A meeting chaired by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya was held on Saturday [May 10] at the Prime Minister’s Office with the police team conducting investigations and the parents of the deceased child from Kotahena.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister instructed the police investigation team to carry out an impartial, accurate inquiry into the incidents that occurred both within the school and in the tuition class.

The Prime Minister further informed the group that the Ministry of Education is presently conducting an internal inquiry to assess the efficiency and adequacy of the procedures that were followed at the time the incident was reported.

In light of the observed lack of coordination among state institutions responsible for responding to cases of child abuse and the failure of these systems to adequately intervene in the recent case involving the abused child the Prime Minister has appointed a three-member committee, chaired by Consultant Paediatrician Dr. Asvini Fernando, to oversee and ensure that the relevant procedures arecarried out efficiently.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayathissa, Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Saroja Savithri Paulraj, and Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananda Wijayapala.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

The State Vesak Festival for the Buddhist Year 2569 commenced on Saturday (10) at the International Buddhist Centre Temple in Nuwara Eliya, under the patronage of the Most Venerable Maha Nayaka Theros of the Three Nikayas and with the participation of President Anura Kumara Disanayake.

This year’s State Vesak Festival is held under the theme “Bhajetha Miththe Kalyane–Bhajetha Purisuththame” (Associate with noble friends of virtue) and will be conducted from May 10 to 16, centered around the Nuwara Eliya District.

Organized in line with the guidance of the Most Venerable Mahanayaka Theros and the directives of the All Island Shasanarakshaka Mandalaya, the festival is coordinated by the Presidential Secretariat, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, the Department of Buddhist Affairs, the Central Provincial Council and the District Secretariat of Nuwara Eliya.

In conjunction with the declaration of the ‘Vesak Week’ from May 10 to 16, a series of Buddhist religious programmes have been organized in accordance with government policy to promote the spiritual development of the people. Additionally, on-going development work at several temples in the Nuwara Eliya District will be completed during this period with the support of the tri-forces.

Further, a number of special programmes are being implemented under the “Clean Sri Lanka” initiative to foster spiritual growth and Buddhist awareness among the public in parallel with the State Vesak Festival.

Hosting this year’s State Vesak Festival in the multi-religious and multi-cultural Nuwara Eliya District is of special significance. It aims to foster Buddhist enlightenment across the country and further strengthen ties with Buddhist nations around the world.

To mark the occasion of 2569th State Vesak Festival, a commemorative stamp was issued, with the first stamp being officially presented to the President.

The event also included the presentation of ‘Sri Sannas Patra’ (official declarations) designating the historic Maliyadeva Purana Raja Maha Viharaya in Kotmale and the Sri Vishnu Devalaya in Kurunegala as sites of religious worship, both formally handed over by the President.

The event was graced by prominent members of the Maha Sangha, including Chief Registrar of the Malwathu Chapter of the Siam Maha Nikaya and Chief Incumbent of the Somawathi Raja Maha Viharaya Most Venerable Dr. Pahamune Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thero, Anunayake of the Asgiri Chapter of the Siam Maha Nikaya Most Venerable Anamaduwe  Sri Dammadassi Nayaka Thero together with the Maha Sangha representing the three Nikayas, The Chairman of the All Island Shasanarakshaka Mandalaya, Most Venerable Professor Thubulle Seelakkhanda Nayaka Thera, the Chief Registrar of Samastha Lanka Shasanarakshaka Balamandala, Venerable Muganuwala Anuruddha Nayaka Thera, along with the Maha Sangha of the Samastha Lanka Shasanarakshaka Balamandalaya.

Also in attendance were multi-religious clergy, Speaker of Parliament Jagath Wickramaratne, Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, other Ministers and MPs, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, senior government officials, foreign Ambassadors, High Commissioners, and a distinguished gathering of local and international guests.

The Election Commission has called on all candidates who contested the just concluded 2025 Local Government (LG) Elections to submit their campaign income and expenditure reports by May 28, in line with the Election Expenditure Regulation Act No. 03 of 2023 although there are no penalties for non-compliance.

Candidates are required to file their disclosures with the Returning Officers of their respective electoral districts. Election Commissioner General Saman Sri Ratnayake stated that the measure aims to promote trans parency and accountability in the electoral process.

However, Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies(IRES) Executive Director Manjula Gajanayake expressed concern over the lack of enforcement mechanisms, warning that the absence of penalties could undermine the effectiveness of the law.

By Ranil Dharmasena