Latest news in Sri Lanka? September 17th, 2026
17-09-2026
IMF Talks and Economic Strategy President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with the visiting International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission delegation in Colombo. The discussions centered on using the macroeconomic stability achieved under the current Extended Fund Facility (EFF) framework as a baseline for structural economic reforms.
Energy Exploration Initiatives The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Energy Affairs granted formal approval to invite international investment proposals for exploring and developing domestic offshore petroleum and natural gas resources.
Financial Markets
The Sri Lankan Rupee closed at 331.50/90 against the US Dollar in the spot market, firming slightly from opening levels.
The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) ended slightly down, with the benchmark All Share Price Index dipping 0.47% amid notable activity in capital goods.
The Central Bank raised an additional Rs 10 billion via Treasury bills following its primary auction.
Transport and Public Services Railway operations faced selective disruptions as unions organized a 48-hour trade union action starting September 17 over service and operational demands.
Sports Sri Lankan batter Sonal Dinusha was named ICC Men’s Player of the Month for August 2026 following his standout batting performances against India. Meanwhile, the national women’s cricket team finalized preparations for their Asian Games opener scheduled for September 18.