Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala told Parliament yesterday that steps had been taken to bring back criminals operating from overseas, with special police teams conducting operations in coordination with international police in countries where the suspects are hiding.

He said 17 Special Task Force (STF) teams had also been deployed across the country to crack down on organised crime and drug trafficking. The Minister said INTERPOL red notices had been issued for 236 Sri Lankans, including 94 individuals identified as organised criminals and drug traffickers.

Of these, 30 red notices had been issued in connection with murder cases, while the others were linked to drug trafficking and serious offences, including human trafficking, money laundering, the acquisition of illicit assets, and aiding and abetting crimes.

Responding to a question raised by SJB MP Kavinda Jayawardane, the Minister said 134 murders had been recorded between 2020 and 2026. He said the number of murders had declined from 29 in 2025 to 18 so far in 2026, attributing the reduction to intensified operations targeting organised criminal gangs and drug trafficking networks.

According to the figures presented by the Minister, two murders were recorded in 2020, four in 2021, 23 in 2022, 16 in 2023, 42 in 2024, 29 in 2025 and 18 so far this year.

The Minister said the increase in shooting incidents was largely attributable to conflicts between organised criminal gangs and drug trafficking networks.

The Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard seized over 475kg of methamphetamine (Ice) and heroin during a joint operation in the coastal area of Naotunna, Thalalla, Matara, this morning (24), the Navy said.

The President’s Office has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake was admitted to a private hospital following a sudden illness.

The Acting Commissioner General of Prisons has issued an Extraordinary Gazette notification amending the Standing Orders of the Department of Prisons outlining the procedures to be followed regarding the removal of robes when imprisoning a Buddhist monk.

SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa, marking 50 days since his imprisonment, has said that although he remains behind bars, his thoughts and the aspirations of those supporting his political camp cannot be imprisoned.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has written an emotional letter to his son, MP Namal Rajapaksa, who is currently in remand custody, recalling the advice he gave him when he first entered politics in 2010.

The three foreign companies involved in retail fuel distribution — Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC), Sinopec and RM Parks — have limited their operations amid a surge in global fuel prices, leaving the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) hard-pressed to make up the shortfall, an official said yesterday.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the Ministry of Finance has finalised decisions to close 34 state institutions as part of the government’s efforts to reduce public expenditure and ease the financial burden on the state.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama today rejected a motion filed by Buddhist monks participating in a Satyagraha protest at Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo, seeking to challenge or vary a court order issued yesterday directing the protesters to vacate the premises.

The first heart surgery performed on former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa has been successful, family sources said. The procedure was carried out following an emergency that arose while she was receiving inpatient treatment at a private hospital in Colombo. However, family sources said another open-heart surgery is expected to be performed at a later date.

Litro Gas Lanka has announced plans to distribute 350,000 gas cylinders to the market over the next three days to ensure an uninterrupted supply of domestic gas across the country.

A developing weather system over the Andaman Sea could mark the beginning of a fresh cyclonic threat over the Bay of Bengal, with a low-pressure area likely to form on October 23, 2026.

The National System Operator (NSO) has announced that electricity demand management measures will no longer be required from today (October 22), following the restoration of Lakvijaya Power Station Unit 02 to its full capacity of 270 MW.

Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala today told Parliament that the Government has intensified investigations into drug-related offences, with 586,824 individuals arrested during 588,180 drug raids conducted over the past two years.

SriLankan Airlines has announced that the suspension of all flights between Colombo and Dammam, and Colombo and Riyadh, will remain in effect until and including November 1, 2026, due to the prevailing security situation in the region.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said it is yet to discuss with Sri Lankan authorities the government's claim that around US$ 1 billion has been siphoned out of the country under the guise of import payments for which no goods were delivered.

The Court of Appeal (CoA) today (Oct. 22) rejected a series of intervention petitions seeking permission to make submissions in connection with the writ petition filed by former Director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), Major General (Retd.) Suresh Sallay.

Sri Lanka Police have recorded statements from 14 individuals, including politicians, in connection with the installation of a statue of former LTTE member Rasaiah Parthipan, also known as Thileepan, in Nallur, Jaffna.

ITAK Parliamentary Group Leader MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam has strongly opposed the establishment of additional liquor outlets in Jaffna and Kilinochchi, urging the government to prioritise development and public welfare in the Northern Province.

The government today assured the public that there was no reason to fear shortages of gas, fuel, fertiliser or medicine, saying sufficient stocks were available in the country.

The National System Operator (Pvt.) Ltd. expects the Norochcholai coal power plant to resume power generation by tomorrow (Thursday), an official said yesterday.