Sri Lanka to Impose VAT on Digital Services from July 1, 2026

Former Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Minister Piyankara Jayaratne have been summoned to appear before the Bribery Commission on May 12, 2026, over the Airbus deal investigation.

Deputy Minister of Defence Major General (Retd) Aruna Jayasekara has reviewed the operations, maritime security preparedness and lifesaving work of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard.

A diplomatic delegation led by Russian Federation Health Minister Mikhail Murashko is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka today (May 03) for a three-day official visit.

Fuel prices in Sri Lanka have been revised, effective May 03, 2026.

Sri Lanka imported vehicles worth over Rs. 195.95 billion in the first three months of 2026, according to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

More than 850,000 tourists arrived in Sri Lanka during the first four months of 2026, according to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).

A four-member committee of Judicial Medical Officers has been appointed to conduct the post-mortem examination of Finance Ministry official Ranga Nishantha Rajapaksa, who died under suspicious circumstances in Kuliyapitiya.

Sri Lanka Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya says the government is committed to protecting workers’ rights, improving living standards and building a fair and safe working environment.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the country’s working people mark May Day at a decisive time, with Sri Lanka recording major economic gains despite global conflicts, tariffs and the impact of Cyclone Ditwah.

Ranga Nishantha Rajapaksa, an External Resources Department official suspended over a USD 2.5 million cyber fraud linked to a debt repayment, has been found dead in Kuliyapitiya.

Colombo’s overall inflation rose to 5.4% in April 2026 from 2.2% in March 2026, according to the Department of Census and Statistics.

Italian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, with accreditation to the Maldives, Damiano Francovigh, met Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Sampath Thuyacontha at the Ministry of Defence yesterday (April 29) to discuss defence and security cooperation.

Sri Lanka will expedite plans to establish a new authority to protect and restore the Central Highlands after serious damage caused by landslides triggered by recent Cyclone Dithwah.