News
Shared past will help us to build a common future – Dutch Minister
Dutch State Secretary for Culture and Media Gunay Uslu said Sri Lanka and the Netherlands have a shared past and it will help to build together a common future with close cooperation in the fields of museums, collection management, research and exchange of knowledge and expertise.
She said this when she called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple trees yesterday (Aug 29). On august 28, the visiting Dutch Minister and Cultural Minister Vidura Wickremanayake signed a Transfer Acknowledge Agreement to transfer valuable artefacts taken from Sri Lanka during the Dutch rule two and a half centuries ago. The objects include the famous cannon of freedom fighter Lewke Disawe, two gold kastanes (ceremonial swords), Sinhalese knives, silver kastane, and two guns.
The Prime Minister thanked the visiting Minister Gunay Uslu for the return of artefacts and said the two countries should undertake collaboration on research on Dutch architecture, canal system, forts and other monuments for prosperity.
Referring to the cannon of Lewke Disawe, the Prime Minister said that he was happy that Sri Lanka will get back this valuable treasure and told the Dutch delegation that Lewke was a place close to his hometown Sithawaka and the entire country pays homage to the National Hero Lewke Disawa.
Minister Gunay Uslu said a grant will be extended by the Netherlands to facilitate the work undertaken by the Ministry of Culture and the Department of National Museums to preserve the artefacts in a newly renovated chamber at the National Museum.
She presented an ancient map of Ceylon by Baltus Jaquaez Van Lier drawn in 1751 to Prime Minister Gunawardena.
Ambassador of the Netherlands Bonnie Horbach, Director General, Culture and Media in the Netherlands Barbera Wolfensberger, Chairperson, Dutch Colonial Collections Committee Lilian Gonçalves-Ho Kang You and Committee Member Dr. Alicia Schrikker, MP Yadamini Gunawardena and Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake were also present on the occasion.
Latest News
IMF Executive Board approves US$206 Million in Emergency Financial Support for Sri Lanka
The IMF Executive Board approved emergency financing under the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI), providing Sri Lanka with immediate access to SDR 150.5 million (about US$206 million,
equivalent to 26 percent of quota) to help Sri Lanka address the urgent needs arising from the catastrophic Cyclone Ditwah and preserve macroeconomic stability.
In response to severe weather impacts, the Sri Lanka Navy conducted a diving and technical assistance operation on Friday (19 Dec 25) to clear major debris obstructing vital infrastructure.
Heavy rainfall caused a significant rise in the water level of the Mahaweli River, washed large quantities of debris, including logs and bamboo, downstream. These remain lodged in the Diyakapanathota in Gatambe, Peradeniya and Lewella bridges, obstructing the smooth flow of water.
Acting promptly upon request, a Navy diving team executed a coordinated operation in collaboration with the Road Development Authority. The team removed the accumulated debris, restoring normal water flow through the bridges.
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Landslide early warnings issued to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya extended till 8AM on Sunday (21)
The Landslide Early Warning Centre of the National Building Research Organization (NBRO) has extended the Landslide Early Warning issued to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya till 08:00AM on Sunday (21st December 2025)
The LEVEL III RED landslide early warnings issued to the Divisional Secetaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Medadumbara, Doluwa, Ududumbara and Minipe in the Kandy district, and Nildandahinna, Hanguranketha, Mathurata and
Walapane have been extended.
LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have also been issued to the Divisional Secetaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Soranathota, Hali_Ela, Passara, Meegahakivula, Badulla, Lunugala and Kandeketiya in the Badulla district, Thumpane, Harispattuwa, Udapalatha, Kundasale, Akurana, Poojapitiya, Udunuwara, Pathadumbara, Pasbage Korale, Gangawata Korale, Hatharaliyadda, Yatinuwara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Panvila, Pathahewaheta and Deltota in the Kandy district, Rideegama in the Kurunegala district, Ukuwela, Naula, Matale, Ambanganga Korale, Rattota, Pallepola, Wilgamuwa, Yatawatta and Laggala Pallegama in the Matale district, and Nuwara-Eliya in the Nuwara-Eliya district.
LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secetaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Welimada, Haputhale, Haldummulla, Ella and
Bandarawela in the Badulla district, Alawwa, Mallawapitiya,
Polgahawela and Mawathagama in the Kurunegala district, and Kothmale East, Ambagamuwa Korale, Kothmale West, Thalawakele and Norwood in the Nuwara-Eliya district.
IMF Executive Board approves US$206 Million in Emergency Financial Support for Sri Lanka
Navy clears major bridge obstructions in Peradeniya and Lewella
Landslide early warnings issued to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya extended till 8AM on Sunday (21)
Trump says US launched large-scale attacks on ISIL in Syria
Showers will occur in the Eastern, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva and Central provinces and in Polonnaruwa district
PM says govt. will introduce a new Constitution to abolish executive presidency
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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