Sri Lankan AI News Summary

SRI LANKA DAILY NEWS DIGEST — Sunday, September 13, 2026 POLITICS: ANTI-CORRUPTION DRIVE AND OPPOSITION PUSHBACK President Anura Kumara Dissanayake defended the government's prosecution of corruption cases, saying claims of political revenge and bids for public sympathy would not deter legal action against those accused of misappropriating public funds. In a pointed remark, he said fathers should have advised their sons not to steal, and asked what he could do if they are caught. He also ruled out any compromise with organised criminal networks and the illegal drug trade, pledging to eradicate the underworld while insisting the campaign is about justice, not revenge. The remarks came as the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna escalated its campaign against the government. The party held its "Janasatana" public rally in Anuradhapura on Saturday, attended by several former ministers and MPs, with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa joining the gathering. His son, SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa, currently in remand custody, sent a message to supporters saying he sees them from behind prison bars and that the challenges he faces would strengthen rather than break him. Separately, Jaffna District opposition MP Archuna Ramanathan warned that the NPP was attempting to bring the judiciary and parliament under its control, claiming the country could return to the dark era of 1988-89 by 2029. ECONOMY AND ENERGY The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation assured there will be no immediate increase in domestic fuel prices despite a sharp rise in global crude oil prices. The global pressure follows Saudi Arabia's closure of a critical oil pipeline after a drone attack launched from Iraq, as Middle East conflict widens. Iraq confirmed it had fired the drones. AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY Parliament was told the El Nino phenomenon is expected to significantly affect paddy cultivation from late 2026 through the first quarter of 2027. The Ministry of Agriculture has drawn up a plan to promote short-duration paddy varieties to safeguard food security. HEALTH Women relying on the widely used contraceptive pill Mithuri are struggling to obtain it, with alternative brands also reportedly scarce at pharmacies, raising concerns over access to family planning services. EDUCATION AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said building a respectful education system that treats everyone equally is a core government objective, and that the state has accepted responsibility for ensuring a better future for students with disabilities. The government launched the "Life Cities" Development Programme, backed by Rs. 65 million, to transform selected urban areas into safer, more inclusive and sustainable spaces for people, animals and the environment. REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL The South Asian University signed a memorandum of understanding with the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies in Colombo to build research networks and partnerships across South Asia. In Britain, the government rejected proposals for a so-called "kill switch" to halt attacks by rogue artificial intelligence systems. US conservative journalist Tucker Carlson warned in an interview that the world is on the brink of a global conflict that could end with the use of nuclear weapons. — Note: the Rs. 65 figure for Life Cities was truncated in the source feed; I read it as Rs. 65 million, worth verifying before publication.