The 17th National War Heroes’ Commemoration Ceremony was held with solemn dignity at the War Heroes Monument in Battaramulla on Thursday, under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The ceremony drew tri-forces commanders, senior military officials and families of fallen servicemen, as the nation paused to honour those who laid down their lives in defence of Sri Lanka’s sovereignty.

The National Cadet Corps (NCC) joined the national tribute, marking the contribution of cadets who perished during the three-decade-long conflict. The event served as a sombre reminder of the human cost of war, with organisers highlighting the youthful courage and sacrifice of unnamed cadets whose service remains embedded in the country’s post-war memory.

Director of the NCC Major General APCR Premathilake laid a floral wreath at the monument in honour of the fallen heroes.

Adding a symbolic dimension to the ceremony, Corps Regimental Sergeant Major (Boys Cadet) E. Edwin Anorishan of Jaffna Hindu College and Corps Regimental Sergeant Major (Girls Cadet) HMJCS Herath of Bandarawela Central College also placed floral tributes.

A controversy has erupted over the disappearance of an ancient lightning conductor from the historic Nuwara Eliya Post Office, with activists alleging political interference and a delayed police investigation into what they describe as a major heritage theft.

The Nuwara Eliya Protection Organization has accused police of failing to act swiftly after the disappearance of the copper-linked lightning conductor at the iconic colonial-era building, which is also a protected archaeological site. Speaking at a press briefing held last Wednesday, representatives Gayan Chaturanga Wijayabandara and Nalaka Dinesh Ratnayake said the Postmistress of Nuwara Eliya had lodged a complaint with police on April 10, 2026, after discovering that the copper strip connected to the lightning conductor had been severed and the device was missing. The Department of Archaeology had issued an official directive to police on April 29, calling for a full investigation into the incident.

Despite these developments, the group alleged that no meaningful progress had been made in court or through investigative channels. The site had been gazetted as a protected archaeological monument on February 23, 2007, and warned that any unauthorised removal of artefacts was a serious offence under the Antiquities Ordinance.

Activists also raised concerns over the timing of alleged development activities at the site, contrasting it with earlier attempts to prevent commercial interventions, which they said had faced public resistance.

They claimed the missing artefact could have a black-market value of between Rs. 5 billion and Rs. 10 billion, and questioned how such a theft could occur without prompt arrests.

However, Nuwara Eliya Police Crimes Division OIC Inspector Indunil Premalal rejected claims of inaction, saying the investigation was proceeding in a systematic and transparent manner.

By SK Samaranayake

The Project Management Institute Colombo Sri Lanka Chapter on Thursday announced the launch of the 9th National Project Management Conference 2026 and the National Project Management Excellence Awards 2026, aimed at strengthening the project management profession and promoting global best practices across Sri Lanka.

Addressing a press conference at Waters Edge on Thursday, PMI Colombo Sri Lanka Chapter President Thavendran Vijayakumar said the two flagship national events would be held under the theme ‘Delivering Value in a Cost-Conscious World: Optimize Resources, Enhance Impact, Sustain Growth.’

He said the theme reflected the growing need for organisations to deliver greater value while managing limited resources, controlling costs and ensuring sustainable long-term results.

Vice President – Finance Geeshan Wickramasinghe said the National Project Management Conference 2026 scheduled to be held on August 18 at Waters Edge would provide a platform for knowledge sharing, professional learning and cross-industry collaboration, bringing together project managers, business leaders, senior executives, consultants, academics and industry professionals.

Executive Vice President Pasan Manukith said that the conference would feature keynote speeches, presentations, panel discussions and case studies conducted by local and international experts. More than 400 professionals, including senior representatives of leading organisations, are expected to participate. Attendees would also be eligible to earn Professional Development Units (PDUs).

He further said the National Project Management Excellence Awards 2026 would recognise outstanding achievements by Sri Lankan project managers, project teams and organisations that had delivered exceptional value to the country, communities and industries.

The awards would evaluate excellence in leadership and planning, teamwork and collaboration, innovation and risk management, stakeholder engagement, and professional discipline and governance, Vice President – Outreach Dhammika Jayasundara said.

He noted that eligibility for the awards had been opened to legally registered organisations across multiple sectors, including construction, infrastructure, information technology, banking, finance, telecommunications, manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, tourism, education, sustainability, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Vice President Marketing and Communications Chandima Wijesuriya said projects submitted for evaluation should have been completed within the specified period, demonstrate tangible benefits to Sri Lanka and be managed by a Sri Lankan citizen.

A panel comprising industry experts and academics would evaluate submissions, while nearly 100 awards across 41 categories are expected to be presented at the awards ceremony scheduled to be held at Waters Edge, Colombo. Applications should be forwarded to npme@pmicolombo.org

By Chaminda Silva