Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya says that the present government is committed to safeguarding children’s education and developing the country’s education system.She said that the country is being steered towards an education policy integrated with new technology, the digital world and artificial intelligence.

The Prime Minister made these remarks yesterday (08) while participating in meetings with the Most Venerable Mahanayake Theras of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters of the Siam Nikaya, in connection with the proposed new education reforms.

Upon visiting the Malwatte Maha Vihara, the Prime Minister met the Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera, the Mahanayake of the Malwatte Chapter. She later visited the Asgiriya Maha Vihara, where she met the Most Venerable Warakagoda Gnanarathana Thera, the Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter, and explained the proposed education reforms.

She said that under the new education reforms, 106 textbooks for Grade Six haD already been printed, and that printing for the second and third school terms would be carried out in due course. She added that the government would intervene whenever weaknesses emerge within the education system and would take all possible steps to prevent shortcomings.

Pointing out that Sri Lanka’s school curriculum had not been updated for nearly 10 years, the Prime Minister said the government would adopt a flexible policy approach to rectifying existing deficiencies and provide children with a more reliable and credible education.

She said that as a new government that had taken responsibility for changing the prevailing political and social conditions, efforts were being made—despite challenges—to guide the education system towards a more dependable standard. She also noted that independent investigations were being conducted through several institutions into issues that arose during the textbook printing process.

Kandy District Members of Parliament Thanura Dissanayake and Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayasinghe, Kandy Mayor Chandrasiri Wijenayake, and several others were present on the occasion.

Text and pic By S.K. Samaranayake ✍️

The Annual Kelaniya Duruthu Perahera at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya which started yesterday is scheduled to continue today and tomorrow. The historical Kelaniya Duruthu Maha Perahera was first held in 1927 due largely to the efforts of philanthropist Don Walter Wijewardene, son of Helena Wijewardene Lamathani of Sedawatte.

This Perahera has evolved over the years to become the country’s most elaborate and grandest low country pageant in its category. Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya is the most sacred temple in the Western Province of Sri Lanka since the Buddha’s visit here during his P historic visit to Sri Lanka.

It celebrates this event annually in the “Duruthu Poya” during January by conducting a historic, traditional and cultural pageant, the “Kelani Perahera”. While the Kelani Perahera commemorates the religious significance of Lord Buddha’s visit.

The Perahera is organised under the guidance of Chief Priest of Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya, Venerable Professor Mahinda Sangarakkitta Nayaka Thera, and President of Dayaka Sabha, Dr. Saman Weerasinghe.

The Perahera will commence with the Chancellor of the Kelaniya University Agra Maha Panditha Ven Professor Kollupitiya Mahinda Sangharakkita Nayake Thera handing over the Sacred Relic Casket to Chief Basnayake Nilame Dhammika Attygalle. The sacred relic Perahera will be followed by three Devale Perahera’s of God Vibishana, God Kataragama and God Vishnu.

On 08th January, 2026, will be the Udamaluwe Perahera, 09th January will be the Sacred City Perahera, and 10th January will be the Grand Duruthu Maha Perahera. The Perahera will commence at 8.00 pm.

There will be a special enclosure for foreign tourists to view the Perahera.

Leader of the House and Minister of Transport Bimal Rathnayake yesterday told Parliament that the law enforcement authorities were now capable using mobile laboratories to detect up to 12 types of narcotic substances within three to four minutes.

Minister Rathnayake added that test results could be printed on the spot and issued directly to drivers.

He said stern legal action would be taken against all those who drove under the influece of alcohol or narcotics, and steps would be taken to provide the police with better facilities to tackle the problem of driving under the influece, one of the main causes of fatal road accidents.