Sri Lankan AI News Summary.

SRI LANKA DAILY NEWS DIGEST — Thursday, October 15, 2026 SAUDI COURT SPARES SRI LANKAN'S LIFE The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia on October 13 set aside a Court of Appeal judgement imposing the death penalty on Sri Lankan national Anojan, Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra confirmed. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Opposition Leader both welcomed the ruling and extended their gratitude to Saudi Arabia. MARKETS SLIDE BELOW 20,000 The Colombo Stock Exchange extended its decline on October 14, with both benchmark indices closing sharply lower as broad-based selling pressure intensified, pushing the main index below the 20,000 mark. INTERNATIONAL WARRANT FOR BASIL RAJAPAKSA The Fort Magistrate's Court on October 14 issued an international warrant for the arrest of former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa over allegations of misusing funds belonging to the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau. HEALTH: DENGUE VACCINE STILL NOT IMPORTED The dengue vaccine promised by the Ministry of Health has yet to reach Sri Lanka. Specialist Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa questioned the delay in securing National Medicines Regulatory Authority approval for its importation. POLITICS AND THE SANGHA Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Minister K. D. Lalkantha said offenders should be punished under the law but the Buddhist robe itself should not be blamed for an individual's wrongdoing. The remarks come amid intensified calls for stronger monastic accountability following reports of indiscipline within sections of the clergy, putting pressure on both the Sangha and the Government to act. Separately, political scientist and former diplomat Dayan Jayatileke said the long-overdue Provincial Council elections could end up a non-event. JOBS, TAX AND LABOUR The Ministry of Education published the lists of graduates qualifying for the first phase of interviews for 23,006 vacancies in the Sri Lanka Teachers' Service. The Inland Revenue Department reminded taxpayers that income tax returns for the 2025/2026 year of assessment are due by November 30, 2026. Labour Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando said workplace safety must be treated as an investment in human life, not an added cost. On foreign employment, a man known as 'Dubai Sudda' — Ranthathige Nisshanka Priyadarshana — received a five-year suspended sentence, a Rs. 100,000 fine and orders to pay Rs. 700,000 in compensation over a job scam, while an overseas employment guidance programme for youth was held in Jaffna. TRANSPORT AND WEATHER Part of an earth embankment near Kadigamuwa railway station has collapsed again, spilling soil onto the track and halting trains at Rambukkana. The Department of Meteorology has warned of strong winds and rough seas off the coast from Negombo to Galle via Colombo. ENERGY AND TOURISM Sri Lanka must accelerate grid-connected battery energy storage to overcome grid limitations and meet renewable energy targets, the Director General of the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority said. In tourism, Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams General Manager said Colombo needs stronger international marketing and better air connectivity with key source markets to draw more visitors. SPORT Pakistan took the three-match T20 series 2-1 despite an eight-wicket defeat in the final game at Rawalpindi, where Kusal led Sri Lanka to a consolation win. Sri Lanka's Under-19 Women secured a fifth straight victory, beating Bangladesh by eight wickets at Iqbal Stadium ahead of the final. At the Royal Colombo Golf Course, Thangharajah shot a five-under 66 for a one-shot lead after round one of the Sri Lanka Golf Ranking Tournament. WORLD A Houthi missile attack struck an administrative building of Saudi Aramco in the historic heart of the kingdom's oil industry, sparking a fire. In the United States, six people were killed when a small plane crashed in Wisconsin.