The Parliamentary Committee on High Posts has approved the nominations of four Heads of Mission to Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and Kenya.

The Committee granted approval for the appointment of Horana Mahawatte Gedara Saman Kumar Chandrasiri as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Israel.

The nomination of Mohamed Farook Mohamed Fawzer as Sri Lanka’s Representative to Palestine also received the Committee’s consent.

Warnakulasuriya Peter Rohan Dhammika Fernando was approved as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Kenya, while Anura Withanage secured approval as Ambassador to Lebanon.

The approvals pave the way for the formal appointment of the four diplomats to their respective overseas missions.

In a country where some children arrive at school in luxury vehicles after three hearty meals, others walk into classrooms having eaten nothing more than a piece of bread and a drink of water.Teachers say there are students who attend lessons without bringing lunch, wearing the same uniform day after day, some without shoes or slippers. For a few, the school’s water tap becomes their only source of relief from hunger.

It is against this stark backdrop that Kalawana-based tourism entrepreneur Sarathchandra Ramanayake has stepped forward with a quiet but determined intervention.

Since 2023, through his venture Rainforest Community Kitchen, Ramanayake has been providing free, nutritious lunches to 100 schoolchildren in and around Kalawana who would otherwise go without a midday meal. The initiative began at the height of the country’s economic crisis, a period marked by soaring food prices and reports of children fainting during morning school assemblies due to hunger.

“As prices rose, families who once managed three meals struggled to afford two. Those who ate twice a day were reduced to one,” Ramanayake recalled. “If parents had the means, they would never send their children to school hungry.”

Parents echo this reality. They speak of children who once carried a few rupees to buy a snack at the school canteen but now stand by, unable to afford even the simplest meal. “On some days, the daily wage we earn in the morning is spent entirely at the shop by evening,” one parent said. “We cannot even think about tomorrow’s meal.”

At Kalawana National School, where the programme first took root, teachers have witnessed the impact firsthand. Nilmini Suraweera, who coordinates the initiative within the school, described the children’s anticipation during the lunch break.

“For nearly two years, meals have been provided continuously to economically disadvantaged students,” she said. “When we see how eagerly they wait for that meal, it is deeply moving. They receive a clean and nutritious lunch every day. It is a truly noble service.”

Students are identified through class teachers, ensuring that those most in need benefit from the programme. According to Suraweera, while many schools face similar hardships, few sustained efforts reach these children.

Ramanayake, a father of two daughters, says his motivation is simple. “An adult may endure hunger somehow. But how can a child?” he asked. “If we have the ability to give, why should we hold back?”

Despite warnings from some quarters that charity might affect business profits, he chose to integrate social responsibility into his enterprise. A portion of the profits from meals purchased at his establishment is channelled into funding the school lunch programme. Customers are not charged extra; instead, the business absorbs the cost as part of its commitment to the community.

“We don’t even see the faces of the children who receive these meals,” Ramanayake said. “I do this with no narrow motive—only for the happiness it brings.”

The initiative, which currently supports 100 students daily, has plans for expansion. Ramanayake hopes to increase the number of beneficiaries to 1,000 in the coming years, drawing support from individuals, institutions and well-wishers willing to join the cause.

Parents, struggling under the weight of rising living costs, say the assistance has brought relief during desperate times. “Children wear the same pair of shoes until the soles wear out,” one parent noted. “Sometimes we cannot even afford slippers. What he is doing is truly noble.”

As economic pressures continue to affect families across the country, the Kalawana lunch programme stands as a reminder that small, sustained acts of compassion can make a profound difference.For the children who line up each day for a simple, nourishing meal, it is more than food. It is strength for the afternoon’s lessons—and perhaps, hope for a better tomorrow.

Text and Pix by Upendra Priyankara Jathungama

The University of Ruhuna today hosted its 4th Diploma and Certificate Awarding Ceremony at the Rabindranath Tagore Memorial Auditorium, Wellamada, celebrating the achievements of its Distance and Continuing Education students.

A total of 429 graduates received diplomas and certificates across a range of academic programs, including the Diploma in Psychological Counselling, Diploma in Human Resource Management, Advanced Certificate in English, Advanced Certificate in Information and Communication Technology, Advanced Certificate in Molecular Techniques, and Certificate in English.

The awards were presented by Senior Professor Pasdunkorala Arachchige Jayantha, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ruhuna, marking a milestone in the institution’s continuing education initiatives. The ceremony commenced at 9 am and highlighted the university’s commitment to providing flexible learning opportunities for students across the Southern Province.

The event drew faculty members, graduates, and families, celebrating both academic achievement and the growing role of distance learning programs in expanding access to higher education.

by Priyan De Silva