In accordance with the guidance of the Most Venerable Mahanayake Theros and the All Ceylon Shasanarakshaka Mandalaya, it has been identified as appropriate to conduct the State Vesak Festival for the year 2026 (Buddhist Era 2570) at the historic Medillawala Purana Viharaya in Thihagoda, Matara District, with the collaboration of the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, and the Department of Buddhist Affairs.

It has been decided to conduct this year’s State Vesak Festival under the theme “Abhiththaretha Kalyane” (“Let us
hasten towards the common good”). Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the joint resolution furnished by the Hon. Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government and the. Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs to: conduct the National Vesak Festival
centering the Medillawala Purana Viharaya in Thihagoda, Matara District; to declare the period from 27 May to 02 June 2026 as Vesak Week; and organize and implement various Buddhist religious programmes across the island during that period.

With the objective of promoting the tourism industry in Sri Lanka, approval was granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 21-07-2025 to implement a programme to issue free tourist visas, for a period of six months, without charging fees, to passport holders of 39 selected countries.

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the  Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs to submit, for the concurrence of the Parliament, the draft regulations prepared by the Legal Draftsman for the issuance
of free tourist visas in terms of the provisions of the Immigrants and Emigrants Act.

In terms of a proposal presented in the 2025 Budget, approval was granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 18-08-2025 to implement the ‘programme to provide financial assistance for securing housing facilities for low-income couples transitioning from institutional care to society’.

Through the 2026 Budget proposals, the said programme has been further strengthened by allocating a sum of LKR 2,000 million to provide financial assistance of up to LKR 2 million per beneficiary who have resided in child development centres at any stage of their lives and have subsequently reintegrated into society, as well as for families with children at risk for purchasing land, purchasing land and constructing a house, constructing a house on owned land, purchasing a house, or renovating an existing house.

Accordingly, based on the formulated eligibility criteria and the
mechanism for disbursement of financial assistance, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Women and Child Affairs to provide such financial assistance to the following beneficiary groups:
• Individuals below 45 years of age who have left institutional care upon reaching 18 years of age or earlier, and who do not have access to a stable and secure residence.
• Families with children who are in vulnerable and at-risk situations due to the lack of a proper family background or stable livelihood, resulting in the absence of adequate housing or living in unsafe housing conditions.
• Children aged between 16 and 18 years who are currently under institutional care, and young persons over 18 years of age who continue to remain in child development centres due to their inability to reintegrate into society