11 June − An accident takes place at the Thummulla Junction, killing an officer attached to the State Intelligence Services by Tharinda Ratwatte, the driver of the Defender SUV.[37]
13 June − Archaeologists discover that early humans living in Sri Lanka some 48,000 years ago crafted tools from animal bones and used them to hunt animals, especially monkeys and squirrels. These are the oldest known instances of the use of the bow and arrow technology outside of Africa to date.[38]
15 June
National parks and zoological gardens throughout the country are reopened with a visitor limit in line with government health regulations.[39][40]
19 June − Sri Lanka's first underwater museum is declared open in
Galle.[43]
24 June − Sri Lanka reaches 2000 COVID-19 patients.[44]
25 June
Kasturi Chellaraja Wilson is appointed as the Group CEO of
Hemas Holdings, thus making her the first ever Sri Lankan woman to become the CEO of a public conglomerate in Sri Lanka.[45]
27 June − All cinema halls in Sri Lanka are reopened.[47]
28 June − Former Sri Lankan cricketer
Muttiah Muralitharan is named as the Most Valuable Test Player of the 21st Century by the Wisden Cricket Monthly magazine.[48]
29 June − All government schools in Sri Lanka are reopened for principals, teachers and other staff after 105 days.[49]
30 June − Former national selection committee chairman and cricketer
Aravinda de Silva is questioned by the Sri Lankan police due to
Mahindananda Aluthgamage's match fixing allegation claims.[50]
July
1 July
Four personnel of the Police Narcotic Bureau are arrested on charges of having links with drug traffickers.[51]
Cricketer
Upul Tharanga is questioned for two hours by the Special Investigation Unit about the match fixing allegations regarding the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup final.[52]
2 July − Former cricketer
Kumar Sangakkara is questioned for eight hours by the Special Investigation Unit about the match fixing allegations regarding the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup final.[53]
3 July − Former cricketer
Mahela Jayawardene is questioned by the Special Investigation Unit about the match fixing allegations regarding the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup final, despite claims by the police that the case is over.[54]
5 July − International cricketer
Kusal Mendis is arrested after being involved in a fatal road accident in
Panadura with an elderly cyclist, who later died in the hospital.[55]
6 July − Academic activities of grades 5, 11 and 13 in all government schools recommence.[56]
12 July − The government of Sri Lanka decides to close all schools again for one week from 13 to 17 July due to the recent Kandakadu COVID-19 outbreak.[59]
27 July − Academic activities of grades 11 and up in all government schools recommence.[60]
31 July − Former CID director
Shani Abeysekara is arrested for fabricating false evidence with regard to a court case against former police officer Vass Gunawardane.[61]
Sri Lanka emerges as first runners-up in the 2020 Online School Debate Championship, losing to
Canada 8–1 in the finals.[63] It was the first instance where Sri Lanka made it to the finals in the history of
World Schools Debating Championships. Sri Lanka was also awarded the top-performing ESL team for secondary English-speaking countries.[64]
Negombo Prison superintendent Anuruddha Sampayo is arrested.[65]
1 September − A 51-year-old underworld gangster Mohamed Thajudeen Mohamed Shaul Hameed alias 'Sawanna' is arrested for possession of heroin.[81]
2 September
Schools in Sri Lanka reopen and resume academic activities as usual for all students from grade 6 to 13.[82]
Samith Rangana, a Sri Lankan from Matara who worked at a
KFC restaurant in the
United Arab Emirates dies from an explosion that took place in the restaurant.[83]
All schools are closed again,[93] whereas a police curfew is imposed in the Minuwangoda and Divulapitiya police jurisdictions with immediate effect.[94]
The Pattithottam & Periyakadei areas in the
Mannar District are declared as isolated villages due to the spread of COVID-19.[98]
The Grade 5 scholarship examination is held under strict health guidelines at 2,936 examination centres across the island, with 331,694 candidates sitting for the exams.[99]
12 October – The G. C. E. Advanced Level Examination commences under strict health guidelines at 2,648 examination centres across the island, with 362,824 candidates sitting for the exams.[100]
15 October – The number of COVID-19 patients in the
Minuwangoda cluster increased to 1,838.[101]
16 October –
Yoshitha Rajapaksa, a son of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapkasa, is appointed as the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff.[102]
19 October – Former Minister
Rishad Bathiudeen is arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department during a raid in
Dehiwala, where he is charged with Criminal Misappropriation of Public Funds and Violation of Election Laws with regard to the Transportation of IDPs in CTB buses to vote at the
2019 Sri Lankan presidential election.[103]
20 October – Underworld gang leader Samarasinghe Arachchige Madush Lakshitha alias 'Makandure Madush' is killed in a police shootout during a raid at the Apple Watte Housing Scheme in
Maligawatte.[104]
November
13 November – The number of COVID-19 deaths in Sri Lanka exceeds 50 with five new COVID-19 deaths.[105]
16 November – Two female officers, Pilot Officer ADPL Gunarathe and Pilot Officer RT Weerawardana, are commissioned as Flying Brevet Pilots and female military aviators for the first time in the history of the
Sri Lankan Air Force.[106]
18 November – Former State Minister of Fisheries
Dilip Wedaarachchi takes a bite out of a raw fish during a live press conference.[107]
22 November – Most Ven. Makulewe Vimalabhidana Thero is appointed as Mahanayake of the Sri Lanka Ramanna Sect.[108]
23 November – Schools with grades 6 to 13 across the island, excluding those in the
Western Province and isolated areas, are reopened to begin the third term.[109]
25 November – Four golden caskets were discovered during an excavation at the Southern Vestibule of the Deegavapi Stupa in
Ampara. This is the single largest discovery of golden caskets during an excavation in Sri Lanka.[110]
26 November – The
2020 Lanka Premier League commences with a virtual opening ceremony for the first time in franchise cricket using a combination of augmented and virtual reality technologies.[111]
27 November
The number of COVID-19 deaths in Sri Lanka exceeds 100, along with eight new COVID-19 deaths.[112]
The youngest death from COVID-19 in Sri Lanka is reported from the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children (LRH), a 20-day-old male infant.[126]
9 December – The dead body of a Dutch monk, Netherlanthaye Jinarathana Thero is found at Polgasduwa Aranya Senasanaya in
Rathgama on a meditation retreat.[127]
10 December – International award-winning Sri Lankan short film Vikaari is released by the Dust Sci-fi channel, the first Sri Lankan film to be released by the Dust Sci-fi channel. The short was directed by Sri Lankan filmmaker Sandun Seneviratne and British filmmaker Charlie Bray.[128]
13 December – The total number of deaths from COVID-19 in Sri Lanka surpasses 150.[129]
17 December – A 29-year-old pregnant mother of Kuppiyawatta area, who was positive for COVID-19, gave birth to quadruplets in the De Soysa Hospital for Women.[132]
21 December – Governor of the Eastern Province,
Anuradha Yahampath, closes all schools in the Trincomalee Education Zone, after 15 COVID-19 patients are reported in the
Trincomalee city limits.[133]
28 December
Lieutenant General
Shavendra Silva, Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Chief of Defense Staff, and head of the National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) is promoted to the rank of four-star general by President
Gotabaya Rajapaksa.[134]
Defense Secretary Major General (Retired)
Kamal Gunaratne is promoted to the rank of four star General by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.[135]
30 December – A member of a crime syndicate Saravana Gedara Kelum Udaya Kumara alias 'Thalwatte Kelum' is arrested by the Police Special Task Force in
Batuwatte, Ragama.[136]
31 December – The total number of deaths from COVID-19 in Sri Lanka reaches 200.[137]
11 June − An accident takes place at the Thummulla Junction, killing an officer attached to the State Intelligence Services by Tharinda Ratwatte, the driver of the Defender SUV.[37]
13 June − Archaeologists discover that early humans living in Sri Lanka some 48,000 years ago crafted tools from animal bones and used them to hunt animals, especially monkeys and squirrels. These are the oldest known instances of the use of the bow and arrow technology outside of Africa to date.[38]
15 June
National parks and zoological gardens throughout the country are reopened with a visitor limit in line with government health regulations.[39][40]
19 June − Sri Lanka's first underwater museum is declared open in
Galle.[43]
24 June − Sri Lanka reaches 2000 COVID-19 patients.[44]
25 June
Kasturi Chellaraja Wilson is appointed as the Group CEO of
Hemas Holdings, thus making her the first ever Sri Lankan woman to become the CEO of a public conglomerate in Sri Lanka.[45]
27 June − All cinema halls in Sri Lanka are reopened.[47]
28 June − Former Sri Lankan cricketer
Muttiah Muralitharan is named as the Most Valuable Test Player of the 21st Century by the Wisden Cricket Monthly magazine.[48]
29 June − All government schools in Sri Lanka are reopened for principals, teachers and other staff after 105 days.[49]
30 June − Former national selection committee chairman and cricketer
Aravinda de Silva is questioned by the Sri Lankan police due to
Mahindananda Aluthgamage's match fixing allegation claims.[50]
July
1 July
Four personnel of the Police Narcotic Bureau are arrested on charges of having links with drug traffickers.[51]
Cricketer
Upul Tharanga is questioned for two hours by the Special Investigation Unit about the match fixing allegations regarding the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup final.[52]
2 July − Former cricketer
Kumar Sangakkara is questioned for eight hours by the Special Investigation Unit about the match fixing allegations regarding the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup final.[53]
3 July − Former cricketer
Mahela Jayawardene is questioned by the Special Investigation Unit about the match fixing allegations regarding the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup final, despite claims by the police that the case is over.[54]
5 July − International cricketer
Kusal Mendis is arrested after being involved in a fatal road accident in
Panadura with an elderly cyclist, who later died in the hospital.[55]
6 July − Academic activities of grades 5, 11 and 13 in all government schools recommence.[56]
12 July − The government of Sri Lanka decides to close all schools again for one week from 13 to 17 July due to the recent Kandakadu COVID-19 outbreak.[59]
27 July − Academic activities of grades 11 and up in all government schools recommence.[60]
31 July − Former CID director
Shani Abeysekara is arrested for fabricating false evidence with regard to a court case against former police officer Vass Gunawardane.[61]
Sri Lanka emerges as first runners-up in the 2020 Online School Debate Championship, losing to
Canada 8–1 in the finals.[63] It was the first instance where Sri Lanka made it to the finals in the history of
World Schools Debating Championships. Sri Lanka was also awarded the top-performing ESL team for secondary English-speaking countries.[64]
Negombo Prison superintendent Anuruddha Sampayo is arrested.[65]
1 September − A 51-year-old underworld gangster Mohamed Thajudeen Mohamed Shaul Hameed alias 'Sawanna' is arrested for possession of heroin.[81]
2 September
Schools in Sri Lanka reopen and resume academic activities as usual for all students from grade 6 to 13.[82]
Samith Rangana, a Sri Lankan from Matara who worked at a
KFC restaurant in the
United Arab Emirates dies from an explosion that took place in the restaurant.[83]
All schools are closed again,[93] whereas a police curfew is imposed in the Minuwangoda and Divulapitiya police jurisdictions with immediate effect.[94]
The Pattithottam & Periyakadei areas in the
Mannar District are declared as isolated villages due to the spread of COVID-19.[98]
The Grade 5 scholarship examination is held under strict health guidelines at 2,936 examination centres across the island, with 331,694 candidates sitting for the exams.[99]
12 October – The G. C. E. Advanced Level Examination commences under strict health guidelines at 2,648 examination centres across the island, with 362,824 candidates sitting for the exams.[100]
15 October – The number of COVID-19 patients in the
Minuwangoda cluster increased to 1,838.[101]
16 October –
Yoshitha Rajapaksa, a son of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapkasa, is appointed as the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff.[102]
19 October – Former Minister
Rishad Bathiudeen is arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department during a raid in
Dehiwala, where he is charged with Criminal Misappropriation of Public Funds and Violation of Election Laws with regard to the Transportation of IDPs in CTB buses to vote at the
2019 Sri Lankan presidential election.[103]
20 October – Underworld gang leader Samarasinghe Arachchige Madush Lakshitha alias 'Makandure Madush' is killed in a police shootout during a raid at the Apple Watte Housing Scheme in
Maligawatte.[104]
November
13 November – The number of COVID-19 deaths in Sri Lanka exceeds 50 with five new COVID-19 deaths.[105]
16 November – Two female officers, Pilot Officer ADPL Gunarathe and Pilot Officer RT Weerawardana, are commissioned as Flying Brevet Pilots and female military aviators for the first time in the history of the
Sri Lankan Air Force.[106]
18 November – Former State Minister of Fisheries
Dilip Wedaarachchi takes a bite out of a raw fish during a live press conference.[107]
22 November – Most Ven. Makulewe Vimalabhidana Thero is appointed as Mahanayake of the Sri Lanka Ramanna Sect.[108]
23 November – Schools with grades 6 to 13 across the island, excluding those in the
Western Province and isolated areas, are reopened to begin the third term.[109]
25 November – Four golden caskets were discovered during an excavation at the Southern Vestibule of the Deegavapi Stupa in
Ampara. This is the single largest discovery of golden caskets during an excavation in Sri Lanka.[110]
26 November – The
2020 Lanka Premier League commences with a virtual opening ceremony for the first time in franchise cricket using a combination of augmented and virtual reality technologies.[111]
27 November
The number of COVID-19 deaths in Sri Lanka exceeds 100, along with eight new COVID-19 deaths.[112]
The youngest death from COVID-19 in Sri Lanka is reported from the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children (LRH), a 20-day-old male infant.[126]
9 December – The dead body of a Dutch monk, Netherlanthaye Jinarathana Thero is found at Polgasduwa Aranya Senasanaya in
Rathgama on a meditation retreat.[127]
10 December – International award-winning Sri Lankan short film Vikaari is released by the Dust Sci-fi channel, the first Sri Lankan film to be released by the Dust Sci-fi channel. The short was directed by Sri Lankan filmmaker Sandun Seneviratne and British filmmaker Charlie Bray.[128]
13 December – The total number of deaths from COVID-19 in Sri Lanka surpasses 150.[129]
17 December – A 29-year-old pregnant mother of Kuppiyawatta area, who was positive for COVID-19, gave birth to quadruplets in the De Soysa Hospital for Women.[132]
21 December – Governor of the Eastern Province,
Anuradha Yahampath, closes all schools in the Trincomalee Education Zone, after 15 COVID-19 patients are reported in the
Trincomalee city limits.[133]
28 December
Lieutenant General
Shavendra Silva, Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Chief of Defense Staff, and head of the National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) is promoted to the rank of four-star general by President
Gotabaya Rajapaksa.[134]
Defense Secretary Major General (Retired)
Kamal Gunaratne is promoted to the rank of four star General by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.[135]
30 December – A member of a crime syndicate Saravana Gedara Kelum Udaya Kumara alias 'Thalwatte Kelum' is arrested by the Police Special Task Force in
Batuwatte, Ragama.[136]
31 December – The total number of deaths from COVID-19 in Sri Lanka reaches 200.[137]