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India-Sri Lanka online workshop to mark Binara Poya Day

The Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC), High Commission of India, organized an online workshop titled ‘Buddhist Heritage Management and Conservation: From Mountains to Oceans’ to mark Binara Full Moon Poya day on August 31.
Six internationally renowned scholars from Sri Lanka and India, working in the fields of art, architecture, archaeology, and heritage management delivered lectures at the workshop.
To coincide with the event, the Consulate General of India in Hambantota organized a photo exhibition, ‘India through Sri Lankan eyes’ at Hiththatiya Raja Maha Viharaya, Matara, on September 1. The exhibition displayed photographs of famous Buddhist temples in India (Dambadiva).
The Sri Lankan and Indian scholars participating in the online workshop, discussed the significance of Buddhist Heritage of Sri Lanka and India and emphasized on the need to conserve and manage them as a cultural legacy of the world.
The scholars stressed on the need for a holistic approach towards heritage management, involving religious institutions, such as the Sangha, the academia, and the state.
They also discussed the contemporary context of preservation of Buddhist Heritage, and used case studies to elucidate strategies that could be adopted to address the challenges in this regard.
The workshop highlighted the role of scientific studies done by archaeological bodies such as the Archaeological Survey of India, and stressed upon the need to involve the local community in heritage management and conservation, as successfully done in Ladakh.
The scholars from Sri Lanka, who participated in the workshop included Prof. Indrika Rajapaksha, Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, Senior Prof. Anura Manathunga, Director of the Centre for Heritage Studies, University of Kelaniya and Dr. Nilan Cooray, chartered architect and heritage conservationist with more than 30 years experience in managing and conserving cultural heritage in South Asia, particularly Sri Lanka and India, as well as in South East Asia and Africa.
The panelists from India were Dr. Sonam Wangchok, Founder, Himalaya Cultural Heritage Foundation, Ladakh, Dr. Tejas Garge, Director of the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Maharashtra, and Sanjay Dhar, a well-known wall painting conservator and heritage manager from Delhi.
Dr. Rewant Vikram Singh, Director, Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, Colombo, delivered the welcome remarks and moderated the workshop which was webcast live on the Facebook page of Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, Colombo.
The event was organized as a part of the series of initiatives undertaken by the High Commission of India to strengthen the age-old cultural and spiritual ties between India and Sri Lanka.
Earlier, in June 2020, the High Commission of India marked Poson Poya by creating ‘Poson Pavura’ – an art exhibition by Sri Lankan artists on the walls of the High Commission of India premises. In July, 2020, the High Commission of India commemorated Esala Poya by organizing an online interaction between Buddhist scholars from Sri Lanka and India. The topic of the interaction was “Dhamma for Global Well-Being” with special reference to Lord Buddha’s message of “Sabbe Satta Bhavantu Sukhitatta” – may all beings be happy, may all beings be free from suffering.
On August 2, 2020, the High Commission of India marked Nikini Poya by organizing a workshop for children on ‘Mindfulness in Everyday Life’.
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Cabinet nod to obtain additional financial facilities from the world Bank for the General Education Modernization Project (GEM)

The Education Modernization Project (GEM) has been implemented since 2018 with funding of US$ 100 million supplied by the World Bank.
All the project components identified under this project have been implemented and have achieved the expected results. It has been observed that there is the ability to obtain an additional financial facility of US$ 50 million from the funds remaining in other projects to implement several components identified under this project. These additional funds are expected to improve the digital infrastructure of the school relevant to the new educational reforms scheduled for implementation in 2026, enhance the sanitary facilities of the selected 900 schools across all provinces, appraise reformed subjects, and implement professional development programs for teachers.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Prime Minister in her capacity as the Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education to reach a consensus with the World Bank to obtain the proposed additional financing.
News
Committee to monitor utilization of Rs 5000/- allowance provided for children at Child development centres

Institutional care is provided to children who have lost both their parents or guardians or are under the guardianship of one or both parents but there is no protection or security in the homes they are living in, as well as to orphaned and abandoned children in detention centers or child development centers.
It has been reported that there are about 9,191 children in the residential care of 356 children Development Centers that are maintained by the government, voluntary organizations, and non-governmental organizations throughout the country as at the end of 2024.
A provision of Rs. 1,000 million has been allocated by the budget for 2025 to provide a Rs. 5,000 /-allowance monthly for the children or street children who are in institutional care or guardianship.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Women and Child Affairs to appoint a monitoring committee chaired by the Secretary to the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, comprising officers from other relevant institutions for the necessary guidance and post-review activities to continue this program sustainably and effectively, and to provide the aforementioned allowance in the following manner.
• Out of the Rs. 5,000 allowance, Rs. 3,000/- will be made available through the National Savings Bank to the development center where the child is or the guardian, for the education, health, and other welfare expenses that should be provided by them through the National Savings Bank.
• The balance amount of Rs. 2000/- should be deposited monthly in a savings account in the child’s name at the National Savings Bank for his / her future well-being.
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Cabinet gives green light to formulate a national policy for the rehabilitation of child offenders

The primary objective of the child rehabilitation process is to identify the disruptive behaviour of a child who becomes a criminal before the law and to enable him or her to live as a law-abiding citizen in society.
Accordingly, when taking action against a child who has become a criminal before the law, mediation, admonition and release, conditional release, probation for child offenders who can be rehabilitated in the open environment, rehabilitation under Community Correctional Service, and detention in correctional
centers are carried out depending on the nature of the offense.
It has been identified that the economic and social background of children who become criminals before the law and family background should be studied, and the rehabilitation of such children should be carried out in accordance with the accepted national policy.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Women and Child Affairs to draft “The national policy for the rehabilitation of child offenders” with the contribution of the government, other stake holders, and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
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