Sri Lankan AI News Summary

Sri Lanka Daily News Digest — Sunday, July 26, 2026 CRIME AND SECURITY A 55-year-old restaurant owner has died after being shot in the Bellanwila area. Police said the victim was critically injured in the shooting earlier in the day and later succumbed to his injuries. Nine people have been arrested in Akkarayankulam, Kilinochchi, after a group obstructed and attacked Wildlife Department and Police Special Task Force officers during a raid. CRICKET Former Sri Lanka Cricket President Upali Dharmadasa has died at the age of 72. Sri Lanka Cricket has terminated the Jaffna Kings franchise agreement in the Lanka Premier League over alleged breaches of anti-corruption and integrity provisions. GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS The President's Media Division has responded to reports alleging that outsiders were being accommodated at Presidential Residences. Sri Lanka has revised the guidelines for appointing President's Counsel, introducing a minimum 20-year professional experience requirement for eligible Attorneys-at-Law. SLPP Politburo member G. Cassilingham received his letter of appointment as the party's Jaffna District Organizer from National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa at party headquarters in Colombo. Sri Lanka bids farewell to Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong, whose departure was marked with reflections on the island's long history as a trading hub and destination for envoys stretching back to Emperor Ashoka's missions in the 3rd century BC. INDIA Pralhad Joshi has been appointed India's Union Education Minister following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan amid nationwide protests. In a related development, the Cockroach Janta Party called off its 36-day protest campaign over exam paper leaks after the Indian government accepted all of its demands. MIDDLE EAST At least 35 people were killed and 30 injured when two passenger buses collided on Syria's Deir al-Zor–Damascus road, according to a health ministry official quoted by state news agency SANA. Iran-aligned Houthi militants fired on Saudi oil installations at two Red Sea ports on Saturday, while Saudi-backed forces bombed Houthi positions — extending the Gulf conflict that has disrupted global supplies to a second front.