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The Sri Lankan government has requested an indefinite extension to answer critical parliamentary questions regarding the execution of the current financial year's budget.

The request was made in Parliament on Thursday by Deputy Finance and Planning Minister Dr Anil Jayantha Fernando following a formal challenge by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa concerning ministry expenditure and foreign investment targets ahead of the upcoming 2027 Budget presentation on 12 November.

Parliamentary budget clash

Minister Fernando informed the house that compiling the extensive data requested by the opposition was not immediately possible and would require a substantial duration.

He said that annual performance evaluations typically occur at the conclusion of the financial year, with ministries submitting periodic updates to Parliament through online reporting platforms.

Addressing the methodology behind state financial planning, Minister Fernando said that the administration operates on a performance-based, output-oriented framework rather than a zero-based budgeting system where allocations are reassessed annually from scratch.

He added that constructing a national budget requires evaluating current economic conditions, future developments, global trends, and strategic objectives rather than merely reviewing previous annual expenditure.

In response, Premadasa questioned how the President, serving as Finance Minister, could deliver the upcoming fiscal address without access to precise data on ministry expenditure, project progress, and foreign direct investment.

He argued that the requested metrics on revenue, spending, and implementation are directly relevant to the upcoming address and should already be readily available within the ministry.

The opposition leader had demanded comprehensive figures detailing the physical and financial progress of all 2026 budget proposals as of 30 September, alongside details regarding unspent funds and allocation revisions across state institutions.

His query also encompassed a detailed breakdown of foreign aid and loan-funded development projects, as well as the total foreign direct investment received against the annual target by the end of the third quarter.

School sports are to become a core component of Sri Lanka’s school curriculum under upcoming national education reforms.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya announced the policy shift during the closing ceremony of the 40th All Island Schools Games held at the Diyagama Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium on Tuesday.

She explained that the government intends to shift sports away from being treated as a secondary extracurricular option and integrate physical activity as a fundamental pillar of child development.

The strategy focuses on building physical and mental well-being alongside academic learning to cultivate diverse talents across the island.

Highlighting the importance of grass-roots infrastructure, the Prime Minister noted that many young athletes currently excel despite lacking basic training grounds and tracks at their schools.

She pointed out that past international sporting figures including Sriyani Kulawansa and Sugath Thilakaratne first demonstrated their potential at the school level.

According to the Prime Minister, engaging in sports teaches students resilience, teamwork, and how to bounce back from failure rather than focusing solely on winning medals.

The four-day national event brought together more than 3,500 young competitors from across the country, resulting in 23 new meet records.

Western Province secured the overall provincial championship title at the games.

St. Joseph Vaz College in Wennappuwa took the boys’ overall championship, while Lyceum International School in Wattala claimed the girls’ overall title.

The proposed reforms aim to ensure systematically identified sporting talent receives early support and adequate facilities to progress from school competitions to international arenas.

The United States has urged Sri Lankan commercial enterprises to explore direct investment opportunities in the American market, highlighting key growth sectors including technology, energy, infrastructure, and logistics.

The call was made by US Ambassador Eric Meyer in Colombo during the annual general meeting of the Sri Lanka-USA Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

Addressing the business forum, the envoy pointed to upcoming commercial platforms such as the SelectUSA Investment Summit as vital avenues for deepening bilateral economic engagement.

He emphasized that establishing transparent and predictable regulatory frameworks, enforcing robust intellectual property protections, and maintaining fair market competition remain fundamental to building investor confidence across both nations.

The ambassador also commended the council for its sustained efforts to improve the domestic commercial landscape, noting that advancing intellectual property rights is essential for attracting American capital and expanding two-way trade.

At the same meeting, members re-elected Tilak Gunawardana, the group director and chief financial officer of MAC Holdings, to serve as council president for the 2026/2027 term.

In his acceptance address, Gunawardena underscored that Sri Lankan businesses require consistent public policies and a reliable trade environment to plan, invest, and scale their operations effectively.

A complaint was lodged today (22) with the relevant authorities by the legal team of former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, raising concerns over the alleged misuse of provisions of the Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses Act, the expenditure of public funds, and possible improper interference in matters relating to witnesses.

The complaint, submitted by Senior Attorney-at-Law Shiral Lakthilaka, is to be handed over by Attorneys-at-Law Rajika Kodithuwakku and Thikshana Gammanpila to the National Authority for the Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses and the Attorney General’s Department.

The complaint arises from testimony given in court on 19 October 2026 in connection with case No. HC 1824/20, currently being heard before the Colombo High Court.

According to the complaint, although the witness had previously informed court, through his lawyers, that he was unable to travel to Sri Lanka to testify at the original trial, approximately Rs. 450,000 in air travel and related expenses had reportedly been incurred using public funds to bring him from Germany to Sri Lanka.

The complaint raises questions regarding the expenditure and the arrangements made to facilitate the witness’s journey.

During his testimony, the witness reportedly stated that he had not personally borne the cost of travelling from Germany to Sri Lanka to testify in the case.

Instead, he identified the person who had paid the expenses as “Mr. Indika, the Director of the CCD.”

The complaint calls for a formal investigation into whether the legally prescribed procedures for obtaining testimony from witnesses residing overseas were followed, whether the relevant legal and financial regulations governing the use of public funds were complied with, and whether any aspect of the process affected the independence of the witness or the fairness of the judicial proceedings.

It further requests an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the matter, an audit of the use of public funds, and appropriate legal action against any individuals found responsible for violations of the law.

The position set out in the complaint is that the rule of law, the accountable use of public funds, and the independence of the judicial process must be safeguarded when dealing with witnesses in criminal proceedings.

The allegations and concerns raised in the complaint should not be treated as established facts before a proper investigation is conducted and the relevant evidence is examined.

Accordingly, the relevant authorities are being urged to investigate the matters impartially and take any necessary action in accordance with the law.

An interim forensic archaeological report submitted to the Jaffna Magistrate Court has concluded that the excavation site at Chemmani exhibits characteristics more consistent with formal burial practices than a clandestine mass grave.

The findings were presented on 19 October by lead archaeologist Professor Raj Somadeva of the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology alongside co-author Anusha Wanninayake following ongoing court-supervised excavations in Northern Sri Lanka.

The 17-page summary document details the recovery of a minimum of 574 individuals, 51 separate accumulations of disarticulated human bones, and 170 distinct artefact entries.

Preliminary demographic evaluations within the report estimate that children account for 41 per cent of the total deceased, while infants constitute a further 22 per cent.

Despite assessing the available evidence as insufficient for a final definitive conclusion, the authors specifically emphasized that contextual evidence aligns more closely with formal interment customs observed globally rather than illicit burial sites.

The document suggests that if the high volume of interments stemmed from an epidemic or similar natural catastrophe, an absence of buried personal possessions would be consistent with historical expectations.

However, the submission does not cite or identify any specific historical outbreak or disaster in the Jaffna peninsula to explain the concentration of human remains.

Special attention was also directed toward two specific skeletons, designated as numbers 227 and 429, which were uncovered resting in an upright seated position.

The authors noted that seated postures are documented within specific Hindu religious traditions associated with Samadhi practices, though they clarified that physical posture alone cannot conclusively confirm a spiritual burial.

Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake has expressed regret in parliament for mistakenly including former officials on a list of individuals facing corruption investigations or court cases.

He was speaking in Parliament on Thursday to clarify details in a 50-name document he tabled earlier this month.

The minister identified the three individuals as former Northern Province Governor Rupavathi Kethiswaran, former Board of Investment Chairman Thilan Wijesinghe, and former Ministry Additional Secretary Jayantha Fernando.

Clarifying the oversight, the Leader of the House admitted that the names of the three state officers were unnecessary to establish his argument regarding ongoing legal actions.

He offered a formal apology for any harm or reputational damage caused to the trio as a consequence of their inclusion in the parliamentary record.

The minister stressed that the compiled list was intended to show that state probes into past events were conducted strictly without political vendettas.

He reiterated that the government remains focused on pursuing legitimate inquiries into historical allegations rather than targeting individuals out of malice.

Sri Lanka suffered an estimated nineteen billion rupees in economic losses from the nationwide blackout on 17 October, exposing critical vulnerabilities in the national power grid and its capacity to manage sudden disruptions.

The crippling system collapse began at approximately eleven forty-three in the morning and required more than six hours to resolve, plunging businesses, telecommunications, and water-pumping facilities into darkness across the island before full generation was restored by evening.

Grid vulnerabilities and financial toll

SenFin Securities reported that direct financial damage to the electriciy sector alone ranged between two point three billion and five point eight billion rupees, driven heavily by costly thermal generation required to stabilize the network after an initial hydroelectric failure at Upper Kotmale.

Manufacturing interruptions and commercial closures compounded the crisis, lifting total national losses to nineteen billion rupees and highlighting the immense economic cost of power instability during a fragile national recovery.

Industry analysts noted that high daytime solar generation and a lack of adequate frequency-control mechanisms severely complicated grid management when conventional plants tripped offline.

The incident has intensified calls for urgent structural upgrades, including investments in battery storage, pumped storage hydro, and enhanced transmission links to prevent cascading failures.

Shift toward private capital

Meanwhile, the government is accelerating a major policy pivot to mobilize private capital for major national infrastructure projects through an incoming Public-Private Partnership framework.

Cabinet Spokesman Minister Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the state is actively pursuing private investments to navigate current fiscal realities and bridge a massive financing gap left by public spending constraints.

The Ministry of Finance and the Board of Investment are reviewing legacy agreements to ensure strict commercial viability and transparency, following the recent restructuring of the Colombo Port Logistics Hub project.

Authorities are advancing regional techno parks and specialized concessions under risk-sharing models designed to protect state resources while attracting international investors.

Without rigorous operational safeguards and transparent bidding processes, experts warn that infrastructure bottlenecks and energy instability will continue to threaten long-term economic growth.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved $100 million in financing to strengthen social protection, expand economic opportunities and improve care services for vulnerable communities in Sri Lanka.

The financing comprises a $50 million policy-based loan and a $50 million project loan under the Promoting Resilience and Opportunity for Inclusive Recovery Sector Development Program.

According to the ADB, the programme will support government efforts to improve livelihood and employment opportunities for low-income households, enhance eldercare services and strengthen the effectiveness of the country’s social protection system.

“Sri Lanka’s economic recovery must translate into meaningful improvements in the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable people,” said ADB Country Director for Sri Lanka Shannon Cowlin.

She added that the programme would help expand economic opportunities for poor households, improve social care services for an ageing population and establish a more inclusive and resilient social protection system.

30,000 Households to Receive Livelihood Support

Despite Sri Lanka’s continued economic recovery, poverty and vulnerability to economic and other shocks remain significant challenges, particularly for women, young people, older persons, persons with disabilities and communities in rural and disadvantaged areas.

The programme will address these issues through policy reforms, institutional improvements and investments in livelihood development and care services.

As part of the initiative, 30,000 households identified through the Aswesuma social registry across six districts will receive support under the government’s National Empowerment Program.

The assistance will include livelihood grants, employment and business development support, skills training, financial literacy programmes and improved access to reliable markets. Women and young people will be among the targeted beneficiaries.

Five Elderly Day Care Centres Planned

The programme will also focus on improving care services for Sri Lanka’s ageing population by strengthening the policy and regulatory framework for eldercare.

Five model elderly day care centres will be established in poorer districts to provide integrated care and support services.

The centres will also serve as demonstration sites to develop and refine eldercare models that could be expanded across the country.

Digital Improvements to Strengthen Social Protection

Further measures will focus on improving the delivery of social protection services through stronger monitoring and evaluation systems, digital platforms, case management processes and data governance.

The ADB said the programme would also strengthen the country's ability to respond to emergencies and other unexpected shocks, including those associated with climate change.

Institutional arrangements and coordination mechanisms will be improved to help ensure that assistance reaches vulnerable communities in a timely and effective manner during emergencies.

The initiative aims to make Sri Lanka’s social protection system more responsive to the needs of vulnerable groups while supporting inclusive economic recovery and long-term resilience.

Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry has dismissed social media reports of a recent visit by Indian spiritual leader Mahamandaleshwar Swami Kailashanand Giri Ji as misleading.

In a statement issued on Thursday (22), the ministry said the Swami Ji and his delegation arrived in the country on February 23, 2026, at the invitation of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.

The posts now circulating online, it said, relate to that earlier visit.

The ministry said the delegation travelled to several religious and historical sites around the island during the trip, among them well-known Shiva temples.

Officials said a central aim was to introduce Indian devotees and tourists to Sri Lanka’s religious and cultural attractions, including the Ramayana Trail.

India remains Sri Lanka’s biggest source of tourist arrivals, and the ministry said such promotion in the Indian market carries particular importance.

The visit also formed part of the Government’s effort to develop the tourism industry and deepen religious and cultural ties between Sri Lanka and India, according to the ministry.

The ministry said that presenting the older visit as a current event was misleading, and it urged the public to check the original date and context of reports before sharing them.

Sri Lanka's state-run retail chain Lanka Sathosa is facing a critical financial emergency after accumulating up to Rs. 24 billion in losses.

Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe revealed the staggering fiscal deficit during parliamentary proceedings in Colombo, warning that years of unviable branch expansion and severe procurement imbalances have pushed the national retail network to the brink of collapse.

Official financial disclosures indicate that Lanka Sathosa owes approximately Rs. 14 billion to its suppliers, whereas physical inventory held across the entire national network is valued at a modest Rs. 5.8 billion.

Operational accounts show that out of an initial 452 retail outlets, 250 were established far from urban commercial centers without sufficient planning, resulting in continuous daily losses that fail to cover basic rental overheads.

Recent consolidation efforts have trimmed the network down to 423 branches, yet 212 locations remain chronically unprofitable.

To restore supply chain stability, authorities have blacklisted more than eight suppliers over the past three months for failing to prioritize the state enterprise.

*Proposed restructuring*

In response to the mounting crisis, the government is planning a transition toward a franchise-based business model.

Under the proposed arrangement, private operators will manage retail storefronts under the established brand, while the state corporation shifts its operational focus primarily toward bulk wholesale procurement and logistics.

The government also plans to open 25 new commercially viable outlets during 2026, alongside targeted refurbishment of key existing locations.

Advocating for a separate state or a federal system of governance as a political stance will not be classified as a terrorist offence under Sri Lanka’s proposed legislation, the Justice Minister said.

Speaking during a television broadcast on the state-owned Independent Television Network, Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara clarified the legal scope of the new Protection of the State from Terrorism Act (PSTA).

The statement was made in response to questions about the legal implications of sharing information related to proscribed organisations under the updated framework.

Political discourse protected under new law

The proposed legislation relies heavily on a precise legal definition of terrorism to determine offences across all its clauses.

While the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) remains a banned group within Sri Lanka, the minister noted that expressing political views remains distinct from terrorist acts.

Illustrating the government position, he explained that if a newly formed group calls for self-determination or federalism, such demands are treated strictly as political opinions.

The draft law safeguards the right to express views, criticism, beliefs, and opposition as part of legitimate political debate.

Holding or voicing these political positions by any party, outside specific existing regulations on the LTTE, will not constitute terrorism, he said.

Sri Lanka's weather agency has issued severe lightning warnings covering 25 districts across the island as intense afternoon thundershowers sweep through multiple provinces.

The Department of Meteorology declared red alerts for 10 districts and amber alerts for 15 others on Thursday morning, warning that hazardous atmospheric conditions accompanied by strong localized winds will persist overnight until early Friday.

Safety guidelines

Forecasters expect heavy thundershowers and widespread lightning across the Central, Eastern, and Uva provinces, as well as the Polonnaruwa and Hambantota districts.

Met Department officials warned that severe lightning poses immediate risks to life and infrastructure, urging the public to take preventative safety measures.

Residents in affected areas are advised to remain indoors during storms and explicitly avoid taking refuge under trees.

Outdoor workers, farmers, and fisherfolk have been cautioned against remaining in exposed environments, such as paddy fields, tea estates, or open water bodies.

Authorities also advised against using wired telephones, operating connected electrical appliances, or travelling in open vehicles including bicycles, tractors, and boats.

Hazard risks

The weather advisory highlighted hazards from localized high winds, which could trigger falling trees and down power lines.

Disaster management teams have been placed on standby across the affected districts to respond to severe weather incidents.

Members of the public requiring emergency assistance have been instructed to contact their local disaster management authorities immediately.