Namal Rajapaksa Arrested in Airbus Probe Amidst Indian Defence Minister's Visit; Drought Worsens as UNHRC Scrutinizes Sri Lanka

Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa was arrested by the CIABOC on September 4th in connection with an alleged Rs 100 million bribe related to a SriLankan Airlines Airbus deal, subsequently being remanded but granted facilities to attend Parliament where he criticized the government's economic policies and unfulfilled promises

. In a related development, former Minister Chamal Rajapaksa also provided a statement to CIABOC regarding the same Airbus deal. Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived for a historic three-day visit, reaffirming India's commitment to Sri Lanka and scheduled to sign three agreements

. The Cabinet approved a new Prevention of Organized Crime Bill to introduce a legal framework aligned with international standards, moving away from the PTA

, and also greenlit a National Cyber Security Regulatory Authority and 'Digital Development Units' to accelerate the digital economy

. The UN Human Rights Council commenced its 63rd session, with a report concerning Sri Lanka scheduled for presentation this week

. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa criticized the government on issues ranging from the farmer crisis and democratic erosion to the 22nd Amendment

. Thailand is ending visa-free entry for Sri Lankans from September 15th, citing illegal activities by nationals, prompting Sri Lanka to propose a bilateral agreement to regain the facility

. Other significant political news includes the approval of international cooperation agreements with Thailand for labour

, the introduction of digital motor insurance cards with police warning against rejection

, the appointment of 100 new SLBFE employees in the first open recruitment in 40 years

, and the expansion of the Metro Bus Service to 172 vehicles and new cities

. A court assistant was remanded for accepting a Rs. 750,000 bribe to influence an ex-minister's sentence

, while Venerable Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thero was further remanded for obstructing Mines Bureau officials

. Sri Lanka Railways will extend online season tickets to the private sector from October 1st

, and Senior DIG Ajith Rohana retired after 38 years of service

. The 67th State Literary Awards Ceremony was led by President Dissanayake, honoring over 150 writers

, and electric vehicles will feature green number plates, with 88,740 registered EVs confirmed

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The ongoing El Niño-exacerbated dry weather has severely impacted 115,586 people across seven districts, with the DMC intensifying water distribution efforts

. Sri Lanka is navigating dual weather extremes, with forecasts for rain in some areas but continued dry spells elsewhere, and warnings for strong winds, rough seas, and thunderstorms

. A new heat advisory has been issued for multiple districts, with 'attention required' levels expected

. Main reservoir water capacity has dropped to 47.3%, with some falling below 20%

. Special regulations have been gazetted to safeguard the environmentally sensitive Nildiya Pokuna

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Two Thai nationals were arrested at BIA with cannabis and hashish valued at over Rs. 51 million concealed in vitamin containers

. Police are warning motorists about a sophisticated fake traffic fine scam using fraudulent SMS and WhatsApp messages directing them to fake websites

. The CID arrested a 49-year-old woman, the deceased's wife, in connection with the 2018 abduction and murder of a retired Army soldier in Kirindiwela

. The Colombo High Court has postponed a narcotics case involving alleged drug trafficker Shiran Basik to October 2nd

. Separately, a 17-year-old boy was injured in a shooting in Athurugiriya, and another person was hurt in a shooting in Thanamalwila

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University lecturers nationwide commenced a one-day token strike demanding urgent solutions to systemic problems, including a significant shortage of academic staff, and threatening escalation if demands are not met

. The Department of Examinations has opened online applications for re-scrutiny of GCE O/Level, Pirivena O/Level, and Grade 5 Scholarship examination answer scripts, with varying deadlines

. The Ministry of Education also announced the second round of appeals for Grade 6 admissions for 2026, with online applications open from May 8 to May 29, 2026

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Sri Lanka's gross public debt reached Rs. 32,977 billion (USD 97,952 million) by June 30, 2026, with government debt service payments for the second quarter close to Rs. 2,700 billion

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