Sri Lankan AI News Summary.

Sri Lanka Daily News Digest — Monday, November 9, 2026 Floods and weather: Friday's Colombo flooding has become a political row. Former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said it could have been averted if the Colombo Municipal Council and other officials had heeded Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya's directive to clean canals and drains. Landslide warnings are in place for several areas across nine districts, and heavy showers above 100mm are forecast for parts of six provinces, plus Galle and Matara. Kandy National Hospital's outpatient ground floor was flooded after Saturday's rain, and a parked lorry was swept away by the Hatton Oya. Government and Budget: Doctors, salaried employees and other professionals are urging a fairer tax structure before the Budget. The Tamil Progressive Alliance asked the Government to pause its plantation leasing decision and first honour housing and land commitments under the Hatton Declaration. The Hasthi Sena elephant-protection operation will be formalised under a new policy framework. Proposed amendments to the Organised Crime Prevention Bill would cut the detention period to 48 hours. MP Nalin Bandara clarified the import of 39 drones and 16 microphones. A Verité Research review found 14 of 36 high-value proposals in the 2025 Budget fell short of substantial implementation. Health and infrastructure: Patients at the National Hospital face two to three day waits for MRI scans, despite several machines worth about Rs. 400 million each, a medical association alleged. The GMOA will protest outside Colombo National Hospital on November 10 over salary, allowance and duty-free vehicle permit issues. The Water Board earned no revenue from nearly a quarter of the water it supplied in the first half of 2026. The Rs. 32.5 billion Kandy Multimodal Transport Terminal is 55% complete and is expected to open by end-July 2027. Markets: The CSE extended its rally to a fifth straight session, with ASPI above 21,500. Cricket: Kusal Mendis, captaining Sri Lanka in Test cricket for the first time, chose to bowl first against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. Pakistan, with four debutants, reached 281 for 5 at stumps on day one. In football, Sri Lanka drew 2-2 with Bhutan in their SAFF Championship opener after a late equaliser. World: Donald Trump said his immigration crackdown was "too tough" and played a part in the midterm defeat. He also said US strikes on Iran are unlikely while peace talks keep moving, and he will meet mediator Qatar, though no imminent deal is in sight. Iran authorised a fertiliser shipment bound for Sri Lanka to pass the Strait of Hormuz. Europe will join US-brokered Russia-Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi despite Kremlin objections. Teddy Riner declared a French presidential bid. Nvidia shares fell 7.5%, wiping out $335 billion in value, and the company opened an investigation into its CEO's alleged affair with a suspected Chinese spy. Russell Brand was sentenced to 10.5 years in prison for rape and sexual assault. People and science: Sri Lankan-born New Yorker Chamal Rathnayake completed the 50th NYC Marathon in 4 hours 38 minutes. Miss Universe Sri Lanka Nimhara Sasindi left for the 75th pageant in Puerto Rico. Scientists predict 2026 will be the hottest year on record. The Navy rescued three ailing fishermen off Trincomalee.