Sri Lanka

A prominent local crime boss shot in the courtroom where he had been taken from prison for a hearing. The killer disguised himself as a lawyer. The Minister of Justice has ordered armed escorts and fingerprinting for court depositions.

The accumulation of waste has reached a height of 15 meters and is located near houses, schools, restaurants and shops. It is the only storage site for non-degradable waste in the capital. Fears of an accident similar to the Meethotamulla landslide in 2017, which caused 32 deaths.

The new government's economic plan includes incentives for industry, support for workers and a commitment against corruption. These measures are necessary to obtain loans from the International Monetary Fund and ensure the country's financial stability after a long period of crisis. Northern regions will also receive investments to revive manufacturing.

Signed with then President Wickremesinghe last May, the agreement included the construction of two wind farms on Mannar Island and in the village of Pooneryn. The Dissanayake administration has pulled the plug on the project to cut costs amid the country’s ongoing economic crisis and after fraud accusations were made against the Indian billionaire. Environmentalists are happy since the project threatened fishermen and migratory birds.

The diocese of Chilaw has sent the findings of the investigation into the sanctity of the consecrated lay woman, the first servant of God of Sri Lanka, to Rome. Bishop Don Wimal Siri Jayasuriya: ‘Even without knowing how to read or write, through her participation in the suffering of Jesus she left us a divine message’.

Overcrowded carriages and delays are the order of the day. The country's infrastructure is not adequate to support modern rail traffic. 72% of locomotives are over 40 years old: concerns about safety and efficiency. The new Chinese carriages, which cost 22 million dollars, are unusable. Experts: ‘Urgent action to avoid effects on the economy and commuters’.

Hansen's disease mainly affects the eastern and western provinces. Although with multi-drug therapy (MDT) Sri Lanka has reduced cases, it remains a ‘high incidence country’. Twelve per cent of patients are under 15 years of age, most between 25 and 45. Leprosy remains associated with strong social stigmas. Health authorities emphasise the importance of early diagnosis and raising awareness.

A report by the University of Vavuniya in collaboration with The Gate Institute shows “significant gaps”, especially among the elderly, economically disadvantaged groups and women in areas affected by the country’s civil long war (1983-2009). The district of Mannar appears to have the highest connectivity rate. The potential of young people was emphasised.

Delays are leading many cargo ships to bypass the port, causing economic losses for the country and higher costs for importers. Maritime authorities have reported two to three days delays in berthing due to low terminal capacity and obstacles in slow clearance operations.

Ten years after the canonisation of Sri Lanka’s saint, pilgrims from India travelled to his shrine on his feast day. Bishop Emeritus Vianney Fernando of Kandy expressed gratitude for his gift, urging seminarians to learn to “be zealous missionaries” like him.

During the celebrations in Hindu temples and Christian churches, school material was handed out to 175 pupils from the disadvantaged Malaiyaha community. The initiative, by the Voice of Plantation People (VOPP), combines faith and cultural identity; particularly this year, which marked 200 years since the arrival of the first Tamils from India to work in local plantations.

About 13 people have been killed in armed clashes between gangs and criminal groups in the past three months alone. In 2023, 61 people were killed and 47 wounded. Experts believe the phenomenon is facilitated by political connections.