Jul 13 (DM) Sri Lanka has been ranked the most traffic-congested country in Asia, according to the Numbeo Traffic Index by Country 2026 Mid-Year. The latest index gave SL a traffic score of 254.5, placing it ahead of Bangladesh (246.2), Iran (215.3), India (205.1) and Indonesia (191.1), which ranked fifth in Asia. Indonesia, the largest and most populous country in Southeast Asia, was highlighted in the report as fifth more..

Jul 13 (AD) Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) is set to commence paddy purchasing for the 2026 Yala cultivation season today (13). PMB Chairman Manjula Pinnalanda said paddy collection centres are being opened in areas currently recording the highest harvests, with purchases beginning accordingly. He stated that, as paddy harvesting is currently underway on a large scale in the Northern, Eastern & Ampara districts, procurement operations will initially be carried out in those areas. more..

Jul 13 (Island) Judicial Service Association (JSA), which represents the country’s magistrates and district judges, has unanimously adopted a resolution opposing the govt’s proposed extension of the retirement age of superior court judges. The resolution was passed at a special general meeting held at Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court premises, attended by 65 magistrates and district judges from across the country. The meeting was convened following the resignation of JSA President more..

Jul 13 (TM) The dengue outbreak has intensified, with the number of reported cases surpassing 68,000 and the death toll rising to 47, prompting the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) to issue an urgent warning against the use of common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) by people who develop a fever. According to the NDCU's NaDSys surveillance system, country's dengue caseload had reached 68,071 by week 27 of 2026, more..

Jul 13 (DN) Govt has banned the import of any goods produced, mined or manufactured, wholly or in part, using forced labour, effective immediately. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has issued this directive with effect from July 10. Under these new regulations, when importing goods from any country, it is mandatory to submit necessary documents to the Customs Director General confirming that the items were not produced or finished using forced labour. more..

Jul 13 (ST) A racket where a Colombo land registrar allegedly used fake rubber seals of the Registry to issue forged deeds for unscrupulous groups who then occupy such lands and properties has been unearthed by CID. Following the arrest, further investigations have been launched into cases where gangs forcibly occupy lands and houses that are not in occupation and extort money to leave such properties. The suspect was arrested after being summoned to the FCID based on a complaint more..

Jul 13 (AD) A new kidney stone removal treatment centre was declared opened in Mirigama today (12), aiming to provide relief to thousands of patients suffering from kidney stone-related conditions and help reduce the country’s existing surgical waiting list of more than 5,000 patients. The Mirigama Kidney Stone Removal Treatment Centre was inaugurated at the Mirigama Base Hospital premises under the patronage of Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa. more..

Jul 13 (DM) Ministry of Education has granted schools permission to allow students to wear clothing that offers better protection against mosquito bites as part of measures to safeguard children from dengue. According to the Ministry, school principals have been instructed to permit students to wear appropriate clothing that covers their arms and legs in addition to the prescribed school uniform. As such, principals have also been advised to educate students on more..

Jul 13 (DN) Govt revenue and grants increased by 30.6% during the first five months of 2026, while private sector credit and broad money continued to expand, according to Central Bank’s latest Weekly Economic Indicators report. Report said Govt revenue and grants rose to Rs. 2,536.9 billion during the Jan-May 2026 period, compared to Rs. 1,942.4 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025. more..

Jul 13 (TM) Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) is carrying out multiple site visits as part of its ongoing investigation into the recent clash at the Negombo Prison, with officials saying the inquiry continues to gather information on every aspect of the incident. HRCSL Commissioner / Member, attorney Nimal G Punchchihewa said that repeated visits to relevant locations are sometimes necessary to obtain all the required information before further action can be taken. more..

Jul 13 (NW) The Sri Lankan govt has increased a range of fees related to the registration of companies and societies under a gazette notification issued by the Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe. The revised fees, published in an Extraordinary Gazette dated July 6, amend the Companies (Fees) Orders and Societies (Fees) Orders that were last revised in 2022. Under the new fee structure, the cost of registering a private limited company has increased from Rs. 4,600 to Rs. 5,200, while more..

Jul 13 (DN) Sri Lanka suffered a major setback ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games after leading swimmer Kyle Abeysinghe withdrew on medical advice following a positive Influenza A test, opening the door for the next highest-ranked swimmer, MF Muhammad, to earn a place in the national squad for the Games in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2. Abeysinghe, a member of Killer Whale Aquatics (KWA) Elite Group, tested positive for Influenza A earlier this week. more..

Jul 13 (EN) Foreign holdings in SL rupee bonds hit a near three-year high in the week ended on July 9 as offshore investors bought a net US$ 97.1 million worth of govt securities, Central Bank data showed, as the rupee currency recovered from a near four-year low hit in May. Foreigners bought a net 32,036 million rupees (US$97.1 million at 1$=330 rupees) in the week, which boosted foreign holdings in rupee bonds to 168,895 million rupees, the highest since Aug 10, 2023, CB data showed. more..

Jul 13 (ST) Sri Lankan officials have sought a meeting with their Indian counterparts after prices quoted by Indian companies that were technically qualified to be the Master System Integrator (MSI) under the India-backed Unique Digital Identity (SL-UDI) project were revealed to be over double the grant amount of INR 3bn (Rs. 10.5bn) pledged by the Indian govt, sources said. Five companies—Infosys Ltd, more..

Jul 13 (ST) A Turkish Airlines flight operating from BIA to Istanbul made an emergency landing due to a bird strike shortly after take-off yesterday, officials said. Flight TK-731, an Airbus A330-300, remained above 7,000 feet in Sri Lankan airspace, circulating over the Negombo lagoon area for more than three hours before returning to BIA. According to the sources, the aircraft had around 80,000 litres of fuel and was required to burn fuel while flying in order to land safely. more..

Jul 13 (DN) Bank of Ceylon (BOC) has launched SL’s first mobile wallet-based BOC Flex Tap & Pay payment service, marking a major milestone in the country’s digital banking and cashless payment landscape. The new service was officially launched in Colombo on July 9 under the patronage of Deputy Ministers Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando and Eranga Weeraratne. Developed in collaboration with Mastercard, the BOC Flex Tap & Pay solution supports the Govt’s drive to promote more..

Jul 13 (TM) SL imported 180,000 MT of rice in 2025, more than double the quantity initially planned, after the Govt determined that the original import target would be insufficient to stabilise domestic supplies. Dy Minister R.M. Jayawardana said: “We intended to import only about 70,000–75,000 MT, but after monitoring the daily situation, we found that amount would not be sufficient, so we imported approx 180,000 MT.” more..

Jul 13 (NW) The second reading of the 2027 Appropriation Bill is set to be presented in Parliament on November 12, 2026. The Ministry of Finance announced that the Appropriation Bill will be published in the Govt Gazette on September 18, followed by its first reading in Parliament on October 7. The draft 2027 Appropriation Bill, containing the proposed expenditure allocations for each ministry, is expected to be submitted to the Cabinet for approval on September 14. more..

Jul 13 (DN) SL’s exports to India have grown by nearly 160% over the past five years, significantly outpacing the growth of India’s exports to SL, Indian High Commissioner to SL Santosh Jha said, highlighting the rapid expansion of bilateral trade between the two countries. Addressing a business networking event titled Trade Connect: Interaction with FIEO Delegation, Jha said bilateral merchandise trade reached approximately US$7.2 billion during the 2025-26 period, more..

Jul 13 (TM) Economic Analyst Dhananath Fernando has stated that restrictions imposed on vehicle imports could lead to serious market complications. He further noted that, as SL’s demand for vehicles has already been met to a certain extent, tax revenue generated from vehicle imports this year is expected to decline compared to the previous year. He pointed out that the govt’s decision on whether to extend the current vehicle import policy beyond 15 Aug will be a key factor in this regard. more..

Jul 13 (TM) CSE's All Share Price Index (ASPI) is to move flat within the range of 20,500 to 22,500 for the rest of 2026, before gaining bullish momentum in 2027 – when current levels of inflation and OPR are relaxed, alongside an earnings rebound and improved turnover, First Capital Research's (FCR) mid-year outlook for 2026 shows. "Ceasefire uncertainty, elevated oil prices, moderating earnings, and a tighter OPR should keep ASPI sideways within 20,500-22,500 for the balance of 2026E. more..

Jul 13 (ST) CIABOC is accelerating institutional recruitment and implementing automated, technology -driven systems to reduce corruption vulnerabilities. As part of the structural benchmarks under SL’s EFF, IMF has directed the Commission to move away from manual oversight in favour of mandatory digital compliance, a recent IMF country report revealed. It has been directed to complete elimination of legacy, paper-based filings. more..

Jul 13 (DN) Have you ever watched the popular American crime drama Prison Break? The drama we watched on television last week reminded us of some episodes of Prison Break. But unfortunately, the drama we watched last week is not that interesting because it ended with the deaths of nearly 30 human beings. This is not the first-ever prison riot reported in Sri Lanka, and people expect this to be the last one. We are talking about Sri Lankan prisons and their culture. more..

Jul 13 (CT) But then there are those who believe that community Cats and Dogs can be shot at and killed according to their whims and fancies. A peaceful street (Lake Road, Attidiya) has now turned into a danger zone after community Cats and Dogs were mysteriously killed over the last few years. What started as mysterious deaths of Cats and Dogs soon became a startling reality when pellets were found in some of the animals that died. Animal lovers down Lake Road were horrified when more..

Jul 13 (Island) It is always a joy to arrive in Sri Lanka and I thank President Rajeev Amarasuriya for his kind invitation. There is something in the air of this beautiful island that drains the stress of big city living. I feel lighter and happier whenever I arrive, and last night was no different. I thank you for the kind words of introduction. In November 2018, I found myself in the book-lined study of the Indian jurist and friend of Sri Lanka, the redoubtable Fali S. Nariman. more..

Jul 13 (Island) Govt has come under heavy criticism over its decision to abandon a plan to convert the former Bogambara Prison, Kandy, into a modern hotel complex, restore the status quo ante and repurpose the Mahamodara Hospital, Galle, as a prison. Desperate times are said to call for desperate measures. Recent riots in the overcrowded Negombo Prison have jolted the govt into addressing the issue of overcrowding. Prison congestion did not arise after 2024 regime more..

Jul 13 (TM) The queue outside the Negombo Prison stretched along the roadside on Monday (6), with anxious families clutching parcels of food and clothing while desperately hoping for a glimpse of loved ones they feared had become casualties of one of the bloodiest prison riots in Sri Lanka’s recent history. Hours earlier, news bulletins had begun reporting that violence had erupted inside the prison, yet those waiting outside more..

Jul 13 (DM) The cause of the Negombo prison riot, which left 25 dead, is yet to be ascertained. But, as in the case of previous prison riots, it could be traced to certain chronic deficiencies in the Sri Lankan prison system. These deficiencies were identified by the Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners (PRP), a civil society organisation dedicated to advocating for prisoners’ rights. In its Status of Prisoners in SL 2025 Annual Report, it pointed to a range of issues within SL’s prison system, more..

Jul 13 (ST) People are sent to jail either as remandees or as convicts by judges of competent courts to serve specific terms of imprisonment and to be denied liberty as punishment for offences specifically spelt out in the penal code. Not to be sprayed down by rifle fire in cold blood nor to prematurely meet their maker. Six years ago, when riots at Mahara Prison broke out over corona safety concerns within the premises and prison guards’ gunfire killed 11, leaving over 100 injured, more..

Jul 13 (SO) Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara responds to questions over the deadly riot, the use of force, alleged retaliation against inmates, possible political links and reforms needed to address SL’s prison crisis. SL watched in shock as violence erupted on July 5 and escalated on July 6 in Negombo Prison, with disturbing scenes emerging of chaos, clashes and a deadly confrontation unfolding within country’s more..

Jul 13 (CT) The whole nation, and indeed many countries beyond Sri Lanka, have been shocked by the events that took place at the Negombo prison. These events have raised questions that go beyond the immediate issues of deaths and injuries. A central question is this: how much protection is actually available to prisoners, to the prisons themselves, and to those who are the guardians of these prisoners? The primary obligation to protect those in the custody of the state more..

Jul 13 (SO) Sri Lanka is no stranger to violence in prisons. In 1983, the UNP allowed racist thugs to attack and kill Tamil inmates in Welikada in a bid to divert public attention from its disastrous policies, to postpone elections that would have cost its supermajority and to proscribe several Leftist parties including the JVP that led the resistance against the UNP’s rule of violence and impunity. In 2012, a number of prisoners were targeted and killed at the same prison allegedly by more..