2017 in Sri Lanka explained

The following lists notable events that occurred and which took place during 2017 in Sri Lanka.

Incumbents

• President – Maithripala Sirisena
• Prime Minister – Ranil Wickremesinghe
• Chief Justice – K. Sripavan

Governors

• • 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

Chief Ministers

• • 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

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

January

• 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

• 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

• 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

January

• 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)^[30]
• 21 January  - Roy Peiris, 54 (singer)^[31]

February

• 1 February – Baptist Fernando, 83 (actor)^[32]
• 10 February
  • Dr. Ariyadasa Pieris, 91 (journalist)^[33]
  • Wimal J. Sagara, 84 (singer)^[34]
• 13 February – S. A. Francis, (singer)^[35]
• 14 February – Boniface Fernando, 83 (actor)^[36]

March

• 10 March – Gamini S. Fernando
• 13 March – Renuka Herath, 71 (politician)^[37]
• 16 March – Pushpa Janet, (actress)^[38]
• 26 March – Anton Alwis, 73 (scriptwriter)^[39]
• 27 March – Shantha Kadiragonna

April

• 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

• 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)
• 25 May – Siri Gunasinghe, 92 (academic)^[48]
• 29 May  - Ananda Wedisinghe, 46 (motor cycle champion)^[49]
• 30 May – Sunil Mihindukula, 56 (journalist)^[50]

June

• 8 June – Prince Udaya Priyantha, 46 (singer)^[51]
• 11 June – Anil Mihiripenna, 83 (musician)
• 23 June – D. B. Kuruppu, (author)^[52]

July

• 11 July – Nihal Samarasinghe, (musician)
• 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

• 1 August – Dayawansa Karunamuni, (journalist)
• 16 August – Kumari Manel, 76 (actress)^[57]
• 20 August – Binoy Surendra, 76 (journalist)^[58]
• 24 August – Narawila Patrick, (author)

September

• 20 September
  • Sumith Bibile, 87 (actor)^[59]
  • Berty Galahitiyawa, 80 (announcer)^[60]
  • Dasun Nishan, 29 (actor)^[61]
• 23 September – Amaradasa Weerasinghe, (film critique)^[62]

October

• 20 October
  • D. A. Balasuriya, (actor)
  • Senaka Titus Anthony, (actor)^[63]

November

• 1 November – Suvineetha Fernando, (actress)
• 21 November – Dhammika P. Rathnayake, (announcer)^[64]
• 28 November – Ruwan Weerasekara, 51 (violinist)^[65]
• 30 November – Newton Gunasekara, (writer)^[66]

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Holidays in 2017. Ministry of Public Administration and Management. 26 December 2016. 29 December 2016. 29 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161229173835/http://www.pubad.gov.lk/web/eservices/images/stories/holiday_calendar/public_%26_bank_holidays_2017%28e%29.pdf. dead.
2. News: CID arrests Sarath Kumara Gunaratne. Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. 3 January 2020.
3. News: Jaliya Wickramasuriya further remanded . Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. 3 January 2020.
4. News: Underworld figure ‘Rattaran’ shot dead . Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. 3 January 2020.
5. News: Twenty-one hospitalized after clashes in Hambantota . Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. 3 January 2020.
6. News: 52 arrested over clashes in Hambantota . Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. 3 January 2020.
7. News: Hambantota protest: 11 more arrested . Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. 3 January 2020.
8. News: 17 more remanded over Hambantota clashes . Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. 3 January 2020.
9. News: Ravi named Finance Minister of the Year, Asia-Pacific . Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. 3 January 2020.
10. News: Wimal Weerawansa arrested . Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. 3 January 2020.
11. News: Filling of water in the Moragahakanda Reservoir today . Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. 3 January 2020.
12. News: Fmr. Sri Lankan judge appointed Fiji’s new Resident Magistrate . Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. 3 January 2020.
13. News: 600,000 people hit by worst drought in a decade . Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. 3 January 2020.
14. News: Astrologer Vijitha Rohana arrested by CID . Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. 3 January 2020.
15. News: ‘Kudu Roshan’ hacked to death in Wanathamulla . Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. 3 January 2020.
16. News: Sri Lanka’s first hybrid power plant opened . Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. 3 January 2020.
17. News: Prime Minister Wickremesinghe awarded an honorary doctorate . Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. 3 January 2020.
18. News: Niroshan Dickwella suspended by ICC for 2 limited-over matches . Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. 3 January 2020.
19. News: Two Sri Lankan restaurants among Asia’s 50 best . Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. 3 January 2020.
20. News: Heroes of 1818 rebellion to become patriots today . Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. 3 January 2020.
21. News: Notorious Sri Lankan drug lord ‘Thel Bala’ dies in India . Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. 3 January 2020.
22. News: Priyasath Dep takes oath as new Chief Justice . Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. 3 January 2020.
23. News: A.S.P. Liyanage appointed as Sri Lankan Ambassador to Qatar . Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. 3 January 2020.
24. News: Milestone man Herath spins Sri Lanka to victory in Galle . Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. 3 January 2020.
25. News: Mahesh Senanayake appointed Army Chief of Staff . Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. 3 January 2020.
26. News: Asoka Herath to get Renuka Herath’s seat in CPC . Ada Derana. 3 January 2020. 3 January 2020.
27. https://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=38509 Judge CG Weeramantry passes away
28. Web site: Singer Deepal Silva passes away . 2020-12-06 . Sunday Observer. 14 January 2017 .
29. Web site: Two filmmakers bid farewell today . 2020-12-06 . Dinamina.
30. Web site: H. S. Perera passes away . 2020-12-06 . mirrorarts.
31. Web site: Singer Roy Peiris passes away. Ada Derana . 27 April 2017.
32. Web site: Veteran actor Baptist Fernando passes away . Daily News . 11 February 2020.
33. Web site: Dr. Ariyadasa Peiris passes away . Daily News . 11 February 2020.
34. Web site: Singer Wimal J Sagara passes away . nethgossip . 11 February 2020.
35. Web site: Artists bid farewell in 2017 . Deshaya . 11 February 2020.
36. Web site: Boniface Fernando bids farewell . Sarasaviya . 11 February 2020.
37. https://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=39572 Former Minister Renuka Herath passes away
38. Web site: A movie star falls. Sarasaviya . 11 February 2020.
39. Web site: Condolenses from Prime Minister for Anton Alwis . Hiru News . 11 February 2020.
40. News: Vivienne de Silva Boralessa no more . 2 September 2017. Daily News Sri Lanka. DailyNews.lk. 3 April 2017.
41. News: US, China express condolences over demise of most venerable Davuldena Sri Gnanissara thero. Sunday Times. 4 April 2017. 8 April 2017.
42. Web site: Veteran film director Wasantha Obeysekara passes away. 8 April 2017. 8 April 2017. Ada Derana.
43. Web site: The last rites of Jagath Wijenayake will be held tomorrow . Ada Derana . 11 February 2020.
44. Web site: Veteran filmmaker T. Arjuna passes away . mirrorarts . 11 February 2020.
45. Web site: Voice lost, veteran radio broadcaster Satsorupavathy Nathan passes away. 15 November 2017. Nation.lk. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107023018/http://nation.lk/online/2017/05/13/voice-lost.html. 7 November 2017. dead.
46. Web site: First female radio announcer Prabha Ranatunge passes away ITN News. DIGITAL. ITN. www.itnnews.lk. en-US. 2017-12-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20171203224633/http://www.itnnews.lk/local-news/first-female-radio-announcer-prabha-ranatunge-passes-away/. 3 December 2017. dead.
47. Web site: Premaranjith Tilakaratne passes away . adaderana . 11 February 2020.
48. Web site: Death of Prof. Emeritus Siri Gunasinghe. Daily News. 1 August 2017.
49. Web site: Popular Sri Lankan motor racing legend passes away. 20 November 2017. Newsfirst.lk.
50. Web site: Sunil the Man . Dinamina . 11 February 2020.
51. News: Pradeep. Chaturanga. Prince Udaya Priyantha passes away . 12 June 2017. Daily Mirror. 8 June 2017.
52. Web site: DB Kuruppu passes away . sathhanda . 11 February 2020.
53. Web site: Dr. Thilokasundari Kariyawasam passes away . sathhanda . 11 February 2020.
54. Web site: Veteran musician Somapala Rathnayake passes away . Ada Derana . 6 February 2020.
55. Web site: Thilak Atapattu second commemoration . Daily Mirror . 11 February 2020.
56. Web site: Dayawansa Karunamuni dies . Sarasaviya . 11 February 2020.
57. Web site: They also said goodbye to us . Sarasaviya . 11 February 2020.
58. Web site: Senior journalist Binoy Surendra passes away . Dinamina . 11 February 2020.
59. Web site: Sonoja Bibile's father passes away . srilankamirror . 11 February 2020.
60. Web site: Veteran announcer Berty Galahitiyawa bids farewell . Dinamina . 11 February 2020.
61. Web site: The innocent on the small screen says goodbye . Silumina . 11 February 2020.
62. Web site: Missing from Amaradasa Weerasinghe -Cultures- . Silumina . 11 February 2020.
63. Web site: Austin Ayya says goodbye . Sarasaviya . 11 February 2020.
64. Web site: Dear announcer Dhammika ... your voice is still with us. Divaina . 11 February 2020.
65. Web site: Veteran violinist Ruwan Weerasekera passes away . News First . 11 February 2020.
66. Web site: A humble writer who fell in love with the novel that passed away . Divaina . 11 February 2020.