Quasi Judge arrested for alleged Rs. 5,000 bribery in Valaichchenai

A high-level meeting to combat illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters was held yesterday (February 17) at the Sri Lanka Parliament Complex, with strong focus on suspending licenses of vessels that disable monitoring systems and strengthening law enforcement.

Maithree Wickremesinghe, the wife of former Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe, has been ordered to appear before the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) on February 20, 2026 in connection with an ongoing investigation involving the former President.

Former Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake has been granted bail by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today (February 18).

Sri Lanka Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya met International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva at Temple Trees on February 17, 2026, where the IMF chief praised Sri Lanka’s economic stabilisation efforts.

Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), visited the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) as both Sri Lanka’s IMF membership and the Central Bank marked their 75th anniversaries.

Railway drivers in Sri Lanka have taken steps to temporarily suspend the train strike that was scheduled to begin at midnight today (February 17).

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva met Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo today (February 17) to discuss Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and the next phase of the IMF supported reform programme.

Sri Lanka’s Parliament today (February 17) passed the Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill without amendments, abolishing pensions for Members of Parliament.

An acting Births and Deaths Registrar attached to the Alayadivembu Divisional Secretariat was arrested yesterday (February 16) for allegedly accepting a Rs. 500 bribe while issuing a birth certificate.

Sri Lanka and Japan signed a Memorandum of Cooperation and held the Sri Lanka–Japan Intergovernmental Economic Policy Dialogue yesterday (February 16) at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development auditorium to strengthen bilateral economic relations.

A 68 year old Hungarian tourist died after a wild elephant attack on the Sigiriya Pidurangala Road on the evening of February 16, 2026, police said.

Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will leave for India today (February 17) to attend the AI Impact Summit 2026 at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Western Province (South) Crime Division of Sri Lanka Police says that two brothers from the same family were arrested among three persons suspected of supplying two firearms to the gunmen who shot and killed a lawyer and his wife in the Akuregoda area in Thalangama.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva arrived in Sri Lanka today (February 16) for a three-day visit to assess Cyclone Ditwah’s impact and discuss recovery support with the government.