Latest Sri Lanka News and Top Stories

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has welcomed the Saudi Supreme Court’s decision to set aside the death sentence imposed on Sri Lankan national Anojan Sivarasa.

Sri Lanka’s Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has instructed prison authorities to amend standing orders to allow imprisoned Buddhist monks to wear their robes when taken outside prison.

Sri Lanka Customs has exceeded its revenue target of Rs. 2,207 billion for 2026, collecting Rs. 2,208 billion by October 13, 2026, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development announced today (October 14).

Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena today (October 14, 2026) ordered the arrest of former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa over the alleged misuse of Rs. 7.8 million in public funds.

The Illegal Assets Investigation Division of Sri Lanka Police has issued a 14-day freezing order on a BMW car worth approximately Rs. 22 million, believed to have been purchased using money earned through drug trafficking.

Five people were killed in four separate road accidents in Sri Lanka on October 13, 2026, including two young men who died in a motorcycle collision in Jaffna.

Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has urged local and foreign businesses to invest in Sri Lanka with confidence, promising transparent governance, stronger laws and improved infrastructure.

Former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa was further remanded until October 16, 2026, by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today (October 13) in connection with investigations into alleged financial irregularities involving the Siriliya Saviya bank account.

Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa was further remanded until October 27, 2026, by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today (October 13) over an alleged Rs. 100 million bribe linked to the Airbus aircraft procurement deal involving SriLankan Airlines.

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath will lead Sri Lanka’s delegation to the 7th CICA Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, on October 14–15, 2026.

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today (October 13, 2026) ordered prison officials to verify whether former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa was scheduled to undergo open-heart surgery.

Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa and his brother Yoshitha Rajapaksa appeared before courts in Colombo today (October 13, 2026) in connection with separate corruption cases.

Four Jamaican nationals, including two women, were arrested with more than 1 kilogram of cocaine during a police operation in Kollupitiya, Colombo, on October 12, 2026.

Former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, who is currently being held on remand at Welikada Prison, has been admitted to the Cardiology Unit of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka in Colombo.

Former Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Colombo Municipal Councillor Mahinda Kahandagama has been remanded in custody until October 26, 2026, by the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court.