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The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Maldives M. Rizvi Hassen called on the Minister of Cities, Local Government and Public Works, Adam Shareef Umar, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Welfare, Dr. Maryam Mariya, Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed and Minister of Dhivehi Language, Culture and Heritage, Adam Naseer Ibrahim to discuss potential areas of collaborations between Sri Lanka and Maldives in local government systems, agriculture and culture.
A ceremony to felicitate students who achieved outstanding results in the 2023/2024 GCE Advanced Level Examination, under the President’s Fund programme for honouring high achievers, was held this morning (02) at the Badulla Library Auditorium, under the patronage of Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne.
A low-level atmospheric disturbance has developed over the south east of the Island.
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With the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA ) Amendment Bill was passed at the Second Reading debate on 03rd June 2025.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya at NDTV World Summit 2025.
The “Nation United -National Drive”, Steering Council convened for the first time today (17) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya visited Hindu College, University of Delhi, where she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, during her ongoing official visit to India.
Passengers departing from Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) will be allowed to check-in 4 hours before their scheduled departure time Effective from 17th October 2025 12:00 hrs.
The Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), undertook a two-day inspection tour of key Sri Lanka Army ammunition and ordnance storage facilities.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the government’s goal is to build a compassionate society where everyone feels loved, cared, and protected.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while participating as the Chief guest at the Dakshina Punaruda Arts Festival organized by the Ministry of Cultural and Arts Affairs of the Southern Province, together with Magam Sahurdayo, Galu Sahurdayo, and Duruthu Sahurdayo Art Associations held at the Hambantota Beach Park on 11 th of October.
The festival, held on October 10 and 11, featured a range of artistic and cultural activities, including film and drama screenings and various exhibition stalls, with the participation of numerous artists.
Addressing the event, the Prime Minister commended the series of art programs conducted throughout the Southern Province over the past months in conjunction with the Dakshina Punaruda Arts Festival. The Prime Minister further noted that such meaningful initiatives play a vital role in building a culturally enriched people and a society.
Addressing further, the Prime Minister stated:
Development and the growth are not only about building roads, ports, or buildings. It is true that, economic growth and good opportunities are essential, but all of that ultimately falls under to make our lives more meaningful, to add happiness to our lives, and to move our society toward a better place. Our aim is to create a safe society filled with love, families full of affection, and children who grow up feeling protected and cared for. We are striving to build a society where everyone feels secure, loved, and connected, and where no one feels left alone.
The Prime Minister further emphasized that through the new education reforms to be implemented from 2026, the government is committed to making aesthetics not just a classroom subject or a textbook title but a living part of children’s lives. She added that efforts are underway to build a society capable of appreciating and experiencing beauty through both the school system and higher education. During the event, the Prime Minister also presented awards appreciating the artists from the Hambantota District.
Deputy Minister of Vocational Education Mr. Nalin Hewage, addressing the event, stated:
For years, you didn’t have an environment where you could enjoy a book, a drama, or a movie. Life drifted away from you. What we’re trying to do now is to give that life back to you. The children performing on this stage today should become the great figures of art one day. We have made a promise in the election that every week, we would bring an art program or entertainment event to your villages. This is that effort in action. And it won’t stop here, we’ll continue this journey as part of a great human transformation. I sincerely thank all state officials and Members of Parliament of the Southern Province who worked tirelessly to make this happen.
Member of the Parliament and the Chairman of the Hambantota District Coordinating Committee, Mr. Nihal Galappaththi, addressing the event:
Today is a remarkable day for Hambantota District. The main goal of this massive initiative, carried out under the theme ‘A Prosperous Nation – A Beautiful Life’, is to nurture a culturally enriched human being, one that embodies peace, unity, and compassion. We believe that this long-awaited change is now touching people’s lives. After the devastation left by the 2004 tsunami, Hambantota became an empty land. Until now, those who held political power here did not intervene to lift the area out of that emptiness. That is why we decided to launch this initiative to be a source of strength for those who felt isolated. Today, we are proud to see everyone joining hands to empower that journey.
The event was graced by the presence of the Maha Sangha, Catholic priests, and Muslim religious leaders, and attended by the Deputy Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Ruwan Senarath, Deputy Minister of Lands and Irrigation Aravinda Senarath, Members of Parliament Athula Welandagoda, Dr. Saliya Sandaruwan, and Thilanka U. Gamage, Consul General of India Mr. Harvinder Singh, Chief Secretary of the Southern Province Attorney-at-Law Sunil Alahakoon, District Secretaries of Hambantota , Bimal Indrajith and District Secretaries Galle W.A. Dharmasiri together with state officials, artists, and invited guests.
The digitalization program implemented under the new administration of the President's Fund has confirmed its excellence by winning two awards at the prestigious National Best Quality Software Awards (NBQSA) ceremony.
Colombo / New Delhi, 10 October 2025: Healthy Ageing through strengthened primary health care and combating smokeless tobacco are among key priorities that health leaders would deliberate upon at the Seventy-eighth Regional Committee Session of WHO South-East Asia, hosted by Sri Lanka from 13 to 15 October.
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