News
Indonesian aid for needy Sri Lankan families
On August 17, 2022, the Indonesian Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Dewi Gustina Tobing, handed over a donation package worth LKR 2.5 million to the Sri Lanka in need after the flag-hoisting ceremony commemorating the 77th Indonesian Independence Day, which took place in the Indonesian Embassy courtyard in Colombo.
The event, which took place at 9.20 am, was attended by the Indonesian Community reside in Sri Lanka, representatives of the Sri Lanka Indonesia Friendship Association (SLIFA), Sri Lanka Malay Association (SLMA), religious representatives and other guests. In addition, other Indonesians in Sri Lanka and the Maldives who could not attend in person were also joined through online.The flag-hoisting ceremony was led by Major Achmad Febryanto, an Indonesian military officer currently studying at the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) in Sri Lanka, while the flag-raising personnel are Dita Setiawan, Nisa Nurfitriani and Zakat Siregar.
After the flag-hoisting ceremony, Ambassador Dewi Gustina Tobing, in her remarks thanked the Indonesian people in Sri Lanka that attended the ceremony. Ambassador Dewi also expressed high appreciation to representatives of the Sri Lankan community that attend the event. “August 2022 is a special month for Indonesia considering that there are two important events, namely the 77th Anniversary of Independence Day of Indonesia and the 70th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Indonesia and Sri Lanka,” said Ambassador Dewi.
“Today, we handed over a donation package, consisting of various types of food, as a form of solidarity and friendship,” said Ambassador Dewi. The fund of the donation was collected from the Indonesian community in Sri Lanka and the Maldives as well as from the Indonesian community in Western Australia, of where the Ambassador was posted earlier.
Ambassador Dewi Tobing symbolically handed over the donation to the representatives of religions organization in Sri Lanka, i.e. to the Venerable Watinapaha, the Director of Education of State Ministry of Dhamma Schools, Parivenas and Bhikku Education; Ramachandra Kurukkal Babu Sharma, the Secretary of International Hindu Religious Federation; Reverend Father Anura Perera, Director of Department of Social Responsibility Methodist Church; and to the Muslim community represented by Rilwan Careem the General Secretary of Malay Association.
Ambassador Dewi further said that in the context of 70 years of diplomatic relations Indonesia-Sri Lanka and the 30th Anniversary of SLIFA, the Indonesian Embassy in Colombo and SLIFA is organizing a charitable bazaar in October 2022 in helping Sri Lankan in need. “In April 2022, Indonesia has provided humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka in the form of medicines and medical equipment worth US$ $ 1.6 million”, said Ambassador Dewi.
The flag-hoisting ceremony, complemented by the cutting of Nasi Tumpeng (the cone-shaped rice dish), as the Indonesian traditional symbolizing of gratitude. Ambassador and the Indonesian community also song Indonesian patriotic songs to show respect and dedication to their beloved country.
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
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AKD: Govt. agenda on track despite Ditwah disaster
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