News
National initiative to fight breast cancer kicks off from Kilinochchi
Lives of three Lankan women claimed by the disease each day
Over 1,000 participants took part in Sri Lanka’s first-ever nationwide TLC Triathlon, an initiative to fight breast cancer through awareness and early detection. The event was held in Kilinochchi on 05 October.
This unprecedented gathering, unlike anything Kilinochchi has ever seen, brought together students, teachers, families, and community members – all carrying one message home: Every woman above the age of 20 must perform a self-breast examination once a month.
The event was graced by Northern Province Governor Nagalingam Vedhanayagam, Government Agent S. Muralitharan, Regional Director of Health Services Dr Asela Dissanayake, and a wide array of dignitaries, including senior police officials, civil society leaders, and political representatives. Their presence underlined the importance of this collective fight against breast cancer – a disease that claims the lives of three Sri Lankan women every single day.
The TLC Triathlon – symbolising Touch · look · check – is designed as an accessible relay event with short distances: 250m swim, 6km cycle, and 3km run/walk. Teams of three participated with energy, determination, and solidarity, each dressed in pink T-shirts and receiving medals of participation to carry the message back into their homes, schools, and villages.
Speaking at the event, organisers emphasised:
An organiser addressing the gathering
“This is not about medals or times. This is about our mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters. If even one life is saved because someone went home and reminded a loved one to examine herself, this triathlon has achieved its purpose.”
The Kilinochchi leg marks the beginning of a historic month-long campaign, spanning all four corners of Sri Lanka:
12th October – Batticaloa (East)
19th October – Matara (South)
26th October – Colombo (West)
Organised by the Indira Cancer Trust, together with Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA), in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the National Cancer Control Programme, professional medical colleges, and community partners, including Rotary, Lions, Red Cross, Scouts, and Girl Guides, the TLC Triathlon is the largest breast cancer awareness initiative ever attempted in the country.
The event also highlighted the legacy of the Indira Cancer Trust, established in memory of Indira Jayasuriya, by her father, former Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya, after her courageous battle with breast cancer.
With immense community participation, heartfelt support from dignitaries, and the powerful visual of Kilinochchi turning pink, the message is clear: Sri Lanka is united in the fight against breast cancer.
For more details: www.indiracancertrust.org
News
Cabinet nod to appoint Mrs. Tharani Kumaradasa to the Post of Commissioner of Cooperative Development / Cooperative Society Registrar
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal
furnished by the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development to appoint Mrs. Tharani Kumaradasa, a Grade I officer in Sri Lanka Administrative Service, serving in a post of Senior Assistant Secretary at the Ministry of Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development to the post of Commissioner of Cooperative Development / Cooperative Society Registrar
News
Cabinet nod to hold 28th joint Asia Pacific Regional Social Workshop from 18-21 November in Sri Lanka
It has been planned to conduct the 28th Joint Asia-Pacific Regional Social Workshop from 18th November 2025 to 21st November 2025 in Sri Lanka, and 13 local representatives and 104 foreign representatives from 30 countries will participate in the said summit.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security,
and Community Empowerment to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Social Development Institute and the Society of Professionals engaged in Sri Lankan social services to conduct the aforementioned workshop in Sri Lanka and obtain the necessary institutional support to
conduct the said summit.
As per the current national policy of the government to make public transport in Sri Lanka efficient and streamlined, the necessity of establishing multi-modal transport hubs with required facilities has been identified to enable efficient public transport services to be initiated from transit cities and main cities through the interconnection between transport modes.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved in principle the proposal presented by the Acting Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development to develop the following multi-modal transport hubs on a priority basis, with the objective of upgrading the interconnection of transport modes such as buses, trains, and taxi services by integrating bus stands and railway stations identified as having a growing passenger circulation on the island, subject to a formal feasibility study.
• Kandy Multimodal Transport Hub (Construction work has already been started under world bank financing)
• Anuradhapura (South) Multimodal Transport Hub (Constructions are about to be completed under the Anuradhapura combined urban development project)
• Anuradhapura (North) Multimodal Transport Hub (feasibility study has been performed and preliminary work completed)
• Multimodal Transport Hub centered around the Fort Railway Station (as proposed by the ComTrans Master Plan, which has been prepared for urban transport in Colombo and suburbs)
• Moratuwa Multimodal Transport Center (proposed by the ComTrans Master Plan)
• Ragama Multimodal Transport Center ( identified through a study conducted by the Japan International Coorperation Agency)
• Avissawella, Galle, Katunayake, Kurunegala Multimodal Transport Centers (identified according to the urban plans of the Urban Development Authority)
• Gampaha Multimodal Transport Center ((identified according to the urban plans of the Urban Development Authority and railway electrification of the Colombo Suburban Railway Project)
• Katunayake Multimodal Transport Hub (identified under the Airport Development Plan)
• Kaluthara Multimodal Transport Center (identified as a proposal of the District coordination Committee)
• Kankasanthure Multimodal Transport Center(identified according to the urban plans of the Urban Development Authority)
Salman Agha 105*, Hussain Talat half-century set Sri Lanka 300
Suicide bombing in Islamabad kills 12, says Pakistan’s interior minister
Israel parliament passes first reading of death penalty for ‘terrorism’ law
Cabinet nod to appoint Mrs. Tharani Kumaradasa to the Post of Commissioner of Cooperative Development / Cooperative Society Registrar
Cabinet nod to hold 28th joint Asia Pacific Regional Social Workshop from 18-21 November in Sri Lanka
Establishment of multi-modal transport hubs
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