Building on the USAID Administrator Samantha Powers’s recent visit, U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung announced today that the United States, through USAID, will provide an additional estimated $65 million (more than 23 billion Sri Lankan rupees) in assistance to Sri Lanka over a five-year period.

Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court issued a notice today (September 16) to former President Maithripala Sirisena to appear in court on 14th October to present facts regarding his failure to prevent the Easter Sunday Attacks while being the Defence Minister.

Unloading of a petrol (92 Octane) cargo of 37,000 metric tonnes and a crude oil cargo of 100,000 metric tonnes will commence today (September 16), Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said.

Sri Lanka’s Immigration and Emigration Department said although September 19 (Monday) has been declared as a government holiday, passports will be issued only to those who have made appointments.

Services of the Verification and Attestation units of the Consular Affairs Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Colombo 01 and its Regional Offices in Jaffna, Trincomalee, Matara, Kandy, Kurunegala, will be suspended until further notice, due to a computer system breakdown.

Sri Lanka’s economy shrank 8.4% in the quarter through June from a year ago in one of the steepest declines seen in a three-month period, amid fertiliser and fuel shortages during the nation’s most severe financial crisis in more than seven decades.

India does not plan to provide fresh financial support to Sri Lanka on top of the nearly $4 billion it has extended this year, two sources told Reuters, as the island’s battered economy starts to stabilise after a preliminary loan agreement with the IMF.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the Indian Ocean region should be opened to all to ensure freedom of navigation for commercial viability, President Media Division said.

Ven. Medagamuwe Mahanama Thera, the Chief Incumbent of the Vatthewa Nandarama temple in Seeduwa was killed by an 18-year-old Buddhist monk yesterday (September 14) at the temple.

Leading U.S. senators, including the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Bob Menendez have introduced a Senate resolution calling for a comprehensive international approach to address Sri Lanka’s current political and economic crisis, including challenges related to poor governance and economic policy under the Rajapaksa family’s rule.

A preliminary round of discussions was held between Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Australian High Commissioner Paul Stephens to explore the opportunities for investment in the renewable energy sector in Sri Lanka.

A person who was walking on the road was shot and killed by two individuals who arrived on a motorcycle at Pattiya Junction in Kelaniya on Wednesday evening (September 14).

akvithi Ranasinghe, who pleaded guilty to 11 charges was sentenced to 22 years in prison, suspended for five years.

A Sri Lankan lawyer who had been charged under Motor Traffic Act for tooting vehicle horns for the popular rhythm of ‘Kaputu kaak kaak kaak’ was acquitted and released by court today (September 14).

The Core Group on Sri Lanka is planning to present a draft resolution to the 51st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) seeking the promotion of reconciliation, accountability and human rights on the island nation.