
The Sabaragamuwa Province Program, implemented by the President’s Fund to felicitate students who achieved outstanding results at the district level in the 2023/2024 GCE Advanced Level Examination, was held this (23) morning at the Ratnapura District Secretariat Auditorium under the patronage of Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne.
A total of 360 students, 10 from each of the six subject streams from the Ratnapura and Kegalle districts, who achieved top results at the 2023 and 2024 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examinations, were each awarded a cash prize of Rs. 100,000 and a certificate of recognition. The President’s Fund allocated Rs. 36 million for this program.
Addressing the students, Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne emphasized that the utilization of state resources for the future development of the people is a fundamental responsibility of the government and noted that the President’s Fund is currently fulfilling this responsibility effectively. He further highlighted that the country needs a future generation equipped with knowledge, skills and strong values and expressed that the current government’s new education policies aim to cultivate such a generation.
Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, also addressed the students, highlighting that the current government, after navigating a challenging journey of broad societal transformation, has introduced an ambitious program of educational reforms. He emphasized that the effective implementation of these reforms will provide the nation’s children with a bright and promising future.
Sabaragamuwa Province Governor, Mrs. Champa Janaki Rajaratne and Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, also addressed the ceremony.
The event was attended by Senior Additional Secretary to the President and the Secretary of the President’s Fund Mr. Roshan Gamage, other senior officials of the President’s Fund, district secretaries, government officers, parents and the students.
Kuwait says a power and desalination plant has been hit by an Iranian attack.
Gulf countries continue to face retaliatory strikes on the 35th day, of the United States and Israel’s war on Iran.
Kuwaiti authorities said the plant was struck before midday local time on Friday. The extent of the damage is not yet known.
The attack came hours after the Mina al-Ahmadi oil refinery was targeted in early morning drone strikes. State news agency KUNA said the attack caused fires in a “number of operational units,” and no employees were injured.
Emergency and firefighting teams were sent with environmental experts monitoring air quality.
Al Jazeera’s Malik Traina, reporting from the capital, Kuwait City, said this was the third time the refinery’s been hit and that people across the country are on “high alert”.
“It’s one of the biggest refineries in the Middle East and it is also critical for local consumption,” he said.
Kuwait “is the closest country to Iran – just 80 kilometres separates Kuwait from Iran’s coastlines, so it’s perhaps the most easily targeted from these attacks from Iran,” he added.
In an early post on X, KUNA warned that “hostile missile and drone attacks” on Kuwait were under way. Sirens sounded during midair explosions as interceptions of Iranian missiles were heard across the country, the agency reported.
Kuwait and much of the Gulf are highly dependent on desalinated water. An Indian national was killed on March 30 after a Kuwaiti power and desalination plant was hit. Iran denied claims it launched the attacks and blamed Israel.
Elsewhere, the United Arab Emirates’ defence ministry said the country was battling a new wave of suspected Iranian missile and drone attacks.
[Aljazeera]
The Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Panel has named a 15-member squad for the upcoming Tri- Series tour of Australia, which will also feature England.
During the tour, the team will play a total of six matches, comprising two One Day and four T20 games, scheduled for the 7th, 8th, 12th, 13th, 17th, and 18th of April.
The squad is scheduled to depart for Australia today [3rd April 2026.]
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced the following appointments to the National High Performance Center:
Ryan van Niekerk, who served as the bowling coach and interim head coach of the Netherlands national team from 2023 to 2026, was appointed as the national bowling coach of Sri Lanka Cricket.
In this role, he will oversee fast bowling across all national teams, including the national men’s team.
Before taking over the interim role, he worked as the assistant coach and bowling coach of the Netherlands national men’s team.
During his stint with the Netherlands team, Ryan has contributed to the team’s participation in major international tournaments such as the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, and ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
He was appointed for a two-year tenure, commencing on 15th April 2026.
Jordan Gregory, who has worked as a fielding consultant for Netherlands Cricket, was appointed as the national fielding and spin bowling coach.
He will be responsible for overseeing fielding and spin bowling across all national teams at the High Performance Center, including the national men’s team.
During his time with Netherlands Cricket, Gregory has contributed to several bilateral and multinational tournaments, including the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2023.
Jordan will begin his two-year tenure on 15th April 2026.
A World Order in Crisis: War, Power, and Resistance
Tariff shock from 01 April as power costs climb across the board
Minister Jayakody indicted in Colombo High Court over alleged corruption
Inquiry into female employee’s complaint: Retired HC Judge’s recommendations ignored
Police look for male partner of Chinese woman found stabbed to death at an apartment in Kohuwala
New arithmetic of conflict: How the drone revolution is inverting economics of war
2025 GCE AL: 62% qualify for Uni entrance; results of 111 suspended
Hour of reckoning comes for SL’s power sector