Sri Lankan AI News Summary

SRI LANKA DAILY NEWS DIGEST - Saturday, September 19, 2026 TRANSPORT The two-day railway strike ends at midnight, but unions warn of fresh industrial action if their grievances are not settled. Railway authorities put losses from the stoppage at over Rs.60 million. Separately, seat belts became compulsory for all passengers - not just those in front seats - on Sri Lanka's expressways from midnight, Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake announced. ENERGY AND THE GRID Two renewable energy milestones were connected to the national grid on Friday, both under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The 10 MW/40 MWh Battery Energy Storage System in Anuradhapura - the country's first solar storage facility - came online in the morning, allowing excess daytime solar generation to be stored. The government says more battery storage projects are planned nationwide. In the afternoon, the 5 MW "Diyajanani" floating solar plant on the Ibbankatuwa Tank in Dambulla was commissioned. POLITICS AND COURTS Several opposition parties and civil society groups are organising a mass protest next week against the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution. In the courts, NPP MP Namal Rajapaksa was further remanded until September 29 over allegations of a Rs.100 million bribe linked to the SriLankan Airlines Airbus procurement. The Court of Appeal will deliver its decision on September 30 on MP Dilith Jayaweera's writ petition challenging a contempt complaint against him. The Colombo Magistrate's Court has ordered the IGP to investigate whether a speech by former Minister Wimal Weerawansa in Anuradhapura amounts to contempt of court. DISASTER PREPAREDNESS The parliamentary select committee examining the lack of readiness for Cyclone Ditwah will summon representatives of Pradeshiya Sabhas and Municipal Councils to review how local authorities coordinated their response. FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND DEFENCE The Foreign Ministry says it is closely monitoring the case of Sri Lankan national Anojan Sivarasa, who faces a possible death sentence in Saudi Arabia over alleged defamatory remarks against Islam. India has extended viability gap funding for the Nagapattinam-Kankesanthurai passenger ferry service for a third year, the High Commission confirmed. A three-day tourism development study tour of the Eastern Province for Colombo-based heads of diplomatic missions began Friday, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism. A 75-member Sri Lanka Army contingent left Thursday for Russia to join "Exercise Wolverine Path II - 2026." BUSINESS The Colombo Stock Exchange broke a four-session losing streak on Friday, with both benchmark indices closing marginally higher after a volatile session and the market steadying near the 21,000 level. Commentary elsewhere warns the global economy is running short of room to absorb further shocks, following the energy disruption triggered by the American and Israeli strikes on Iran in February. SPORT Chamari Athapaththu struck 63 off 37 balls and Kavisha Dilhari an unbeaten 44 off 27 as the Sri Lanka women's team recorded a comprehensive win. In the men's game, England beat Sri Lanka by six wickets, with Jos Buttler becoming the first player to reach 15,000 career T20 runs and Liam Dawson taking three wickets. INTERNATIONAL At least 16 people, including five police officers, were killed in northwest Pakistan when a suicide attacker drove an explosives-laden car into a police facility while worshippers prayed in an adjoining mosque. In the Philippines, a 16-year-old gunman shot dead two students and wounded eight others at a high school before killing himself.