News
Lanka HC in South Africa participates in Nelson Mandela International Day
Sri Lanka High Commission in South Africa actively participated in the community service activities led by Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Africa Dr. Naledi Pandor at Bophelong Community Center (BCC) in Mamelodi last week (18). BCC manages six charitable entities including a hospice, an old age home, a mentally challenged home and a children’s home (orphanage).
The High Commissioner Prof. Gamini Gunawardane joined several other diplomats and spent time providing voluntary services assisting the staff of the above care units. In addition to the above, he also donated an electric heater and a stock of Ceylon Tea for use of the residents.
Nelson Mandela International Day was established by the UN General Assembly (UN Resolution A/RES/64/13) in 2009 in recognition of the former South African President’s dedication to the service of humanity in conflict resolution, race relations, promotion and protection of human rights, gender equality, rights of children and other vulnerable groups, fight against poverty and promotion of social justice. It is celebrated annually on 18 July, Mandela’s birthday.
As in previous years, the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO, the equivalent of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sri Lanka) led the 2023 Nelson Mandela International Day events encouraging people to use at least 67 minutes of their time to support a chosen charity or serve in their local community. The 67 minutes symbolically represents the number of years the former President fought for human rights and the abolition of apartheid. The theme of the 2023 Nelson Mandela International Day was: “The Legacy Lives on Through You: Climate, Food and Solidarity”.
Business
Cabinet approves establishment of two 50 MW wind power stations in Mullikulum, Mannar region
Adhering to the broad plan of the Government to reach the objective of accomplishing 70% of the country’s electricity supply from renewable energy sources by the year 2030, the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted on 10.02.2025 to invite requests for resolutions from interested developers of the private sector in order to implement the Mullikulum Wind Power – 100 Mega Watts (two (02) wind power stations of
50 Mega Watts each) on the basis of construction, ownership and execution with a monitoring period of 20 years.
Accordingly, requests for proposals have been called to implement the relevant project by adhering to the international competitive bidding methodology, and seven (7) prospective project proposals were submitted.
Evaluating the said proposals, based on the recommendations submitted by the negotiation committee appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Power to award the contracts of establishing the two (02) 50 Mega Watts Wind
Power Stations to Consortium of Vidullanka PLC & David Pieris Motor Company (Lanka) Limited and WindForce PLC.
Latest News
Cabinet approves the purchase of vehicles to improve the primary health care system across the island
The Government of Sri Lanka has signed a financial agreement with the International Development Association of the World Bank Group to obtain US$ 150 million under the project for improvement of Primary Health Care System.
This project will be implemented covering all the districts in Sri Lanka during the period 2024 to 2028 with the objective of prevention and management of non- communicable diseases,
elderly and palliative care, including strengthening community level services and building resilience to climate related emergencies.
Insufficient transport facilities for the field officers (Public Health Midwives, public health inspectors, primary care nurses, and surveillance teams) has been identified as decisive obstacles relevant to this project.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to procure the below mentioned vehicles necessary to improve the transport capacity for broadening house based care and community relationship coverage, improve the efficiency of field tests and supervisory work, ensure the transport of clinical waste materials safely and proper time.
• 26 clinical waste materials transport lorries
• 26 Double Cabs
• 05 vans with 10 seats
• 02 buses with 42 seats
• 2,891 scooters for Public Health Midwives
• 200 scooters for Public Health Nurses
• 1,350 Motor Bicycles for public health inspectors
• 200 scooters for laboratory Services
• 20 trucks with Refrigerators for the Medical Supply Division
• 08 Fork lifts for the Medical Supply Division
• A crew cab for the Divisional Health Office – Puttalam
• An ambulance fleet for the Jaffna district
News
Cabinet approves the transfer of the constructions and land reserved for the Kiinniya University to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism
Approval had been granted at the cabinet meeting held on 20-06-2017 to construct on the Upparuwatte land owned by the Land Reformation Commission, with an extent of 12 acres in the Upparu Grama Niladhari Division at the Divisional Secretariat division of Kinniya in the Trincomalee District. Rs. 25.45 million has been spent so far on the construction for this university.
The University of Vocational Technology (UNIVOTEC) has decided that there is no longer a necessity to build a university on that land as planned due to conditions that have arisen later.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal
presented by the Prime Minister in her capacity as the Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Professional Education to discontinue the construction of the Kinniya University and to transfer the reserved land and constructions to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism for the
implementation of a project in the tourism field as proposed at the Trincomalee District Coordination Committee.
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