The Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya has launched a 400-seat Tourist Enclosure for the 100th Kelaniya Duruthu Maha Perahera, scheduled for January 21, 2027, at 7.30 p.m. The enclosure offers reserved seating, live commentary, complimentary refreshments, dedicated parking and priority entry for visitors. The centenary procession will feature caparisoned elephants, traditional dancers, drummers and fire performers. Tickets can be booked through

[www.kelaniyaperahara.com]

Donation to Agamethi Balika Maha Vidyalaya, Panadura, extends the Bank’s long-running commitment to digital education and STEM learning

Reinforcing its commitment to digital education and future-ready skills, the Commercial Bank of Ceylon has reached a significant milestone in its contribution to Sri Lanka’s education sector with the opening of its 200th STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) classroom at Agamethi Balika Maha Vidyalaya in Panadura.

This facility extends a long running programme that has to date brought modern, technology-enabled learning to more than 325,000 students across the country. The beneficiary school has a student population of over 2,500 across Grades 1 to 13 and a teaching staff of 110, and the new facility gives these students hands-on exposure to key technologies driving the modern economy.

The newly established classroom transforms a previously under-utilised space into an interactive learning environment equipped with an advanced SMART Board and lecture hall chairs with writing pads. The facility will enable teachers to deliver multimedia-rich STEM and IT lessons while supporting collaborative learning, coding, interactive simulations and the acquisition of digital skills, with the school’s dedicated IT faculty playing a key role in its use.

Commercial Bank’s STEM classroom initiative forms part of its broader, long-term commitment to education and digital literacy. The programme grew from the Bank’s education-related initiatives and was significantly expanded through its 100 Smart STEM Schools project, launched during the Bank’s centenary in 2020. That initiative brought digital learning content into 100 school classrooms, with the classrooms renovated, furnished and equipped by the Bank, and teachers trained to make effective use of the digital content.

The Bank’s wider investment in school-level digital education has also included the donation of more than 400 IT Labs, with those facilities estimated to have benefited more than 500,000 students nationwide. STEM classrooms have complemented this effort by providing dedicated environments in which technology can be integrated into the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

By Hiran H. Senewiratne

The CSE yesterday reported the highest All Share Price Index downturn after several months due to heavy selling pressure by investors.

The All Share Price Index went down 281.42 points while S and P SL 20 declined by 40.55 points.

Turnover stood at Rs 1.9 billion with seven crossings. Those crossings were; Dialog Axiata crossed 6.3 million shares to the tune of Rs 255 million; its shares traded at Rs 42, DIMO 103,000 shares crossed for Rs 134 million; its shares traded at Rs 1300, JKH 5.9 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 107 million; its shares sold at Rs 17.90, Lanka IOC 600,000 shares crossed for Rs 74 million; its shares traded at Rs 124, Sampath Bank 159,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 63 million; its shares fetched at Rs 138, Digital Mobility Solutions 200,000 shares crossed for Rs 30 million; its shares traded at Rs 158 and CAL3H 2.5 million shares crossed for Rs 28 million; its shares sold at Rs 10.70.

In the retail market top seven companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; JKH Rs 99 million (5.5 million shares traded), Sampath Bank Rs 58 million (422,000 shares traded), LMF Rs 54 million (659,000 shares traded), Sierra Cables Rs 44 million (1.4 million shares traded), Digital Mobility Solutions Rs 40 million (255,000 shares traded), Commercial Credit and Finance Rs 37 million (410,000 shares traded) and Colombo Dockyard Rs 32 million (291,000 shares traded). During the day 104 million shares volumes changed hands in 21877 transactions.

It is said that telecommunication sector counters, especially Dialog Axiata, led the market while the manufacturing sector, especially JKH, performed significantly well. Banking sector counters, especially Sampath Bank impressed.

Yesterday the US dollar buying rate was Rs 326.54 and selling rate Rs 335.51.