2017 in Sri Lanka
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The following lists notable events that occurred and which took place during 2017 in Sri Lanka.
Incumbents[edit]
Governors[edit]
- Central Province – Niluka Ekanayake
- Eastern Province – Austin Fernando (until 1 July); Rohitha Bogollagama (starting 4 July)
- North Central Province – P. B. Dissanayake
- Northern Province – Reginald Cooray
- North Western Province – Amara Piyaseeli Ratnayake
- Sabaragamuwa Province – Marshal Perera
- Southern Province – Hemakumara Nanayakkara
- Uva Province – M. P. Jayasinghe
- Western Province – K. C. Logeswaran
Chief Ministers[edit]
- Central Province – Sarath Ekanayake
- Eastern Province – Ahamed Nazeer Zainulabdeen (until 30 September); vacant thereafter (starting 30 September)
- North Central Province – Peshala Jayarathne (until 1 October); vacant (starting 1 October)
- Northern Province – C. V. Vigneswaran
- North Western Province – Dharmasiri Dassanayake
- Sabaragamuwa Province – Maheepala Herath (until 26 September); vacant (starting 26 September)
- Southern Province – Shan Wijayalal De Silva
- Uva Province – Chamara Sampath Dassanayake
- Western Province – Isura Devapriya
Holidays[edit]
Below is a list of bank holidays, public holidays and full moon Poya Days in Sri Lanka for the year 2017.[1]
- 12 January – Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day
- 14 January – Tamil Thai Pongal Day
- 4 February – National Day
- 10 February – Navam Full Moon Poya Day
- 24 February – Mahasivarathri Day
- 12 March – Madin Full Moon Poya Day
- 10 April – Bak Full Moon Poya Day
- 13 April – Day prior to Sinhala & Tamil
- 14 April – Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day
- 14 April – Good Friday
- 1 May
- Labour Day
- May Day
- 10 May – Vesak Full Moon Poya Day
- 11 May – Day Following Vesak Full Moon
- 8 June – Poson Full Moon Poya Day
- 26 June – Id-Ul-Fitr (Ramazan Festival Day)
- 8 July – Esala Full Moon Poya Day
- 7 August – Nikini Full Moon Poya Day
- 1 September – Id-Ul-Alha (Hadji Festival Day)
- 5 September – Binara Full Moon Poya Day
- 5 October – Vap Full Moon Poya Day
- 18 October – Deepavali Festival Day
- 3 November – Ill Full Moon Poya Day
- 1 December – Milad-Un-Nabi (Holy Prophet's Birthday)
- 3 December – Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day
- 25 December – Christmas Day
Events by month[edit]
January[edit]
- 2 January
- Former Deputy Minister Sarath Kumara Gunaratna has been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department for alleged misappropriation of funds of the Negombo lagoon development project.[2]
- Jaliya Wickramasuriya, who was the Former Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United States, arrested on charges of misusing state funds.[3]
- 5 January − Mudiyanselage Suranga Kumara alias ‘Rattaran’, an underworld gang, has been shot and killed by two unknown gunmen. [4]
- 7 January − 21 persons including 3 police officers were injured and hospitalized as a result of the clashes which broke out during the protest in Hambantota.[5] Meanwhile, 52 individuals were arrested on charges of violating court orders and damaging public property.[6] On next day, 28 more individuals were arrested.[7][8]
- 10 January
- Ravi Karunanayake was named as the Finance Minister of the Year for Asia-Pacific by The Banker, a magazine of the British daily Financial Times.[9]
- Parliamentaria Wimal Weerawansa was arrested by the Police Financial Crimes Investigations Division who was accused of misusing several vehicles belonging to the presidential secretariat.[10]
- 11 January − President Maithripala Sirisena inaugurated the filling of water to the Moragahakanda reservoir, the biggest multi-functional irrigation project in Sri Lanka.[11]
- 13 January − Former Sri Lankan district judge Geethani Wijesinghe Widanelage swore as new Resident Magistrate of Fiji.[12]
- 18 January − Disaster management officials stated that about 600,000 people have been hit by the drought in nearly 13 of the 25 districts, making it the worst drought since 2006.[13]
- 31 January − Astrologer Vijitha Rohana Wijemuni was arrested by The Criminal Investigations Department for allegedly misleading the public by making false predictions.[14]
February[edit]
- 5 February − Chamara Sandaruwan alias ‘Kudu Roshan’ was hacked to death by an unidentified group of people in Wanathamulla.[15]
- 10 February − Sri Lanka opened its first hybrid power plant using wind, solar and diesel located on a small island off the Jaffna, that generate 60 MW of electricity.[16]
- 14 February − For significant contributions in reforms in economy, education and human rights in Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe conferred an honorary doctorate from Deakin University in Australia.[17]
- 21 February
- International cricketer Niroshan Dickwella was suspended for two limited-over matches after his accumulated demerit points reached five within a 24-month period.[18]
- Ministry of Crab and Nihonbashi ranked 29th & 49th at Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants’ awards ceremony.[19]
March[edit]
- 1 March
- 82 heroes of the 1818 Uva-Wellassa Rebellion were declared as patriots at the ceremony named ‘Uththamaabhiwandana’.[20]
- Notorious drug trafficker during the late 90’s and early 2000’s, Muniyandi Vappu Balan aka “Thel Bala,” passed away in India.[21]
- 2 March − Supreme Court Judge Priyasath Dep took oaths as the new Chief Justice as the 45th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka.[22]
- 11 March
- Sri Lanka Labour Party leader A. S. P. Liyanage was appointed as the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Qatar.[23]
- International cricketer Rangana Herath became the most successful left-arm spinner in test cricket history after reaching 366 wickets surpassing blackcap Daniel Vettori.[24]
- 22 March − Major General Mahesh Senanayake was appointed as the chief of staff of the Sri Lankan Army.[25]
- 30 March − Ashoka Priyantha was appointed to fill parliamentarian seat left vacant by Renuka Herath.[26]
Deaths[edit]
Vivienne de Silva Boralessa (b. 1930)
Siri Gunasinghe (b. 1925)
Anil Mihiripenna (b. 1933)
January[edit]
- 5 January – Christopher Weeramantry, 90 (Judge of Supreme Court of Sri Lanka [1967 to 1972], 72nd Judge of the International Court of Justice [1991 to 2000])[27]
- 14 January
- Deepal Silva, 50 (singer)[28]
- M. V. Balan, 75 (actor)[29]
- 15 January – H. S. Perera, 68 (actor)[29][30]
- 21 January – Roy Peiris, 54 (singer)[31]
February[edit]
- 1 February – Baptist Fernando, 83 (actor)[32]
- 10 February
- 13 February – S. A. Francis, (singer)[35]
- 14 February – Boniface Fernando, 83 (actor)[36]
March[edit]
- 10 March – Gamini S. Fernando[35]
- 13 March – Renuka Herath, 71 (politician)[37]
- 16 March – Pushpa Janet, (actress)[38]
- 26 March – Anton Alwis, 73 (scriptwriter)[39]
- 27 March – Shantha Kadiragonna[35]
April[edit]
- 2 April – Vivienne de Silva Boralessa, 86 (songstress)[40]
- 3 April – Davuldena Gnanissara Thero, 101 (Buddhist monk).[41]
- 8 April – Vasantha Obeysekera, 79 (filmmaker).[42]
- 14 April – Dr. Jagath Wijenayake, 60 (film producer)[43]
- 15 April – T. Arjuna, 75 (filmmaker)[44]
May[edit]
- 4 May – Satsorupavathy Nathan, 80 (radio personality).[45]
- 5 May – Prabha Ranatunge, 81 (radio personality)[46]
- 11 May – Premaranjith Tilakaratne, 80 (dramatist)[47]
- 23 May – Daniel Muthumala (actor)[35]
- 25 May – Siri Gunasinghe, 92 (academic)[48]
- 29 May – Ananda Wedisinghe, 46 (motor cycle champion)[49]
- 30 May – Sunil Mihindukula, 56 (journalist)[50]
June[edit]
- 8 June – Prince Udaya Priyantha, 46 (singer)[51]
- 11 June – Anil Mihiripenna, 83 (musician)[35]
- 23 June – D. B. Kuruppu, (author)[52]
July[edit]
- 11 July – Nihal Samarasinghe, (musician)[35]
- 14 July – Dr. Thilokasundari Kariyawasam, 88 (educationist)[53]
- 17 July – Somapala Rathnayake, 69 (musician)[54]
- 20 July – Thilak Atapattu, (film producer)[55]
- 26 July – Daya Kahawala, (author)[56]
August[edit]
- 1 August – Dayawansa Karunamuni, (journalist)[56]
- 16 August – Kumari Manel, 76 (actress)[57]
- 20 August – Binoy Surendra, 76 (journalist)[58]
- 24 August – Narawila Patrick, (author)[35]
September[edit]
- 20 September
- 23 September – Amaradasa Weerasinghe, (film critique)[62]
October[edit]
November[edit]
- 1 November – Suvineetha Fernando, (actress)[35]
- 21 November – Dhammika P. Rathnayake, (announcer)[64]
- 28 November – Ruwan Weerasekara, 51 (violinist)[65]
- 30 November – Newton Gunasekara, (writer)[66]
References[edit]
- ^ "The Holidays in 2017" (PDF). Ministry of Public Administration and Management. 26 December 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ "CID arrests Sarath Kumara Gunaratne". Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ "Jaliya Wickramasuriya further remanded". Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ "Underworld figure 'Rattaran' shot dead". Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ "Twenty-one hospitalized after clashes in Hambantota". Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ "52 arrested over clashes in Hambantota". Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ "Hambantota protest: 11 more arrested". Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ "17 more remanded over Hambantota clashes". Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ "Ravi named Finance Minister of the Year, Asia-Pacific". Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ "Wimal Weerawansa arrested". Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ "Filling of water in the Moragahakanda Reservoir today". Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ "Fmr. Sri Lankan judge appointed Fiji's new Resident Magistrate". Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ "600,000 people hit by worst drought in a decade". Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ "Astrologer Vijitha Rohana arrested by CID". Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ "'Kudu Roshan' hacked to death in Wanathamulla". Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ "Sri Lanka's first hybrid power plant opened". Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ "Prime Minister Wickremesinghe awarded an honorary doctorate". Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ "Niroshan Dickwella suspended by ICC for 2 limited-over matches". Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ "Two Sri Lankan restaurants among Asia's 50 best". Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ "Heroes of 1818 rebellion to become patriots today". Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ "Notorious Sri Lankan drug lord 'Thel Bala' dies in India". Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ "Priyasath Dep takes oath as new Chief Justice". Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ "A.S.P. Liyanage appointed as Sri Lankan Ambassador to Qatar". Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ "Milestone man Herath spins Sri Lanka to victory in Galle". Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ "Mahesh Senanayake appointed Army Chief of Staff". Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ "Asoka Herath to get Renuka Herath's seat in CPC". Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ Judge CG Weeramantry passes away
- ^ "Singer Deepal Silva passes away". Sunday Observer. 14 January 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Two filmmakers bid farewell today". Dinamina. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
- ^ "H. S. Perera passes away". mirrorarts. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
- ^ "Singer Roy Peiris passes away". Ada Derana. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
- ^ "Veteran actor Baptist Fernando passes away". Daily News. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "Dr. Ariyadasa Peiris passes away". Daily News. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "Singer Wimal J Sagara passes away". nethgossip. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Artists bid farewell in 2017". Deshaya. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "Boniface Fernando bids farewell". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ Former Minister Renuka Herath passes away
- ^ "A movie star falls". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "Condolenses from Prime Minister for Anton Alwis". Hiru News. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "Vivienne de Silva Boralessa no more". DailyNews.lk. Daily News Sri Lanka. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
- ^ "US, China express condolences over demise of most venerable Davuldena Sri Gnanissara thero". Sunday Times. 4 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
- ^ "Veteran film director Wasantha Obeysekara passes away". Ada Derana. 8 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
- ^ "The last rites of Jagath Wijenayake will be held tomorrow". Ada Derana. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "Veteran filmmaker T. Arjuna passes away". mirrorarts. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "Voice lost, veteran radio broadcaster Satsorupavathy Nathan passes away". Nation.lk. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
- ^ DIGITAL, ITN. "First female radio announcer Prabha Ranatunge passes away | ITN News". www.itnnews.lk. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
- ^ "Premaranjith Tilakaratne passes away". adaderana. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "Death of Prof. Emeritus Siri Gunasinghe". Daily News. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
- ^ "Popular Sri Lankan motor racing legend passes away". Newsfirst.lk. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ^ "Sunil the Man". Dinamina. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ Pradeep, Chaturanga (8 June 2017). "Prince Udaya Priyantha passes away". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
- ^ "DB Kuruppu passes away". sathhanda. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "Dr. Thilokasundari Kariyawasam passes away". sathhanda. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "Veteran musician Somapala Rathnayake passes away". Ada Derana. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
- ^ "Thilak Atapattu second commemoration". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ a b "Dayawansa Karunamuni dies". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "They also said goodbye to us". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "Senior journalist Binoy Surendra passes away". Dinamina. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "Sonoja Bibile's father passes away". srilankamirror. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "Veteran announcer Berty Galahitiyawa bids farewell". Dinamina. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "The innocent on the small screen says goodbye". Silumina. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "Missing from Amaradasa Weerasinghe -Cultures-". Silumina. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "Austin Ayya says goodbye". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "Dear announcer Dhammika ... your voice is still with us". Divaina. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "Veteran violinist Ruwan Weerasekera passes away". News First. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "A humble writer who fell in love with the novel that passed away". Divaina. Retrieved 11 February 2020.