Fri, Sep 11, 2026
22 headlines
SRI LANKA DAILY NEWS DIGEST - Friday, September 11, 2026
TOP STORY: SUPREME COURT VOIDS GNANASARA PARDON
The Supreme Court has declared null and void the presidential pardon granted to Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera by former President Maithripala Sirisena, ruling the exercise of the pardon power unlawful.
COURTS AND INVESTIGATIONS
The Attorney General told the Colombo High Court that legal action will be taken against a prosecution witness accused of giving false evidence in the money laundering case against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The Colombo High Court served indictments on former Minister Duminda Dissanayake and two others over a gold-plated T-56 firearm found at a Wellawatte housing complex.
Racing driver Dilantha Malagamuwa denied any involvement in an alleged Rs. 2.5 billion land fraud concerning a Barnes Place, Colombo 7 property, calling the claims false and baseless.
The IGP has launched a special intelligence operation targeting parties organised through Facebook, tracking both the organisers and the venues, over suspected drug links.
Separately, the Central Bank Governor urged wider anti-money laundering compliance, saying prevention cannot rest with banks alone and must extend to lawyers, notaries and other designated non-financial businesses and professions.
POLITICS AND SOCIETY
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake defended the public's democratic right to question government decisions but warned that this freedom must not be used to incite hatred between ethnic communities.
The All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama called for justice for Easter Sunday attack victims and demanded that information on those responsible be made public.
Prime Minister and Education Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya told Parliament the new education reforms are student friendly, with lighter school bags and textbooks limited to a single term's curriculum.
ENVIRONMENT
Sri Lanka secured cooperation opportunities in environmental protection, agriculture and trade after Environment Minister Dr. Dammika Patabendi attended the UNCCD Heads of State Summit in Mongolia. At home, the government met Catholic religious leaders, who warned of environmental destruction threatening people's livelihoods.
ECONOMY AND INFRASTRUCTURE
A US Federal Maritime Commission delegation led by Chairperson Laura DiBella and Commissioner Robert J. Harvey visited the Port of Colombo for talks on the future of global shipping.
The renovated Bambalapitiya Railway Station opened yesterday after a Rs. 60 million upgrade under the Dream Destination initiative, part of the Clean Sri Lanka programme to modernise 100 stations.
MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT HITS OIL
Oil rose above 100 dollars a barrel for the first time since July as the Iran conflict escalates and supply disruption fears grow. Iran-aligned Houthis seized Yemen's port city of Mocha and pushed down the Red Sea coast to strategic islands, threatening Saudi oil exports, hours after President Trump said he expected the war to end after the US midterms. Commentary this morning argues Sri Lanka and the Global South should note India's backing of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's condemnation of strikes on Iran, alongside analysis questioning whether Washington's new National Security Strategy, which deprioritises Europe for the Western Hemisphere, leaves the world safer.
OTHER INTERNATIONAL
Algeria abruptly cut diplomatic ties with the UAE, citing provocative and hostile actions by Abu Dhabi without giving specifics.
Twenty-five people died in a fire aboard a foreign-flagged cargo ship docked at a port in eastern China, state broadcaster CCTV reported.
SPORT AND CULTURE
SSC meet Moors SC in the Major Club limited-overs final at the R. Premadasa Stadium today under lights from 2.30 p.m.
At the ITF J60 in Colombo, China's Shi and Huang advanced to the semi-finals, while India's Sasatha Bhuvaneswaran produced the day's standout result, beating Germany's Luise Luczak 6-0, 6-0.
American singer Jeff Timmons, founder of the 98 Degrees Foundation, arrived at Katunayake on Wednesday evening for a charity concert in Colombo.