The Upali Group of Companies, its employees and sales agents countrywide, have made arrangements to invoke blessings on its founder, Upali Wijewardene, who disappeared in his Lear jet 43 years ago. Bodhi Pooja, Pahan Pooja and an alms-giving will be held, in his memory, on 13 Feb.

A special Bodhi Pooja will be held at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya at 6 p.m. on 13 Feb., with the blessings of Prof. Ven. Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangarakkhitha Thera, the Chief Incumbent of the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya.

Arrangements have been made to offer alms to the Maha Sangha at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya and scholarships to 10 needy children from

the Helena Wijewardene Maha Vidyalaya, Kelaniya.Alms-giving to the inmates of the Home for the Elders at Mulgampola, Kandy, Bodhi Pooja Pinkama and Kavi Bana Pinkama, from 4.30 p.m. onwards, at the Ceylon Chocolates factory premises. Bodhi Pooja, Pahan Pooja and Kavibana deshana will be held at Vidya Niketha Piriven Viharaya, Sapugoda Kamburupitiya.

Bodhi Pooja, Pahan Pooja and Kavibana deshana will be held at Maha Saman Devalaya at Ratnapura.

The employees of Upali Consumer Products have arranged an alms-giving lunch at the ‘Children’s Home’ at Ja-Ela.

Founder’s Day Programme on February 13, 2026.

9.00 a.m. – Holy Mass at Mattakkuliya Church.

10.00 a.m. – Offering of Buddhapooja at the `Dhathumandiriya .

10.30 a.m. – Scholarships to 10 needy children from Helena Wijewardene Maha Vidyalaya, Kelaniya.

11.30 a.m. – Alms-giving for the Maha Sangha at Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya.

12 noon – Providing lunch for the Children’s Home, Ja-Ela, organised by the employees of Upali Trading Co. Ltd.

6.00 p.m. – Bodhi Pooja and Pahan Pooja at Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya.

All these pinkamas (meritorious acts) are organized by Upali Group employees and newspaper, Kandos/Delta and soap agents.

The National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (NAHTTF), on 28 January, 2026, officially launched the National Strategic Action Plan to Monitor and Combat Human Trafficking (2026–2030), reaffirming Sri Lanka’s strong commitment to eliminating all forms of human trafficking and strengthening coordinated national responses.

The launch was held under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. The event was also attended by the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Chair of the NAHTTF, Air Vice Marshal (retd) Sampath Thuyacontha, and Kristin Parco, IOM Chief of Mission in Sri Lanka and Maldives. Members of the NAHTTF, representing 23 key government entities, along with representatives of the diplomatic community, United Nations entities and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

The Prime Minister stated “Caring for trafficking survivors in Sri Lanka requires a holistic, gender-sensitive, and survivor-centered approach that addresses both immediate protection and long-term recovery. This includes safe shelter, medical care, and trauma-informed psychological support, with particular attention to women and girls who experience more severe and gendered forms of violence, alongside legal assistance, economic empowerment, and skills development to prevent re-trafficking”.

The five-year Action Plan was unveiled under the leadership of the Ministry of Defence, in its capacity as Chair of the NAHTTF, the national multi-stakeholder mechanism responsible for strategic guidance, coordination, and oversight of counter-trafficking efforts in Sri Lanka.

Air Vice Marshal (retd) Sampath Thuyacontha, Secretary, Ministry of Defence and Chair of the NAHTTF remarked, “As Chair of the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, we remain firmly committed to safeguarding the dignity, safety, and security of all individuals. This National Action Plan reflects our shared responsibility to prevent and combat trafficking in persons through coordinated and sustained action. By raising public awareness, strengthening intersectoral collaboration, and ensuring accountability, we are working towards a Sri Lanka where exploitation has no place, perpetrators are brought to justice, and survivors receive the comprehensive protection and support they deserve.”

Developed with technical support from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the National Strategic Action Plan 2026-2030 establishes a unified national framework to prevent human trafficking, protect and assist victims, strengthen law enforcement responses, and enhance accountability. The plan draws on extensive consultations with NAHTTF, CSOs, frontline responders, and international partners.

It builds lessons from previous action plans and aligns with international standards, addressing emerging challenges, such as cyber-enabled trafficking and the misuse of digital platforms and artificial intelligence for recruitment and exploitation. “For over a decade, IOM has worked alongside the Government of Sri Lanka, and is honoured to have supported the development of this Action Plan and strengthened national systems. The result is a plan that is both ambitious, practical and grounded in global standards yet firmly rooted in Sri Lanka’s realities,” said Kristin Parco, IOM Chief of Mission in Sri Lanka and the Maldives. “Together, with shared purpose, we are one step closer to eradicating human trafficking in Sri Lanka”

The Action Plan is structured around four key pillars: • Prevention through community awareness-raising and risk-reduction measures • Victim-centred protection and assistance, including access to comprehensive support services • Strengthened investigations and prosecution, supported by improved inter-agency coordination and cross-border cooperation • Improved policy, data, and national coordination mechanisms through enhanced partnerships with civil society, the private sector, international organisations, and regional networks, coordinated through the NAHTTF.

IOM will continue to work in close partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka and the NAHTTF to support the effective implementation of the National Strategic Action Plan to Monitor and Combat Human Trafficking (2026–2030). The organisation supports all counter-trafficking and victim protection efforts that will strengthen national and district-level mechanisms, ensuring comprehensive support for front-line responders and providing protection, return and reintegration services for survivors of internal and crossborder trafficking.

The Government of India has proposed grants and loans totalling 4 billion Indian rupees for Sri Lanka under its 2026 Budget.

Unveiling the annual Budget yesterday (01 Feb.), Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman placed renewed emphasis on strengthening India’s manufacturing sector as part of efforts to accelerate growth amid global economic volatility.

She said the Budget for the next fiscal year would prioritise structural reforms, particularly in manufacturing, the development of a robust financial sector, and increased investment in emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence.

The Modi administration has been seeking to raise manufacturing’s share of gross domestic product to 25 percent from the current level of under 20 percent, aiming to generate employment for the millions entering the workforce each year.

India’s economy is projected to grow by 7.4 percent in the current financial year, with inflation expected to remain close to 2 percent. The fiscal deficit is forecast at 4.4 percent of GDP.