2017 in Sri Lanka

← 2016 2015 2014 2017 in Sri Lanka → 2018 2019 2020
Decades:	1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
See also:	Other events of 2017 Timeline of Sri Lankan history

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
• Western Province – K. C. Logeswaran

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

Vivienne de Silva Boralessa (b. 1930)

Siri Gunasinghe (b. 1925)

Anil Mihiripenna (b. 1933)

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) ^{[29] [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 ^[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

• 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) ^[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

• 8 June – Prince Udaya Priyantha, 46 (singer) ^[51]
• 11 June – Anil Mihiripenna, 83 (musician) ^[35]
• 23 June – D. B. Kuruppu, (author) ^[52]

July

• 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

• 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

• 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) ^[35]
  • Senaka Titus Anthony, (actor) ^[63]

November

• 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

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