News
Negombo to host month-long MMR 25 – Together festival celebrating music, culture, and community
The coastal city of Negombo is set to come alive this July with MMR 25 – Together, a landmark month-long cultural festival organized by the Old Boys’ Association (OBA) of Maris Stella College. Far more than a musical celebration, the festival promises a fusion of entertainment, environmental action, and civic engagement, marking a new chapter in the city’s cultural evolution.
Launching with site cleanups at the Negombo Jetty and Old District Courts on July 4–5, and closing with a post-event beach cleanup on July 27, the festival places sustainability at its heart. A major plastic awareness campaign and citywide beach cleanup from July 12–19 will further highlight environmental responsibility.
“Our goal with MMR 25 – Together is not only to celebrate our shared musical legacy but to leave behind a lasting footprint of community pride, environmental action, and economic uplift,” said Dhammika Fernando, President of the Maris Stella College OBA. “This is a new chapter for Negombo—where local culture meets global standards of engagement.”
The excitement peaks with the MMR TSD Rally Championship on July 26, where 100 top drivers will navigate a 60 km course across Negombo and its scenic suburbs in a precision motorsport event.
MMR 25 will feature jazz nights, techno raves, food pop-ups, and open-air concerts, with thousands expected to attend. Through its One Pass digital system, visitors can access events, earn rewards, and enjoy local discounts—blending culture with tech.
The festival will also honour Sri Lanka’s musical legends through the Timeless – Together Hall of Fame, spotlighting icons like Rukmani Devi, Nevil Fernando, Los Caballeros, and Jaya Sri.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to appoint Ms. P. M. Jayadeera (Engineer) in the Special Grade of Sri Lanka Engineering Service serving at present as the Additional Secretary (Water Resources Development) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to the post of Director General which will be vacant from 06.10.2026.
Approval has been granted at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 08.06.2026 to prepare a draft bill for restructuring Sri Lanka Cricket.
Accordingly, the Legal Draftsman has formulated Sri Lanka draft bill providing legal provisions for the administration of Sri
Lanka Cricket, control, regulation, promotion, establishment of Sri Lanka Cricket for the development and administration, through the concepts of better governance, integrity, transparency, accountability, inclusiveness and providing equal opportunities for the betterment of the cricket sport, establishment of Sri Lanka Cricket for securing the wellbeing of all participants and securing cricket from corruption and other mal practices.
Clearance of the Attorney General has been received for the said draft bill. Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been received for the resolution furnished by the Minister of
Youth Affairs and Sports to publish the said draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereby forward the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
The Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation performs vitally important functions such as minimizing the risk of inundation in urban and lowland areas, maintaining drainage systems efficiently, carrying out urgent operations during inundation events, and maintaining canals.
The need to strengthen the capacity of the corporation’s internal
operations has been identified by the corporation to perform the aforementioned functions efficiently and expeditiously.
The corporation has planned to purchase small -scale machinery that can be used to clean small canals, which significantly contribute to urban inundation.
The General Treasury has agreed to grant 625 million rupees as an equity contribution for purchasing the relevant machinery.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution submitted by the Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development to purchase the relevant machinery by the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation, following formal procurement procedures at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,233
million, utilizing the aforementioned amount granted by the General Treasury and the funds of the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation.
Ms. P. M. Jayadeera (Engineer) appointed Director General of Irrigation
Sri Lanka Cricket Draft Bill to be gazetted
Cabinet approves purchase of machinery for the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation
Cabinet approval for Project to Build Secure, Skilled, and Empowered Community for families resettled at the at Kalinga Mawatha, housing scheme
Appointment of Cabinet Sub-Committee for the Organization of 79th Independence Day Commemoration
Establishment of New Management Framework for the Dr. Nevil Fernando Hospital
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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