scholars are calling for urgent action before the deterioration becomes irreversible.

Seven out of every 100 couples on the island are related by blood. The figure drops to 4% among Sinhalese and Muslims, but reaches almost 25% among Tamils. Among the most sensitive diseases is thalassaemia, present in 50% of children born to blood relatives among the Tamils. The defence of the land and ancestral traditions fuel marriages within the family.

The Colombo government has launched a plan to build the facility on the northern island, where it still takes seven hours and sky-high prices to deliver the fuel that powers the electricity generators. ‘It is part of the effort to bridge the gaps and develop the economy in peripheral areas.’ But environmentalists are concerned about the impact on the fragile ecosystem, which is still home to a large population of wild horses.

Computer literacy remains low in the South Asian country, while the region reported overall progress. In 2024, 64.1 per cent of the population did not know how to use a computer, and only 19.1 per cent of households owned one, according to new data from the Department of Census and Statistics. Literacy is higher among young people and those with higher education, with rates dropping in rural areas.

A price cap on the retail price of rice has triggered economic instability, causing supply shortages. Government moves have failed to solve the crisis. The Consumer Protection Authority has reported difficulties in monitoring and frequent limited results.

Sri Lanka's prison population exceeds 35,000 in facilities designed for 12,000. Drug-related offences account for more than half of all inmates. Prisons Commissioner Jagath Weerasinghe calls for urgent reforms. Some lawyers told AsiaNews that pre-trial detention is used far too often and a legal system is slow in adopting non-custodial sentences.

Every year, approximately 500,000 metric tonnes of fruit and vegetables are lost – enough to feed the country for up to four months. Among the causes are poor transportation and packaging. Losses could be reduced to 5.7 per cent by following the Ministry of Agriculture's guidelines. The Circular Project sponsored by the FAO and the EU aims to reduce food waste with a circular economy approach and digital tools.

The iconic seaside resort and favourite destination for surfers is at the centre of an environmental emergency. Night-time parties with loud music disturb the herds, causing them to move and putting the lives of residents at risk. Complaints to the police, who often collude with hoteliers hosting tourists, have so far been in vain. Environmentalists are calling for the establishment of protected areas.

A new environmental emergency has hit the strait separating the Indian coast from Sri Lanka, threatening to cripple local tourism and fishing. Carried by currents from India, mounds of plastic reach the Mannar region. Monsoon currents, which carry dust, are more difficult to collect, compounding the problem. Globally, the failure to ratify or implement agreements and treaties weighs heavily on the country.