The Sri Lanka Federation of University Women celebrated Sinhala & Tamil New Year in customary style at its own premises on Kitulwatta Road in Colombo. The Incumbent President, Eng. (Mrs.) Lakmini Nonis, initiated proceedings with the boiling of milk.

The traditional oil lamp was lit, followed by the National Anthem and a two-minute commemorative silence, after which the President invoked blessings on the SLFUW, its members past and present, and on our motherland.

Then followed by traditional new year games.

The SLFUW, founded in 1941 by Mrs. Clara Motwani, is one of the oldest and most prestigious women’s organizations in the island today, with a large membership, both local and overseas. In keeping with its stated objective to ‘undertake charitable, educational and social welfare activities for women in particular and other persons in general’, every year it carries out a number of community service projects, said the President Mrs. Nonis.

Australia has sharply increased refusals of Sri Lankan student visa applications, with new data showing that 38 per cent of applications lodged in February 2026 were rejected, according to figures released by Australia’s Department of Home Affairs on May 6.

The rise reflects a broader tightening of visa integrity checks across key South Asian source countries. Sri Lanka now joins Nepal (65 per cent), Bangladesh (51 per cent) and India (40 per cent) in a high-refusal cohort, while China continues to record a significantly lower refusal rate of 3.5 per cent.

Industry reports cited by VisaHQ indicate that the trend is linked to Ministerial Direction 115, introduced last year, which requires case officers to apply a stricter “genuine student” assessment and to factor in the compliance risk ratings of education providers.

Under the framework, providers exceeding enrolment thresholds face slower processing times or higher rejection rates, as authorities seek to curb non-genuine applications.

The increase in refusals is expected to impact Australian universities and vocational institutions, with concerns already emerging over reduced semester-two enrolments and potential revenue losses. Some regional education providers have reportedly warned of possible staff reductions if the trend continues.

For applicants, the stricter regime has resulted in longer processing times, increased documentation requirements, and greater financial risk, particularly where non-refundable tuition fees are involved.

Analysts also caution that tighter student visa pathways could disrupt Australia’s skilled migration pipeline, which often relies on international graduates in sectors such as information technology and nursing. Employers may increasingly turn to alternative recruitment markets, including Vietnam and parts of Latin America, to offset a likely decline in South Asian graduates in the coming years.

Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament on Thursday that around 12,000 complaints have been received over the past three years regarding cybercrimes against women.

The Minister made these remarks while responding to a question raised in Parliament by NPP Jaffna District MP Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy.

The Minister stated that out of the complaints received in 2023, 2024, and 2025, around 2,300 cases have been resolved.

In 2023, 4,103 complaints related to cybercrimes against women were received, of which 753 cases have been resolved.

Investigations and legal action are ongoing in respect of 3,348 other complaints from that year.

The Minister said that in 2024, out of 3,159 complaints received, 982 cases have been resolved.

He added that investigations and legal proceedings are underway regarding 2,177 other complaints received in 2024.

He also stated that in 2025, a total of 4,742 complaints relating to cybercrimes against women have been received so far.

Of these, 572 cases have been resolved, while investigations and legal action are pending in respect of 4,170 complaints, the Public Security Minister further said.