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Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D. Wickramaratne died after sustaining a gunshot wound at his residence in Athurugiriya on Friday. He was rushed to the Mulleriyawa Hospital following the shooting, but hospital sources said he had already succumbed to his injuries by the time he was admitted. Wickramaratne served in the Sri Lanka Police for more than 30 years and was the country’s 35th Inspector General of Police.

BNI Sri Lanka will host its National Conference 2026 on July 24 at Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo, bringing together members from across Sri Lanka and the global BNI network for a day focused on business networking, leadership and entrepreneurship. Held annually as BNI Sri Lanka’s flagship event, the conference aims to promote collaboration, knowledge sharing and business growth through BNI’s “Givers Gain®” philosophy.

The Colombo High Court has fixed September 7 for the continuation of the corruption trial filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) against former Minister Kumara Jayakody. The case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Rashantha Godawela on Tuesday (15), where the prosecution led evidence from former Lanka Fertiliser Company Procurement Executive Officer Deepika Dias.

The Sri Lanka Police have issued a clarification regarding a viral social media video showing a young child walking near a burning vehicle, which has sparked widespread public attention. Police said audio clips circulating alongside the video falsely alleged that the eight-year-old child had set fire to the vehicle. However, investigations have so far uncovered neither eyewitness testimony nor scientific evidence linking the child to the incident.

Former Provincial Councillor Jayalath Bandara Dissanayake, the brother of former Minister S.B. Dissanayake, has been arrested over an alleged financial fraud involving Rs. 27.5 million, police said. The arrest followed a complaint lodged with the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), alleging that the suspect had obtained Rs. 27.5 million from a resident of Weeraketiya after claiming he could secure a liquor licence.

Former MP Jagath Kumara said he was unaware of the nature of former Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s illness, noting that the distance between Sri Lanka and the country where Rajapaksa is currently staying made it difficult to obtain such information. Speaking at a media briefing held at the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) headquarters, Jagath Kumara said the party was only aware that Basil Rajapaksa had been unwell. “I believe the relevant facts have already been submitted to the court.

Central Province Governor Prof. Sarath Abayakoon has submitted his letter of resignation to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, citing personal reasons. Speaking to Ada Derana, Prof. Abayakoon said he had not yet received a response to the resignation letter, which was sent to the President several days ago. He added that the President had not made any official statement on whether the resignation had been accepted. Prof. Abayakoon said his decision to step down was based on personal reasons.

The Government has defended its decision to extend the retirement age of superior court judges, citing the growing backlog of cases across the judicial system and a shortage of experienced judicial officers. Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the Government recognised the severe burden placed on the public due to lengthy delays in court proceedings, from the Supreme Court to the Magistrates’ Courts.

A 26-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly killing his mother and father with a sharp weapon following a domestic dispute in the Kiralwelkaduwa area of Embilipitiya. Police said the incident occurred after an argument arising from a personal dispute escalated into violence. The victims were identified as a 57-year-old father and his 54-year-old wife.

Sri Lanka Police have warned the public of a series of financial scams involving fake websites and fraudulent text messages designed to mimic the Government’s official GovPay digital payment platform. Police said they have recently received complaints about fraudulent SMS messages sent in the name of the Sri Lanka Police, claiming recipients had committed speeding or other traffic offences and directing them to pay fines through fake payment links.