News
Mid-Autumn poetry gathering held in SL
COLOMBO, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) —
“A Moonment to Remember” Mid-Autumn Poetry Gathering and the 10th Anniversary Celebration of China Cultural Center in Sri Lanka were held in Colombo on Monday.
The event was attended by more than 200 people, including the Sri Lankan Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong, Counselor Jin Qian, as well as envoys from various countries to Sri Lanka and overseas Chinese in the country.
Abeywardena said the Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important traditional festivals in China, and the Sri Lankan Poya Day (full-moon day) is also important in the country’s culture and people’s lives. Such cultural integration reminds us of the traditional friendship between the two countries, and the celebration is also an inheritance of this friendship, he said.
Qi said the moon carries the aspirations and hopes of both the Chinese and Sri Lankan people for a better life. It connects us and draws our hearts closer, building a bridge of cultural understanding between our two nations. This evening’s activity conveys the heartfelt wishes for reunion, allowing us to experience the resonance of our hearts during the warm and festive occasion, said the ambassador.
During the event, students from Sri Lanka Lumbini Confucius Classroom recited classic Chinese poems. Folk songs were also played by Chinese intangible cultural heritage music instruments, showing Mid-Autumn Festival culture and the exchange and mutual learning between Chinese and Sri Lankan civilizations.
The Exhibition of 10 Years’ Journey of China Cultural Center in Sri Lanka was held simultaneously on site, reviewing more than 300 activities the center has promoted in the past 10 years for cultural and tourism exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.
The Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) has contributed LKR 25 million to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund.
The cheque was handed over to the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake by the Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange, Dimuthu Abeyesekera, the Chief Executive Officer Rajeeva Bandaranaike and Senior Vice Chairman Kusal Nissanka at the Presidential Secretariat.
News
Karu argues against scrapping MPs’ pension as many less fortunate members entered Parliament after ’56
Former Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressing concerns over the proposed abolition of MPs’ pensions.The letter was sent in his capacity as Patron of the Former Parliamentarians’ Caucus.
In his letter, Jayasuriya noted that at the time of Sri Lanka’s independence, political participation was largely limited to an educated, affluent land-owning elite. However, he said a significant social transformation took place after 1956, enabling ordinary citizens to enter politics.
He warned that under current conditions, removing parliamentary pensions would effectively confine politics to the wealthy, business interests, individuals engaged in illicit income-generating activities, and well-funded political parties. Such a move, he said, would discourage honest social workers and individuals of modest means from entering public life.
Jayasuriya also pointed out that while a small number of former MPs, including himself, use their pensions for social and charitable purposes, the majority rely on the pension as a primary source of income.
He urged the President to give due consideration to the matter and take appropriate action, particularly as the government prepares to draft a new constitution.The Bill seeking to abolish pensions for Members of Parliament was presented to Parliament on 07 January by Minister of Justice and National Integration Dr. Harshana Nanayakkara.
Five suspects, including former Minister Johnston Fernando and his two sons, who were arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), were further remanded until 30 January by the Wattala Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
The former Minister’s , sons Johan Fernando and Jerome Kenneth Fernando, and two others, were arrested in connection with the alleged misuse of a Sathosa vehicle during Fernando’s tenure as Minister.
Investigations are currently underway into the alleged misuse of state property, including a lorry belonging to Lanka Sathosa, which reportedly caused a significant financial loss to the state.
In connection with the same incident, Indika Ratnamalala, who served as the Transport Manager of Sathosa during
Fernando’s tenure as Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade, was arrested on 04 January.
After being produced before the Wattala Magistrate’s Court, he was ordered to be remanded in custody until 09 January.The former Sathosa Transport Manager was remanded on charges of falsifying documents.
T20 World Cup 2026: ICC replace Bangladesh with Scotland
Indonesia landslide kills 7, dozens more missing
Ukraine condemns ‘brutal’ Russian strikes ahead of second day of peace talks
Sri Lanka bat first in second ODI
Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) donates LKR 25 million to the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” Fund
Tanzid Hasan’s ton, Binura Fernando’s four-for power Rajshahi Warriors to BPL title
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Editorial7 days agoIllusory rule of law
-
Features7 days agoDaydreams on a winter’s day
-
Features7 days agoSurprise move of both the Minister and myself from Agriculture to Education
-
Features6 days agoExtended mind thesis:A Buddhist perspective
-
Features7 days agoThe Story of Furniture in Sri Lanka
-
Opinion5 days agoAmerican rulers’ hatred for Venezuela and its leaders
-
Features7 days agoWriting a Sunday Column for the Island in the Sun
-
Business3 days agoCORALL Conservation Trust Fund – a historic first for SL