What are the latest news in Sri Lanka? August 31st, 2026
Economy & Trade
- Inflation: Sri Lanka’s headline inflation rate rose to 8.0% in August 2026 (up from 7.3% in July), primarily driven by an uptick in food inflation to 8.5%. Newswire———
- Export Milestone: Cumulative export revenue for the year surpassed $10 billion during the first seven months. -adaderana.lk——–
- Tourism Figures: Total tourist arrivals in 2026 passed the 1.5 million mark, though arrivals showed a slight deceleration in the latter half of August.- Adaderana Biz English———
- Major Drug Seizure: Sri Lankan authorities intercepted over 440 kg of crystal methamphetamine (“Ice”) inside containers at the Colombo Port, estimated to be worth over Rs. 8 billion. -adaderana.lk——–
- Legal Developments: Former Minister Ravi Karunanayake was detained by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and later granted bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.- Newsfirst.lk———
- Diplomatic Visit: Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya arrived in Bhutan on an official visit to attend an inaugural forum. -Newsfirst.lk——–
- Constitutional Challenge: A five-member Supreme Court bench was constituted to hear fundamental rights petitions challenging the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution.- adaderana.lk———
- Drought in the North-Central Region: Severe dry conditions caused water levels in more than 600 irrigation tanks in the Anuradhapura District to drop below 5% capacity. -adaderana.lk——–
- Heat Alerts: The Department of Meteorology issued elevated temperature advisories across several northern and eastern districts, with Vavuniya recording a daily high of 38.8°C.- adaderana.lk———