Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court scheduled a new hearing on 26 January 2026 after the Singapore-based company responsible for one of the worst environmental disasters in recent history failed to pay the first $250 million instalment of the compensation it ordered.
The High Court of Anuradhapura has upheld an appeal by an association of disabled women, ordering the Ministry of Transport and the railway company to take measures to ensure accessibility on the high-speed line in the Southern Province. An important precedent for the whole country.
The arrest of five major Sri Lankan criminals in Indonesia has caused a stir in the island country. While the public is calling for exemplary punishment, Sister Deepa Fernando, activist and educator, says that “these young men were not born killers.” She calls for healing society in three steps: educational reform, a culture of non-violence, and strengthening the judicial system.
Released on health grounds, the former Sri Lankan president is accused of using state funds for a private trip to the United Kingdom in 2023 to celebrate his wife's honorary award. His supporters say his arrest is a threat to democracy, and some in the international community are concerned over the treatment of the man who was called to save the country from financial default. But those who opposed him say that the law must be equal for everyone.
Nadeesha Chandrasena has received the Global Award for Intellectual Property (WIPO) for her ‘Smart Drain’, an anti-clogging drainage system that prevents urban flooding. The device is patented and can be monitored in real time, overcoming the problem of drainage channels clogged with waste in large cities. The award is a source of pride for the country and its women's movements.
Sri Lankan President Dissanayake attended the ceremony for the 50th anniversary of the priesthood of the archbishop of the capital, ordained in 1975 by Pope Paul VI. In recent years, the cardinal has been a voice for the truth about the attacks that struck churches on Easter Sunday. ‘The country needs a new beginning. Let us work to protect religious and cultural values and the harmony of the country.’
A special university course has been launched in collaboration with the Swami Vivekanda Cultural Centre. The first distance learning course in the Indian lingua franca was launched in January. The High Commissioner of Delhi for Sri Lanka: ‘A bridge of understanding and communication between our countries’.
Faced with tensions in the Middle East, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation is exploring the possibility of sourcing African crude, while Russia has also come forward. Meanwhile, a decline in agricultural production is pushing up food prices again.
Illegal sand mining, mineral extraction, and large wind power plants are perceived as a danger to the delicate biodiversity of the island. Many do not see these projects as development, but rather as causing even greater damage than war.
On the day that marks the arrival of Arahant Mahinda Thero in Sri Lanka, Christians and Tamils also organised special "dansala", free food, to celebrate the festival. One group made a significant step by handing out coconut saplings, which will bear fruit over the years.
The young daughter of a mix couple is among the victims of the Easter 2019 bombings. The Archdiocese of Colombo included her name in the list of martyrs of the 21st century sent to the Jubilee Committee. She was preparing for her baptism when she was killed in the church blast. She was buried in an Islamic cemetery. Her mother told AsiaNews that she invited others to pray, but “God took her”.
Highly appreciated by Benedict XVI, the archbishop of Sri Lanka’s capital has held several posts in the Vatican, including that of secretary of the Dicastery for the liturgy. In recent years, he has accompanied the travails of his country, tirelessly asking for justice for the victims of the Easter 2019 massacres.
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