News

PM briefs Maha Nayake Theras on education reforms

Published

2 weeks ago

2026/01/9

Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya speaking to the media at the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy yesterday

Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya says that the present government is committed to safeguarding children’s education and developing the country’s education system.She said that the country is being steered towards an education policy integrated with new technology, the digital world and artificial intelligence.

The Prime Minister made these remarks yesterday (08) while participating in meetings with the Most Venerable Mahanayake Theras of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters of the Siam Nikaya, in connection with the proposed new education reforms.

Upon visiting the Malwatte Maha Vihara, the Prime Minister met the Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera, the Mahanayake of the Malwatte Chapter. She later visited the Asgiriya Maha Vihara, where she met the Most Venerable Warakagoda Gnanarathana Thera, the Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter, and explained the proposed education reforms.

She said that under the new education reforms, 106 textbooks for Grade Six haD already been printed, and that printing for the second and third school terms would be carried out in due course. She added that the government would intervene whenever weaknesses emerge within the education system and would take all possible steps to prevent shortcomings.

Pointing out that Sri Lanka’s school curriculum had not been updated for nearly 10 years, the Prime Minister said the government would adopt a flexible policy approach to rectifying existing deficiencies and provide children with a more reliable and credible education.

She said that as a new government that had taken responsibility for changing the prevailing political and social conditions, efforts were being made—despite challenges—to guide the education system towards a more dependable standard. She also noted that independent investigations were being conducted through several institutions into issues that arose during the textbook printing process.

Kandy District Members of Parliament Thanura Dissanayake and Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayasinghe, Kandy Mayor Chandrasiri Wijenayake, and several others were present on the occasion.

Text and pic By S.K. Samaranayake ✍️

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Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) donates LKR 25 million to the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” Fund

Published

12 hours ago

2026/01/24

Priyan

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

Published

20 hours ago

2026/01/24

Thilina Walpola

Karu Jayasuriya

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.

News

Johnston, two sons and two others further remanded over alleged misuse of vehicle

Published

20 hours ago

2026/01/24

Thilina Walpola

Former Minister Johnston Fernando and others being escorted out of the Wattala Magistrate Court premises yesterday

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.