News
KOICA and AKOFE Donate Educational Equipment to Rural Schools in Sri Lanka
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), together with the Alumni Association of KOICA Fellows in Sri Lanka (AKOFE), organized donation ceremonies on August 31 and September 1, 2025, to support schools in Nuwara Eliya and Badulla Districts with essential educational
equipment.
The donations were made to Soragune Maha Vidyalaya in Haldummulla and Heewelkandura Maha Vidyalaya in Mawelagama, both of which serve students from Grade 1 to Grade 13, with 600 and 423 students respectively. The donations included computers, printers, sports items, shoes, and furniture, aiming to improve the learning environment and provide better opportunities for students in rural areas.
The event at Heewelkandura Maha Vidyalaya was especially meaningful, as parents and community members joined the ceremony. The program also featured the awarding of certificates to recent graduates who had advanced to university, symbolizing the school’s success in nurturing the next generation of leaders Speaking at the event, KOICA’s Country Director emphasized the importance of education, stating, “Education is the key to a country’s development. By investing in education, we can cultivate young leaders who will uphold the nation and shape its future.” School principals expressed their heartfelt gratitude to KOICA and AKOFE, highlighting that the donation will serve as a beacon of hope for students.
KOICA, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, is the Republic of Korea’s leading governmental organization responsible for
implementing grant aid programs and promoting sustainable development worldwide. Established in 1991, KOICA has maintained a country office in Sri Lanka since 1995. Over the past three decades,KOICA has supported Sri Lanka through diverse projects, expert and volunteer deployment, fellowship programs, and partnerships with ministries and local institutions. To date, more than 3,350 Sri Lankans have participated in KOICA’s fellowship and capacity-building programs, and on average around 130 government officials are invited to Korea each year through the CIAT Fellowship Program.
AKOFE, established in 1999, consists of Sri Lankan alumni who studied in Korea through KOICA fellowship programs. In line with KOICA’s
vision of “Leave no one behind,” AKOFE not only organizes charity events like this, but also hosts knowledge dissemination sessions for returning
fellows, ensuring that the benefits of training extend beyond individual capacity building to strengthening the capacities of Sri Lankan institutions
as well.
A specialists committee has been appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation adhering to the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers dated 29.12.2025 for submitting appropriate recommendations analyzing the provisions of the draft bill formulation in regard to Animal Welfare.
Based on the recommendations of the said Committee, the Legal Draftsman has been instructed at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 18.05.2026 to prepare the final bill on the animal welfare.
Wherefore, the Legal Draftsman has formulated the draft bill and the clearance of the Attorney General has been received in the connection.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to publish the said draft bill in the
Government Gazette Notification and subsequently forward the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Under the legal provisions for elections in this country since 2004, it is mandatory for voters who come to mark their votes to verify their identity through a valid identity card, and it is also mandatory for all such voters to be marked with an appropriate mark using indelible ink. The dual purpose of these two functions is to prevent a voter from voting more than once in a single election.
It has been observed that having to follow two different
methods at the same time to achieve the same objective hinders the efficiency of the duties performed at the polling stations and also incurs additional costs to the government.
Therefore, it has been deemed appropriate to remove the legal provisions regarding the use of indelible ink and marking the voter with the appropriate mark from all election acts.
Accordingly, the development activities of the province, as well as national security, will benefit. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the
President to take necessary steps to remove the legal provisions
• Section 36 of the presidential Election Act, No 15 of 1981
• Section 38 of the Parliamentary Election Act, No 01 of 1981
• Section 36 of the Provincial Council Election Act, No 02 of 1988
• Section 53 A of the Local Government Elections Ordinance (262 Authority)
• Section 21 of the Referendum Act No 7 of 1981
News
Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 24 JUNE 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 24 June 2026 by the Department of Meteorology
Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 2.00 p.m.
Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expectedat times over the Western slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Animal Welfare Draft Bill to be Gazetted
Legal provisions on marking voters using indelible ink during elections removed
Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
Court vacancy row throws Parliament into turmoil; sittings disrupted
Climate, pollution, forest loss now hitting economy: BASL chief
GSP+ in jeopardy: GL
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