News
PM opens Prof. Senaka Bandaranaike Archaeological Field Training School
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is also the Minister of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs last Sunday opened Prof. Senaka Bandaranaike Archaeological Field Training School in Sigiriya. Ministers Janaka Bandara Tennakoon and Vidura Wickramanayake joined him in opening the school.
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is also the Minister of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs last Sunday declared open Prof. Senaka Bandaranaike Archaeological Field Training School at Sigiriya.
The Field Training School built by the Central Cultural Fund at a cost of Rs. 50 million within the Sigiriya Archaeological Department premises would be the country’s premier training school for archaeologists to carry out practical and theoretical studies with residential facilities, the Prime Minister said.
The PM said that eminent Sri Lankan Archaeologist Prof. Senaka Bandaranayake had been a pioneer in the field of archeology such as environmental archeology, settlement archeology and ethnography. “He was the first Archaeological Director of the Sigiriya Project of the Cultural Triangle”.
The PM’s Office said that the Field School aimed to study historical archaeological context of Sri Lanka with pure scientific disciplines, provide the knowledge required for the objective function of scientific placement in time and space and to produce disciplined archaeologists.
This training school is also open to local and foreign archaeologists for their archeological work.
As a result of initiating archeological research on a multidisciplinary basis in conjunction with foreign universities, it was possible to identify the royal urban features of Sigiriya, identify the suburbs and factories, identify the settlement patterns of the people who lived there, and thereby study technical expertise, the PM’s Office has said.
Prof. Senaka Bandaranaike Field Training School of Archeology is equipped with lecture halls, laboratories and residential facilities.
Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon, State Minister Vidura Wickramanayake, Members of Parliament Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon, Rohana Kumara Dissanayake, Governor of the Central Province Lalith U. Gamage, Dambulla Mayor Jaliya Opatha, Secretary to the Ministry of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs Prof. Kapila Gunawardena were present on the occasion.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill to amend the State Mortgage and Investment Bank Law No. 13 of 1975
By Cabinet decision dated 2025-12-01, policy approval was granted to amend the definition of the term “animal” in the Animals Act No. 29 of 1958 by including, pigs, goats, and sheep, in addition to cattle and buffaloes, within the interpretation section of the act.
In accordance with the said approval, the Legal Draftsman has drafted an Amended Bill in all three languages, and the clearance of the Attorney General has also been obtained.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the
resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation to publish the draft Amendment Bill in the Government Gazette and thereafter to submit the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
News
Cabinet approves establishment of a ‘Trust’ to carry out the management of the Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre
The Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre, comprising 11 floors, has been constructed with the assistance of the Government of India with the objective of serving as a hub for cultural activities in Sri Lanka and expanding bilateral cooperation for the promotion, preservation, and fostering the cultural heritage of Jaffna.
In accordance with the approval granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 2022-02-21, a Joint Management Committee has been appointed to make decisions relating to the affairs of the said cultural centre, in terms of the Memorandum of Understanding signed for the operation of the Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre.
According to the provisions of the aforementioned MOU, upon completion of the construction of the project, the cultural centre should be transferred to the Jaffna Municipal Council through the Government of Sri Lanka.
Following such transfer, the relevant parties have reached an agreement to establish a ‘trust’ for carrying out the management activities of the centre. The Attorney General’s clearance has been received for the draft trust deed prepared for that purpose.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs to establish the trust to continue the management activities of the Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre
State Mortgage and Investment Bank Law No. 13 of 1975 to be amended
Animals Act No. 29 of 1958 amended
Cabinet approves establishment of a ‘Trust’ to carry out the management of the Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre
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