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Press Council gets new Chairman and three board members

Published

1 year ago

2025/04/5

Mahesha Mudugamuwa accepting the letter of appointment

The appointment of a new chairperson and three board members to the Sri Lanka Press Council was carried out recently under the leadership of the Minister of Health and Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, at the Ministry of Media.

Priyan R. Wijebandara was appointed Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Press Council.

Dr. Anushka Kandegama, a sociologist, Mahesha Mudugamuwe, a senior lawyer and media professional, and Devadasan Sendilvelawar, a senior journalist, were also appointed as board members.

Priyan R. Wijebandara, the newly appointed Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Press Council, holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Kelaniya and a Master’s degree in Media Studies from the University of Colombo. He also holds an advanced diploma in English for Administration and Academic Purposes from the University of Colombo and is currently pursuing a diploma in filmmaking at the National Film Corporation. He has served as an external lecturer at the University of Colombo, Sabaragamuwa University, and Peradeniya University. Wijebandara has over 25 years of experience in the print and online media, having worked as a communications specialist and researcher for various projects funded by the World Bank. He is also an award-winning writer and critic.

Dr. Anushka Kandegama, appointed as a board member, is a sociologist who completed her PhD in Social Science at Otago University. She holds additional qualifications in Social Science from the University of Colombo and a Master’s degree in Sociology. Dr. Kandegama has worked as a researcher in peacebuilding and gender studies, and has been an external lecturer at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute and the Open University of Sri Lanka.

Mahesha Mudugamuwa, an experienced lawyer and media professional, with over a decade of expertise in the field, currently works as a news editor at The Sunday Morning newspaper. She was a journalist at The Island. She has been involved in investigative journalism and news reporting and was selected to represent Sri Lanka in the US International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) in 2024. She has also participated in numerous training programmes in countries such as India, Singapore, Thailand, and Japan. Mudugamuwa’s international experience includes serving as a fellow for media collaboration programmes in Yokohama, Japan, and the Foreign Press Centre Japan (FPCJ) in 2015, where she gained valuable insight into global governance and disaster management.

Devadasan Sendilvelawar, with over three decades of experience in the media industry, serves as the chief editor of Thinakaran Daily and Thinakaran Varamanjari Weekly publications. He has received training in journalism from several countries, including the US, Germany, Hong Kong, India, and Malaysia. Sendilvelawar has also held the position of president of the All Lanka Tamil Media Journalists’ Association and is an accomplished writer and translator.

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President meets senior officials of the Urban Development Authority

Published

5 hours ago

2026/05/18

Priyan

A discussion between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and senior officials of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) was held this afternoon (18) at the Presidential Secretariat.

The meeting focused extensively on new development projects planned by the Urban Development Authority. The President emphasised the need to ensure that the budgetary allocations made for these projects in the current year are utilised effectively within the same financial year.

Detailed discussions were also held on projects planned to be implemented jointly by multiple institutions, including the importance of holding consultations with all relevant agencies to reach final decisions and the need to clearly define responsibilities for each institution in both implementation and maintenance phases of the projects.

Attention was drawn to key initiatives such as the Kelani River flood control project, water management projects in Colombo city and the Beira Lake restoration project. The need for a dedicated programme for low-income housing in areas such as Ratmalana and Moratuwa was also highlighted. During the discussion, Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake underscored the importance of introducing a structured management framework for the effective coordination of certain projects.

Deputy Minister of Urban Development, Eranga Gunasekara, Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, Senior Professor Kapila C.K. Perera, Chairman of the Urban Development Authority (UDA), M.G. Hemachandra and the Heads representing the Urban Settlement Development Authority (USDA), Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation (SLLDC), National Physical Planning Department (NPPD) and the Condominium Management Authority (CMA) were also present at the meeting.

(PMD)

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CEAT Kelani Branch Inter-Company Employees’ Union makes donation to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund

Published

5 hours ago

2026/05/18

Priyan

The Inter-Company Employees’ Union of the Kelaniya Branch of CEAT Sri Lanka has made a financial donation of Rs. 1,148,000.00, a day’s salary of its members to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund established to support the restoration of livelihoods and the rebuilding of areas affected by cyclone Ditwah.

Secretary of the Inter-Company Employees’ Union of the CEAT Kelani Branch, D.G.S.D. Navaratne, handed over the donation to the Chief of Staff to the President, Prabhath Chandrakeerthi at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (18).

Treasurer of the Inter-Company Employees’ Union of the CEAT Kelani Branch, Y.P.I.C. Karunathilaka, together with members of the Executive Committee, were also present on the occasion.

(PMD)

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Prime Minister off to the United Kingdom to participate in the 22nd Annual Commonwealth Education Forum

Published

6 hours ago

2026/05/18

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya departed on an official visit to the United Kingdom to participate in the 22nd Annual Commonwealth Education Forum and the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) 2026 Board of Governors Meeting.

During the visit, the Prime Minister is scheduled to participate in several high-level academic and diplomatic engagements aimed at strengthening cooperation in the fields of education, development studies, research collaboration, and international partnerships.

As part of the visit, the Prime Minister will meet with Ms.Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education of the United Kingdom, at the UK Department for Education, to discuss areas of cooperation in education and related sectors. She is also expected to meet Ms.Yvette Cooper, Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, for discussions on matters of bilateral interest and cooperation between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.

In addition, the Prime Minister is expected to meet Ms.Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, on the sidelines of the 22nd Annual Commonwealth Education Forum and the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) 2026 Board of Governors Meeting.

During the visit, the Prime Minister will attend a public event at the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex and she will also take part in the ceremony marking the 60th Anniversary of the Institute of Development Studies. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to address a session at the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies at the University of Oxford, followed by a question-and-answer session with scholars and students.

The visit is expected to strengthen Sri Lanka’s engagement with academic institutions, international development partners, and Commonwealth member states, particularly in the areas of education, research, policy dialogue, and capacity building.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]