Javelin champion Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage has reached the number one position in the world rankings for the men’s javelin throw event, marking a historic achievement for Sri Lankan athletics.

Tharanga’s rise to the top of the global rankings follows a series of impressive performances at international competitions, further strengthening his position among the world’s leading javelin throw athletes.

Rumesh Tharanga produced a remarkable performance to win the javelin throw gold medal with an outstanding effort of 89.75 metres at the recently concluded 2026 Commonwealth Games in Scotland.

Following his victory, Tharanaga has gained a score of 1,354 to top the world rankings in the latest update.

Julian Weber of Germany with a score of 1,348 dropped down to the second spot while Anderson Peters of Grenada remains third in the javelin world rankings.

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to procure 50 more low‑floor comfortable buses for urban passenger transport services, as part of the Government’s programme to modernize the public transport system.

The decision follows the recent import of 100 low‑floor buses by the contracted supplier under the agreement signed on 6 March 2026. 

Authorities noted that the additional procurement, made as a 50% repeat order in line with Government procurement guidelines, was necessary to meet rising passenger demand and to expand modern transport services beyond the Colombo metropolitan area.

According to the government, the first phase of the Metro Bus Project is planned for the cities of Kandy, Galle, and Jaffna, given their strategic importance as regional transport and tourism hubs. 

The expansion of the bus fleet is expected to strengthen connectivity, ease congestion, and improve commuter convenience in these urban centres.

The initiative is part of the broader effort to upgrade Sri Lanka’s public transport infrastructure and ensure safer, more accessible services for passengers across the country.

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.