Sri Lankan AI News Summary.

Sri Lanka Daily News Digest — Sunday, November 1, 2026 FUEL AND ECONOMY CEYPETCO increased prices of several petrol and diesel grades with effect from midnight, November 1. Litro warned dealers against hoarding gas and overcharging customers. Merchandise exports hit a record US$1,377 million in September. The IFC pledged support for financial sector reforms, Japan was courted for mineral sector investment, and a China-funded project began rebuilding 14 disaster-damaged bridges. The CAA launched a crackdown on unregulated vehicle lubricants. CRIME AND COURTS An inmate aged 27 was shot dead by prison security while allegedly trying to escape Dumbara Prison. A 64-year-old South Korean national was arrested at BIA with cocaine worth about Rs. 49.44 million. CIABOC moved to freeze a luxury house in the Rs. 120 million 'Harak Kata' bribery case. The Supreme Court ordered a Dompe police constable to pay Rs. 100,000 from his own funds for assaulting a woman. Evidence in the Yoshitha Rajapaksa money laundering case resumes November 12. DISASTERS, ACCIDENTS AND WEATHER The Navy is still searching for 7 fishermen missing after sailing from Kudawella and Chalai. A Natural Hazards warning covers strong winds and rough seas for multi-day boats from Mannar to Trincomalee. Showers above 50 mm are likely in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva and Southern provinces. A 10-year-old boy drowned in Keselgamu Oya in Bhagawantalawa. Lightning damaged 11 imported vehicles at Hambantota Port. WILDLIFE Another elephant was reportedly shot dead in a forest reserve in Kahatagasdigiliya, with its tusk reportedly removed. Sajith Premadasa launched a plan for a life-sized statue of tusker 'Kawantissa' at Siyambalangamuwa Tank in Ambanpola. POLITICS AND PUBLIC LIFE President Anura Kumara Dissanayake paid final respects to veteran left-wing activist and senior lawyer Lal Wijenayake, who died on October 31. The Lawyers Collective paid tribute. The SLPP starts island-wide constituency meetings tomorrow. The 2026 voter roll grew by 90,835 to 17,641,006, which changes seat allocations across several districts. HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT 2,819 trainee nurses were appointed as Grade III nursing officers and 76 were promoted to Special Grade, with 13,000 more recruits planned. Colombo ranked the fourth most polluted city in Sri Lanka, with an AQI of 102. SPORT Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by three wickets in the ODI tri-series final. Sri Lanka had posted 325/8, with Kamindu Mendis scoring his maiden ODI century. Sri Lanka were fined for a slow over-rate against England. Sri Lanka also lost a seventh-place play-off to Hong Kong by one run. Chanaka Perera completed all four rounds of the Asia-Pacific Amateur in New Zealand. The Singer-MCA Super Premier League final was postponed to Friday due to wet ground. WORLD Crypto exchange Binance lost $6.3bn in a hack on Thursday, has covered 90% of the losses, and froze $2.5bn in assets. Apple overtook Nvidia as the world's most valuable company at $5.03 trillion. Patrick Stewart, of Star Trek and X-Men, died aged 86. Iran sentenced filmmaker Jafar Panahi to five years in prison. German rioters damaged stores in Frankfurt, and ministers pledged tough action. A stampede at a TikTok star's wedding in Sialkot, Pakistan, killed one and injured 18. OTHER Kumar Sangakkara spoke out about alleged racist treatment by Ryanair staff at Dublin airport, which has divided social media. Police reminded drivers that they must stop when signalled by a uniformed officer. A 10-year-old boy drowned in Keselgamu Oya, and a two-time Olympian, Mageean, died aged 34.