AGP Executive Report

Courtroom Clash: Colombo District Court allowed SJB organiser Tissa Attanayake to serve interrogatories on Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya in a Rs. 100 million defamation suit tied to a 2024 election rally, with the case set for July 20. Sports — T20 Series: Sri Lanka beat West Indies by 37 runs in the 2nd T20I at Kingston, leveling the series 1-1 after Kamil Mishara’s 61 and Dasun Shanaka’s 58 off 24, while Chameera and Hasaranga took three wickets each. Public Health — Dengue: The National Dengue Control Unit says 80% of mosquito breeding sites are in public places, with larvae density rising to about 12% in May, urging urgent clean-up in schools and homes. Consumer Watch: CAA launched an investigation into a Kollupitiya supermarket over imported food labels lacking key details like importer info, MRP, batch numbers, and expiry dates. Safety & Weather: Meteorology warns of rough seas and strong winds across several coastal areas, while authorities announce stricter seat-belt enforcement on expressways from later this month. Economy/Ports: President Dissanayake met CHEC’s chairman on Port City Colombo investment and said IMF policy stability is improving the environment for FDI.

Judicial Independence: The Commonwealth Lawyers Association warned Sri Lanka against a reported move to extend the retirement age of Court of Appeal and Supreme Court judges, saying piecemeal constitutional changes could undermine judicial independence and public confidence. UN Rights Oversight: The UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture will return to Sri Lanka from 15–24 June to assess whether authorities have implemented reforms since its 2019 visit, including joint work with Sri Lanka’s national preventive mechanism. Education Support: University students with disabilities have begun receiving a monthly Rs. 5,000 allowance, with payments and arrears disbursed from this month under a scheme effective from January. Health & Weather: Colombo’s dengue risk is rising, prompting a Special Dengue Prevention Week (15–21 June), while a minor flood situation has been reported in the Kuda Ganga sub-basin, with residents urged to stay alert. Transport & Safety: SriLankan Airlines Flight UL606 returned safely to Colombo after a lightning strike affected an engine, with all passengers and crew unharmed. Sports (Sri Lanka in focus): England crushed Sri Lanka by 87 runs in the Women’s T20 World Cup opener, powered by Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s 105* at Edgbaston.

Women’s Cricket: England crushed Sri Lanka by 87 runs in the Women’s T20 World Cup opener at Edgbaston, posting a record 219/1 as Danni Wyatt-Hodge smashed an unbeaten 105 off 62 balls, with Freya Kemp taking 4-21. UN Rights Watch: The UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture will return to Sri Lanka from 15–24 June to assess detention safeguards, including how authorities are implementing past recommendations. Justice & Detention: Former MPs urged the President to uphold the rule of law in the Suresh Sallay case, as debate grows over his treatment while in police custody under the PTA. Environment & Trade: The government plans tighter controls on plastic imports and steps to stop clinical waste entering Sri Lanka, including proposals for animal quarantine centres. Infrastructure: Sri Lanka will resume construction of the main airport terminal at Bandaranaike International Airport in November, targeting completion within 30 months. Public Safety: Police launched a nationwide crackdown on modified loud exhaust vehicles ahead of Poson, with impounding for offenders. Sports (Local): Colombo Athletic Football Academy became the first Sri Lankan youth team invited to Portugal’s Iber Cup, departing June 27.

Women’s T20 World Cup: England opened their home campaign in style, smashing Sri Lanka Women by 87 runs at Edgbaston after Danni Wyatt-Hodge hit an unbeaten 105 and England posted a tournament-record 219/1; Sri Lanka were bowled out for 132 with Freya Kemp taking 4/21. Sports diplomacy: Sri Lanka’s men’s rugby match against South Korea in the Asian Rugby Championship was cancelled after visa problems blocked the team’s travel. Courts & accountability: The Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar fixed a verdict date of July 31 in the case against former IGP Pujith Jayasundara over alleged failures linked to Easter Sunday intelligence warnings. Parliament & lawmaking: The Online Safety (Repeal) Bill debate is set for June 23, with further bills scheduled for June 24 and June 26. Economy & policy: Sri Lanka launched a new National Mineral Policy to curb corruption and push value-added processing; a Rs. 20bn supplementary estimate was approved for relief linked to the Middle East conflict. Business & society: Nazri Nizar became the first Sri Lankan elected to the YPO Global Board; Facebook and Messenger suffered a major global outage.

Dengue Alert: Sri Lanka is facing a fast-rising dengue threat, with health authorities warning of a possible epidemic as cases near 39,000 this year and Colombo accounts for about a quarter of infections. A dengue eradication programme is set to run from June 15 to 20, targeting public places and schools. Judicial Independence: The Attorney General has withdrawn a move to call an Awissawella High Court judge as a witness, after the Court of Appeal heard arguments that summoning a sitting judge could undermine judicial independence. Airline Restructuring: Cabinet approved a high-level committee to review and restructure SriLankan Airlines, aiming to cut the state’s long-term burden and improve commercial viability. Courts Under Strain: Parliament heard that Sri Lanka has a backlog of 1.1 million court cases, while officials again faced questions over judge appointments. Public Safety & Justice: Police will seize noisy motorcycles during Poson, prisons are overcrowded with the inmate population rising to 40,000, and a court ordered DNA testing in a case involving a monk. International Moves: The US Navy’s USS Canberra arrived in Colombo for refuelling and supplies, underscoring continued Indo-Pacific engagement.

T20 World Cup Opener: England host Sri Lanka at Edgbaston as Nat Sciver-Brunt says the “extra pressure” of a home tournament is a privilege, with Sri Lanka arriving on a run of five straight T20 wins and replacing injured Shashini Gimhani with Chethana Vimukthi. Youth Cricket: The BCCI named India Under-19 squads for Sri Lanka next month, with Anvay Dravid earning a maiden call-up; the tour starts with three one-day matches in Hambantota (July 4, 6, 9) before multi-day games in Galle and Colombo. Courts & Governance: Parliament is roiled by a proposal to raise Superior Court judges’ retirement age, with the government saying no Cabinet approval has been obtained yet, but protests and legal-sector opposition are growing. Health Warning: Sri Lanka’s Health Ministry cautioned against non-standard plastic food containers and utensils, warning heat can release harmful chemicals and microplastics linked to long-term disease risks. Finance & FX: The Central Bank tightened export repatriation rules, requiring exporters to convert leftover foreign currency proceeds into rupees by the 10th of the next month, as markets watch dollar liquidity and rupee volatility. Sustainable Finance: Sri Lanka operationalised its Green Finance Taxonomy with EU support, training stakeholders to steer capital toward climate-resilient projects. Corruption Watch: A Ragama hospital coroner was arrested over an alleged Rs. 100,000 bribe demand tied to a judicial medical report.

SLAF Modernisation: Sri Lanka Air Force carried out its first test flight of the upgraded Kfir C12 fighter aircraft at SLAF Base Katunayake, after ground validation and systems integration, with Defence Ministry and Air Force top officials present. Anti-Corruption Push: CIABOC arrested 32 state officials in the first four months of 2026, spanning education, law enforcement, judiciary, local government and environment; it also received 786 complaints in April. Public Safety & Weather: Meteorology warned of rough to very rough seas around parts of the coast, urging fishing and naval communities to avoid risky waters. Drugs Crackdown: Police arrested a 42-year-old in Werahera with Ice and heroin, recovering multiple drug quantities during a raid. Judiciary: Colombo High Court rejected Shashi Weerawansa’s appeal over an irregular passport conviction, upholding the sentence. Parliament Oversight: A US congressional delegation is in Colombo to support Sri Lanka Parliament in setting up a Parliamentary Budget Office and strengthening fiscal analysis capacity. Coastal Access: Five Dehiwala beach access roads were formally named for World Environment Day, with plans for sea-bathing pools. Dengue Update: A three-day dengue prevention drive led to 2,400 legal cases and 3,300 red notices; dengue cases are nearing 39,000 this year. Sports (Sri Lanka-linked): India U-19 squads for a Sri Lanka tour were announced, with Yashbardhan Singh Chauhan captaining and Rahul Dravid’s son Anvay Dravid named in the one-day squad.

Food Security Shock: The World Food Programme warns the US-Iran war is pushing millions into severe hunger, with Sri Lanka among the hardest hit as food and fuel costs rise and trade is disrupted. School Dropouts: Sri Lanka’s PM told Parliament that 267,138 children dropped out of school between 2018 and 2024, with no data for 2010-2017. Easter Sunday Probe: A five-member medical board has been ordered to examine former intelligence chief Suresh Sallay over allegations of torture in CID custody, as the Easter investigation continues amid public tension. Corruption Court Case: Former Southern Province CM Shan Wijayalal de Silva was remanded over alleged procurement irregularities involving Rs. 16.5 million for chairs. Public Safety: Three students were swept away by waves at Galle Face; two were rescued and one remains missing. Infrastructure Disruption: A 12-hour water cut is scheduled for Mahara and Gampaha areas for Central Expressway pipe relocation. New Cargo Airline: WEAIR launched in Sri Lanka to expand air cargo capacity and connectivity. Cricket (Sri Lanka link): Pakistan’s women’s white-ball tour of Sri Lanka is set for July-August in Hambantota.

Easter Sunday probe: A Court of Appeal writ application seeks to block the arrest of Senior DIG Waruna Jayasundara over the 2019 Easter attacks investigation, while a Colombo Fort Magistrate ordered a five-member medical board to assess whether detained former SIS chief Suresh Sallay was subjected to prior ill-treatment. Anti-corruption: CIABOC arrested former Southern Province chief minister Shan Wijayalal De Silva over a chair procurement scam, and the High Court also upheld corruption convictions against former deputy minister Sarana Gunawardena, sentencing him to 16 years. Public health & safety: A national dengue drive found larvae in 1,864 of 31,155 premises inspected, with notices issued and legal action started; separate weather warnings urged fishermen to avoid very rough seas. Economy & policy: The IMF cut Sri Lanka’s 2026 growth forecast to 3% and approved temporary fiscal easing amid Middle East shock and Cyclone Ditwah fallout; the Central Bank also issued new rules on export earnings conversion. Tourism & business: Tourism hit a record May with 145,745 arrivals, and Sri Lanka launched a national accessibility audit for public institutions; a Rs. 76m boat launching ramp is set to open to boost marine manufacturing. Sports & culture: Pakistan women will tour Sri Lanka in July-August for a six-match white-ball series in Hambantota, and Sri Lanka’s FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcast rights were announced for TV1, Sirasa TV and Shakthi TV.

Easter Sunday Probe: Sri Lanka’s government warned that anyone trying to threaten officials or derail the Easter Sunday terror investigation will face legal action, pointing to renewed unrest after foreign travel bans were imposed on key figures. Detention Fallout: Suresh Sallay’s wife renewed an urgent appeal to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake over his deteriorating health and alleged mistreatment as public debate intensifies. Corruption Conviction: Former MP Sarana Gunawardena was sentenced to 16 years’ rigorous imprisonment by the Colombo High Court over corruption charges linked to the Development Lotteries Board. Public Health: Dengue control efforts found larvae in thousands of premises, including schools, with inspectors warning of serious transmission risk. Water Disruptions: NWSDB announced a 14-hour water cut in Galle and a separate 10-hour cut in parts of Kalutara for maintenance. Economy & Markets: The Central Bank issued new rules on repatriation of export proceeds, while the Colombo Stock Exchange rebounded on lower oil prices and improved sentiment. Labour & Migration: Kuwait updated domestic worker recruitment rules, including allowing hiring from Sri Lanka. Sports (Sri Lanka-linked): India A beat Sri Lanka A in the tri-series opener in Dambulla, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s debut ending early.

Digital Economy Push: Sri Lanka’s Cabinet approved drafting a Digital Economy Bill to speed up the National Digital Policy, with a new legal framework covering policy, tech roll-out, regulation and enforcement, including AI-focused areas. Anti-Corruption Courts: Former deputy minister Sarana Gunawardena was sentenced to a total of 16 years in prison over four corruption convictions, with fines imposed after CIABOC alleged kickbacks and state losses tied to vehicle and building rentals. Road Safety Plan: The Transport Minister says a demerit system for traffic offences will be piloted nationwide from September to discipline repeat offenders, citing high road-death figures. Public Transport Digitisation: Concessionary railway season tickets for government officials will be fully digitised from July via the Pravesha platform. Fire Tragedy: Three people injured in a Thalawathugoda restaurant fire have died, with investigations ongoing. Maritime Security: Australia and Sri Lanka launched “Operation Disi Rela 3” to boost surveillance and crack down on maritime crime, with ATVs and drones donated to the Coast Guard. Health & Rights: Women MPs urged faster, better-coordinated investigations and safeguards in the Anuradhapura child abuse case. PTA Detention Scrutiny: HRCSL summoned CID officers over the Suresh Sallay investigation, as legal groups demand medical care and PTA reforms. Economy & Finance: Parliament’s finance committee sought a detailed Central Bank report on a USD 2.5m Treasury cyber theft, with the Bank to respond within a week. Green Finance Training: Over 200 stakeholders were trained to apply Sri Lanka’s Green Finance Taxonomy in practice.

Domestic Work Rules in Kuwait: Kuwait’s Interior Ministry issued a new circular on recruiting domestic workers, allowing hiring from 10 countries (including Sri Lanka) while banning recruitment from 27 others, with applications processed through governorate service centres. Suresh Sallay Hunger Strike Update: Former intelligence chief Suresh Sallay remains in remand at Colombo National Hospital and is still refusing food, now on saline, as lawyers handle next steps. Dengue Crackdown: Sri Lanka launched a three-day national dengue mosquito control drive, with over 70,000 premises inspected on day one and legal action initiated where larvae were found. Human-Elephant Conflict: The government cleared three long-blocked elephant corridors—Wetahirakanda, Hadapanagala and Koholankala—aiming to reduce clashes with communities. Road Safety: A bus crash near the Pinnaduwa Interchange on the Southern Expressway injured about ten passengers; police are investigating the cause. Sports (Sri Lanka-linked): Sri Lanka Emerging Players ended day one on 302/8 against West Indies Academy in a local ‘Test’ match.

Transport & Services: Vehicle number plate printing resumed after a year-long suspension, with a backlog of about 600,000 plates reduced to around 150,000 and an SMS update system promised for owners. Detention & Justice: Former SIS chief Suresh Sallay remains in Colombo National Hospital after being hospitalised amid a hunger strike, as opposition parties hold a protest near Fort Railway Station and police deny mistreatment claims. Public Health: Dengue cases have surged to 35,228 nationwide, prompting a special nationwide mosquito control drive starting June 8 with red notices and legal action for breeding sites. Elder Care Regulation: Authorities will crack down on unregistered elderly care homes, noting only 148 of 455 are registered, after the Anguruwatota fire that killed residents. Economy & Markets: Foreign investors sold Sri Lanka government securities for a fifth straight week, while the rupee continues to weaken. Sports: Rain washed out the second ODI between West Indies and Sri Lanka, leaving Sri Lanka 1-0 up. Weather: A red warning issued for strong winds and rough seas, advising fishing and naval communities to stay ashore.

IMF & Treasury Cyber Heist: The IMF granted Sri Lanka a waiver after a $2.5m missed external debt payment linked to a Treasury phishing scam, saying the breach was “minor” and corrective steps were taken. Public Finance & SOEs: Sri Lanka’s major State-owned enterprises saw profits fall 17.6% to Rs. 444.4b in 2025, with the Ceylon Electricity Board’s swing from profit to loss a key drag. Detention Case in Focus: Former SIS chief Suresh Sallay was admitted to Colombo’s National Hospital for emergency treatment while in CID custody, amid allegations of inhumane treatment and a hunger strike. Tourism & Infrastructure: Prime and Melwa launched the Prime Marina Sales Suite at Port City Colombo, while commentary renewed calls to fix Bandaranaike International Airport to unlock tourism growth. Health Spending: Government has started reviving 25 stalled health projects, budgeting Rs. 76b to complete key hospital infrastructure. Crime & Enforcement: Police raided a Facebook-linked party in Ambalangoda, arresting 28 and seizing cocaine, ICE, cannabis and illegal cigarettes. Sports (Sri Lanka-linked): West Indies’ Shamar Joseph will miss the final ODI vs Sri Lanka due to personal reasons; rain already washed out the second ODI.

Local Politics: The SJB has expelled five Bulathsinhala Pradeshiya Sabha members over bribery allegations tied to forming power with the NPP, naming Nihal Mendis and four others after a review of video claims presented to Sajith Premadasa. Road Safety: A drunk hit-and-run on the Embulgama–Panagoda road in Hanwella killed two women; police arrested the driver after CCTV-led investigation and seized the vehicle. Transport Disruption: Private bus operators plan to cut services by 50% from June 8, running mainly during school and office rush hours, blaming fuel costs and lack of fare relief. Consumer Protection: A Nugegoda food supplier was fined Rs 75,000 and ordered to destroy expired stock after Consumer Affairs Authority raids found expired items mixed with fresh goods and missing required details. Public Administration: Divisional Secretaries’ association says it will boycott Monday meetings from June 8, citing Public Day rules and repeated clashes that disrupt citizen services. Health & Safety: A three-day islandwide dengue crackdown starts June 8 in 14 high-risk districts, with stricter enforcement against breeding sites on private premises. Elder Care Oversight: The government is drafting tougher rules for unregistered elderly care homes, with only 148 of 455 reportedly registered. Aviation Security: Sri Lanka’s CAASL chief was appointed chair of the Asia-Pacific Aviation Security Programme for 2026/27 ahead of major regional summits. Education Policy: Sri Lanka launched a public consultation and online survey to shape a new National Higher Education Policy Framework.

Dengue Surge: Sri Lanka’s dengue risk has hit a critical level, with health authorities warning of rapid spread after 35,300 cases were reported so far; officials urge early treatment within 24 hours and warn against self-medicating beyond paracetamol. Coast Guard & Safety: The Sri Lanka Coast Guard marked the legacy of its founding Director General Rear Admiral Daya Dharmapriya, while the Meteorology Department issued a rough-seas and strong-wind advisory for multiple sea routes, urging fishermen and naval communities to stay vigilant. Economy & Rupee Pressure: A fresh push to contain private credit growth is linked to CBSL’s sudden rate move aimed at stabilising the rupee, with critics saying the response was reactive rather than proactive. Sports—ODI at Sabina Park: West Indies won the toss and chose to bowl in the must-win 2nd ODI against Sri Lanka, with rain a factor and Amir Jangoo replacing Matthew Forde; Sri Lanka brought in Eshan Malinga. Cricket—India vs Sri Lanka Pathway: India A will tour Sri Lanka with Dhruv Jurel as captain, while debates continue over India’s selection choices ahead of the Sri Lanka tour. Justice in Custody: Police rejected claims by former MP Udaya Gammanpila about Major General Suresh Sallay’s treatment in CID custody, saying procedures are standard and the matter is before courts.