The Government of Sri Lanka has unveiled plans to transform Delft Island into the country’s first Zero Emission eco‑tourism destination, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, environmental conservation, and the preservation of its unique natural and cultural heritage.

A special site inspection and stakeholder discussion on the proposed development was held under the leadership of Deputy Minister of Tourism Ruwan Ranasinghe recently. 

The island, renowned for its Dutch‑era ruins, numerous archaeological landmarks, and iconic wild horses, is seen as possessing exceptional tourism potential.

Deputy Minister Ranasinghe told participants that Delft Island should be experienced not only by international visitors but also by domestic tourists. Despite its extraordinary attractions, he noted, the island has so far made only a limited contribution to Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. 

He emphasized the Government’s commitment to unlocking Delft’s full potential through sustainable and environmentally responsible development. 

Discussions focused on identifying priority infrastructure to position Delft Island as a premier tourism destination, with key areas including water supply, road infrastructure, transportation and accessibility. Strengthening community participation was also highlighted, with plans to enhance the knowledge and hospitality skills of local residents to enable them to benefit directly from tourism development.

Sri Lanka’s gross official reserves increased to US$ 6.591 billion in July 2026, according to the latest data released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).

Official reserves stood at US$ 6.458 billion in June, indicating an increase of US$ 133 million during July.

This represents an increase of approximately 2.1% compared with the previous month.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s gold reserves also recorded a marginal increase during the month.

Gold reserves rose by US$ 1 million, from US$ 191 million in June to US$ 192 million in July, according to the Central Bank data.

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.