TikaWeeks #09/2025: Sri Lanka update
Posted by John on 26th February 2025
SriLankan Airlines allocated Rs20bn
The 2025 budget has allocated Rs20bn for national carrier SriLankan Airlines to repay the principal and interest of its loan. In his budget speech, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that Rs10bn will be allocated for both the capital and interest repayments.
Once the debt service costs are settled by the government, the president stressed that the carrier will be fully responsible for ensuring its future profitability.
Today is Maha Shivratri Day!
Shivratri, also known as Maha Shivratri or Maha Shivarathri (Tamil), is a Hindu festival that is celebrated annually in honour of Lord Shiva, one of the main deities in Hinduism. The festival is observed by fasting, praying and offering devotion to Lord Shiva. Fasting on Shivratri is considered to be extremely auspicious and is believed to bring blessings and fulfilment of desires.
This Hindu festival celebrates the power of Lord Shiva, who protects his devotees from negative and evil spirits.
Approval of government at a high of 62% in February
The government’s approval rating rose sharply after the election, from 24% in July 2024 to 62% in February 2025, when the latest round of the Gallup style ‘Mood of the Nation’ poll was conducted by Verité Research.
For the first time since the economic crisis, a majority of the population (55%) feels that economic conditions in Sri Lanka are “getting better.” However, 47% still feel that the economy, as a whole, is in a “poor condition.” This is down from 71% who thought that way in July 2024.
Overall, from July 2024 to February 2025, the percentage of people who disapprove of the government declined from 60% to 16% (44-point reduction), and the percentage of people who think the economy is getting worse declined from 65% to 14% (51-point reduction).
Camera developed to save elephants from being hit by trains
The Engineering Faculty of Peradeniya University near Kandy has developed a camera to save elephants from being struck by trains, which is a significant morbidity in the wild. This innovative camera system based on AI will be fitted to the front of railway engines to signal to the driver when any object is 500 metres ahead of the train.
Head of the Faculty of Engineering Prof. Lilantha Samaranayake said it is not possible to stop a train immediately, but by using this new camera system the driver could identify wild elephants crossing railway lines well in advance and subsequently stop the train in time.
Categories: Culture, Flights, News, Sri Lanka, Wildlife
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