Sri Lanka 2025: The complete year-in-review in one read

By Moiz Mustafa

As 2025 draws to a close, Sri Lanka stands at a crossroads of recovery, reflection, and resilience. After enduring a historic economic crisis, a political upheaval, and one of the deadliest natural disasters in its history, the nation spent the year 2025 rebuilding its economy, reforming governance, and reconnecting with the world.

This year-in-review offers a complete and easy-to-read summary of the events that shaped Sri Lanka from January 1st to December 31st, covering politics, economy, society, diplomacy, sports and natural disasters. If you’re a Sri Lankan looking to understand the full arc of 2025 in one sitting, this is your one-stop recap.

JANUARY 2025

JANUARY 1: The political narrative of 2025 began with momentum as PresidentAnura Kumara Dissanayake launched the “Clean Sri Lanka” national initiative, framing it as a symbolic break from the corrupt past and a blueprint for the reform goals of the National People’s Power (NPP) administration.

JANUARY 9: Controversial monk Gnanasara Thero was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment, reinforcing the message that political or religious influence would no longer guarantee immunity from judicial oversight.

JANUARY 10: Sri Lanka opened “Amba Yaalu” in Dambulla, the country’s first fully female-staffed tourist hotel, marking a milestone for gender inclusion in tourism.

JANUARY 25: Yoshitha Rajapaksa (son of Mahinda Rajapaksa) was arrested under Sri Lanka’s money laundering laws.

JANUARY 28: Mountaineer Johann Peries became the first Sri Lankan to summit Mount Vinson, Antarctica’s highest peak, offering a moment of national pride and fulfilling part of his “Seven Summits” quest.

JANUARY 14–17: The administration signalled early foreign policy and economic direction through PresidentAnura Kumara Dissanayake’s fourday state visit to China, where he met President Xi Jinping and underscored Sri Lanka’s pursuit of investment and development partnerships alongside domestic reform.

FEBRUARY 2025

FEBRUARY 9: A bizarre nationwide blackout struck the island after a monkey triggered a transformer fault at a grid substation, causing a system-wide imbalance and exposing the continuing fragility of Sri Lanka’s power infrastructure.

FEBRUARY 10–13: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake concluded a threeday official visit to the UAE to attend the World Government Summit 2025 in Dubai, where he urged global leaders to unite against shared challenges.

FEBRUARY 17: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as Finance Minister, presented the government’s first full-year Budget 2025 to Parliament, prioritising fiscal discipline, investment-driven recovery, and deficit control—including a 15% concessionary tax rate on foreign-source income as part of broader revenue reforms.

FEBRUARY 19: Sri Lanka was shaken by a brazen killing inside the Aluthkade Courts Complex, where notorious underworld figure “Ganemulla Sanjeewa” was shot dead in daylight.

FEBRUARY 26: Sri Lanka opened its first Shell-branded fuel station after Shell’s re-entry.

FEBRUARY 28: The IMF Executive Board completed Sri Lanka’s third review under the US$3 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme, granting immediate access to about US$334 million, a key endorsement of the country’s fiscal and reform trajectory despite tight economic constraints.

MARCH 2025

MARCH 14: The first resignation of the 17th Parliament took place when SLMC MP M. S. Naleem stepped down to contest the upcoming local government elections, signalling early political positioning ahead of electoral contests.

MARCH 17–26: Over 474,000 students sat for the G.C.E. Ordinary Level (O/L) examinations, highlighting the scale of Sri Lanka’s national education cycle and reinforcing the month’s theme of youth-focused momentum.

MARCH 21: After 19 days of committee-stage deliberations, Parliament passed the 2025 Appropriation Bill at its third reading, concluding the budget process and solidifying the government’s fiscal roadmap for the year.

MARCH 24: Cabinet approves National Anti-Corruption Action Plan 2025– 2029.

MARCH 31: Sri Lanka’s gross official reserves rose to roughly US$6.5 billion by the end of the quarter, reflecting gradual external stability even as reserves remained below longer-term projections and vulnerabilities persisted.

APRIL 2025

APRIL 4: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Colombo for a threeday state visit, culminating in the joint statement “Fostering Partnerships for a Shared Future,” signalling a renewed push for strategic cooperation across investment, energy, and regional security.

APRIL 10: In a historic step toward reconciliation, the Vasavilan–Palaly road in Jaffna was officially reopened to the public after being closed for 34 years due to the civil war, reconnecting communities long divided by high-security zones and conflict-era restrictions.

APRIL 18–27/28: A special Sacred Tooth Relic exposition began in Kandy at the Sri Dalada Maligawa, drawing thousands of devotees in large pilgrim crowds and prompting extensive security and traffic deployments during the 10-day public viewing period.

APRIL 22: Local council candidate Dan Priyasad was shot dead in Wellampitiya, Colombo, in a targeted gun attack, highlighting persistent political violence and security concerns ahead of local-level electoral contests.

APRIL 27: Sri Lankan motorsport talent Yevan David secured a major international breakthrough by winning at the Euroformula Open in Portugal’s Algarve International Circuit, boosting Sri Lanka’s sporting profile on the global stage.

MAY 2025

MAY 4: Squadron Leader Nishadi Pieris was awarded the UN Peacekeepers’ Medal, becoming the first female officer in Sri Lanka Air Force history to receive the honour, marking a major milestone for Sri Lankan women in international military service.

MAY 4: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake paid a State Visit to Vietnam at the invitation of President Luong Cuong, marking a major diplomatic milestone tied to the 55th anniversary of Vietnam–Sri Lanka relations (1970–2025) and signalling Colombo’s continued push to deepen Asian partnerships.

MAY 6: The 2025 local government elections delivered a mandate for the ruling National People’s Power (NPP).

MAY 11: Tragedy struck in Kotmale when a bus carrying Buddhist pilgrims veered off a cliff, killing 21 people and injuring dozens, triggering renewed concern over road safety and public transport standards in Sri Lanka’s hill country.

MAY 24: Sri Lanka mourned the death of cinema icon Malini Fonseka, who passed away in Colombo at 78.

LATE MAY: A three-judge bench of the Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar sentenced former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage to 20 years in prison and former Trade Minister and Lanka Sathosa Chairman, Nalin Fernando to 25 years for causing a loss of over Rs. 53 million to the government.

JUNE 2025

JUNE 2: Activities of 161 local councils commenced under NPP majority leadership, formally restarting grassroots governance under the ruling coalition following its sweeping local election victory.

JUNE 7: Mid-year economic data reinforced stability, as inflation hovered near zero/deflationary levels while gross official reserves reached around US$6.5 billion, reflecting gradual external strengthening even as long-term pressures remained.

JUNE 12: The government advanced tax reforms to widen revenue and reiterated its commitment to restructuring state-owned enterprises (SOEs) as part of longer-term fiscal sustainability goals.

JUNE 16: IMF First Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath visited Colombo, emphasizing that Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring targets were calibrated to reflect the country’s recovery potential, particularly the strength of the tourism sector as the IMF continued to monitor reform momentum.

JUNE 20: NPP MP Harshana Suriyapperuma resigned his parliamentary seat to take office as Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, signalling tighter integration between political leadership and fiscal management as reforms intensified.

JUNE 21: The ADB and World Bank upgraded growth projections to around 4%,

JULY 2025

JULY 2: Starlink officially launched its satellite internet services in Sri Lanka, expanding high-speed connectivity options and signalling a major leap in digital access for underserved regions.

JULY 4: Public servants received long-awaited salary increases, while tax thresholds were raised for lower-income earners, easing household pressure.

JULY 7: Colombo Dockyard announced a strategic partnership agreement with India’s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, strengthening regional maritimeindustrial cooperation and signalling deeper Sri Lanka–India economic integration.

JULY 24: The Supreme Court ordered the X-Press Feeders group to pay US$1 billion in compensation for the X-Press Pearl maritime disaster, one of Sri Lanka’s largest environmental compensation rulings.

JULY 25: Lieutenant Koyan Chamitha became the first Sri Lankan to complete US Navy SEAL training and earn the SEAL Trident, placing Sri Lanka on a rare list of nations with SEAL-qualified personnel and generating widespread national pride.

JULY 27: Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, the most senior Supreme Court Justice, was sworn in as the new Chief Justice of Sri Lanka, becoming the 49th Chief Justice of the country.

AUGUST 2025

AUGUST 1: Sri Lanka faced a major export threat as the U.S. moved to impose a 30% tariff on Sri Lankan goods, impacting key sectors like apparel and rubber, prompting Colombo to seek exemptions and negotiate reductions.

AUGUST 2: Billed as South Asia’s first fully integrated resort. City of Dreamsintegrated resort opened in Colombo with an investment valued around US$1.2 billion, a joint venture between John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH) and Melco Resorts & Entertainment. Marking a major milestone for tourism and luxury development in Sri Lanka.

AUGUST 5: Sri Lanka held its first-ever DEI Champion Awards, recognising companies that embed Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into workplace culture and operations.

AUGUST 5: Parliament removed IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon, the first sitting police chief to be dismissed by parliamentary vote, replacing him with Priyantha Weerasooriya—a dramatic institutional shift in law enforcement leadership.

AUGUST 22: In a historic legal precedent, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested over allegations of misuse of state funds, marking the first recorded arrest of a former head of state on such charges.

SEPTEMBER 2025

SEPTEMBER: In a landmark restructuring reform, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) was unbundled into four separate companies, aimed at improving efficiency, accountability, and long-term operational sustainability in the power sector.

SEPTEMBER 10: In a rare instance of swift legislative action, a bill passed by Parliament was signed into law, stripping former Presidents and their widows of long-standing facilities, including official residences, transport, and secretariat allowances.

SEPTEMBER 24: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressed the UN General Assembly, urging stronger global support for debt relief and climate resilience financing, positioning Sri Lanka within the broader global south argument on economic recovery and climate justice.

SEPTEMBER 26: The first reading of the 2026 Appropriation Bill took place in Parliament, formally setting the stage for next year’s fiscal direction and budget priorities.

SEPTEMBER 26: New Vithanakande Ceylon Black Tea (FFExSp) entered the Guinness World Records as the most expensive tea ever sold after fetching JPY 125,000 (about US$860) per kilogram at the annual Ceylon Specialty Estate Tea Charity Auction in Osaka.

OCTOBER 2025

OCTOBER 1: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake returned from Japan, securing new investment commitments and grant aid, while Japan pledged support to modernize Sri Lanka’s dairy industry, signalling deepening economic cooperation and development partnership.

OCTOBER 6: The UN Human Rights Council renewed its mandate to monitor Sri Lanka, citing slow progress in addressing enforced disappearances and accountability-linked commitments.

OCTOBER 10: In a cabinet reshuffle aimed at accelerating development goals ahead of the 2026 Budget, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake oversaw the swearing-in of three new Cabinet Ministers and ten Deputy Ministers at the Presidential Secretariat

OCTOBER 19: Yevan David rewrote Sri Lankan motorsport history by winning the Rookie Championship title and finishing 2nd overall in the 2025 Euroformula Open Championship, becoming the first Sri Lankan to achieve the feat, while also signing on as the first Sri Lankan driver in the FIA Formula 3 Championship.

OCTOBER 22: Sri Lanka Cricket postpones the 2025 Lanka Premier League.

NOVEMBER 2025

NOVEMBER 7: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake presented the 2026 Budget to Parliament, including a proposal to raise the estate worker daily wage to Rs. 1,550 and allocating Rs. 342 billion for road development, signalling an emphasis on wages, infrastructure, and economic stimulation.

NOVEMBER 10: The Colombo Stock Exchange reached a historic milestone as the ASPI crossed 23,500 for the first time, reflecting a surge in investor optimism and improved confidence in macroeconomic direction.

NOVEMBER 27: Cyclone Ditwah struck Sri Lanka with “supercharged” intensity, triggering catastrophic floods and landslides that became one of the deadliest weather-related disaster since the 2004 tsunami.

NOVEMBER 28: Cyclone Ditwah’s impact deepened into a national catastrophe, leaving over 600 dead and 2.3 million affected, as floods and landslides destroyed homes, roads, and farmland across the country. The government declared a state of emergency, launched a massive relief effort, international partners pledged aid, and citizens rallied in solidarity across the island.

DECEMBER 2025

DECEMBER 2: Recovery took center stage as the government launched the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” initiative, signalling a national push to restore communities and infrastructure after Cyclone Ditwah, while positioning resilience as the defining theme of year-end governance.

DECEMBER 5: The 2026 Budget was approved, with a renewed focus on disaster recovery spending, stabilisation measures, and rebuilding programmes aimed at restoring livelihoods and damaged public infrastructure.

DECEMBER 12: Thirteen-year-old Woman International Master Devindya Oshini Gunawardhana became the first Sri Lankan ever to reach World No. 1 in any global age category, topping the FIDE Under-13 Girls rankings with a rating of 2272—a landmark moment for Sri Lankan chess.

DECEMBER 18: The government presented a Rs. 500 billion supplementary estimate to Parliament dedicated to restoring the livelihoods of those devastated by Cyclone Ditwah, demonstrating the scale of fiscal mobilisation required for recovery.

DECEMBER 23: India announced a USD 450 million relief and reconstruction package for Sri Lanka under the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” programme, with USD 100 million as a grant and the remaining USD 350 million as concessional credit/loan,

DECEMBER 29: Sri Lanka recorded its highest-ever annual tourist arrivals, as the 2,333,797th visitor for 2025.

As the year ends, Sri Lanka stands both encouraged and exhausted. Major political reforms were delivered. Corruption was confronted head-on. Economic indicators began to stabilize. Yet Cyclone Ditwah’s destruction reminded the nation of its vulnerabilities.

And above all, what remained strongest was not the crisis, not the politics, not even the disaster, but the unshakable hope of a nation determined to rise.

Wishing every Sri Lankan a peaceful, prosperous, and brighter 2026.