Sri Lanka reviews Rs. 530 Billion defence programme and 2027 plans

Lieutenant General Nilantha Premaratne, the newly appointed 26th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo this afternoon (August 5).

Former Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, who was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), has been remanded until August 18, 2026, by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.

Former Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) today (August 5).

Sri Lanka’s Defence Ministry has decided to use Parakumgama Ranaviru Village in Diyabeduma as a pilot project to resolve land deed issues, improve essential infrastructure and help eligible beneficiaries settle on their allocated lands.

Sri Lanka’s expressway network will expand by another 132 kilometres with four major projects, including new sections of the Central, Kurunegala–Dambulla and Ruwanpura expressways.

Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed officials to speed up court infrastructure development and relocate the Government Analyst’s Department to better-equipped premises to improve the delivery of justice.

Two unidentified persons who arrived on a motorcycle set fire to a bus at the Kaduwela Main Bus Stand early this morning (August 5), while its driver and conductor were sleeping inside.

New infrastructure developed for the Engineering Division of the Sri Lanka Transport Board’s Central Bus Stand in Pettah was officially opened on August 4, 2026 to improve bus maintenance and strengthen public transport services.

Two hand grenades were thrown at a house on Sri Gnanendra Road in Ratmalana, with one exploding but causing no injuries.

Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has called for strong coordination among public and private institutions to successfully complete the country’s third international evaluation on preventing money laundering and terrorist financing.

Sri Lanka has launched a new commission to resolve public sector salary and pension issues, with trade unions, organisations and the public given two months to submit proposals.

Sri Lanka’s Cabinet has approved the gazetting of the draft Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill to strengthen judicial independence and speed up the disposal of the backlog of court cases.

Sri Lanka Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne has endorsed three laws aimed at strengthening action against money laundering, terrorist financing and financial crimes.

Sri Lanka’s Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara says authorities have received information that unrest similar to the Mahara Prison incident could occur at two or three other prisons.

Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to constitutional reform, abolishing the Executive Presidency and holding Provincial Council elections.