Responding to the ongoing economic crisis in Sri Lanka, Fitch Rating agency has downgraded the country’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘CC’, from ‘CCC’, a move that reflects the dire state of Colombo's finances.

“The downgrade reflects our view of an increased probability of a default event in coming months in light of Sri Lanka's worsening external liquidity position, underscored by a drop in foreign-exchange reserves set against high external debt payments and limited financing inflows. The severity of financial stress is illustrated by elevated government-bond yields and downward pressure on the currency” the report notes.

Responding to a joint letter by seven UN Special Rapporteurs urging Sri Lanka to suspend their draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act, until amended to meet international obligations, Human Rights Watch has urged the European Union "to not allow itself to be hoodwinked by a sham PTA reform".

Several UN experts have written to Sri Lanka's President urging for an immediate moratorium on the continued use of Sri Lanka's draconian "Prevention of Terrorism Act" (PTA) until the legislation is brought in line with international legal obligations.

In their letter, the UN experts stress their concerns that "enforcement of the PTA and subsequent regulations have resulted in significant and detrimental impacts on the promotion and protection of several fundamental freedoms". 

A Pillaiyar statue was found vandalised in Amparai this morning, after it was reportedly damaged by a group of unknown persons on Thursday night.

A coronavirus-positive tourist carrying the Omicron variant visited night clubs on at least two nights whilst on holiday in Sri Lanka, before departing the country said Public Health Inspectors (PHI) Union leader Upul Rohana, with fears of a possible outbreak growing.

Rohana was citing “unofficial accounts” of the tourist who he claimed had visited the country, adding “We have not yet been informed about these Omicron patients by any of the health authorities”.

The Sri Lankan government has ordered the closure of at least three overseas missions, in a desperate bid to cut down on government expenditure in the face of an economic crisis and mounting international debts.

According to the Daily Mirror, the Sri Lankan Consulate in Frankfurt, the Embassy in Nigeria, and the Sri Lankan Consulate in Cyprus are all due to be shut down shortly.

“This is part of a cost cutting process that all other ministries are also now following,” Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister G. L. Peiris told the Daily Mirror.

More than 80% of all hotels and canteens across the island will be forced to close from tomorrow, claimed the Chief of the All Island Canteen Owners' Association (AICOA), as a domestic gas fuel shortage and soaring food prices leaves the island in the midst of a worsening food crisis.

Asela Sampath told the Daily Mirror that the shortage of domestic Liquid Petroleum (LP) gas and rising vegetable prices had left many canteen owners across the island facing a stark choice.

Sri Lanka soldiers serving with the United Nations mission in Lebanon were awarded with medals last month, as they continued to be deployed with the global body despite calls for Sri Lankan troops to be banned.

Troops with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) had medals pinned on them by UNIFIL Head of the Mission and the Force Commander Major General Stefano Del Col.

Sri Lanka’s defence secretary raised eyebrows this week as he attempted to defend the State Intelligence Service Director Suresh Sallay by claiming that as he cannot speak Tamil or Arabic, “he does not have extremist views”.

Speaking at a press conference this week Kamal Gunaratne, who stands accused of war crimes, told reports, “Sallay is a Muslim name, but as far as I know he is not involved in such matters”.

The Sri Lankan army donated equipment to a charity run by a former LTTE cadre in Jaffna earlier this week, in a militarised ceremony that saw Sinhala Kandyan dancers parade commanders down a red carpet.