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The U.S. Department of State has updated its travel advisory for Sri Lanka to Level 2, urging travelers to exercise increased caution. The advisory highlights ongoing risks of civil unrest, terrorism, and the presence of landmines in certain regions. Visitors are warned to avoid protests and crowded places, remain alert to their surroundings, and follow local authority instructions amid potential instability.

The update reflects heightened vigilance due to both domestic and global factors affecting travel safety in Sri Lanka.Sri Lanka has experienced persistent civil unrest since 2022, triggered by an economic crisis that sparked mass protests known as the "Aragalaya" or "The Struggle." Demonstrations have frequently turned volatile, with public demands for political resignations and accountability amid severe shortages of essential goods and services. Protesters continue to face restrictions and occasional violent clashes, making public gatherings and political environments highly unpredictable. These conditions contribute significantly to the travel risks cited in the U.S. advisory

PATHFINDER NATIONAL SECURITY BRIEF -03

Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean, along the vital East-West shipping lanes connecting the Straits of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, and Malacca, grants the country considerable geopolitical and economic significance. With a vast maritime territory that includes a territorial sea of 21,500 km², an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) spanning nearly eight times its landmass of 65,610 km², and a coastline extending 1,340 km, Sri Lanka stands as a key maritime hub in the region. This strategic advantage also exposes the country to an increasingly complex and evolving maritime security environment. The Nation’s economy and security are closely linked to the protection of this maritime domain, which encompasses vital sectors such as fisheries, trade and tourism. Maritime Domain Challenges (MDR) range from traditional threats to more complex and evolving issues, including Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, human trafficking, drug trafficking, arms trafficking, maritime terrorism, and cyber threats to critical infrastructure. In today’s rapidly evolving security landscape, leveraging advanced technology is crucial to safeguard the country’s strategic and economic interests, foster greater regional cooperation, and contribute to long-term maritime stability and shared economic resilience

Source: National Hydrographic Office, NARA, Colombo/ Admiralty Charts & Sri Lanka Survey Department.

Evolving Maritime Security Landscape

For an island nation like Sri Lanka, positioned at a strategically vital sea lane in the Indian Ocean, the evolving maritime security landscape holds heightened significance. Historically, the country’s maritime security concerns were rooted in traditional threats that disrupted trade routes, endangered seafarers, and undermined coastal stability. However, the contemporary maritime environment has grown increasingly complex in recent years. It now encompasses a broad range of non-traditional, transnational challenges such as IUU fishing, human and drug trafficking, maritime terrorism, cyber threats, and environmental hazards. These threats are often asymmetric in nature, defying conventional military responses and requiring more adaptive, technologically driven cooperative security strategies.

IUU Fishing: IUU fishing poses a serious threat to Sri Lanka’s marine biodiversity, the livelihood of coastal communities and food security. The country’s rich fisheries resources are increasingly being exploited by unauthorised foreign vessels, resulting in overfishing, degradation of vital marine ecosystems and negative economic impacts. Sri Lanka must assert effective control over its EEZ to prevent resource exploitation by unlicensed foreign vessels and to develop sustainable economic ventures within this maritime expanse through advanced digitised programs. Effectively addressing these complex and evolving maritime security challengers is vital for the country’s security, economic and regional stability.

Transnational Criminal Activities: Increased, transnational criminal activities in the maritime domain continue to pose a significant challenge to public safety and national security. Approximately 700kg of drugs, including 280kg of Heroin and 420kg of ICE, valued at over 9 billion Sri Lankan rupees, along with five pistols and a T-56 weapon, were recovered from three lorries in Tangalle, a southern town, on 22 September 2025 by the police. The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) seized approximately 250kg of heroin and methamphetamine valued at over 3 billion Sri Lankan rupees and approximately 45kg of heroin from fishing trawlers on the high seas in January and November 2024, respectively. Moreover, in the same year, the SLN rescued 115 foreign nationals from a fishing trawler off the Eastern coast, suspected to be part of an international human trafficking network. These incidents clearly highlight the persistent threat posed by drugs and human trafficking syndicates operating in the extended waters of Sri Lanka. While maritime terrorism has not prominently manifested in Sri Lankan waters, rising global and regional trends in maritime extremism highlight it as a potential threat to national security

Cyber Threats: As a vital maritime hub in the Indian Ocean, the country’s shipping, port operations and maritime logistics sectors increasingly rely on digital technologies. While the digitalisation of the maritime sector enhances operational efficiency, it also exposes the industry to a growing range of cyber threats, such as ransomware attacks, data breaches, and system disruptions. Such attacks have the potential to disrupt port operations and compromise sensitive information, causing substantial economic losses and heightened national security risks. In 2023, “DP World”, operator of key ports across Australia, was hit by a cyberattack, causing significant disruption for its cargo operations, resulting in substantial economic losses. Although Sri Lanka has not yet experienced a major cyber-attack on its port infrastructures as of today, these incidents highlight the growing vulnerabilities in the maritime domain and provide a clear warning to the country’s maritime infrastructure.

EEZ Governance Gaps: Sri Lanka’s EEZ represents a critical extension of its sovereign rights and maritime jurisdiction. The EEZ holds economic, ecological, and strategic importance, encompassing vital resources including fisheries, hydrocarbons, and marine biodiversity. However, this zone remains under-monitored and under-exploited. The December 2023 moratorium on foreign research vessels demonstrates growing concerns over research activities in Sri Lankan waters, posing an ongoing challenge to the government to enforce stronger maritime governance and ensure sustainable management of ocean resources. Strategic surveillance, cooperative regional frameworks, and investment in maritime scientific research are essential to transforming Sri Lanka’s EEZ into a pillar of national economic and environmental security.

Environmental Hazards: Environmental security has also become an increasingly critical aspect of Sri Lanka's maritime security landscape, given the country’s high vulnerability to natural disasters such as cyclones, floods, droughts, and landslides, as well as man-made disasters, which affect coastal communities and their livelihoods. The MV X-Press Peral disaster in 2021 highlighted the devastating consequences of marine pollution on the country’s coastal ecosystems, fisheries, and public health. Moreover, the long-term impact of climate change, including rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and extreme weather events, poses significant risks to maritime infrastructure and the resilience of island communities.

Strategic Competition: Strategic competition in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) has intensified as major powers increasingly seek to assert their influence over this crucial maritime space. The presence of various naval forces representing major maritime powers, as well as mini-lateral initiatives and growing military infrastructure in the IOR, has intensified the complexity of the strategic landscape. Additionally, major powers have also sought control of critical chokepoints leading to the Indian Ocean and built strategic partnerships with littoral nations to secure their support with the primary aim of securing the Indian Ocean's Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs). Concerning Sri Lanka, the intensifying geopolitical competition among major powers places the country in a delicate balancing act, compelling it to take measures to safeguard its national interests.

Integration of Emerging Technologies

As regional waters become increasingly contested and maritime crimes become more sophisticated, rapid detection and response capabilities are vital. Addressing these multifaceted threats requires not only traditional naval capabilities but also the integration of advanced technologies, such as surveillance systems, automated radar, and data analytics, to enhance maritime domain awareness (MDA). Enhanced MDA enables Sri Lanka to monitor its surrounding seas in real-time with greater accuracy.

The enhanced coordination through Data Fusion Centres (DFC) is vital, where information from multiple sources is collected and analysed into a comprehensive operational picture, enabling coordinated responses across agencies and national boundaries. Moreover, such coordination will be critical, particularly when dealing with maritime incidents, where timely unified action determines whether the situation is contained or escalates.

Through integration of digital communication platforms and shared data collaboration, the SLN, Coast Guard, Port authorities, and Fishers Department can operate more cohesively and efficiently. Technologies such as satellite surveillance, automated radar systems, and automated monitoring platforms provide vital data to centralised command centres, not only enhancing the detection of suspicious activities but also enabling effective coordination among maritime agencies to address evolving threats.

While traditional naval patrols remain essential, they alone cannot effectively monitor the country’s vast EEZ. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with long-range surveillance capabilities will be able to fill these vacuums, allowing authorities to keep an eye on large areas vulnerable to illegal fishing, human trafficking, and narcotic trafficking and respond in the shortest possible time.

Expanding the use of AI-based analytics in maritime surveillance is becoming increasingly vital. With the growing volume of data generated from ship movements to environmental changers, AI tools can not only enhance real-time threat detection capabilities and strategic decision making but also improve overall MDA.

Moreover, environmental monitoring capabilities linked to satellite technology play a vital role in preventing and mitigating marine pollution and also support conservation efforts essential for protecting Marine biodiversity and sustainable coastal livelihood.

Looking Ahead Pathfinder Recommendations

For Sri Lanka, the future of maritime security depends on smart integration, strategic partnerships and a coherent long-term vision. While strengthening institutional capacity and operational capabilities, particularly the Coast Guard, through advanced technology integration, entails significant costs, it will constitute a strategic investment essential for safeguarding the country’s economic and security interests. Yet, long-term resilience will stem from investing in skilled human capital, fostering inter-agency and intra-agency coordination, strengthening Public-Private Partnerships, and promoting innovation across institutions. By aligning technological advancement with national security priorities, Sri Lanka can not only safeguard its maritime interests but also position itself as a resilient and proactive maritime nation capable of addressing emerging regional challengers.

(This is the ‘PATHFINDER NATIONAL SECURITY BRIEF -03, issued by the Pathfinder Foundation. NATIONAL SECURITY BRIEF articles can be read https://pathfinderfoundation.org, and Readers’ comments via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. are welcome.)

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who is on an official visit to the People’s Republic of China, paid a courtesy call on H.E. Li Qiang, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, in Beijing.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister conveyed the Government of Sri Lanka’s appreciation to China for the invitation to participate in the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women 2025 and for the warm hospitality extended to the Sri Lankan delegation. She extended good wishes on the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and noted that her first visit to China as Prime Minister provides an opportunity to further strengthen the close and friendly relations between the two countries, including in trade, investment, tourism, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.

The Prime Minister acknowledged China’s role as a key driver of the global economy and innovation, and as a partner in poverty reduction, infrastructure development, human-capital development, and international cooperation. She outlined Sri Lanka’s vision “A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life” and briefed the Premier on national priorities to eradicate poverty, foster sustainability, advance digital transformation, and promote ethical governance, including the Clean Sri Lanka programme launched in January 2025.

On economic cooperation, the Prime Minister briefed the Premier on Sri Lanka’s macroeconomic stabilisation and growth trajectory, including recent progress in debt restructuring with the members of the Official Creditor Committee, and expressed appreciation for China’s constructive support. She welcomed continued cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, highlighting China’s role as a major development partner and noting ongoing and proposed projects that contribute to national and regional connectivity and socio-economic development. The Prime Minister outlined opportunities for enhanced trade and investment, including Sri Lanka’s proposal to establish a Packaging Hub in Hambantota under investment or public-private partnership modalities; potential cooperation to strengthen industrial development and follow-up to the May 2025 MoU on Industrial and Supply Chain Cooperation. She also discussed measures to facilitate inputs for domestic production, including fertilizer supplies, and explored avenues to support Sri Lanka’s precious stones and jewellery sector in the Chinese market.

Further areas of collaboration in the education sector were discussed, including smart classrooms, scholarships, specialised master’s programmes for public officials, and donations of school-uniform material. Cooperation in agriculture, tourism, defence, and health was also covered. Prime Minister Dr. Amarasuriya reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to advancing women’s rights and gender equality, expressing continued support for the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and highlighting national efforts to promote women’s leadership, empowerment, equal opportunity, and protection from violence.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

2025.10.14

A large number of distinguished figures from the political and media spheres, including President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, paid their final respects to Manoja Madhuwanthi, the beloved wife of journalist Shanuka Karunaratne, on October 12 and 13.

Mrs. Madhuwanthi, a mother of two and a dedicated employee of the People’s Bank Head Office, had been battling illness for some time before passing away on October 11.

According to family sources, final rites will be held today (Monday, 13) at 5:30 p.m. at the Borella General Cemetery.

Her passing has been deeply mourned by colleagues, friends, and admirers across both the media and public service sectors, who remember her for her kindness, grace, and unwavering strength.

Former President and Leader of the United National Party (UNP) Ranil Wickremesinghe says that party-based politics will ultimately fail, and that political decisions will increasingly be shaped by individual personalities rather than party lines.

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe made these remarks when he visited the Jayaratne Funeral Parlour in Borella yesterday evening to pay his final respects to the late Manoja Madhuwanthi Karunaratne.

Speaking to a group of journalists and political figures, the former President reflected on the current state of opposition politics in Sri Lanka.

“While the opposition’s role in Parliament remains important, their effectiveness has weakened significantly,” he said, noting that today only a handful of individuals or personalities rather than a cohesive party – seem to be actively involved in political affairs.

He noted Chamara Sampath Dasanayake and Dayasiri Jayasekara as examples of such figures.

At the event, former allies of Wickremesinghe who now represent the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), including Waruna Rajapaksa and Mahesh Senanayake, inquired about the opposition alliance.

“I do not agree with the idea of the SJB leadership taking over the alliance. If I agree to that, do you have any proposals or solutions for the future direction of that alliance?”, Wickremesinghe responded.

His pointed question left both Waruna Rajapaksa and Mahesh Senanayake silent.

On the subject of reunifying and strengthening the divided UNP, Wickremesinghe made an unexpected prediction.

“In the future, both the SJB and the UNP will disappear from the political landscape. This is not just a phenomenon in Sri Lanka but worldwide where character-based politics' is emerging everywhere. Party politics is becoming obsolete,” he said.

He went on to compare the situation with political shifts seen in other democracies.

“Even the Republican Party in the United States was weakened, but Donald Trump managed to seize control. The same applies to the UK. And in France, the President’s focus is far beyond traditional party lines.”

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya attended the Opening Ceremony of the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women 2025, held at the China National Convention Center (CNCC) in Beijing on 13 October, at the invitation of the Government of the People’s Republic of China.

Upon her arrival, Prime Minister Amarasuriya was warmly welcomed by Chinese President Xi Jinping and First Lady Madam Peng Liyuan, marking a gesture of respect and friendship between the two nations.

During the event, the Prime Minister delivered remarks highlighting women’s leadership, empowerment, and equality as essential pillars of sustainable global progress. She commended China’s efforts in promoting gender inclusion and international cooperation to advance women’s development.

“Nearly thirty years after the 1995 World Conference on Women in Beijing and the Beijing Platform for Action, we still draw on that comprehensive framework for gender equality. We have made real progress: female literacy has risen, maternal mortality has nearly halved, and global life expectancy has increased from 69 years in 1995 to 76 years in 2023. Yet serious gaps remain: women’s labour-force participation stands at just 48.7% compared with 73% for men; women account for only about 35% of graduates in science and technology; 47.8 million more women than men face moderate or severe food insecurity; and movement toward political parity is far too slow. All-round development of women is, therefore, a holistic process across education, health, the economy, politics, society, and culture and it demands our continued commitment.”

In a dramatic breakthrough, Nepalese authorities have arrested Ishara Sewwandi — the woman long suspected of orchestrating the assassination of underworld figure Ganemulla Sanjeewa — along with five others.

Sewwandi, 25, is accused of aiding and abetting the fatal shooting of Sanjeewa Kumar Samararatne, known as Ganemulla Sanjeewa, inside the Aluthkade Magistrate’s Court on February 19 this year. The murder, carried out in broad daylight within a court cell, shocked the nation and highlighted the reach of Sri Lanka’s organized crime networks.

Police sources say one of those arrested alongside Sewwandi is believed to be a close associate of Kehelbaddara Padme, another suspect who was taken into custody earlier in Indonesia.

Since the day of the shooting, Sewwandi had been on the run, skillfully evading capture and leaving investigators chasing shadows. Her arrest in Nepal marks a major development in the case, which has gripped both the underworld and the public for months.

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya recently had the opportunity to visit two of China’s most celebrated UNESCO World Heritage Sites — the Forbidden City (Palace Museum) and the Great Wall of China, both renowned for their profound historical and artistic significance.

During the visit, the Prime Minister was accompanied by the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mr. Qi Zhenhong, and Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to China, Mr. Majintha Jayesinghe.

The tour served as a moment of cultural appreciation and diplomatic goodwill, underscoring the enduring friendship between Sri Lanka and China. Prime Minister Amarasuriya commended China’s efforts in preserving its rich cultural heritage and expressed her appreciation for the warm hospitality extended during the visit.

The Supreme Court has ruled that six officers of the Kottawa Police violated the fundamental rights of a private bus operator by unlawfully arresting, assaulting, and falsely accusing him of possessing heroin.

The ruling, delivered on Monday (13) by Justice Menaka Wijesundara with the concurrence of Justices Yasantha Kodagoda and Janak de Silva, ordered the officers to personally pay Rs. 1 million in compensation to the petitioner.

The petitioner, Vithanage Sunil, told the court that he is a private bus owner operating two buses on the Kottawa–Pettah route. He stated that on the night of July 9, 2016, while returning home after meeting a friend, he was confronted by police officers who pointed a gun at his head, forced him to kneel, and assaulted him before falsely accusing him of possessing heroin.

He was later produced before the Homagama Magistrate’s Court and remanded, but a medical report submitted to the court confirmed that he had sustained injuries to his face, chest, forehead, and wrist while in police custody. A subsequent report also stated that he had no history of drug use.

Justice Wijesundara, in delivering the judgment, observed that the petitioner had been subjected to cruel and inhuman treatment in violation of Article 11 of the Constitution. The Court found that the officers had failed to produce credible evidence to justify the arrest or the drug charge, and that the explanation they provided created suspicion

The officers named in the ruling include then-OIC L.P.B. Samarasinghe, Inspector Cyril Perera, Sub-Inspector Premasiri, and Police Constables Nandana Piyal, Sampath, and Chandra Niroshan.

The Urban Development Authority’s (UDA) approval of an ultra luxury high-rise twin tower residential complex in Thummulla, Colombo, has raised serious concerns amid strong opposition from local residents.

A closer inspection has revealed several alleged violations of zoning regulations and planning guidelines.

Key issues highlighted in the investigation include:

Zoning violations – The land in question falls under both a Special Residential Zone and a Medium-Density Development Zone as per UDA's own planning regulations. However, approval was reportedly granted by treating it as part of a Mixed Development Zone, which carries more lenient guidelines.

Frontage manipulation – The required minimum frontage for such developments is 30 metres, but the plot allegedly falls short of this requirement. Despite this, it was treated as having 40 metres, allowing the project to move forward.

Height irregularities – In areas zoned for special residential development, the maximum permissible height is 50 metres. In this case, however, approval was reportedly granted for a building rising to 130 metres, more than double the legal limit.

Regulatory breaches – The project’s approval appears to be in clear violation of UDA’s planning and design regulations, raising red flags about potential abuse of regulatory discretion.

Adding to the controversy, it has been revealed that UDA officials and even the subject minister were present at the foundation-laying ceremony of the project just one day after the planning approval was issued in response to a request from the private company behind the development.

Local residents are calling on the authorities to urgently investigate these irregularities, stating that the project not only disregards existing regulations but also sets a dangerous precedent for future developments in the city.

Meanwhile, sources from the Presidential Secretariat say that a special investigation has been launched into allegations that a senior UDA official may have been personally involved in facilitating the approval on behalf of a private business, raising serious concerns over possible corruption and misconduct.

Former President Maithripala Sirisena appeared before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) this morning (October 13) to provide a statement concerning an alleged financial irregularity dating back nearly 15 years.

According to reports, the incident is said to have occurred at an institution affiliated with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

The former President spent nearly five hours at the Commission premises and departed around 2:00 p.m., following the conclusion of his statement, Ada Derana reported.

Mount Lavinia Chief Inspector H.T.M. Tushara has been immediately transferred from his current post, police sources confirmed.

According to reports, the officer has been reassigned to general duties within the Medical Services Division.

The transfer comes in connection with an ongoing special inquiry into a recent incident near the Mount Lavinia Court Complex, where a confrontation reportedly occurred between a police officer and an attorney-at-law.

Police stated that the move was made as part of preliminary investigations into the matter, emphasizing that the transfer is procedural and intended to ensure an impartial inquiry.