Latest news in Sri Lanka? September 8th, 2026
08-09-2026
Key developments in Sri Lanka include:
- Diplomacy & Defense: Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Colombo for an official bilateral visit from September 8 to 10, prompting Sri Lanka Police to implement special traffic plans across the capital. Indian Navy vessel INS Udaygiri also made a scheduled port call in Colombo.
- Judiciary & Governance: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake appointed Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratne, PC, as the Acting Attorney General.
- Legal & Anti-Corruption Inquiries: Former MP Chamal Rajapaksa appeared before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) for questioning. Meanwhile, SLPP National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa was brought to Parliament under escort via prison transport following his recent detention.
- Infrastructure & Public Transport: Transport and Highways Minister Bimal Rathnayake announced in Parliament that construction on three major expressways (Katunayake–Chilaw, Kurunegala–Dambulla, and Kahatuduwa–Ingiriya) will launch this year without reliance on foreign debt, alongside strict expressway seat belt enforcement taking effect September 19.
- Education & Labor: The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) announced a planned one-day strike concerning academic welfare and governance matters.
- Immigration Updates: Authorities confirmed that Sri Lankan passport holders will no longer receive visa-free entry to Thailand, with new visa requirements enforced from September 15.
- Cybersecurity Alerts: Sri Lanka Police issued a warning regarding fraudulent websites mimicking the government’s GovPay digital payment platform targeting motorists.