The second reading of the 2026 budget of the Colombo Municipal Council, which is controlled by the National People’s Power, was passed by a majority of two votes today (December 31).

Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed a Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry to investigate alleged corruption, abuse of power, and financial irregularities at the Colombo Municipal Council during the period from 2010 to 2025.

A prison inmate who was receiving treatment at the Nagoda Teaching Hospital was injured in a shooting that took place this morning (December 31).

Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Education has suspended the distribution of a printed Grade 6 English language module after confirming that its introduction contains a reference to an inappropriate website, and an investigation has been launched with plans to file a complaint with the CID on December 31, 2025.

Sri Lanka’s Inland Revenue Department has collected a record Rs. 2,203 billion in revenue in 2025, the highest amount in its 93 year history, exceeding the annual target by Rs. 33 billion and recording a 15 percent increase compared to 2024.

Sri Lanka Customs recorded its highest revenue earning year in history in 2025 by exceeding its target of Rs. 2,115 billion and entering 2026 with an additional surplus of about Rs. 300 billion, Director General of Sri Lanka Customs S.P. Arukgoda said today (December 30).

Former Minister Douglas Devananda, who was arrested and remanded, has been admitted to the Mahara Prison Hospital.

A fire broke out at two shops in Kiribathgoda town today (December 30).

Johan Fernando, the son of former Minister Johnston Fernando, was arrested today (December 30) by the Financial Crimes Investigation Department (FCID), police said.

Two of the three generators at the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant in Norochcholai are currently out of service, causing a temporary loss of 600 megawatts to the national power grid, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) said.

Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health has launched a new program to test medicines even after they have been distributed to hospitals and pharmacies.

A team of officers from the Airport Unit of the Police Narcotics Bureau conducted a raid at the arrival terminal of the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake on the morning of December 29, 2025, and arrested four suspects for attempting to smuggle a large quantity of narcotic drugs into Sri Lanka.

Poverty in Sri Lanka cannot be eliminated without addressing its structural causes, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development and Chairman of the Kotte Coordination Committee, Chathuranga Abeysinghe, said.

Sri Lanka has sought urgent Chinese assistance to repair flood damaged railway lines and bridges, while also proposing the installation of electric vehicle charging stations nationwide, during a meeting held today (December 29) between Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath and Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong.

Sri Lanka has set a new record today (December 29) for the highest number of tourist arrivals within a single year.

Sri Lanka has been ranked as the fifth best place to visit in Asia for 2026 by U.S. News & World Report, placing the island alongside top destinations such as Mount Fuji, Tokyo, Palawan, and Seoul.