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Singapore sets up Educational Trust in Podi Hamuduruwo’s memory
The Venerable Galboda Siri Gnanissara Memorial Scholarship Trust Fund was officially inaugurated on September 19 at the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Singapore, said a release from the temple.The event, held in memory of the late Venerable Galboda Gnanissara Thero, best known as Podi
Hamuduruwo, was attended by high-ranking Buddhist monks, including Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Mahanayaka Thero of the Asgiriya Chapter and Most Venerable Diwulkumbure Wimaladhamma Anunayaka Thero of the Malwatta Chapter, as well as senior religious figures from Singapore, Malaysia, and the USA.
The Trust Fund, registered in Sri Lanka, aims to continue Podi Hamuduruwo’s legacy of empowering youth through education and vocational training in Asia. Venerable Dr. Kirinde Assaji, Founder of the Trust and Chief Incumbent of Gangaramaya, emphasized Podi Hamuduruwo’s principle of “Vishwasa Parama Gnathie” (trust as the highest form of knowledge) and praised the contributions of Venerable Shi Fa Shou in supporting this vision.
The Trust Fund will provide scholarships and vocational training in fields such as fintech, health tech, travel tech, biotech, and agritech, while also supporting sports, arts, and cultural development. It will also contribute to infrastructure development for monastic and rural schools, and provide welfare support for novice monks and training for teachers and educators.
The event was also attended by Sri Lankan dignitaries, including Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Singapore Senarath Dissanayake, and Public Trustee Gihan Pilapitiya.
Lakbima Rice Mills (Pvt) Ltd, based in Polonnaruwa, has contributed Rs. 100 million to the Government’s ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, established to provide relief to communities affected by Cyclone Ditwa.
The donation cheque was handed over this morning (13) at the Presidential Secretariat to Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President, by Dudley Sirisena, Chairman of the Araliya Group of Companies.
Latest News
Advisory for severe lightning issued to the Districts of Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara
Advisory for Severe Lightning
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
at 12.30 p.m. 13 December 2025 valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 13 December 2025 for Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara Districts
The public are warned that thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur at some places in the Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara Districts.
There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.
ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
Based on the prevailing disaster situation and the upcoming festive season, arrangements have been made to provide a nutrition allowance worth Rs. 5,000 to pregnant mothers.
This allowance, which will be provided only once, will be given to pregnant mothers who were registered at maternal clinics on or before 30 November 2025.
The distribution will take place through the Divisional Secretariat offices from 16 December, as a program of the National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.
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