Sat, Jul 18, 2026
22 headlines
Sri Lanka Daily News Digest — Saturday, July 18, 2026
TOP STORY: Former IGP Chandana Deepal Wickramaratne was found dead from gunshot injuries at his Malambe residence around 7.30am Thursday. Police are investigating.
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE: Central Province Governor Prof. Sarath Abeykoon says he has received no response from President Dissanayake to his resignation letter. The President met prison officials over recent Negombo Prison unrest and preventive measures, and separately urged that vocational education be prioritised alongside ongoing education reforms.
COURTS & INVESTIGATIONS: The Fort Magistrate's Court ordered the arrest of Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara, MP Jagath Manuwarna and four others after they failed to appear for a hearing. Former Colombo Mayor Rosy Senanayake testified before the Presidential Commission investigating alleged CMC corruption over 2019 food vouchers. The Court of Appeal set August 4 to hear intervention petitions in ex-SIS chief Suresh Sallay's writ application, and ordered bail for a man held nearly 15 years in remand under the PTA. At the Chemmani mass grave, 11 more skeletal remains were found, including a copper ring still on a finger bone.
DEFENCE & FOREIGN RELATIONS: At the BIMSTEC Security Chiefs' Meeting, Defence Secretary AVM Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) called for stronger regional cooperation in the Bay of Bengal. The US and Sri Lanka reaffirmed commitments to trade and maritime security in Washington talks. Türkiye's ambassador said his embassy is arranging an expert visit to brief Sri Lankan military officials on drone sales.
ENVIRONMENT: The Central Environmental Authority launched a five-year programme to make Kataragama sacred city and the Menik Ganga area a "Polythene Free Sacred Zone" by 2030. Sri Lanka became the first country to complete the LEAP Dog programme for humane, science-based dog population management.
ECONOMY: The Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower Friday as turnover fell to the year's low; the ASPI held the key 21,400 support level for a third time despite selling pressure. A dengue live tracker continues monitoring cases and regional trends nationwide.
SPORTS: Jaffna Kings co-owner and former India U-19 World Cup winner Manjot Kalra was arrested over an alleged LPL match-fixing approach to a player. Sri Lanka's Women's ODI squad, with Inoka Ranaweera and Anushka Sanjeewani recalled, hosts Pakistan in a three-match series July 23–28.
WORLD: The US widened airstrikes on Iran — hitting bridges, power infrastructure and a port tower — amid pressure over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran retaliated with missile strikes on US-allied Gulf states including Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.
IN BRIEF: A Makulugaswewa police constable was interdicted after a WPC complained of misconduct while on duty. A global workforce study finds most workers feel anxiety over careers and the coming "AI tsunami," with employers underprepared.