Agriculture, Livestock and Lands Minister KD Lalkantha invoked the views of Soviet revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin on women’s emancipation while addressing the opening of a new state-run childcare facility in Battaramulla last week.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Little Roots daycare centre and preschool at the Govijana Mandiraya premises of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, Lalkantha said women could not achieve true liberation while remaining burdened by household responsibilities such as cooking, cleaning and childcare.

Quoting Lenin, the Minister said, “Until the three factories inside a household , cooking, cleaning and childcare, are moved out of the home, there is no point in talking about women’s liberation.”

He said Lenin had advocated the socialisation of domestic labour through the establishment of nurseries, kindergartens, community kitchens and public laundries.

“The intention of the Government is to ensure women’s liberation by taking women out of these three factories,” Lalkantha said, adding that modern societies were gradually moving away from traditional kitchen-centred lifestyles.

“Urban residents increasingly order food from hotels and restaurants. In developed societies, women have more time for themselves rather than spending their lives cooking for the family. Cooking can be done for enjoyment, but it should not be treated as a duty imposed on women,” he said.

The Minister also expressed reservations over the terminology used for such facilities, stating that he opposed the term “daycare centre” since many women worked beyond normal office hours.

“I am also against these being called ‘childcare centres’. They should instead be called ‘child protection centres’, and children should be raised in such institutions by trained professionals, even when mothers are at home,” he said.

The “Little Roots” daycare centre and preschool was established to support the children of staff members attached to the Parliament of Sri Lanka and the Agriculture Ministry.

The facility was constructed using a donation of one million Chinese Yuan provided to Parliament by the All-China Women’s Federation, following a request by the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus.

The project was implemented jointly by the Parliament of Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation. Initially, the centre will serve employees attached to Parliament and the Agriculture Ministry, with plans to expand services to other institutions in the future.

Among those present at the opening ceremony were Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs Namal Sudarshana, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Namal Karunaratne, Deputy Minister of Livestock, Lands and Irrigation Susil Ranasinghe, and Deputy Minister of Mass Media Kaushalya Ariyarathna.

Officials representing Parliament, the relevant ministries, and the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka also attended the event, along with parents and children.

The inception workshop for the development of a Net-Zero Roadmap for Sri Lanka’s textile and apparel sector was held last Thursday at the Hilton Colombo Residences, marking the official launch of a nationally significant initiative, under the European Union (EU)-funded “Accelerating Industries’ Climate Response in Sri Lanka” (AICRSL) project. The EUR 7.56 million initiative is implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in partnership with the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Energy.

Sri Lanka’s textile and apparel sector is a cornerstone of the economy, contributing 40.7% of merchandise exports, generating over USD 5 billion in export earnings in 2025, and directly employing around 350,000 people. Deeply integrated into global value chains, the sector relies heavily on export markets, with approximately 31.3% of Sri Lanka’s textile and apparel exports directed to the European Union in 2025. However, as an energy intensive industry sector, it requires urgent decarbonisation to maintain global competitiveness and safeguard market access, making the development of a robust Net Zero Roadmap both timely and essential.

Dr Johann Hesse, Head of Cooperation of the Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, emphasised the broader significance of the initiative, stating, “Sri Lanka is a key partner in the European Union’s textile and garment supply chains, with many European brands sourcing from its manufacturers. As climate and sustainability expectations tighten for companies and their suppliers, it is vital that this industry can measure and reduce its emissions. By supporting a net-zero roadmap for Sri Lanka’s textile and apparel sector, we help build more resilient, climate-friendly supply chains for the EU market while supporting quality jobs and long-term competitiveness in Sri Lanka.”

The roadmap will be developed through a structured, multi-phase analytical process, including comprehensive baseline assessments, evaluation of decarbonisation pathways and extensive stakeholder consultation to ensure that outcomes are technically sound, practical and aligned with both national priorities and international best practices.

The inception workshop, organised by UNIDO, brought together a broad cross-section of stakeholders, including government institutions, industry representatives, technical experts, utilities, technology providers, financial institutions and development partners. The session focused on aligning stakeholders on the roadmap’s methodology, initiating data collection and ensuring strong institutional ownership from the outset.

Dr Jagathdeva Vidanagama, Chief Technical Specialist for the AICRSL project, underlined how the initiative supports national policy implementation, noting, “This roadmap is intended to support the implementation of Sri Lanka’s industrial and climate policies in the textile and apparel sector. By providing robust data, technical analysis and clear guidance for investment and action, it will help public institutions and industry translate policy objectives into concrete measures that reduce emissions, improve efficiency and strengthen the sector’s long-term competitiveness.”

As Sri Lanka advances its economic recovery and climate commitments, this initiative marks a key step in aligning industrial growth with sustainability, reinforcing the EU’s support for a low-carbon, climate-resilient textile and apparel sector and for more sustainable trade, investment and long-term stability.

The United States is strengthening its global leadership in artificial intelligence (AI) by partnering with Sri Lanka to help shape the country’s first national AI policy framework for higher education. At the request of the University Grants Commission (UGC), the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka collaborated closely with Sri Lankan counterparts to develop a framework grounded in American AI expertise, standards, and innovation.

The framework drafting process culminated in a soft launch on May 8 at the UGC, with U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Jayne Howell in attendance, alongside Prime Minister and Minister of Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who served as Chief Guest.

Developed with technical leadership from American AI specialist Professor Usree Bhattacharya of the University of Georgia, the initiative supports Sri Lankan universities in adopting AI in ways that are secure, transparent, and aligned with internationally recognised best practices led by the United States.

“America leads the world in artificial intelligence, and we are proud to bring that leadership to our partners,” said Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Jayne Howell. “This collaboration demonstrates American innovation at work—delivering AI expertise that is transparent, ethical, and trusted. By sharing U.S. technologies and standards, we are helping Sri Lanka build the capabilities it needs for the future while expanding opportunities for collaboration with American companies, universities, and researchers. When countries partner with the United States, they gain access to the most advanced and reliable AI solutions in the world.”

University Grants Commission Chairman Prof. Kapila Seneviratne welcomed the collaboration, noting that the initiative supports Sri Lanka’s efforts to modernise its higher education system and equip students with the skills needed to succeed in an increasingly digital economy.

Under Professor Bhattacharya’s guidance, the programme convened representatives from all 18 state universities in Sri Lanka, along with policymakers, administrators, and industry leaders. The resulting framework provides guidance on integrating AI technologies into teaching, learning, research, and university administration. It also positions U.S. approaches and standards at the foundation of Sri Lanka’s AI development in higher education, creating long-term opportunities for partnerships with American technology firms and academic institutions.

The national Artificial Intelligence Policy Framework for Higher Education will be finalised in June and distributed to Sri Lankan universities for implementation.

This effort underscores the United States’ commitment to leading in emerging technologies and ensuring that American innovation continues to shape global standards—driving economic opportunity at home while strengthening partnerships abroad.