Sri Lankan AI News Summary

Sri Lanka Daily News Digest — Saturday, August 8, 2026 PRISON UNREST TRIGGERS NATIONAL SAFETY REVIEW Twenty-eight inmates injured in the unrest at Pallansena Prison have been transferred to the Welikada Prison Hospital for treatment, prison authorities said. In response, the government will set up a joint mechanism bringing together prison officials, Police, the Special Task Force, the Tri-Forces and other stakeholders to strengthen inmate safety and welfare across all 33 prisons nationwide. Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara alleged that individuals with ulterior motives are attempting to manipulate inmates into creating unrest, and urged prisoners not to serve the interests of a few. 22ND AMENDMENT GAZETTED OVER LAWYERS' OBJECTIONS The government has gazetted the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, raising the retirement age of Supreme Court judges to 67 and Court of Appeal judges to 65. A group of senior President's Counsels warned they will take tough action to force the government to abandon the proposed amendment, setting up a confrontation between the executive and senior members of the bar. ABEYSEKARA PROMOTED TO DIG CID Director Senior Superintendent of Police Shani Abeysekara has been promoted to Deputy Inspector General of Police. CHEMMANI EXCAVATION PASSES 500 REMAINS AT DAY 100 Excavation at the Chemmani mass grave site reached its 100th day, with the number of human skeletal remains recovered now surpassing 500. ECONOMY: MARKET RALLY EXTENDS, RICE TRADER FINED The Colombo Stock Exchange rose for a third straight session on Friday, August 7, with broad-based buying pushing the ASPI toward 21,400 and lifting both benchmark indices. Separately, the Polonnaruwa Magistrate's Court fined a rice supplier Rs. 1 million for selling Red Nadu rice above the government-imposed Maximum Retail Price, the Consumer Affairs Authority said. ESALA PERAHERA NOT AFFECTED BY ANIMAL WELFARE ACT Central Province Governor Dr. Harsha Suranga Fernando said there is no cause for public concern that the proposed Animal Welfare Act will affect the Kandy Esala Perahera or other traditional cultural events. SPORTS: RUGBY UPSET SETS UP KNOCKOUTS, OLYMPIC DREAM PROFILED League play in the SLSRFA Elite Under-18 Rugby 7s at the Royal Sports Complex in Reid Avenue ended with a major upset, fancied St. Joseph's College falling to Maliyadeva College as the eight Cup quarter-finalists were decided. The Day 2 knockout rounds across the Cup, Bowl and Shield categories are scheduled for today, August 8, at the same venue. In athletics, Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage's path to the Olympics is profiled: he traded cricket for the javelin, survived wild elephant attacks and drove a mini truck through the night to chase his goal.