Sri Lanka Battles Dengue Hyper-Epidemic, Prison Crisis; Treasury Cyber-Lapse Exposed Amidst Global Tensions

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education has instructed principals to allow students to wear suitable clothing covering arms and legs to prevent dengue mosquito bites, also advising on standardized mosquito repellents

. Officials from SLCERT informed the CoPF that the Treasury's email system has been outdated since 2019, leading to insecure message exchanges and linking to a USD 2.5 million cyber incident where a foreign loan installment was diverted

. Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz indefinitely after its Revolutionary Guard fired warning shots at vessels on unapproved routes, hitting and damaging a Cypriot-flagged container ship, 'M/V GFS Galaxy'

. The Mirigama Kidney Stone Removal Treatment Centre was inaugurated by Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, aiming to alleviate a surgical waiting list of over 5,000 patients and addressing a nearly two-decade-old healthcare need

. Newly appointed Navy Commander Vice Admiral Damian Fernando visited Anuradhapura to pay homage at the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi and Ruwanweli Maha Seya, seeking blessings for national peace and security, and met with the Acting Chief Incumbent of the Atamasthana

.

Inmates transferred from Negombo Prison will now have their court cases conducted via video technology starting July 13th, due to difficulties in transporting them to courts

. The death toll from the Negombo Prison clash has risen to 29, with eight officers among the dead. Three prison officers remain in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and four others are still receiving treatment at Colombo National Hospital

. The Ambalangoda SJB councillor, Amitha Chathuranga (also known as Batapola Nindane Chutte), was arrested for illegal firearm possession and has been remanded until July 13 after being produced before the Balapitiya Magistrate's Court

.

The death toll from the earthquakes in Venezuela has tragically surged to 4,333, with 16,740 people injured and approximately 17,000 left homeless. 6,462 individuals have been rescued, and housing distribution for those affected is set to commence next week

. The Meteorology Department has warned of increased wind speeds of 50-60 km/h in sea areas from Hambantota to Pottuvil and Mannar to Chilaw via Puttalam, with wave heights expected to be between 2.0 and 2.5 meters in certain sea areas, advising fishing and maritime communities

. A heat advisory has been issued for six districts in Sri Lanka—Mullaittivu, Vavuniya, Batticaloa, Ampara, Trincomalee, and Monaragala—where the heat index is likely to reach the ‘Caution’ level, advising residents to stay hydrated and minimize sun exposure

.

The Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) confirmed that Yala season paddy procurement will begin on Monday, July 13th, in the Northern, Eastern, and Ampara regions. Procurement prices remain Rs. 120/kg for Nadu and Rs. 130/kg for Samba, with a new price of Rs. 140 per kilogram for Keeri Samba paddy

. The 2027 Appropriation Bill is scheduled to be presented in Parliament on November 12, 2026, with its first reading on October 7, 2026, and parliamentary debates running from November 13 to December 14, 2026

. The Sri Lankan government has increased registration fees for companies and societies, with a private limited company fee rising from Rs. 4,600 to Rs. 5,200, and public limited companies from Rs. 23,000 to Rs. 26,400, as gazetted by Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe

.

Sri Lanka has declared a dengue hyper-epidemic as total cases reached 68,071, with the death toll at 47. June saw 21,538 infections, and the first 12 days of July recorded 12,692 cases, with the Western Province most affected, reporting 35,823 cases

. A special dengue eradication programme targeting 60 high-risk zones across 11 districts is set to commence on July 13th. Health authorities warn that the current situation, with 67,143 patients and 47 deaths year-to-date, is approaching the high-risk levels seen in 2017

.

A series of fatal road accidents have occurred across Sri Lanka. In Matale, a motorcycle-lorry collision on Raja Mawatha killed a 74-year-old man and injured a child, while another Matale incident involving a motorcycle and a cable claimed the life of a 48-year-old rider. Further incidents include a fatal bus-pedestrian collision in Kadawatha and a motor vehicle veering off-road in Buttala, injuring two

.

New details have emerged regarding the funeral arrangements for veteran singer Mariazelle Goonetilleke, who passed away at 68. Her remains will lie in state at the Borella Baani Raymond Funeral Parlour on July 13th from 9 AM to 3 PM for public respects, with the funeral procession led by the band from St. Thomas Convent, Nugegoda, before final rites at the Borella General Cemetery

.

The Meteorological Department forecasts showers for Sabaragamuwa, Kandy, and Nuwara Eliya districts today, with light showers also expected in the Western and North-Western provinces, and Galle and Matara districts. Thundershowers are possible after 2 PM in parts of Ampara, Batticaloa, and Uva provinces, while strong winds of approximately 40-50 km/h are anticipated in the western slopes of the central highlands and several other districts

.