News
Indian HC and Moragoda visit Vidyalankara Pirivena
The High Commissioner for India to Sri Lanka, Mr. Gopal Bagley and Mr. Milinda Moragoda, High Commissioner-designate for Sri Lanka to India paid a joint visit to the Vidyalankara Pirivena at Peliyagoda on Thursday (Mar. 25) morning.
After being welcomed by Ven. Welamitiyawe Gnanarathane Thero, Director, Vidyalankara Pirivena and other officials, they worshipped the Buddha relics donated by India to the Vidyalankara Pirivena in 1940.
The visitors also called on the most Ven. Welamitiyawe Dharmakirthi Sri Kusala Dhamma Nayaka Thero, Chief of the Vidyalankara Pirivena.
The purpose of the visit by High Commissioner Bagley was to revive historical connections between Vidyalankara Pirivena and India. A presentation on the historical linkages between India and Vidyalankara Pirivena was made by Mr. Bertram Liyanage, Director of the Office of Buddhist Encyclopedia.
During the discussion, High Commissioner Bagley emphasized the paramount necessity of reviving historical, academic and research linkages that had existed between Vidyalankara Pirivena and similar institutions and personalities in India and deepening people-to-people contacts between the two countries.
The High Commissioner acknowledged that the Vidyalankara Pirivena is one of the foremost learning centers in Sri Lanka instrumental in fostering relations between the two countries at various levels.
In 1944, Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan was invited as the Chief Guest of the first Convocation of the Vidyalankara Pirivena and conferred with the honorary title of “Vidyācakravari”. In 1959, then President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad participated as the Chief Guest at the establishment of Vidyalankara University.
Among the prominent Indian personalities who visited the Vidyalankara Pirivena were Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore.
The Pathfinder Foundation is planning to celebrate 80 years of diplomatic relations between India and Sri Lanka in 2022 with the focus on commemorating the appointment in 1942 of Sir Baron Jayatilaka as Sri Lanka’s first emissary to India. Sir Baron was a student of Vidyalankara Pirivena.
High Commissioner Bagley was accompanied by Ms. Irina Thakur, First Secretary (Commerce and Culture) at the Indian High Commission and Mr. Moragoda by Mr. SumithNakandala, Director of the Centre for Indo-Lanka Initiatives and Mr. Gamini Godakanda, Director, Media at the Pathfinder Foundation.
Sent from my iPhone
News
Showers will occur in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 02 SEPTEMBER 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 02 September 2026 by the Department of Meteorology
The atmospheric conditions are getting favorable for afternoon thundershowers in the Northern, North-central, Eastern and Uva provinces in the next few days.
Several spells of showers will occur in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Eastern and Uva provinces and in Mullaitivu district after 2.00 p.m.
Fairly strong winds of about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over the Western slopes of the Central hills, the North-central and North-western provinces and in Hambantota and Matale districts.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Latest News
Sun directly overhead Anamaduwa, Moragollagama, Dambulla, Manampitiya and Valaichchenai, at about 12.10 noon today (02)
The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.
The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (02) are Anamaduwa, Moragollagama, Dambulla, Manampitiya and Valaichchenai, at about 12.10 noon.
News
SC rejects petitioners’ request for full bench
The Supreme Court yesterday rejected a request that the petitions challenging the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution be heard by a full bench of the Supreme Court.
Rejecting the request, Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena said the consideration of the petitions would proceed before the five-judge bench.
Appearing on behalf of one of the petitioners, President’s Counsel M. A. Sumanthiran made the request when the petitions were called for hearing yesterday before a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Surasena.
President’s Counsel Saliya Pieris, Ali Sabry, Geoffrey Alagaratnam, Eraj de Silva, Srinath Perera, Anura Meddegoda, and Maithri Gunaratne, along with other counsel appearing for several other petitioners, also made the same request.
Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratne, appearing on behalf of the Attorney General, pointed out that the authority to determine the composition of a judicial bench rested with the Chief Justice. Refering to Article 132(3) of the Constitution, the Solicitor General argued that the discretion to determine the number of judges on a bench lay with the Chief Justice and that no other party had the authority to interfere in the matter.
Counsel including President’s Counsel Nigel Hatch, appearing for an intervening petitioner, also made submissions pointing out that the discretion to determine the composition of a bench rested with the Chief Justice.
-
News5 days agoEight politicians in drug kingpin probe
-
Features3 days ago“Wrap Me Up in My Blazer”— A Gentlemanly Bradby Reminiscence
-
Business5 days agoSri Lanka opens up: A new season of direct connectivity
-
Features5 days agoRedefining ageing in Sri Lanka
-
Latest News6 days agoNepal-Tibet floods: What happened, what caused them and who is missing?
-
Editorial6 days agoUnfolding El Niño and burning issues
-
Foreign News7 days agoAt least eight killed, hundreds missing after Nepal flash flood
-
Latest News7 days agoAdvisory for High Waves for the sea areas extending from Colombo to Pottuvil via Galle, Matara and Hambantota
