More than 500 students in Indonesia's East Java were hospitalised with food poisoning suspected to have been caused by free meals provided ​by the government, and an investigation is underway, national and regional officials said on ‌Wednesday.

Urgent steps must be taken to address the heavy burden faced by the general public due to the Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) tax, according to the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

The National Water Supply and Drainage Board has announced a 24-hour interruption to the water supply in several areas due to essential maintenance work at the Ambatale Water Treatment Plant.

At least 16 people were killed and 28 others injured Wednesday when a passenger bus overturned in Egypt’s South Sinai province, the Health Ministry said.

Former Hambantota Mayor Eraj Ravindra Fernando has reportedly been found dead inside a flat in Bambalapitiya, police stated.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has called for greater consciousness, sustainability and inclusive leadership in addressing the interconnected challenges facing global food systems, delivering the keynote address at the inaugural Global Conscious Food Systems Summit 2026 in Bhutan.

The death toll from the devastating flood in Nepal’s Bhotekoshi river has risen to 1,127, with bodies recovered from several districts and neighbouring India, Nepal Police said on Wednesday.

The Dinana Dakuna organization has lodged a complaint with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) against Members of Parliament elected from the National People’s Power (NPP).

The hearing of petitions filed against the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill, presented to parliament by the government, commenced for the second day today (02) before the Supreme Court.

The Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board has introduced a new insurance scheme aimed at protecting fruit farmers against risks associated with cultivation.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath will undertake an official visit to the United Arab Emirates from today (02) to September 3, with a focus on further strengthening bilateral cooperation between Sri Lanka and the UAE.

Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Anil Jayantha Fernando has categorically rejected claims that the government’s debt has increased by more than Rs. 190 billion.

The final rites of veteran singer and actor Priyankara Perera will be held tomorrow (September 3), according to his family.

The 11th Trinco Dialogue, a professional forum on maritime security and operational readiness, was held at the Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda Auditorium of the Naval and Maritime Academy (NMA) in Trincomalee.

Lecturers at state universities will stage protests during the lunch break today, demanding solutions to long-standing issues affecting the university system.

The price of the September futures contract for Brent crude oil on the London ICE exchange exceeded US$96 per barrel for the first time since June 8, 2026.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said early Wednesday that they had carried out a ballistic missile attack on a US base in Jordan, the Iranian news outlet Tasnim reported.

Sri Lanka has sought to deepen defence cooperation with NATO, with discussions focusing on military modernisation, advanced technology, cyber capabilities and disaster response.