News
Indian Ambassador’s visit to Kandy underscores expanse of relations, says High Commission
High Commissioner of India, Santosh Jha visited Kandy on Thursday (18) and sought blessings of the Mahanayake Theras of the Asgiriya and Malwatte chapters, Most Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Mahanayake Thera and Most Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayake Thera, respectively.
High Commissioner Jha underlined that Buddhism was central to the age-old connection between the people of India and Sri Lanka and briefed the Mahanayake Theras on various initiatives undertaken by the Government of India (GoI) to strengthen bilateral Buddhist ties. He specifically mentioned that measures are being carried out expeditiously to roll out solar electrification of Temples across the country, through the GoI assistance.
He offered prayers at the sacred Dalada Maligawa for prosperity and wellbeing of the people of the two countries and also a stronger and deeper connection between them.
He also prayed for closer bilateral relations through further diversification in both scale and scope at the Kataragama Dewalaya.
He visited Hanthana Estate and took stock of the Indian Housing Project. While the GoI has already built 50 houses in the Estate, under the third phase, more housing units are being constructed in the next phase of the Project. Overall, the GoI has committed to 14,000 new houses for plantation workers, in the two phases of the project.
The High Commissioner also inaugurated an Ayurveda camp, aimed at the physical wellbeing of the plantation workers. He also distributed study materials and umbrellas to schoolchildren in the Estate. He remarked that these are keeping in line with the GoI’s firm commitment to the overall upliftment of the plantation workers and the Indian origin Tamil community, in particular.
It may be recalled that a multi-sectoral grant package to the tune of SLR 3 billion was announced by the GoI during the visit of President Ranil Wickremesinghe to India in July 2023.
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Petrol to cost less from midnight today (30)
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) has announced a reduction in the prices of Petrol 92 and Petrol 95, effective from midnight today (30).
The price of Petrol 92 has been reduced by Rs. 15 per litre, from Rs. 414 to Rs. 399 while the price of Petrol 95 Octane has been reduced by Rs. 20 per litre, from Rs. 495 to Rs. 475
There will be no change in the prices of diesel, Super Diesel and kerosene under the latest revision.
News
“Rathuwewi Mihimadala” Book Launched with the Participation of the Prime Minister
The book “Rathuwewi Mihimadala”, written based on the life story of Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Leader of the Democratic Left Front, was launched on Friday [August 28] at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo, with the participation of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.
Speaking to the media afterwards about Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated:
“Vasudeva Nanayakkara is a prominent figure in Sri Lankan politics, particularly within the left-wing political movement. There were several influential figures within the left movement, and that left-wing influence also contributed to bringing the country to where it is today. Politically, there were areas where we agreed and areas where we did not. However, I have great respect for the contribution made by Vasudeva Nanayakkara to left-wing politics. When I entered Parliament in 2020, Vasudeva Nanayakkara was also in Parliament. We sat in the same row, and we spoke about many important as well as interesting moments in his political career. I believe some of these experiences have also been included in this book.”
The event was attended by members of the Maha Sangha, Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara, former President Maithripala Sirisena, former Speakers Karu Jayasuriya and Chamal Rajapaksa, as well as party members, family members and friends.


[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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Sun directly overhead Mannar, Periyamadu, Puliyankulam, Welioya and Pulmoddai about 12.11 noon today (30)
The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.
The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (30) are Mannar, Periyamadu, Puliyankulam, Welioya and
Pulmoddai about 12.11 noon.
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