Sri Lanka, Dec. 5 -- Former Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, PC, has called on the country to seize the current national disaster as a turning point, stressing that Sri Lanka must "never waste a crisis" but use it to rebuild stronger and more resilient.Sri Lanka travel guide

In a strongly worded statement, Sabry described the scale of destruction caused by the recent extreme weather as "unimaginable", noting that 70% of railway lines are damaged, over 1,000 homes completely destroyed, more than 40,000 partially damaged, and critical road networks torn apart. Official figures on the dead and missing are now approaching 1,000, he said.

Despite the devastation, he urged the nation to view this moment as an opportunity for transformation. "The q...