News
MJF and Australian Foundations funding free ambulance service for cancer patients
The Merrill J. Fernando (MJF) Charitable Foundation has reaffirmed its commitment to community well-being through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Cyril Dharmawardana Foundation (CDF). This MoU is to sponsor the operational costs of three non-emergency patient transport ambulances dedicated to cancer care in Sri Lanka, an MJF news release said.
These ambulances will serve communities across key regions of the island, spanning from Mullaitivu to Jaffna in the North, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa in the North Central Province and from Weligama through Yala up to Badulla in the Southern and Uva regions. The service ensures that cancer patients can travel safely and comfortably to the nearest hospitals, including the National Cancer Hospital in Maharagama, entirely free of charge, regardless of distance or circumstance.
The Cyril Dharmawardana Foundation, an Australian-based non-profit organisation, operates one of the largest ambulance fleets in Sri Lanka dedicated to cancer patient transport. In collaboration with the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, the Cyril Dharmawardana Foundation focuses on supporting terminally ill patients by providing reliable, compassionate transport between hospitals and homes throughout their treatment journey. With continued donor support such as from Dilmah, the CDF aims to expand its reach to serve more communities in need.
This partnership represents another meaningful milestone in the MJF Charitable Foundation’s ongoing efforts in cancer patient care and advocacy. In Sri Lanka, the MJF Foundation is supporting the government’s national effort to end cervical cancer by donating test kits to help early detection and improve survival rates for women. A separate floor was built at Suwa Arana, Sri Lanka’s first paediatric palliative care centre, by the MJF Foundation. In Australia, from July 2025, Dilmah has joined hands to support Cancer Council Australia in a five-year partnership, the release said.
Dilmah Chairman & CEO Dilhan C. Fernando said, “Forty years ago, my father envisaged a business that serves humanity with kindness to people and nature. Today we strive to offer cups of kindness through our Dilmah tea.”
Rooted in Dilmah’s philosophy of kindness, the CDF sponsorship initiative reflects the belief that business success must be shared to uplift lives and communities. By enabling equitable access to essential healthcare services, Dilmah continues to demonstrate that purpose-driven enterprise can create a lasting, positive impact, transforming lives with compassion and integrity.
Latest News
Sun directly overhead Mannar, Periyamadu, Puliyankulam, Welioya and Pulmoddai about 12.11 noon today (30)
The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.
The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (30) are Mannar, Periyamadu, Puliyankulam, Welioya and
Pulmoddai about 12.11 noon.
(AFP) Sri Lanka’s maritime authorities were monitoring a fleet of 11 US-sanctioned Iranian oil tankers just off the island’s southern coast, the foreign minister said Wednesday.
The tankers were spotted close to the Galle harbour where an Iranian frigate, IRIS Dena, was sunk by a US submarine in March, killing 104 sailors. Sri Lanka’s navy rescued 32 Iranian sailors from that frigate.
Iranian vessels have been in limbo, unable to return to their home port because of a US blockade.
Sri Lanka’s Foreign minister Vijitha Herath said the tankers were in international waters where they had freedom of navigation.
“These ships are away from our territorial waters… we have no hold on them, nor have we facilitated them,” Herath told AFP.
The military deployed reconnaissance aircraft and patrol boats to monitor the vessels outside Sri Lanka’s 12-nautical-mile territorial waters, a military official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
“There is no indication of any ship-to-ship transfer of oil or illegal discharge of pollutants, so there is no basis for Sri Lankan authorities to take action against them,” the official said.
Many Iranian merchant vessels moved east towards the Strait of Malacca and Singapore due to US sanctions, while several remained near Sri Lankan waters, authorities said.
Sri Lankan officials said Washington had not formally notified Colombo about sanctioned Iranian-flagged vessels
Parliament is to debate next Wednesday the Government’s proposal to abolish the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), with the Second Reading of the Chief of Defence Staff (Repeal) Bill scheduled for September 9.
The Bill seeks to repeal the Chief of Defence Staff Act No. 35 of 2009, which was introduced shortly after the end of the armed conflict.
According to Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera, Parliament will meet from September 8 to 11, with the business for the week approved by the Committee on Parliamentary Business chaired by Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne.
The debate on the Chief of Defence Staff (Repeal) Bill is scheduled to take place from 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, following questions to the Prime Minister and other parliamentary business.
The CDS post was established under the 2009 Act as part of the country’s higher defence command structure.
On Tuesday, September 8, the House will consider two Orders published in Extraordinary Gazettes under the Motor Traffic Act from 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m., followed by an Opposition motion at the adjournment.
On Thursday, September 10, Parliament will debate a Resolution under the Women’s Empowerment Act.
The final sitting day of the week, Friday, September 11, has been allocated from 11.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. for several Private Members’ Motions.
The motions will cover issues including regulation of the petroleum, fuel and water industries, measures to increase the birth rate, protection of the Diyagama Forest, pension deductions affecting Pirivena teachers, food-crop cultivation in mountainous areas, development of the Kithul industry and the establishment of a Faculty of Medicine at South Eastern University.
Questions at the adjournment will be taken up at the end of each sitting day.
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Showers in the Sabaragamuwa, Western and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
Sun directly overhead Mannar, Periyamadu, Puliyankulam, Welioya and Pulmoddai about 12.11 noon today (30)
Lanka tracks 11 US-sanctioned Iranian tankers off coast
House to debate abolition of Chief of Defence Staff post
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