Thu, Sep 17, 2026
22 headlines
SRI LANKA DAILY NEWS DIGEST — Thursday, September 17, 2026
POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE
MP Namal Rajapaksa, SLPP National Organizer, was remanded until September 23 by Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena after the Attorney General filed a further report in the ongoing Airbus deal money laundering case. Separately, the Government will space out the islandwide public rallies scheduled to be attended by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Agriculture Minister K.D. Lal Kantha said. On the diplomatic front, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's two-day visit produced high-level engagements aimed at expanding defence, maritime security and regional cooperation.
ECONOMY AND BUSINESS
The Colombo Stock Exchange fell for a third straight session on September 16, with the ASPI breaking below 21,200 as broad-based selling intensified under the weight of elevated global oil prices. In better news, coconut exports earned US$614 million in the first half of 2026, up year on year, Deputy Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure Sundaralingam Pradeep said. A National Business Facilitation Centre, approved by Cabinet and functioning as a one-stop-shop under the President, opens next week to cut bureaucratic hurdles for investors. Sri Lanka Tourism wrapped up its Australia and New Zealand roadshow series in Perth with more than 85 travel agents and operators, while the Export Development Board fronted a Sri Lanka Country Pavilion targeting the Maldivian hospitality market at FHAM 2026.
HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY
A shortage of crepe bandages and other essential surgical supplies at the Colombo National Hospital and other major hospitals has raised alarm over the national medical supply system, with patients reportedly told to buy treatment items from outside pharmacies. The Public Health Inspectors Association warned that the proposed Rabies Eradication and Dog Registration Bill could disrupt the dog vaccination programme and raise human rabies risk. Two people were killed and several injured in Mattakkuliya last night when a car, a three-wheeler and four motorcycles collided.
WEATHER
The Department of Meteorology, citing international forecasts, expects heavy rains from October as El Nino intensifies, bringing flood and landslide risk to several districts. Severe drought conditions are set to continue until April.
CONSUMER
Two supermarket branches in Bandaragama and Matugama were fined a total of Rs. 400,000 for selling eggs above the marked price, altering original prices on food products and stocking expired beverages.
ENVIRONMENT
A wildlife veterinary surgeon was injured when a hill country leopard he was trying to free from a wire trap sprang at him.
SPORT
England overwhelmed Sri Lanka in the T20 international, skipper Harry Brook hitting his second and fastest T20I century and Jos Buttler smashing 80 off 44 balls. Dharmaraja College ended a 14-year wait by beating defending champions St. Peter's College 38-19 to win the All-Island Elite Under-19 Rugby Sevens Championship 2026. Araliya Group Chairman Dudley Sirisena has pledged to supply javelin thrower Rumesh Tharanga with world-class javelins almost every year until he wins Olympic gold.
INTERNATIONAL
At least 70 people were killed in a gold mine collapse in Sudan's West Kordofan state. The Kosovo war crimes tribunal convicted former President Hashim Thaci on four counts of war crimes, sentencing him to 25 years. The European Union announced plans to ban social media for under-13s and restrict it for older children, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming became Asia's richest person for the first time, overtaking Gautam Adani as his fortune passed $105 billion.