The ICC will get together in Dubai this week for a workshop in which the next Future Tours Programme (FTP) looms large, with members trying to put a shape to the next international cricket calendar cycle from 2027 to 2031.

Starting on Tuesday, the ICC will conduct a cricket operations workshop, which will feature discussions on the FTP, the current cycle of which ends in March 2027. Though lots of progress has been made in recent months, these meetings will not produce a final and comprehensive FTP yet because, as one official put it, there are still “so many moving parts”. Plenty of each member’s main commitments should be finalised, though, with the final FTP likely to be presented at the ICC quarterly meeting in November, scheduled to be held in Bali.

Increase T20Is, reduce bilateral ODIs

There is likely to be more T20Is between Full Members in the next cycle, and that would come at the cost of bilateral ODIs, as cricket struggles to fit everything it wants into a calendar year. T20Is are the ICC’s growth vehicle to expand the game, and its World Cup is also played every two years, as opposed to the four years for the 50-over version. Rudi van Vuuren, the Namibia Cricket chair and newly inducted ICC Board director, recntly said that he saw more opportunities for Associates in the T20 world.

CIF, the globally recognized multi-surface cleaning brand, has officially entered the Sri Lankan market, expanding the range of international home-care solutions available to local consumers.

CIF products are now available at Cargills, Keells, Glomark and Celeste, as well as online through Daraz and uStore, at a retail price of Rs. 900 for 500ml. Shop CIF online at https://ustore.lk/collections/cif

Used by households around the world, CIF is known for its powerful cleaning performance and ability to tackle everyday dirt and some of the toughest cleaning challenges around the home.

Its introduction to Sri Lanka comes as consumers increasingly seek cleaning products that combine performance, convenience and versatility, particularly solutions that can be used across multiple areas and surfaces within the home.

One cleaner. So many possibilities.

From stubborn kitchen grease and grime to limescale around sinks and dirt that builds up on frequently used surfaces, CIF is designed to provide powerful cleaning performance while helping make every day cleaning simpler.

The brand’s multi-surface proposition allows consumers to address a range of household cleaning needs with one versatile solution, bringing greater convenience to modern cleaning routines.

CIF’s entry into Sri Lanka also brings the brand’s global philosophy closer to local consumers eventually helping people restore and rediscover the beauty of the places and things around them through effective everyday cleaning.

With its combination of global recognition, multi-surface versatility and powerful cleaning performance, CIF’s arrival provides Sri Lankan consumers with a new international option in the household cleaning category.

The world’s favorite multi-surface cleaning brand is finally here in Sri Lanka.

Just CIF it!

A special discussion on developing a joint national and regional programme to protect children and young people from the risks they face in the digital environment and on social media was held at the Prime Minister’s Office on September 21, under the patronage of Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri, with the participation of representatives of UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The discussion emphasised the need to implement future measures on child digital safety across three key areas.

It was agreed that these measures should focus on awareness and empowerment, the “Safety by Design” concept, and legislation and enforcement.

First, attention was focused on raising awareness among children, parents and teachers on digital literacy and safe internet use. The Digital Task Force, with the support of UNICEF, has already drafted Online Safety Guidelines for Children, and the Ministry of Education is currently taking steps to introduce these guidelines at the earliest opportunity.

The importance of the “Safety by Design” concept, which ensures that the safety and privacy of children are incorporated from the outset when designing digital platforms, was also highlighted. It was noted that, rather than engaging with global technology companies as an individual country, building regional cooperation representing a population of nearly two billion would provide a stronger foundation for advocating for a safer digital environment.

As a step towards advancing such regional cooperation, a regional conference is scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka in the first half of 2027, based on a proposal by the WHO. Prior to this, a special Roundtable Dialogue, with the support of WHO and UNICEF, is also planned, bringing together the Ministries of Education; Women and Child Affairs; Justice; Public Security; Health; and Digital Economy.

Attention was also drawn to further strengthening the legal and technological measures already being implemented by the relevant government institutions. The forthcoming Roundtable Dialogue is expected to provide further guidance on the way forward in this regard.

UNICEF Representative Emma Brigham and WHO Representative Dr. Rajesh Pandav, together with other representatives, participated in the discussion.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]