Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka.

The visit is expected to take place during the first week of September, according to Indian media reports.

A discussion regarding Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to Sri Lanka was also recently held between the High Commission of India in Colombo, and the Ministry of Defence.

During the visit, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to hold bilateral discussions with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and other senior government officials.

The visit is expected to focus on joint operations between the two countries, training programmes, and regional security issues.

Rajnath Singh was also scheduled to visit Sri Lanka in September 2023, but the visit was subsequently cancelled.

The High Court trial-at-bar hearing the Easter Sunday terror attack case has ordered the defence to begin presenting evidence from today (17), following the conclusion of the prosecution’s case against all 24 accused.

The three judge bench, comprising Judge Nawaratne Marasinghe (President) along with Judges Sujeewa Nissanka and Ramanathan Kannan, determined that sufficient grounds existed to call evidence from every accused in the case.

Before ordering the defence to proceed, the bench explained the rights entitled to each of the accused and directed them to state their individual positions.

Of the 24 accused, the sixth, Mohamed Rizwan, informed the court that he would not be giving evidence and intended to remain silent.

The remaining accused indicated they would either give evidence from the dock, make a statement from the dock, or present external evidence in their defence.

The prosecution’s case, built over 547 days of evidence presented across a five year period, drew on testimony from approximately 1,500 witnesses in relation to 23,270 indictments filed against the 24 accused.

Prosecutors also tendered 2,076 court exhibits, including documents, bomb making material and other evidence gathered through witness testimony.

Ten confessions made by the accused before a magistrate and under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) were presented during the trial, though the court ruled the confession given by accused Mohamed Firdauz inadmissible after determining it had not been made voluntarily.

The remaining confessions were found to have been given voluntarily and were permitted to be presented as evidence.

The accused stand charged in connection with the attacks carried out by Zahran Hashim and his terrorist cell, which killed around 268 people and injured over 500 others when churches and tourist hotels were targeted on Easter Sunday in 2019.

The High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, accompanied by Dr. Rambabu C., Counsellor (Political) & Head of Chancery, met with representatives of Bahujana Balaya recently in a discussion that lasted more than three hours, underscoring the importance both sides placed on open and meaningful dialogue.

According to the Bahujana Balaya, far from being a ceremonial courtesy call, the meeting reflected India’s continued engagement with a broad spectrum of political and social stakeholders in Sri Lanka, including emerging nationalist movements. The talks provided an opportunity to exchange perspectives on issues of mutual importance.

Issuing a statement, the Bahujana Balaya said the conversation covered Sri Lanka–India relations and trade cooperation, regional security and the 13th Amendment, community relations between the North and South, and India’s system of governance, democratic institutions, and guiding principles of diplomacy.

The Bahujana Balaya stressed that the meeting was not used to criticize the Sri Lankan Government or President, but to focus on matters of national importance.

“In diplomacy, the nation must always come first,” the group noted, stressing that constructive dialogue builds trust and long‑term cooperation.

As a token of appreciation, Bahujana Balaya presented the High Commissioner with a replica of the Naga Raksha mask, one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic cultural symbols. The mask embodies protection, wisdom, vigilance, and the triumph of truth over evil, with its cobra hood signifying divine knowledge and its striking eyes believed to ward off the “evil eye.”

The Bahujana Balaya delegation included Chairman Milinda Rajapaksha, General Secretary Iranga Mendis, National Organiser Piyal Dharshana Guruge, Media Secretary Anjana Udara, Deputy Chairwoman Kumudini Bandara, and Executive Committee Member Sonala Gunawardene.

The Bahujana Balaya expressed appreciation for the openness of Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha and Dr. Rambabu C., noting that diplomacy is strengthened through mutual respect, understanding, and continuous dialogue.

The group said constructive engagement between India and Sri Lanka’s national stakeholders will remain vital for promoting peace, stability, and shared prosperity.

Security authorities in the north have stepped up surveillance activities, especially in the Palk Strait waters, following reports that wanted criminals were leaving for India using the Mannar Sea.

It is said that with the support of international human-smuggling elements, most-wanted notorious criminals have escaped from legal action and ended up in Middle Eastern countries.

This week two suspects, aged 34 and 35, were repatriated by Indian authorities shortly after they reached India by boat via Mannar. It came to light that both were wanted in connection with the recent killing of a man during a birthday party in Wattala.

Upon their arrival, the two suspects were taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and later handed over to the Crime Unit of Colombo North Division of Police for further investigations.

The Sri Lankan government’s approval rating has fallen to 50%, while public confidence in the country’s economic outlook has weakened sharply, according to the latest “Mood of the Nation” poll conducted by Verité Research.

The July 2026 poll found that government approval had moderated from 65% recorded in the previous round conducted in February 2026. The latest figures show 49.83% approving of the way the government is working, while 31.40% disapprove.

Public perceptions of the economy also deteriorated significantly.

The proportion of respondents who believe the economy is “getting better” declined to 41.63%, or around 42%, from 64% in February. Meanwhile, 40.29% said the economy is “getting worse,” up sharply from around 15% in the previous round.

More than half of respondents also expressed a negative assessment of current economic conditions. The poll found that 55.59% rated the state of the economy as “poor,” while 38% described conditions as “good” or “excellent.”

As a result, Verité Research’s Economic Confidence Index fell to minus 8, returning to negative territory after having recorded +36 in February 2026. The index ranges from minus 100 to +100 and combines public assessments of the current state and future direction of the economy.

Verité Research said its Gallup-style “Mood of the Nation” poll was conducted with Vanguard Survey (Pvt) Ltd as the polling partner.

The latest findings mark a significant reversal from February, when the government recorded 65% approval and economic confidence reached its highest level in the poll’s four-year history.