The Government is planning to introduce dedicated motorcycle lanes on major roads across Sri Lanka in a bid to reduce the country’s high number of motorcycle-related road accidents, Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake announced.

The Minister said the pilot project of the initiative is expected to begin in Kaluwanchikudy.

He noted that motorcycle accidents account for the majority of road crashes reported annually in Sri Lanka, making the introduction of dedicated lanes a key measure to improve road safety.

Addressing the initiative, Minister Rathnayake said around 2,500 people die in road accidents in Sri Lanka each year, while the death toll reached approximately 2,750 in 2025.

He further stated that in 2019 alone, around 1,400 motorcycle riders and pillion passengers lost their lives, adding that nearly 9,000 people have died in motorcycle-related accidents over the years.

The Minister stressed that addressing motorcycle safety is essential to reducing road fatalities in the country.

Sri Lanka’s export earnings surpassed US$ 10 billion during the first six months of 2026, according to the Central Bank’s latest External Sector Performance report.

Export earnings increased by 3.3% year-on-year to US$ 10.4 billion during the first half of 2026, driven by growth in merchandise exports, which rose by 6.3% to US$ 6.9 billion despite a decline in services exports.

Despite the milestone in export earnings, the country’s merchandise trade deficit widened to US$ 5.5 billion during the first half of 2026, compared to US$ 3.3 billion in the corresponding period of 2025, as import expenditure increased at a faster pace than export earnings.

The Central Bank noted that the external current account recorded a deficit of US$ 245 million during the first half of 2026, compared to a surplus in the corresponding period of last year. June alone recorded a current account deficit of US$ 149 million, marking the third consecutive monthly deficit.

Fuel imports continued to exert pressure on the external sector, with cumulative expenditure on fuel imports rising by 58.8% year-on-year to approximately US$ 3,168 million during the first six months of the year.

Meanwhile, expenditure on motor vehicle imports amounted to US$ 1,254 million during the first half of 2026.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has announced a $200 million policy‑based loan to strengthen Sri Lanka’s economy amid pressures from the Middle East conflict.

ADB President Masato Kanda said the support aims to help the country “create jobs, attract investment, and expand trade,” noting that these measures will enable Sri Lanka to withstand current challenges and build resilience against future shocks.

The package includes $100 million in additional financing to help absorb immediate economic pressures, while backing reforms to modernize trade systems, enhance competitiveness of small and medium‑sized enterprises, and attract investment into economic zones.

According to ADB, the reforms will help enterprises expand, export, and integrate into regional and global value chains, supporting private sector‑led growth. 

By diversifying exports and strengthening competitiveness, the program is expected to bolster resilience to external shocks and promote long‑term stability.