The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $57.4 million financing package to help Sri Lanka expand access to affordable clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through a large-scale rooftop solar aggregation and virtual net metering programme.

The financing comprises a $35 million concessional loan, $16.9 million in grants from the European Union and $5.5 million from the Japan Fund for the Joint Crediting Mechanism. With additional contributions from implementing agencies, the total estimated cost of the project is $80.5 million.

Under the Rooftop Solar Aggregation and Virtual Net Metering Project, two state-owned utilities — Electricity Distribution Lanka (Private) Limited and Lanka Electricity Company (Private) Limited — will introduce a scalable model to collect electricity generated from large rooftop solar installations and allocate the benefits virtually among eligible consumers.

The initiative will allow consumers to access solar power benefits without having to install individual rooftop solar systems.

ADB Country Director for Sri Lanka Shannon Cowlin said the project would broaden access to affordable renewable energy while strengthening the resilience and inclusiveness of the country’s power sector.

She said the initiative would also support grid modernisation and digital transformation, while creating employment opportunities and encouraging greater participation of women and youth in the clean energy sector.

The project is expected to benefit micro, small and medium enterprises and community organisations that face financial or space constraints in installing their own rooftop solar systems. Through a social compensation mechanism, eligible groups will receive reductions in electricity costs under the virtual net metering system.

The programme will support around 25 megawatt-peak of rooftop solar capacity while strengthening distribution networks, improving digital capabilities and preparing the national grid to accommodate higher levels of distributed renewable energy.

A dedicated training facility will also be established under the project to develop green skills, enhance women’s participation in the sector and build technical expertise in advanced low-carbon technologies.

The Colombo High Court on Friday ordered that proceedings in the case filed against 11 defendants, including former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran and former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, over alleged irregularities in the Central Bank bond auction be taken up again on July 22.

The case was called before Colombo High Court Judge Manjula Thilakaratne, who informed court that the Trial-at-Bar bench appointed to hear the matter had not been properly constituted.

Accordingly, the judge directed that the case be recalled on July 22 for further proceedings.

The Attorney General has filed indictments under the Public Property Act against 11 accused, including Mahendran, Karunanayake, Perpetual Treasuries Limited and its directors Arjun Aloysius and Geoffrey Aloysius.

The accused have been charged over alleged irregularities connected to a Treasury bond auction conducted by the Central Bank in March 2016.

Wellness travel is no longer just about booking a massage and calling it self-care. According to the State of Retreats 2026 Report by BookRetreats.com, more travellers are now booking holidays that promise something beyond a tan and an overworked camera roll.

The report, which surveyed 1,040 US travellers, found that nearly half of respondents – 49 percent – plan to spend on a wellness retreat this year. That puts retreats ahead of spa treatments, supplements and gym memberships. By 2027, the Global Wellness Institute forecasts wellness tourism will reach US$1.4 trillion.

BookRetreats.com ranked the world’s top trending wellness destinations for 2026 based on year-on-year growth across its platform. And the destination seeing the biggest surge in interest is Sri Lanka, where demand from wellness travellers has risen by 100 percent.

Sri Lanka has long had a strong wellness case to make. The island is known for its doctor-led Ayurvedic traditions, with wellness holidays rooted in practices said to date back more than 2,000 years. It is also relatively affordable: according to BookRetreats.com, three- to four-day wellness retreats start at around US$372.18.

The timing helps too. From May 25, 2026, Sri Lanka waived visa fees for tourists from 40 countries, saving a family of four US$200 before they even land.

Beyond the price tag, Sri Lanka also offers year-round beach potential thanks to its two monsoon seasons, meaning one coast is usually sunny whatever the time of year. The island is also home to wild elephants and offshore blue whales, which gives wellness travellers plenty to do between yoga mats and herbal treatments.

Asia has two more destinations in the top 10. Nepal ranks sixth, with interest up 52 percent, driven by the rise of yoga-and-hiking retreats as more travellers pair movement with the outdoors.

Thailand comes in seventh, with interest up 48 percent. The report highlights the country’s strength in restorative wellness, with spa retreats remaining the most popular retreat type in 2026. Thailand is also part of the growing integrative wellness trend, blending traditional medicine and massage with modern treatments and medical tourism.

Here are the top trending wellness destinations for 2026:

1. Sri Lanka – +100%

2. Australia – +85%

3. Morocco – +83%

4. England – +82%

5. Spain – +80%

6. Nepal – +52%

7. Thailand – +48%

8. Mexico – +44%

9. Costa Rica – +42%

10. Canada – +36%