News
National Law Week concluded after a series of events
The National Law Week, an important annual event organized by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), was held from Sept 25 to Oct 1. Starting with provincial programmes at selected Bars around the country, the ceremonial session took place on 28 September at the Courts Complex in Hulftsdorp, Colombo, with the presence of high-level attendees including Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya PC, Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam PC, Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka Azusa Kubota, President of the BASL Kaushalya Nawaratne, Chairman of the Legal Aid Commission Rohan Sahabandu PC, and Chairman of the Law Week Committee U.R. de Silva PC, a UNDP release said.
The National Law Week, organised by BASL, is of high significance in the legal calendar of Sri Lanka. It is a week-long programme that aims to promote awareness about the legal profession, educate the public about their legal rights and responsibilities, and foster a better understanding of the law in society. This year, the National Law Week partnered with the Support to Justice Sector Project (JURE), funded by the European Union in Sri Lanka, jointly implemented by UNDP and UNICEF Sri Lanka, and facilitated by the Ministry of Justice.
Speaking on the importance of the event, the Chairman of the Law Week Committee U.R. de Silva noted: “The National Law Week serves as a platform to promote legal literacy, create awareness about legal issues, and strengthen the legal profession in the country. It plays a vital role in enhancing legal education, fostering public trust in the judiciary, and ensuring access to justice for all”.
Noting the support of the EU-funded initiative, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Sri Lanka Dr Johann Hesse commented: “An efficient and inclusive justice sector is critical for social cohesion. The European Union is funding the JURE project and works with UNDP and UNICEF to promote home-grown reforms and institutions to improve access to justice for all and bring the sector closer to the people”.
The provincial programmes included the Bars of Batticaloa, Galle, Jaffna, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matara, Ratnapura and Vavuniya as well as several others, and culminated in the official ceremonial session leading to interactive activities held in Colombo. The array of activities included public lectures, seminars, workshops, and panel discussions on different legal topics. Additionally, schoolchildren had debating competitions in the regions and were also invited to visit the courts and witness selected court processes. Renowned legal professionals, academics, and experts in various fields of law were invited to share their knowledge and insights with the participants, bringing public institutions and the public closer.
Commenting on the role of the Support to Justice Sector Project (JURE), Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka Azusa Kubota, noted: “Promoting access to justice for all is a defining pillar in our work, in particular working with women, children, the poor and persons in vulnerable situations. The lineup of activities of the National Law Week is catalytic, needed, and innovative as they bring the justice system closer to the people who need it most. I would like to sincerely commend the openness of the Bar and members for the initiative as it is very much in alignment with the UN’s vision on people-centred justice.”
Demonstrations of how the day-to-day court processes are conducted so the public can see and learn through experiencing it are vital to bridge the knowledge gap between the justice system and the public’s understanding of its operations.
A booklet was also published in local languages, by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, to help enhance knowledge of the general public on key laws in the country.
The National Law Week saw the participation of well over 3,500 people over the course of the seven days it was operational throughout Sri Lanka. The activities and programmes contribute to enriching the legal legacy that is not restricted to the hearings in a court complex but brings the justice system closer to the people who need it most.
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Landslide RED warnings issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions of Ududumbara, Nildadndahinna and Walapane
The landslide early warning center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued RED warnings to the districts of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya for the next 24 hours effective from 0900 hrs today [09th January].
Accordingly,
LEVEL III RED landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Ududumbara in the Kandy district, and Nildandahinna and Walapane in the Nuwara Eliya district.
LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Wilgamuwa in the Matale district, and Mathurata and Hanguranketha in the Nuwara Eliya district.
LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Welimada, Kandaketiya, Badulla, Meegahakiwula, Hali_Ela, Passara and Lunugala in the Badulla district, Minipe in the Kandy district, Ambanganga Korale, Ukuwela, Rattota, Naula and Laggala_Pallegama in the Matale district, and Nuwara Eliya in the Nuwara Eliya district.
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A Policy is being formulated to ensure Child Protection in the use of Technology — Prime Minister
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that a policy is currently being formulated to ensure child protection in the use of technology.
The Prime Minister made this statement on Thursday (08) in Kandy while briefing the Most Venerable Mahanayake Theros of the Asgiriya and Malwathu Chapters on the issue that has arisen regarding the Grade 6 English module. Thereafter, printed copies of all modules were presented to the Mahanayake Theros.
Earlier on Thursday (08), the Prime Minister visited the Malwathu Viharaya in Kandy and met the Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Nayaka Thero, the Mahanayake of the Malwathu Chapter, where she explained the error that had occurred in the first print run of the English module for Grade 6 .
The Mahanayake Theros emphasized that education is a sensitive subject and that such matters should be handled with greater sensitivity and proper oversight. They further advised that a formal investigation should be conducted and that education reforms should be carried forward in a systematic manner.
Subsequently, the Prime Minister visited the Asgiriya Maha Viharaya and met the Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Mahanayaka Thero of the Asgiriya Chapter, where she clarified the error related to the English module.
The Mahanayake Thero noted that education reforms are a timely necessity and should be implemented with due oversight and careful review and also pointed out that there are broader issues in Sri Lanka regarding the use of technology, which are evident in the manner in which modern tools such as AI technologies are being used on social media.
Clarifying the issue Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya further stated,
“We have appointed a committee to look into this issue, and based on the recommendations of the National Institute of Education (NIE), steps were taken to remove the relevant lesson. In addition, all printed copies of the relevant module have been stamped, and no module has been distributed to schoolchildren. A formal investigation into this matter has been initiated by the Ministry, and a complaint has also been lodged with the Criminal Investigation Department.
At the same time, we are in the process of formulating a policy on child protection in the use of technology”.
Thereafter, addressing the media and responding to the’ questions raised by journalists, the Prime Minister stated:
“The Opposition is attempting to use this national task for their own political advantage. However, many in society have expressed their views on the issues that have arisen in a positive manner, with the objective of identifying and correcting mistakes. The government has decided to move forward with education reforms by recognizing the error that have occurred and rectifying them. We will take the no-confidence motion brought by the Opposition as an opportunity to further advance dialogue on education reforms”
The occasion was graced by the Most Venerable Anunayaka Thero of the Asgiriya Chapter, Venerable Narampanawe Ananda Nayaka Thero; Deputy Registrar of the Asgiriya Chapter, Venerable Muruddeniye Dhammarakkhita Thero; Deputy Registrar of the Malwathu Chapter, Venerable Mahawela Rathanapala Thero; Members of Parliament Thushari Jayasinghe and Thanura Dissanayake; Mayor of Kandy Chandrasiri Wijenayake; Secretary to the Ministry of Education Nalaka Kaluwewa; and Secretary to the Ceylon Teachers’ Union in Central Province D. D. Wimalaweera.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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The deep depression to the South-east of Sri Lanka is likely to intensify in to a cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours
A RED warning for a deep depression to the South-east of Sri Lanka has been issued at 01.00 a.m. on 09 January 2026 for the period until 01.00 a.m. 10 January 2026 by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre, of the Department of Meteorology.
The deep depression in the Bay of Bengal to the southeast of Sri Lanka (At 01:00 a.m. on Jan 9th, 2026 located about 200 km East of Pottuvil) is very likely to intensify further and move west-northwestwards towards the coast of Sri Lanka between Pottuvil and Trincomalee in the evening today (9th January 2026.) The system is likely to intensify in to a cyclonic storm
during the next 24 hours.
Hence, showery, and windy condition over the island, particularly in the Northern, North-Central, Eastern, Uva and Central provinces is expected to enhance.
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