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July 28, 2025

President's Fund Felicitates High-Achievers in the Eastern Province

The President's Fund will award a grant of one hundred thousand rupees each to 360 A-Level students from the Eastern Province who excelled across all subject streams   The Eastern Province programme to recognize high-achievers at district level in the 2023/2024 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination, implemented by the President's Fund, was held yesterday (27th July) at the Swami Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies in Batticaloa. The event was presided over by Hon. Speaker (Dr) Jagath Wickramaratne. During the ceremony, 360 students—10 from each of the six subject streams across the Ampara, Batticaloa, and Trincomalee districts, for both the 2023 and 2024 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examinations—received an incentive grant of one hundred thousand rupees each, along with certificates. The President's Fund allocated a total of 36 million rupees for this initiative. This provincial programme recently commenced in the Northern Province, followed by the Southern Province as its second phase, and the Eastern Province as the third. The President's Fund is currently making arrangements to implement the programme in other provinces in due course. Speaking at the event, the Speaker noted that the President's Fund has not neglected anyone in need of support, with a particular focus on the education of the nation's children. He emphasized that the President's Fund is not a private fund but one operated through the contributions of the people of the country. Therefore, its benefits should be solely for the advancement of the nation's citizens. During the Renaissance, the President's Fund, which had been reserved for the privileged class, was transformed into an institution dedicated to the public, said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment, Arun Hemachandra. Mr. Jayantha Lal Ratnasekera, the Governor of the Eastern Province, and Mr. Roshan Gamage, Senior Additional Secretary to the President and Secretary of the President's Fund, also addressed the gathering. Among those present at the occasion were Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment, Arun Hemachandra; Member of Parliament, Kanthasamy Prabu; Vice-Chancellor of Eastern University, Professor Pararajasingham Peratheepan; Batticaloa District Secretary, J.J. Muralidaran; senior officials from the President's Fund; public officials from the Eastern Province; heads of security forces; parents; and students.

July 28, 2025

President's Fund Felicitates High-Achievers in the Eastern Province

The President's Fund will award a grant of one hundred thousand rupees each to 360 A-Level students from the Eastern Province who excelled across all subject streams   The Eastern Province programme to recognize high-achievers at district level in the 2023/2024 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination, implemented by the President's Fund, was held yesterday (27th July) at the Swami Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies in Batticaloa. The event was presided over by Hon. Speaker (Dr) Jagath Wickramaratne. During the ceremony, 360 students—10 from each of the six subject streams across the Ampara, Batticaloa, and Trincomalee districts, for both the 2023 and 2024 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examinations—received an incentive grant of one hundred thousand rupees each, along with certificates. The President's Fund allocated a total of 36 million rupees for this initiative. This provincial programme recently commenced in the Northern Province, followed by the Southern Province as its second phase, and the Eastern Province as the third. The President's Fund is currently making arrangements to implement the programme in other provinces in due course. Speaking at the event, the Speaker noted that the President's Fund has not neglected anyone in need of support, with a particular focus on the education of the nation's children. He emphasized that the President's Fund is not a private fund but one operated through the contributions of the people of the country. Therefore, its benefits should be solely for the advancement of the nation's citizens. During the Renaissance, the President's Fund, which had been reserved for the privileged class, was transformed into an institution dedicated to the public, said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment, Arun Hemachandra. Mr. Jayantha Lal Ratnasekera, the Governor of the Eastern Province, and Mr. Roshan Gamage, Senior Additional Secretary to the President and Secretary of the President's Fund, also addressed the gathering. Among those present at the occasion were Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment, Arun Hemachandra; Member of Parliament, Kanthasamy Prabu; Vice-Chancellor of Eastern University, Professor Pararajasingham Peratheepan; Batticaloa District Secretary, J.J. Muralidaran; senior officials from the President's Fund; public officials from the Eastern Province; heads of security forces; parents; and students.

July 28, 2025

Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health, Media and Women's Empowerment discusses measures to address medicine shortages

No shortage of very essential medical items – Ministry of Health officials   The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health, Media and Women's Empowerment inquired into the medicine shortage and related matters at the Committee meeting held recently (Jul. 23), under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe. Officials from the Ministry of Health informed the Committee that the current shortage of medicines has arisen due to delays in placing orders in previous years. However, they assured the Committee that procurement process for the year 2026 has already taken commenced, and there will be no shortage in 2026. They further stated that by the end of this year, 80% to 90% of essential medicine items are expected to be available in the country. In response to an inquiry made by the Committee regarding the availability of very essential medical items, the Ministry officials confirmed that there is no shortage of such items at present. Furthermore, the Committee also considered and approved the Annual Reports for the years 2022 and 2023 of the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation of Sri Lanka, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority, the Sri Lanka Ayurvedic Drugs Corporation, and the Wijaya Kumaratunga Memorial Hospital. While reviewing these reports, the Committee raised concerns over unresolved audit queries related to these institutions. The Committee Chair recommended that an internal review mechanism be established within the Ministry to ensure timely and appropriate responses to audit observations. Hon. Deputy Minister Muneer Mulaffer, Hon. Members of Parliament (Attorney-at-Law) Dayasiri Jayasekara, Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan, (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna, Samanmali Gunasingha, (Prof.) Sena Nanayakkara, (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah and Jagath Manuwarna were present at the Committee meeting. Officials representing the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, including Secretary to the Ministry Dr. Anil Jasinghe, also participated in the meeting.

July 28, 2025

Programme held for newly elected Members of Parliament and parliament staff to strengthen parliamentary processes concluded successfully – British parliamentary delegation informs the Speaker

The British parliamentary delegation, which conducted the programme for newly elected Members of Parliament and parliament staff to strengthen parliamentary processes, conveyed to the Hon. Speaker (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne that the programme was successful. The delegation conveyed these remarks when they met the Speaker at Parliament recently (Jul. 24) to brief him on the progress of the three-day programme, which was held from the 22nd to the 24th. The Speaker expressed his gratitude to the delegation for conducting this programme, which was organized in collaboration with the Parliament of Sri Lanka, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, the United Kingdom Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA UK), and the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), with the objective of strengthening parliamentary processes. This delegation, led by Yasmin Qureshi, Chairperson of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy and Member of the House of Commons, also included Members of the House of Commons Jamie Stone, Paulette Hamilton, and Andrew Snowden, among others. During this programme, newly elected Members of Parliament and parliamentary officials were given the opportunity to engage with the delegation, exchange knowledge and experiences, and gain a broader understanding of parliamentary procedures. Over the course of the three-day programme, knowledge and experiences were shared on topics such as the opportunities for new Members to represent Parliament and the challenges of the role, the parliamentary process and procedure, the role of parliamentary officials, committee inquiry processes, preparation of committee reports, codes of conduct and standards, budget and financial oversight, resources and digital tools, public communication and engagement, and the use of public relations activities to promote public trust. Furthermore, the delegation held discussions and exchanged views with the Chair of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus, Hon. Saroja Savithri Paulraj and the Deputy Co-Chairs as well as the other Members of the Caucus. The delegation also held discussions with Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Caucus for Open Parliament Initiative, Hon. Member of Parliament Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, other Members, and officials. On this occasion, the Co-Chair highlighted the importance of revitalizing Sri Lanka’s membership in the Open Government Partnership to enhance the open parliament process and build public trust. This programme was also attended by Mrs. Kushani Anusha Rohanadeera, Secretary General of the Parliament of Sri Lanka,  Mr. Chaminda Kularatne, Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of the Parliament; Mr. Hansa Abeyrathne, Assistant Secretary General; as well as several department heads and officials of the Parliament.

July 28, 2025

The Committee on High Posts approved the appointments of 5 new Ambassadors, a High Commissioner, and a Secretary to the Ministry

The recommendations of the Committee on High Posts, which met on the July 24th at Parliament approved the appointments of 5 new Ambassadors, a High Commissioner, and a Secretary to the Ministry. Accordingly, Miss. Sumadhurika Sashikala Premawardhane as the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Indonesia, Mrs. C.A. Chaminda Inoka Colonne as the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Federative Republic of Brazil, Mr. Mohamed Rizvi Hassen as the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Maldives, Mr. L.R.M.N.P.G.B. Kadurugamuwa as the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Turkey, Mrs. Ruwanthi Delpitiya as the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Nepal, and Mr. Marimuththu K. Pathmanaathan as the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Republic of South Korea have been recomended by the Committee on High Posts. Furthermore, the name of Miss. Ayesha Jinasena (PC) has also been recommended by the Committee on High Posts for the appointment as the Secretary to the Ministry of Justice and National Integration. The Committee on High Posts, chaired by Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister, comprised of the following Members of Parliament: Hon. Kumara Jayakody, Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha, Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney at Law, Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage, Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni, Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen, Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney at Law, and Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC.






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