IFC announces $166 million financing package to support Sri Lankan businesses

Three passengers were arrested at Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake this morning (January 25) while attempting to smuggle Kush and Hashish worth about Rs. 133.94 million through the Green Channel.

A Sri Lankan organized criminal wanted on multiple murder and serious crime charges was arrested at Bandaranaike International Airport after being brought from India through joint security coordination.

Senior Lawyer G.K.A. Chaminda Kumara Kularatne, Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, has been suspended from duty with effect from yesterday (January 23).

The 48-hour token strike by the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA), launched over unresolved allowance and service demands, continued for the second day today (January 24), causing serious inconvenience to patients across Sri Lanka.

Two multi-day fishing trawlers carrying approximately 270 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and heroin were intercepted in deep waters off Sri Lanka’s southern coast during a joint operation by the Sri Lanka Navy and the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB), authorities said yesterday (January 23).

Former Director General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) and former Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media, Anusha Palpita, was remanded until February 6, 2026, after being arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) for failing to explain the source of assets worth about Rs. 46 million.

Former Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media and former Director General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL), Anusha Palpita, was arrested today (January 23) by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

Former Minister Johnston Fernando and five suspects, including his two sons, have been ordered to be further remanded until January 30, 2026.

The foundation stone for the reconstruction of the Paranthan Chemical Factory, closed since 1985 due to the conflict in the Northern Province, was laid on January 21, 2026 at the Paranthan Chemical Industrial Zone.

A 48-hour island-wide symbolic strike by the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) began at 8:00 AM today (January 23), disrupting general hospital services in Sri Lanka due to the failure to implement agreements given by the Health Minister.

A high level discussion on strengthening Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector with Chinese support and addressing related environmental issues was held yesterday morning (January 22) at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) today (January 22) told court that indictments have been filed against former Minister Arjuna Ranatunga and his brother Dhammika Ranatunga over a nearly Rs. 800 million loss to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) says it will engage in a 48 hour token strike at hospitals across Sri Lanka starting from 8:00 AM tomorrow (January 23).

Sri Lanka recorded a sharp drop in temperatures today (January 22) with Nuwara Eliya reporting a low of 3.5°C the coldest recorded in recent times according to the Department of Meteorology.

Trade unions of the Ceylon Electricity Board have warned that trade union action will begin from February 01, 2026, over unresolved issues linked to the proposed restructuring of the institution.