The Army has vacated the Chulipuram camp in the Jaffna peninsula. Those who were stationed there have been moved to the Chankanai camp.

The withdrawal followed a formal notification process, with a letter informing of the vacation of the camp by the Commanding Officer of the 513th Infantry Brigade to Kavitha Udayakumar, Divisional Secretary of the Sangaanai Division.

In the wake of a deeply disturbing incident involving the circulation of explicit video content allegedly exchanged between adult schoolteachers and a head prefect of a leading school in Colombo and subsequently released onto social media platforms, there is an urgent need for decisive national action to protect children from digital exploitation and abuse, the National Media Foundation said yesterday.

The text of NMF statement: “This incident has exposed serious failures in safeguarding minors in an era of unregulated social media access, weak digital literacy, and the absence of enforceable age-verification mechanisms. While investigations must determine individual culpability, the broader issue is systemic and cannot be ignored.

Children below the age of 16 lack the emotional maturity, judgment, and legal capacity to navigate social media platforms that are increasingly used for exploitation, manipulation, and permanent reputational harm. Once shared online, such content can never be fully erased, condemning victims—especially minors—to lifelong trauma and stigma.

The National Media Foundation (NMF), therefore called upon the Government of Sri Lanka to immediately introduce a nationwide ban on social media access for children under 16, with mandatory age-verification systems enforced on all platforms operating in Sri Lanka. Many countries have imposed such regulations, the latest being Australia.

It is also necessary to hold social media companies legally accountable for failing to protect minors and for allowing the rapid spread of harmful and illegal content.

NMF call upon the Government to strengthen laws on cyber exploitation, online grooming, and digital consent, with strict penalties for adults who abuse positions of trust. It is essential to establish clear professional conduct standards and monitoring mechanisms for educators, recognising their special duty of care toward students”.

This is not a debate about censorship or moral policing. It is about child protection, responsibility, and the urgent need to align our laws with digital realities. The safety of children must take precedence over unchecked digital freedoms and corporate indifference.

Sri Lanka cannot afford to react only after irreparable danage has occurred. The time for half-measures is over. Strong preventive action today is the only way to avoid greater tragedies tomorrow.”

The High Commissioner of Sri Lanka Rear Admiral (Rtd.) Fred Seneviratne officially inaugurated the 88th microfinance branch of LOLC at Bara Kahu, Islamabad, on 23 December, 2025, marking another significant milestone for the organisation, according to a press release issued from the Sri Lanka HC in Islamabad.

This branch represents LOLC Group’s entry into a new era of Shariah-compliant banking in Pakistan with the inauguration of “LOLC Islamic” and the launch of its first Islamic microfinance branch in Bara Kahu, Islamabad.

Addressing the gathering, as the Chief Guest, the High Commissioner commended LOLC for its continued contribution to financial inclusion and economic empowerment, while emphasising the crucial role of ethical and inclusive finance in fostering economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. He noted that the expansion of LOLC’s microfinance services, particularly through Islamic banking principles, constitutes a noteworthy achievement and a significant milestone in the financial sector.

The High Commissioner further highlighted the long-standing and friendly relations between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, emphasising the importance of sustained cooperation in trade, investment, and development, while also briefing the audience on Sri Lanka’s current economic situation and underscoring the country’s resilience and ongoing efforts toward recovery and growth.

The event was also attended by the Minister/Head of Chancery and the Defence Advisor of the High Commission, Mufti Shafique Ahmed Jakhura, Chairman of the Shariah Supervisory Board of LOLC Sri Lanka, senior officials of LOLC, representatives of the financial sector, and other invited guests.