What are the latest news in Sri Lanka? September 1st, 2026
Politics & Legal
- 22nd Amendment Challenges in Supreme Court: A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, commenced hearings on numerous petitions challenging the constitutionality of the proposed 22nd Amendment Bill. Daily Mirror
- Arrest and Bail of Former Finance Minister: Former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake was arrested and subsequently granted bail in connection with a corruption case involving the National Lotteries Board. www.ft.lk
- Conviction of Former Minister: Former Minister Piyankara Jayaratne was sentenced to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment following a conviction in a separate corruption investigation. dailynews.lk
- Court of Appeal Tax Ruling: The Court of Appeal invalidated the Inland Revenue Department’s decision to retrospectively classify national cricketers as employees of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for income tax purposes. dailynews.lk
- Major Narcotics Seizure: The Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) seized over 420 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (“Ice”) concealed in a container at the Colombo Port. dailynews.lk
- CID Leadership Update: Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Roshan Amarasinghe was appointed as the Acting Director of the Criminal Investigation Department.
- Export Milestone: Sri Lanka’s total export revenue surpassed $10 billion for the first seven months of the year, supported primarily by strong service export performance. dailynews.lk
- Inflation Figures: CCPI-based headline inflation stood at 8% year-on-year for the month of August. www.ft.lk
- Tourism Strategy Rollout: The government unveiled the National Tourism Strategic Planning Consultancy and the Global Promotional Campaign Road Map (2026–2030), shifting focus toward higher per-tourist value. dailynews.lk