News
Govt. apartments, over 40 years old, in Colombo District, to be refurbished
Plans are underway to redevelop government apartment complexes in the Colombo District that are over 40 years old, National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) officials told Parliament’s Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development.
The Committee, chaired by MP S.M. Marikkar, was informed that 45 apartment projects in the district — comprising around 10,000 housing units — fall into this category. Officials said technical and valuation reports on the current condition of the buildings will be obtained, and the redevelopment is expected to be implemented through a public-private partnership model.
MP Marikkar instructed officials to submit a comprehensive report, within a month, detailing the implementation plan, including arrangements for current residents.
The meeting also highlighted around 45,000 housing units, initiated between 2015 and 2019 that were left incomplete. Authorities have now formulated a plan to finish these constructions within three years.
Officials noted challenges in attracting investment for condominium developments, prompting the Committee to instruct the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing to propose a legally viable mechanism to improve inter-ministerial coordination and speed up permit issuance.
Additionally, the MPs directed the Urban Development Authority to explore expanding the “One Stop Shop” project, currently operating in the Western Province, to other regions.
MPs Manjula Suraveera Arachchi, Ravindra Bandara, Jagath Vithana, and Geetha Herath, along with representatives from the NHDA, UDA, Condominium Management Authority, and Condominium Developers Association of Sri Lanka, attended the meeting.
A discussion with the Catholic Council was held on Thursday (21) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat under the co-chairmanship of Minister of Science and Technology, Chrishantha Abeysena and Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Discussions focused on administrative issues relating to Catholic schools taken over by the Government, the formulation of a structured teacher cadre system for Catholic religious education, the need to recruit Catholic nuns and priests into the teaching profession and the establishment of a mechanism to obtain the support of the Ministry of Education for the administration of Government-acquired Catholic schools.
It was also decided that discussions with the Catholic Council would be held three times annually, while Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage would serve as Secretary to the forum.
Expressing appreciation on behalf of the Catholic Council, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith thanked President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Government for facilitating the discussion.
His Eminence further stated that the expectation was to ensure every student, without discrimination, is given the opportunity to learn his or her own religion and stressed the importance of resolving the prevailing issues within the education sector.
Also present at the occasion were Most Rev. Bishop Harold Anthony Perera, Most Rev. Bishop Christy Noel Emmanuel, Most Rev. Bishop Anton Ranjith, Most Rev. Bishop Wimal Siri Jayasuriya, other clergy representing the Catholic Council, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Nalaka Kaluwewa and senior officials of the Ministry of Education.
(PMD)
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to broaden the Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy, which was launched last year. Unlike the inaugural edition held in November 2025 that featured eight Associate teams, the second edition will comprise 10 teams, including five Test-playing nations. The tournament is scheduled to be held in November this year.
Italian Navy’s ITS GIOVANNI DELLE BANDE NERE, which arrived in Colombo (21 May 2026) on a replenishment visit, departed the island today (22 May).
The Sri Lanka Navy bade a customary farewell to the departing ship in compliance with naval traditions at the port of Colombo.
During her brief stay in Colombo, the Commanding Officer of the ship, Commander Antonio BUFIS called on the Commander Western Naval Area at the Western Naval Command Headquarters.
Catholic Council reconvenes after nine years
ICC to widen Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy
Italian Navy’s ITS GIOVANNI DELLE BANDE NERE departs following replenishment visit
PM meets Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations
Tennessee execution called off after failed lethal injection
Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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