News
Ideal Motors hands over its locally manufactured ATVs to the Sri Lanka Navy
Ideal Motors, a leading vehicle manufacturer and an assembling company in Sri Lanka, recently delivered a range of ‘Combat All Terrain Vehicles’, which are specially designed for use on rough terrains and manufactured using local technology, to the Sri Lanka Navy’s Marine Corps. Ideal Motors has taken the initiative to locally manufacture these ATVs, with the technical support from Mahindra and Mahindra – India. Components such as the engine, gear system and the chassis were all sourced from the Mahindra Company in India.
The vehicles’ design and the manufacture of other vehicle parts were carried out by local engineers, and it has been proven via extensive testing that these ATVs are well built and suit any terrain. Three of these ATVs, which were specially designed to suit the requirements of the Marine Corps, were recently handed over to Sri Lanka Navy.
Ideal Motors states that this locally manufactured ATV can be purchased at a cost of LKR 8 million whereas, if imported to Sri Lanka, an ATV of similar capacity, would cost approximately LKR 20 million. A 3-year warranty period along with a 24-hour breakdown assistance service is also on offer for customers by Ideal Motors.
These vehicles are to be mainly used for coastal zone protection by the Sri Lankan Navy Marines specially focusing on illegal smuggling taking place in coastal areas. Discussions are underway to facilitate the provision of similar specially designed vehicles for Sri Lanka’s Armed Forces with the aim of accelerating the local production of vehicles to suit such requirements. This will result in securing the foreign currency within the nation instead of relying in imports, which is especially useful during challenging times such as prevailing economic situation in Sri Lanka. It will also greatly contribute to the revival of the local industries and empowering the nation overall.
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
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Italian Navy’s ITS GIOVANNI DELLE BANDE NERE departs following replenishment visit
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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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