News
NPC: Prioritise justice and reconciliation following election victory
The National Peace Council (NPC) has congratulated President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the National People’s Power (NPP) on their election victory. This overwhelming mandate reflects the trust placed in the president and his party to lead the country towards economic development, justice, and reconciliation, the NPC has said.
“The broad-based support for the government, spanning all regions of the country—including areas predominantly inhabited by ethnic and religious minorities—demonstrates a significant step towards national unity. The NPC recognizes this as an indication that the trust in the president’s leadership has bridged ethnic and religious divides. In light of this unprecedented goodwill, the NPC calls on the government to prioritize resolving the country’s long standing ethnic conflict.
“We believe that a true national perspective has been reached by the NPP and it is essential that this aspect is strengthened by resolving outstanding issues as early as possible. These include issues pertaining to return of land to the people who owned it, the sharing and devolution of powers, demilitarisation of the northern and eastern provinces and missing and imprisoned persons, among others.
“As the government embarks on a new chapter in the country’s history, the NPC wishes it success in addressing the country’s economic challenges and fostering justice, reconciliation, and peace for all its citizens. A sustainable political solution will require the participation of civil society, the consent of all communities and collaboration with opposition parties. Such a solution, with broad-based support, will ensure lasting peace and reconciliation for generations to come.
“The National Peace Council is an independent and non partisan organization that works towards a negotiated political solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. It has a vision of a peaceful and prosperous Sri Lanka in which the freedom, human rights and democratic rights of all the communities are respected. The policy of the National Peace Council is determined by its Governing Council of 20 members who are drawn from diverse walks of life and belong to all the main ethnic and religious communities in the 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.
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