News
UNFPA Regional Director here
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Asia Pacific Regional Director Pio Smith is in Sri Lanka from yesterday (28) to Friday 01 March.
During his visit, Smith will hold discussions with policymakers, government officials, civil society, and key partners to enhance collaboration at the national level and advocate for the rights of women and girls.
Additionally, he will visit grassroots communities to assess their needs first hand and identify areas for effective UNFPA support.
Issuing a press release, the UNFPA Colombo office said: “UNFPA Sri Lanka sustains its enduring collaboration with the Government of Sri Lanka and diverse stakeholders country-wide, driving progress in health, education, and gender equality. Our dedication to championing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, encompassing family planning and maternal and neonatal healthcare, stands firm, aligning with our commitment to the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) agenda.
ICPD30 holds significant importance for Sri Lanka, symbolizing the nation’s steadfast dedication to promoting human rights, gender equality, and sustainable development.
Since the historic ICPD conference in 1994, Sri Lanka has adopted a comprehensive approach to reproductive health and family planning, ensuring accessible information and services to enable informed decision-making.
In this regard, UNFPA Sri Lanka, with support from donors and implementing partners, has initiated mobile health clinics to deliver comprehensive maternal and reproductive health services to those left furthest behind. UNFPA Sri Lanka delivers maternity and dignity kits to pregnant women and girls ensuring access to essential items in times of crisis. In terms of SRHR, comprehensive sexuality education, youth-friendly health services, and support for youth-led organizations are key priorities for us at UNFPA Sri Lanka.
UNFPA Sri Lanka remains committed to ensuring supporting services for gender-based violence, such as One Stop Centres that offer comprehensive lifesaving services for survivors of GBV including reproductive and maternal health, psychosocial support, and referral to legal assistance, all under one roof.
Additionally, UNFPA Sri Lanka is also expanding the shelter network through grants and infrastructure development to accommodate more survivors whilst building their capacities by adopting a survivor-centered approach. In elevating the delivery of services for survivors of GBV, UNFPA Sri Lanka supports Emergency Waiting Areas at police stations across the country, which ensures safety and support for women and girls facing gender-basedviolence, providing a space till shelter or court procedures.
Furthermore, UNFPA Sri Lanka engages closely with the Department of Census and Statistics to develop a culture of data-driven decision making for targeted resource allocation to reach the furthest left behind in Sri Lanka’s journey towards achieving sustainable development goals and commitments to ICPD.
A specialists committee has been appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation adhering to the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers dated 29.12.2025 for submitting appropriate recommendations analyzing the provisions of the draft bill formulation in regard to Animal Welfare.
Based on the recommendations of the said Committee, the Legal Draftsman has been instructed at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 18.05.2026 to prepare the final bill on the animal welfare.
Wherefore, the Legal Draftsman has formulated the draft bill and the clearance of the Attorney General has been received in the connection.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to publish the said draft bill in the
Government Gazette Notification and subsequently forward the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Under the legal provisions for elections in this country since 2004, it is mandatory for voters who come to mark their votes to verify their identity through a valid identity card, and it is also mandatory for all such voters to be marked with an appropriate mark using indelible ink. The dual purpose of these two functions is to prevent a voter from voting more than once in a single election.
It has been observed that having to follow two different
methods at the same time to achieve the same objective hinders the efficiency of the duties performed at the polling stations and also incurs additional costs to the government.
Therefore, it has been deemed appropriate to remove the legal provisions regarding the use of indelible ink and marking the voter with the appropriate mark from all election acts.
Accordingly, the development activities of the province, as well as national security, will benefit. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the
President to take necessary steps to remove the legal provisions
• Section 36 of the presidential Election Act, No 15 of 1981
• Section 38 of the Parliamentary Election Act, No 01 of 1981
• Section 36 of the Provincial Council Election Act, No 02 of 1988
• Section 53 A of the Local Government Elections Ordinance (262 Authority)
• Section 21 of the Referendum Act No 7 of 1981
News
Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 24 JUNE 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 24 June 2026 by the Department of Meteorology
Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 2.00 p.m.
Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expectedat times over the Western slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
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