Authorities have launched an urgent programme to address recurring flooding on access roads leading to the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake,, with canal cleaning and capacity-enhancement work, commencing on Thursday (4).

The initiative follows a special meeting chaired by Deputy Minister of Civil Aviation Janitha Ruwan Kodituwakku on May 28, at which a dedicated task force was appointed to implement immediate remedial measures.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation said relevant institutions have jointly begun clearing drainage canal blockages, increasing canal capacity and improving rainwater flow management in a bid to reduce flooding around the airport and neighbouring areas.

Officials expressed confidence that the measures would help minimise disruptions to airport operations and ease difficulties faced by passengers and motorists during periods of heavy rainfall, while also mitigating flood risks for surrounding communities.

The Ministry said the current programme forms part of a broader strategy that includes both short-term interventions and a long-term plan to provide a permanent and sustainable solution to the flooding problem.

According to the Ministry, the measures are expected to strengthen the area’s resilience to future extreme weather events.

Supporting Sri Lanka’s transition towards resource-efficient, competitive and environmentally sustainable industrial development

A large-scale capacity-building programme, aimed at promoting the Eco-Industrial Park (EIP) concept in Sri Lanka, officially commenced in April, 2026, targeting more than 1,000 stakeholders across the country’s industrial sector.

 The capacity-building programme is being conducted by the EU-funded Green Recovery Facility project, implemented by Expertise France, in collaboration with the National Cleaner Production Centre (NCPC), Sri Lanka and Adelphi (adelphi.de), a German consultancy firm.

The newly launched capacity building programme brings together a broad group of stakeholders, including around 25 policymakers, 32 industrial park operators, 475 tenant industries, and 640 members from neighbouring communities, ensuring an inclusive approach to strengthening industrial practices in Sri Lanka.

Highlighting the role of eco-industrial parks in supporting sustainable industrial growth, Dr Johann Hesse, Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, noted, “Sri Lanka’s industrial sector can drive a greener, more resilient recovery, especially in export-oriented segments. EU experience with eco-industrial parks shows that linking parks to innovation, cleaner technologies and markets is key to attracting investment and scaling circular economy practices, and that the strongest results come when companies choose to work together voluntarily rather than through top-down instruction. By engaging government, park operators, tenant industries and neighbouring communities, this programme helps create the conditions for competitive, low-carbon industrial growth.”

Sri Lanka’s industrial sector comprises approximately 75 industrial parks and more than 1,200 industries employing over 126,000 people. As the country advances its sustainable development agenda, many industrial zones and enterprises are working to address challenges related to environmental management, resource efficiency and ageing infrastructure to enhance their competitiveness and long-term resilience.

The programme was developed based on findings from pre-assessment surveys and extensive stakeholder consultations, ensuring that the training content responds directly to the practical needs, priorities and capacity gaps identified among different stakeholder groups.

The capacity building programme is being delivered through a series of engagements, including two virtual sessions, one in-person workshop, and follow-up training activities. The virtual sessions, conducted in April, introduced key concepts and frameworks, while the upcoming in-person sessions in May to July are expected to focus on practical application and peer learning.

Training sessions cover key areas such as policy and regulatory frameworks, green financing and investment strategies, environmental management and compliance, industrial symbiosis, and stakeholder engagement. The in-person workshops will include interactive discussions, real-case exercises, and experience sharing, enabling participants to identify solutions that can be implemented within their own industrial parks and institutions.

The activity aims to strengthen policy-level understanding, enhance the operational capacity of industrial park operators, support industries in adopting more resource-efficient practices, and encourage improved coordination with neighbouring communities.

By building capacity across these stakeholder groups, the initiative is expected to support the gradual transformation of industrial parks into more efficient, environmentally responsible, and economically competitive zones, contributing to Sri Lanka’s broader green development agenda.

Kalutara District SJB MP Ajith P. Perera has submitted a motion to Parliament calling for the introduction of English-medium education in all secondary schools across the country, while urging the Government to allocate adequate resources to support the initiative.

The motion, now published in the Addendum to the Order Book of Parliament, proposes that Parliament resolve that English-medium instruction be implemented throughout the secondary school system and that the Government accord priority to the necessary investments required for its successful rollout.

Perera notes that English has been recognised as Sri Lanka’s Link Language under Article 18(3) of the Constitution and argues that proficiency in the language is essential for fostering national integration and improving access to knowledge.

According to the motion, English, as an international language, serves as a vital medium through which citizens can acquire knowledge and skills in an increasingly globalised world.

The SJB legislator further contends that mastery of English would enable Sri Lankans from diverse linguistic and ethnic backgrounds to communicate more effectively and live together as one nation.

The motion highlights the success of English-medium education offered through the country’s Central College system, established under the free education policy, as well as similar programmes implemented in several other schools.

Perera also argues that expanding English-medium education would enhance the employability of Sri Lankan youth by equipping them with language skills required to access international employment opportunities.

The motion calls on the Government to make the promotion of English-medium secondary education a national priority and to provide the financial and institutional support necessary to ensure its implementation throughout the school system.