The Colombo-based diplomatic corps has quietly pooled Rs 3.6 million from their own salaries to help Sri Lankans struggling in the wake of Cyclone Ditwah, in a rare show of personal solidarity that goes beyond protocol.

The contribution was handed over on Thursday (11) to Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath by Indonesian Ambassador and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Dewi Gustina Tobing, joined by envoys from the Maldives, Italy, South Korea, Switzerland, Palestine and Oman.

The diplomats stressed that the gesture was a private donation, underscoring what they described as a personal commitment to the Sri Lankan people during a moment of crisis.

Sri Lanka’s traditional practice of Kithul Madeema/Kithul Kapeema, an ancient indigenous technology for extracting sap from the Kithul (Caryota urens), has been inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The announcement was made on 11 December, 2025, during the 20th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) held in New Delhi, India.

Kithul Madeema, practiced for centuries by rural communities, is a highly skilled knowledge system involving the identification of mature Kithul palms, climbing tall trees, preparing and wrapping the inflorescence, and tapping it with a sacred knife to extract sap daily which is then filtered and boiled to produce Kithul treacle (pani), jaggery (hakuru) and various other food products central to Sri Lankan cultural and culinary life.

This living tradition spans over 13 districts across the Southern, Central, Sabaragamuwa, and Uva Provinces of Sri Lanka, flourishing in forests, home gardens, and natural landscapes.

Its inscription would enhance visibility, strengthen community livelihoods, inspire youth engagement, and reinforce sustainable cultural practices.

Minister Counsellor of the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi,Wathsala Amarasinghe, in her statement following the adoption, conveyed Sri Lanka’s profound appreciation to the Evaluation Body for recommending the inscription and thanked the UNESCO Secretariat for its support throughout the process. She emphasised the deep significance of this recognition for the rural communities and traditional tappers who have safeguarded this knowledge system.

This inscription marks a significant milestone in strengthening Sri Lanka’s commitment in preserving its living heritage and celebrates the creativity, resilience, and ecological wisdom of the Kithul tapping communities.

Sri Lanka is set to ramp up cooperation with the Maldives after the Cabinet cleared two new MoUs covering postgraduate medical training and youth and sports development.

A key agreement between the University of Colombo and the Maldivian Health Ministry will open the door for expanded postgraduate training for Maldivian medical officers and dental surgeons, backed by Sri Lanka’s Postgraduate Institute of Medicine. The pact also allows Colombo to deploy specialist doctors to the Maldives on short- or long-term contracts, based on demand.

The proposal was submitted by the Prime Minister, in her capacity as Minister of Education, Higher Education and Professional Education.

Separately, the Cabinet approved a second MoU aimed at building a structured partnership in youth development and sports. The deal, tabled by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, covers joint programmes, expertise exchanges and capacity-building initiatives, strengthening long-term collaboration between the two nations in both sectors.