Fri, Sep 25, 2026
22 headlines
Sri Lanka News Digest — Friday, September 25, 2026
POLITICS: The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution dominated Parliament debate. Government MPs said the amendment carries no political agenda and was introduced to fulfil promises made to the people, not to enforce authoritarianism. Opposition SJB MP Ajith P. Perera countered that it disrupts judicial traditions and was introduced improperly. Separately, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa vowed the SJB would defeat the Government "through the power of the people." In a lighter moment, ruling party SLPP MPs including Namal Rajapaksa were photographed together at the Parliament canteen.
CORRUPTION CASE: CIABOC arrested and remanded (until October 6) former Krrish Group director Janaki Siriwardena over allegations she offered a bribe to Namal Rajapaksa, as part of an ongoing illegal-assets probe. In a related court matter, model Piumi Hansamali withdrew her Court of Appeal writ petition seeking to halt a CID Illegal Assets Investigations Division probe into her.
WEATHER: The Met Department has warned of heavy showers up to 100mm, strong winds and thunderstorms across several parts of the country over the next 36 hours.
ECONOMY: The Colombo Stock Exchange closed marginally lower on September 24 as foreign selling reversed earlier gains. Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe called for stronger regional economic partnerships to convert Sri Lanka's macroeconomic stability into sustainable growth, as a new report projects the country's GDP growth at around 4% this year. Separately, the SLCB said MICE tourism is becoming a key driver of forex earnings, technology transfer and jobs, while Thailand's Asian Institute of Technology opened its first overseas office in Sri Lanka to expand executive education offerings.
FOREIGN EMPLOYMENT: The SLBFE issued warnings over a fake website and a fraudulent recruitment link circulating on social media, both misusing the Bureau's name and logo to collect personal data from jobseekers with bogus offers of free employment in Israel. Separately, a Ministerial Consultative Committee on Women and Child Affairs said a technical committee will decide whether mothers with children under five may be permitted to leave for foreign jobs.
DIPLOMACY: Sri Lanka and the UAE discussed advancing the tripartite UAE-India-Sri Lanka initiative to develop Trincomalee as a regional energy hub, in talks between the UAE ambassador and Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath departs for New York on September 26 to address the 81st UN General Assembly on September 28. Separately, diplomats, UN officials and civil society reviewed Sri Lanka's progress toward its 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
GOVERNANCE: PM Harini Amarasuriya said accessible, non-discriminatory justice and the rule of law remain key government commitments. A Ministerial Consultative Committee was also briefed on new National Media Guidelines designed to protect children's privacy and dignity in news reporting.