Hemasiri Fernando sentenced to death over Easter Sunday attacks

Sri Lanka’s former Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara was sentenced to death today (July 31) over his failure to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist attacks despite receiving prior intelligence.

Lieutenant General Nilantha Premaratne has been appointed as the 26th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Sri Lanka’s progress depends on building a skilled and forward-looking young generation, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said, as the Government prepares major investments in education, particularly vocational training.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has announced a $450 million financing package for Cambodia and Sri Lanka to help the two countries address the economic impact of the conflict in the Middle East, which has increased costs and created uncertainty across Asia and the Pacific.

Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that physical development alone is not enough to build a nation, stressing that lasting progress must be based on the country’s culture, values and historical heritage.

The Ministry of Defence held a national conference on combating human trafficking in Sri Lanka on Thursday (July 30) to mark the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, highlighting the growing threat of technology-driven trafficking and the need for stronger national and international cooperation.

The Colombo High Court has ruled that charges filed under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) against notorious organized crime figure Nadun Chinthaka Wickramaratne, alias “Harak Kata,” and four other accused over an alleged conspiracy to escape from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) while under detention orders cannot be maintained.

A suspended Police Sub-Inspector was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) today (July 30) over allegations of corruption and money laundering.

Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) visited the Doppler Weather Radar Network project site in Puttalam on July 29, 2026 to review the progress of the Japanese grant-funded project, which is expected to strengthen Sri Lanka’s weather forecasting and early warning capabilities.

The Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) has reviewed the first Annual Report for 2025 of the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO), focusing on rising public debt, debt servicing challenges, and the need to strengthen public debt management through better coordination, staff training, and greater transparency.

Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) chaired a meeting with explosive licensees at the Ministry of Defence on July 28 to discuss key issues affecting the explosives sector and identify practical solutions to improve regulatory and operational efficiency.

A Sub-Inspector attached to the Dehiwala Police Station has been arrested for possession of narcotics.

The 1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation has decided to launch a motorcycle emergency medical response service to provide faster and more efficient access to patients requiring emergency medical treatment.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake attended the final grand procession of the 2026 Esala Perahera of the historic Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya on Wednesday night (July 29), joining thousands of devotees to witness the sacred event.

A ship carrying 104 imported Metro buses arrived at the Port of Colombo this afternoon (July 29) under Sri Lanka’s Urban Luxury Transport program, with the new buses expected to begin operating in Colombo from September 2026.