Latest Sri Lanka News and Top Stories

Seven Sri Lankan nationals detained by security authorities in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), have been deported to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake says the Hajj festival sends a powerful message of equality, brotherhood and compassion to a world affected by conflict and division.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved the combined Fifth and Sixth Reviews of Sri Lanka’s economic reform program, allowing the country to receive about US$695 million in fresh funding under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said a spiritual revival is essential for the country’s economic revival, while calling on all citizens to unite to protect the Buddha Sasana and Dhamma for future generations.

The Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Welikada Police Station has been arrested for allegedly illegally withholding the passports of 19 Chinese nationals and demanding Rs. 300,000 from each person to release the documents.

Sri Lanka has doubled its 2025 export promotion budget, reduced a proposed 44% US tariff on Sri Lankan exports to 20%, and secured continued trade benefits with the UK and EU, according to Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Chathuranga Abeysinghe.

Sri Lanka could receive about US$700 million in financing if the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approves the country’s combined Fifth and Sixth Reviews under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) today (May 27).

Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) met Russian Deputy Defence Minister Vasily Osmakov in Moscow yesterday (May 26) during his official visit to the Russian Federation.

The Parliamentary Select Committee looking into the Provincial Council electoral system has received views from the Attorney General’s Department and the Election Commission on holding the long-delayed Provincial Council elections.

The Sri Lankan Rupee strengthened against the US Dollar today (May 26), with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) and several commercial banks reporting lower exchange rates.

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) says there is no fuel shortage in Sri Lanka.

The Colombo High Court has ordered that the announcement of the verdicts in four cases filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) against former Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena, who was accused of corruption, be postponed until June 09, 2026.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has decided to increase the Overnight Policy Interest Rate by 100 basis points to 8.75%.

The Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus has decided to examine the ongoing legal proceedings and matters related to the protection of the girl involved in the alleged sexual abuse incident reported from the Anuradhapura area.

The Government of India today (May 25) officially handed over a consignment of 134 single cab vehicles to Sri Lanka for use by the Sri Lanka Police under the Indo–Sri Lanka Friendship Programme.

The Sri Lankan Rupee strengthened against the US Dollar today (May 25), with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and several commercial banks reporting lower exchange rates.