The final rites and cremation of the Most Ven. Keppetiyagoda Siriwimala Nayake Thera, Chief Incumbent of the historic Getambe Rajopawanaramaya Temple and Anunayake of the Sri Lanka Ramanna Maha Nikaya, will be held under State patronage at 4 pm tomorrow (21).

The cremation ceremony will be held at the Getambe Urban Grounds in Kandy.

The Nayake Thera, 98, passed away on Sunday while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Kandy. He had been ailing for some time.

A prominent voice on national, religious and cultural issues, Ven. Siriwimala Thera was actively involved in Buddhist revivalist activities and was widely recognised for his outspoken views on matters concerning the country, the nation and Buddhism.

He served as the Chief Incumbent of the historic Getambe Rajopawanaramaya Temple and held the position of Anunayake of the Sri Lanka Ramanna Maha Nikaya.

The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Economic Development and International Relations has called for the speedy implementation of the Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Act to strengthen regulation of the microfinance sector and protect the public from exploitative lending practices.

The Committee, chaired by MP Lakmali Hemachandra, made the call during a meeting with officials of the Sri Lanka Microfinance Practitioners’ Association at the Parliament complex, the Parliament Department of Communication said.

Committee members stressed the need to regulate informal lenders charging excessively high interest rates, which have placed a heavy financial burden on the public, while ensuring a fair regulatory environment for legitimate microfinance institutions.

The discussions covered the licensing of microfinance institutions, legal and practical difficulties arising from certain provisions of the Act, restrictions on accepting deposits and the cost of funds.

Proposals were made to simplify the licensing process for existing institutions, allow limited public deposits under regulatory supervision and facilitate access to lower-cost funding.

The Committee also considered establishing a mechanism to channel concessional funding from international institutions, including the Asian Development Bank, to regulated microfinance institutions to help reduce lending rates.

The implementation of consumer protection provisions, the timeframe for establishing the Regulatory Authority and deadlines for institutions to obtain licences were also discussed.

Meanwhile, the Committee considered the granting of mining rights for 68 grids to state-owned Lanka Mineral Sands Limited (LMSL) and measures to provide operational support to the company.

The Committee decided to issue the necessary recommendations on the matter.

LMSL has sought exclusive mining rights over mineral sand deposits along the northeastern coastline to prevent their allocation to other private institutions.

The discussions focused on ensuring a long-term and uninterrupted supply of mineral sands for value-added industries, particularly by utilising deposits along the eastern coast.

The Committee also considered attracting local and foreign investment for value-addition projects, in line with the Government’s policy of exporting mineral sands as value-added products rather than raw materials.

The review of previously issued mining licences, action against irregular licences and the transfer of relevant mineral deposits to LMSL were also discussed.

Officials informed the Committee that information on certain recently identified irregularities had been referred to the Criminal Investigation Department.

Members stressed the need to establish a multi-agency mechanism to ensure transparency and better coordination among institutions involved in the future issuance of mineral mining licences.

MPs Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi, Sagarika Athawuda, Kandhasamy Prabhu, Thilina Samarakoon, Wijesiri Basnayake, Suranga Rathnayake and Sivagnanam Sritharan, along with officials of the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, attended the meeting.

Sri Lanka will host the 69th World Congress of the International Police Association (IPA) from October 20 to 31, marking the first time the organisation’s annual global congress is being held in Asia.

The congress and IPA Friendship Week 2026 will be held at the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel in Colombo, bringing together around 450 delegates representing 69 countries.

The delegates will include presidents and secretaries general of IPA National Sections, along with senior members of the organisation from around the world.

The IPA, established in Great Britain in 1950, is the world’s largest police organisation, with more than 600,000 members across 69 National Sections. It was established to promote friendship and international cooperation among police officers.

The 11-day programme will include official ceremonies, congress meetings and cultural excursions, giving participants an opportunity to experience Sri Lanka’s heritage, cultural diversity and hospitality.

The event is also expected to provide a platform for strengthening international cooperation and professional ties among police officers while promoting mutual understanding and goodwill among participating countries.

IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya is scheduled to address the 69th IPA World Congress on behalf of the host country.

The hosting of the congress is being described as a milestone for the IPA, as it will be the first World Congress organised in the Asian region.