Category: Local News

Sri Lanka Police have informed former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa to appear before the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) on October 13, 2026, in connection with the investigation into the “Siriliya Saviya” account.

The Illegal Assets Investigation Division has frozen assets and bank accounts worth about Rs. 40 million allegedly linked to organized crime and drug trafficking suspect Nedungoda Nirmala Prasanna, alias “Backhoe Saman,” who was arrested in Indonesia.

Former Colombo Municipal Council member Mahinda Kahandagama has been arrested in Mirihana with a quantity of “Ice” (crystal methamphetamine), while another suspect linked to the alleged drug trafficking operation has also been taken into custody.

Former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, who had been summoned by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) over the Siriliya Saviya Fund investigation, returned to Sri Lanka last night (October 5) after travelling to Singapore for medical treatment.

Former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa today (October 5) filed an anticipatory bail application before the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court seeking protection from arrest in connection with the investigation into the “Siriliya Saviya” account.

The Court of Appeal today (October 5) ordered the enforcement of the remaining prison sentence imposed on Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera over his contempt of court conviction.

Sri Lanka has reached a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the seventh review of its four-year Extended Fund Facility programme, which could unlock about US$345 million after IMF Executive Board approval.

An express train travelling from Peradeniya to Colombo Fort derailed between Gangoda and Kadigamuwa this morning (October 5) after rocks and soil fell onto the railway track.

Sri Lanka has signed agreements to secure a US$35 million concessional loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and grants worth about US$22.44 million from the European Union and Japan for a rooftop solar and Virtual Net Metering project.

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court ordered that Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, who was arrested while warrants were outstanding against him, be remanded until tomorrow (October 5).

Police opened fire and injured a suspect during a raid in Kosgoda on October 3, 2026, targeting a group allegedly preparing to kill four people.

Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), has been arrested by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) at the Thiniyawala Aranya Senasanaya in Kalutara.

Sri Lanka and China have discussed strengthening joint efforts to combat online financial fraud, during a meeting between Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala and Chinese Ambassador Wei Huaxiang on October 1, 2026.

Renovated classrooms and sanitation facilities at Muttur Muslim Girls’ College in Trincomalee were handed over to students on October 1, 2026, under the Clean Sri Lanka national programme.

The Illegal Assets Investigation Division of Sri Lanka Police has frozen a property worth about Rs. 44.5 million after investigations found that it had allegedly been acquired using money earned through drug trafficking.

Construction of a 21-kilometre Jet A-1 fuel pipeline from Muthurajawela to Katunayake and eight new fuel storage tanks with a combined capacity of 132,000 cubic metres began today (October 2).