News
Celebrating Lester James Peiris
This month’s edition of “Rendez-Vous with Yasmin and Kumar” now showing on the YouTube, channel of the Embassy of France in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, celebrates the life and world of Sri Lanka’s internationally renowned film-maker Dr. Lester James Peiris.
His connection with France has been a “karmic tryst” ever since he took his first film Rekawa to the 1957 Cannes Film Festival. France has hosted numerous retrospectives of his body of work since then.
In 1981, his film ‘Beddegama’, or ‘Village in the Jungle’ was screened in the Director’s Fortnight section at the Cannes festival.
Two year laters, in 1983, he was back in Cannes with his film ‘Kaliyugaya’
In 1988, the Cinematheque Francaise had a retrospective of his work and made Lester James and Sumithra Peiris life members of the prestigeous Cinematheque Francaise.
The same year, in 1988, the Festival of Three Continents in Nantes recognised Dr. Peries as one of the best film-makers of the three continents – Asia, Africa and Latin America.
When the Cannes Film Festival celebrated its 45th anniversary, in 1992, Dr. Peiris was invited to be a member of the prestigeous Jury with Gerard Depardieu as President.
In 1995 when world cinema celebrated its centenary, his (1972) film Nidhanaya was included among the Top 100 films of the century by the prestigious Cinematheque Française.
In 1997, he was decorated by the Government of France as Commander in the Order of Arts and Letters.
The Alliance Francaise de Colombo recently paid tribute to Dr. Peiris with a special screening of his 2002 movie ‘Wekanda Walauwwe’ or the ‘Mansion by the Lake’ titled ‘Le Domaine’ in French.
September 2022 also marked the 20th anniversary of the release of Wekande Walauwwe, produced by Chandran Rutnam
The Chekov-inspired ‘Wekande Walauwa’, was Sri Lanka’s first-ever submission to the Academy Awards. It was also screened at Cannes in 2003 as part of the Official Selection.
News
Financial allocations for the development of infrastructure in provincial schools have been provided to all provinces – PM
Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya stated that the necessary financial allocations for the development of infrastructure in provincial schools have been provided to all provinces. She emphasized that these funds must be utilized effectively for school development and requested that relevant authorities submit proposals to address existing shortcomings in school infrastructure.
The Prime Minister made these remarks during a cordial meeting with Muslim women in the Wellawaya area on 1st of March.
Subsequently, the Prime Minister met with the Chief Sanghanayake of the Uva Wellassa region and the Chief Incumbent of Yudaganawa Rajamaha Viharaya, Venerable Rajakeeya Panditha Most Venerable Galtemwatte Nandarathana Nayaka Thero, and briefed him on the current progress of the new education reforms.
She further stated that, while ensuring due recognition for vocational education, steps are being taken to develop 50 vocational training centers equipped with modern courses, covering all 25 districts of the country. She also noted that new education reforms will be introduced for Grade 6 starting in 2027, and that the printing of new textbooks will be entrusted to the Educational Publications Department of the Ministry of Education.
The occasion was attended by Uva Province Governor Attorney-at-Law Kapila Jayasekara, Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security R.M. Jayawardhana, Member of Parliament Ruwan Wijewardene, local government representatives, the Buttala Divisional Secretary and the District Secretary.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Department of Immigration and Emmigration has decided effective from 28th February 2026, to grant a free fourteen (14) day visa extension to all tourists who are unable to leave Sri Lanka due to flight cancellations. 
The Maldives Coast Guard Ship Huravee arrived at the Port of Colombo for replenishment purposes on 02 Mar 26. The visiting ship was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) in compliance with time-honoured naval traditions.
The ship is a 48.9m long Offshore Patrol Vessel which is commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Nafiu Mohamed.
Meanwhile, the ship’s crew is scheduled to visit several tourist attractions in the city of Colombo, during their stay in the island.
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