Sri Lankan AI News Summary

Sri Lanka Daily News Digest - Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ECONOMY AND FINANCE Cabinet Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa said the Government has not yet decided whether to stay in the current IMF programme or leave it, after claims that Sri Lanka would exit in 2027. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said a Central Bank and Census Department report on the country's socio-economic situation is full of errors, and challenged the Government to a public debate on it. The Colombo Stock Exchange fell again on September 29. Both main indices closed clearly lower as selling spread across the market. COURTS AND ACCOUNTABILITY The Supreme Court ruled that former Disaster Management Minister A.H.M. Fowzie violated the constitutional right to equality by using a government vehicle for personal purposes. He must pay Rs. 6.66 million to the Consolidated Fund and a further Rs. 5 million in exemplary compensation for corruption. He must also publish a public apology in the Sunday Observer, Silumina and Varamanjari. In the Airbus deal case, the Attorney General said the investigation is complete, and the Colombo Chief Magistrate kept MP Namal Rajapaksa in remand until October 13. The Jaffna Magistrate's Court set November 27 to record more evidence from former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the case over the 2011 disappearance of activists Lalith Kumar Weeraraj and Kugan Muruganandhan. GOVERNANCE AND DIGITALISATION President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told officials to work towards a single national digital system for public services. The GOV Pay online payment platform now covers state institutions in the Ratnapura and Kegalle districts. Sri Lanka AI Week 2026 opened in Colombo, run by the Ministry of Digital Economy and SLT-MOBITEL. At a related discussion, Dr Hans Wijesuriya said the country needs a minimum level of its own AI capability so that key technology stays under national control. INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORT The Cabinet approved a Rs. 2.89 billion contract, excluding VAT, with Maga Engineering for Phase III of the Baseline Road Extension. A new Metro bus service began in the Western Province, with 112 buses costing Rs. 7.5 billion running on seven routes. The project was first proposed in the 2025 Budget. SECURITY AND SOCIAL ISSUES Police seized 891 illegal firearms between January 1 and September 17. The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs urgently warned parents and guardians about the growing number of children's photos and videos shared on social media, including content posted for profit. Former President Maithripala Sirisena called the recent explosion at the National Nephrology Hospital in Polonnaruwa his "most painful day". FOREIGN AFFAIRS Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath met Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi at the 81st UN General Assembly in New York. SPORTS Rumesh Tharanga has had an outstanding 2026 season, with titles at the Commonwealth Games, the Asian Games and the Diamond League, which raises hopes of an Olympic gold. At the Asian Games in Japan, the women's 4x400m relay team finished seventh in 3:34.90. In tennis, nine Sri Lankans (four boys and five girls) reached the quarter-finals of the ATF Under-14 Colombo Week 2 tournament. REGION In Thailand, floods have killed at least 23 people, including four in Bangkok, and affected about 700,000 people in 42 provinces since September 16.