October 17

This is 17th of October. It is day 290 of the year. As of today, there are 75 days left until the end of the year. If you are curious about the most important and notable historical footprint of Sri Lanka, let us delve into more On This Day events to uncover fascinating tidbits from the nation's history that covers for 365 days.

Today’s Highlight

• 1995 – The Sri Lankan military launched an operation to capture the city of Jaffna from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
• 2019 – The Jaffna International Airport was officially opened, becoming the country’s third international airport.
• 2021 – The total number of COVID-19 deaths in Sri Lanka surpassed 13,500.

International observance

• International Day for the Eradication of Poverty