Jul 13 (TM) Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekara said that the initiative aims to reduce water-related accidents by the end of 2028. He noted that recent months had seen numerous drowning incidents reported not only at sea but also in inland reservoirs. "It is hard to give coverage to all these places where the accidents are reported by the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, Life Saving Division, and the Tourism Board alone. The technology, equipment, and human resources are not sufficient. more..

Jul 13 (FT) SL’s workers’ remittances increased to a record high in June, whilst lifting cumulative earnings in the first half of 2026 to an all-time high, underscoring the resilience of migrant worker earnings despite geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Latest data from the Central Bank showed that inflows rose 9.3% year-on-year (YoY) to $ 695 million in June, marking the sixth consecutive month of robust growth and one of the strongest monthly performances on record. more..

Jul 13 (FT) SL’s tourism industry experienced a challenging first half of 2026, with earnings declining by 12% year-on-year (YoY) to over $ 1.51 billion, according to the latest data, underscoring the mounting pressure to achieve the country’s revised tourism goals. Tourism earnings in June 2026 amounted to $ 151.1 million, marking an 11% YoY decline and the lowest monthly revenue recorded so far this year. Despite the slowdown, January remained the strongest month of 2026, more..

Jul 13 (Island) SL faces increasing disaster risks due to climate change and global warming, the COPE was informed. DMC Director General Retired Major General Sampath Kotuwegoda has told COPE that the country’s vulnerability to disasters has risen, while the DMC continues to face shortages of staff and resources needed to respond effectively to major emergencies. He said the institution encountered severe difficulties during Cyclone Ditwah, highlighting shortcomings in its response capacity. more..

Jul 13 (DM) More than 2.3 million people have pledged to donate their eyes after death, the SL Eye Donation Society announced. Society Chairman Ayodhya Sampath de Silva said a total of 2,307,800 eye donation pledges have been registered to date. He said 1,443 eyes were donated during June, facilitating 843 corneal transplants, including 173 for patients in SL and 670 for recipients overseas. De Silva said the Society's Corneal Transplant Programme has restored the vision of 243,142 patients so far, more..

Jul 13 (Island) Mosquito larvae density in SL’s Western Province has increased significantly, making the next two weeks an extremely high-risk period for dengue transmission, according to Consultant Physician Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama, a member of the Expert Committee on Dengue Management. Dr. Wijewickrama warned that based on the current trend of dengue transmission, the situation could become more serious than the country’s 2017 dengue outbreak. more..

Jul 13 (DM) A total of 19 investment proposals have been received under the Expression of Interest (EOI) process launched to attract investors to utilize the resources of the Mattala Rajapaksa Int'l Airport (MRIA), Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation said. Among the interested parties are reportedly several leading companies from the Middle East, India and China. The opening of the proposals was held on July 9 at the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation following the close of submissions. more..

Jul 13 (DM) Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara has warned that Beira Lake has become severely polluted after years of rapid urban development, stressing that restoring the iconic water body will require both public support and govt action. In a Facebook post, he said a special development programme has been launched to clean the lake and eliminate the foul odour affecting residents and visitors to Colombo. He said sewage, solid waste and garbage had been dumped into the lake for years, more..

Jul 13 (CB) The pitch for the opening night of Major League Cricket 2026 at the Grand Prairie Stadium resembled a batting paradise. As Tim Seifert and Shayan Jahangir made hay inside the Powerplay, every bowler seemed destined for the same fate. The new ball refused to provide any assistance on one of the flattest surfaces of the tournament and, for the first five overs, bowlers had looked little more than lambs to slaughter. Then came an over that felt entirely disconnected from everything more..

Jul 13 (EN) SL’s National Insurance Trust Fund (NITF) will pay 6 million rupees in compensation to families of eight prison officers who died in the Negombo prison riot last week, officials said. Officials of the statutory board said all eight were registered under the Agrahara Gold medical and life insurance scheme. “We have taken a very prompt decision to pay these death claims as quickly as possible,” Nuwan Dissanayake, Assistant Manager of National Insurance Trust Fund said, more..

Jul 13 (AFP) SL’s Tamil-speaking minorities launched a united front on Monday to demand a new constitution granting greater autonomy, reviving long-standing grievances two decades after the end of the island’s long ethnic war. The alliance brings together six parties representing Tamil and Muslim communities, who make up more than a quarter of SL’s 22 million people. It comes as Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s leftist govt faces renewed calls to deliver on promises to devolve power to more..

Jul 13 (FT) SL Institute of Directors (SLID) will welcome two of Asia’s most distinguished business leaders — CG Corp Global Chairman and President Dr. Binod K. Chaudhary and Minor International Group CEO Dillip Rajakarier — as keynote speakers at the SL Corporate Director Summit 2026, to be held on 22 July at Cinnamon Grand. Bringing together decades of global leadership, entrepreneurship, and boardroom experience, the two leaders will share perspectives on how directors can navigate disruption, more..

Jul 13 (PMD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that a quality and accessible public transport system that benefits every individual must be developed, adding that such a system would reduce the personal financial burden borne by the public for transportation while ensuring a quality transport service across the country. Prez therefore highlighted the importance of giving the development of public transport the same level of attention accorded to the advancement of the free healthcare system. more..

Jul 13 (FT) Sri Lanka’s fiscal position strengthened further during the first five months of 2026, with the Govt posting an overall Budget surplus of Rs. 197.34 billion, reversing a deficit of Rs. 236.63 billion in the corresponding period last year as revenue growth continued to significantly outpace expenditure. Total revenue and grants increased by 30.6% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs. 2.54 trillion during the Jan-May period from Rs. 1.94 trillion a year earlier. more..

Jul 13 (NW) SL Police has cautioned motorists against fraudulent SMS and WhatsApp messages instructing them to pay traffic fines online through suspicious web links. The messages, which appear to originate from the Dept of Motor Traffic (DMT), claim that fines must be settled within a week for alleged traffic offences. However, DIG W.P.J. Senadeera, in charge of Traffic Control and Road Safety Range, said that DMT has not issued any such notifications, stressing that the messages are entirely fake. more..

Jul 13 (DM) National Action Front (NAF) has requested the CIABOC to launch an investigation into the financial activities of companies providing satellite television services and solar panel installation services, alleging the possibility of money laundering through such businesses. In a letter submitted to the Commission, NAF called for a comprehensive investigation into the operations of the relevant companies, their owners, int'l business dealings and investments to more..

Jul 13 (AD) Punchage Kalumenike, from Sangili Kanadarawa in A'pura District, widely recognized as one of SL’s oldest living women, has passed away at the age of 114. Born on July 4, 1912, Kalumenike marked her 114th birthday earlier this year. Shortly after, she suffered a fall and underwent surgery. Despite surviving for two months following the operation, she eventually succumbed. Kalumenike leaves behind a remarkable family legacy, with 12 children and an extended lineage of 325 great‑grandchildren. more..

Jul 13 (FT) American Chamber of Commerce in SL (AmCham SL) successfully represented the interests of its members at the AmChams of Asia Pacific (AAP) Washington Doorknock 2026, held in Washington, D.C. from 21–24 June 2026, with AmCham SL President, Sandun Hapugoda and Board Director, Saneth Gamage participating on behalf of the Chamber. The high-level advocacy mission brought together senior business leaders from American Chambers of Commerce across the Asia-Pacific region more..

Jul 13 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has charged that the present govt has gone beyond even the IMF agreement signed by former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, pursuing what he described as an extreme right‑wing neoliberal program under NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Premadasa said both SJB and NPP had pledged during the last election campaign to revise the IMF agreement, which he claimed imposed heavy burdens on the country. more..

Jul 13 (DM) Environment Ministry today officially launched a USD 38.2 million project supported by Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the UNDP to strengthen SL's chemical, mercury and healthcare waste management systems, while handing over advanced laboratory equipment to key institutions. The event, held under the patronage of Deputy Minister Anton Jayakody, marked the official transfer of state-of-the-art analytical laboratory equipment aimed at enhancing the country's capacity to more..

Jul 13 (AD) The govt has launched a special initiative to provide opportunities for children with special needs, including those with autism and other neurological disorders, to learn alongside children in mainstream pre-schools. Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj announced. Minister stated that the govt has decided to move away from the traditional practice of segregating children with special needs and providing them with separate education. more..

Jul 13 (FT) The foreign portfolio demand for rupee-denominated Govt securities saw its highest weekly inflow since Feb 2013, at Rs 32.04 billion for the week ending 9 July. As a result, foreign holdings in Govt securities hit its highest level in nearly three years since August 2023, at Rs 168.90 billion. This reflected five consecutive weeks of net foreign inflows. Notably, the recent re-entry by foreign portfolios has offset the decline observed since more..

Jul 13 (DM) HIV infections are on the rise in SL, with Colombo and Gampaha reporting the highest number of cases, Consultant Community Physician Dr. Sathya Herath said. She said the number of reported HIV cases has increased steadily since 2023, with more cases being detected among men than women. Unsafe sexual practices remain the main mode of HIV transmission, while sharing needles, syringes and other injecting equipment among drug users also contributes to the spread of the virus. more..

Jul 13 (NW) SL and India today signed a MoU to provide modern medical equipment worth Rs. 600 million for the new Deniyaya Base Hospital. The agreement was signed at the Ministry under the patronage of Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, with Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe and Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha placing their signatures. The initiative forms part of India’s Aftermath Cyclone Ditwah Project, aimed at rehabilitating health infrastructure affected by the cyclone. more..

Jul 13 (FT) Sri Lanka has graduated from the lower-middle-income status to the upper-middle-income status, according to the World Bank’s latest annual country classification, based on Gross National Income (GNI) per capita. While this upgrade can be considered an important milestone in the country’s development path, it is questionable whether it can remain in this category for long without falling to the lower category. In July 2019 too Sri Lanka reached the upper middle-income status, but more..

Jul 13 (FT) A recently published book that explores profound human experiences on the unseen spiritual side of life is Forbidden Love of a Buddhist Monk, written in English by the young SL monk Venerable Panadura Ananda Thero. The work is unique for two reasons. First, it is rare for a Buddhist monk to write a true autobiography in the form of a gripping, emotionally charged novel. Second, the author fearlessly opens up a subject usually shrouded in strict institutional silence: more..

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..