Sri Lankan AI News Summary.

Sri Lanka Daily News Digest — Friday, October 23, 2026 ECONOMY President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said managing foreign reserves is the government's biggest challenge. He warned that higher capital spending puts more pressure on foreign exchange, and that the economy is not yet strong enough to absorb external shocks. CRIME AND SECURITY Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament that underworld-linked shootings have fallen this year. He said INTERPOL red notices are out for 236 Sri Lankans, and 17 special teams are working against crime and drug trafficking. SJB MP Chaminda Wijesiri asked why people accused of paying bribes are being questioned overseas instead of being brought back to Sri Lanka to face legal proceedings. In India, border forces detained three Sri Lankans and a woman from Tamil Nadu near the India-Nepal border in Bahraich district. The group was allegedly trying to cross into Nepal through a forest route. ELEPHANT PROTECTION Authorities will step up joint emergency raids in areas hit by human-elephant conflict to tackle elephant killings and other wildlife crimes. The Department of Wildlife Conservation will also train military personnel in elephant behaviour and field handling. In Parliament, the Opposition asked Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne to appoint a Parliamentary Select Committee to investigate the recent death of a tusker. MONKS' PROTEST The Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court refused to change Thursday's order barring a group of Buddhist monks from staying continuously near Viharamahadevi Park. The UNP accused police of misleading the court by naming monks who were not part of the protest march from Kandy. PARLIAMENT SJB MP Dr. Kavinda Jayawardana warned that a shortage of rabies vaccines in state hospitals threatens the country's goal of zero human rabies deaths. SLPP MP D.V. Chanaka said there is no rule of law in the country, only the government's agenda. MP Shanakiyan urged a transparent recruitment process for teachers and asked the government to keep Development Officers who are already teaching. Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara caused a scene in the chamber by singing a Vas Kaviya, a traditional plea for divine punishment of wrongdoers. WEATHER AND TRANSPORT Fishermen and naval crews have been told not to go into the deep sea in the Bay of Bengal. A low-pressure system there is expected to become a cyclonic storm by October 26. Trains between Rambukkana, Peradeniya and Gampola are suspended today and tomorrow (October 24-25) because of a landslide near Kadigamuwa station. Two fire engines were sent to a fire at a machinery and electrical appliance store in Nittambuwa town. PUBLIC ALERTS Sri Lanka CERT warned the public about a fake social media message offering "Vap Poya Day rewards" in the name of a leading local bank. DIPLOMACY AND HEALTH Chinese Ambassador Wei Huaxiang visited the family of the late Minister R.G. Senanayake, who helped build Sri Lanka-China relations. At the Second International Congress on Childhood Cancer in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, delegates discussed better treatment and access to essential medicines for children with cancer. WORLD A magnitude 7.0 earthquake in Tibet killed at least 16 people, injured 76 and forced more than 12,000 people to evacuate. Gunmen opened fire at a funeral in a church in Jordan's Karak governorate, killing six and injuring 28. Typhoon Champi passed close to Taiwan's north-east coast and caused hundreds of flight cancellations across East Asia.