News
SL cultural delegation invited to Deepotsav celebration
A 15-member cultural delegation from Sri Lanka has been invited by the government of Uttar Pradesh, India to participate in the grand Deepotsav celebration, which is being organized from Nov 1-5 at Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, the Indian High Commission in Colombo said.
The delegation is led by Gnanakumar Sithambaram and Gayathri Suveendran, members of the Sri Lanka Chapter of the Global Encyclopedia of Ramayana project, and Kalasuri Shrimati Vasugy Jegatheeswaran, an eminent Bharatha Natyam Guru at Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, and Natya Kala Mandhir, Colombo. High Commissioner of India Shri Gopal Baglay, interacted with the delegation before their departure. He highlighted the significance of such cultural and spiritual interactions in further strengthening the centuries old ties between India and Sri Lanka, and conveyed best wishes for their cultural performances in India.
The Ayodhya Research Institute, Department of Culture, Government of Uttar Pradesh is organizing the 15-member cultural delegation from Sri Lanka. Ayodhya is situated on the banks of holy river Saryu in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is regarded as one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Hindus as it is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Rama. A grand temple is being constructed there.
Every year, since 2017, the Government of Uttar Pradesh has been celebrating Deepotsav in Ayodhya on the eve of Diwali. This year, during the fifth edition of Deepotsav, for the first time, 500 drones will draw Ramayana scenes on Ayodhya’s skyline. Cultural troupes from different regions of India and from all over the world, including Sri Lanka, would showcase cultural performances based on Ramayana.
The Government of Uttar Pradesh aims to set a record of lighting 12 lakh diyas (earthen lamps) on the eve of Diwali, falling on 3rd November. Other attractions during the Deepotsav celebrations at Ayodhya would include heritage tour, conference, book launch, Ramayana Shobhayatra (procession), photography exhibition, 3-D holographic show, projection mapping, and laser shows at the majestic ‘Ram-Ki-Paidi’ on the banks of the Saryu River.
On Oct 28, a symbolic sacred monument from Seetha Amman Temple at Nuwara Eliya was handed over to the Chief Priest of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya by the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India, Milinda Moragoda. This sacred monument was brought to India by the High Commissioner from the Seetha Amman Temple in Sri Lanka.
It may be recalled that the inaugural international flight arrived at the holy city of Kushinagar from Colombo on the auspicious Vap Poya day on Oct 20. The delegation from Sri Lanka led by Namal Rajapaksa, Minister of Youth and Sports, Minister of Development Coordination and Monitoring and State Minister of Digital Technology and Enterprise Development comprised four State Ministers, senior officials and the Most Venerable Mahasangha represented by close to 100 Senior Buddhist monks from different sects and sacred temples across Sri Lanka. Such cultural and spiritual events attest to the abiding people-to-people linkages between the two countries which span across religions.
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The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Udaygiri arrived at the Port of Colombo on an official visit today, 8 September 2026, where it was received by the Sri Lanka Navy in accordance with time-
honoured naval traditions.
INS Udaygiri is a 149.02m long Frigate, Commanded by Captain Vikas Sood. Meanwhile, the Commanding Officer of the visiting ship is scheduled to call on Commander Western Naval
Area, Rear Admiral Harsha De Silva at the Western Naval Command Headquarters.
Captain Sood served as the Defence Adviser at the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka from July 2020 to October 2023.
During their stay in the island, the crew of INS Udaygiri will participate in several goodwill events organized by the Sri Lanka Navy to enhance camaraderie between the two forces.
The visiting personnel are also scheduled to visit prominent tourist and cultural locations across the island.
Additionally, Sri Lanka Navy personnel are expected to visit the ship for capability observation and knowledge sharing, and will conduct onboard training during its stay.
The Supreme Court has been petitioned seeking an explanation as to how eight petitions filed against the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution were not listed for hearing . Two of the petitioners, namely Dias Bandaralage Ajith Shantha Kumara Jayathilaka and Gunathilakage Dakum Dulara Gunathilaka, have requested an opportunity to examine the official Registry and parliamentary records so that all material facts may be objectively established. They said that their petitions that had been registered by the Supreme Court should have been heard along with other petitions.
The Registrar of the Supreme Court, Secretary General of Parliament, Speaker and the Attorney General have been named as the respondents.
The five-member bench that heard the petitions consisted of Chief Justice P. Padman Surasena, Achala Wengappuli, J, Arjuna Obeyesekere, J, Sampath B. Abayakoon, J and K.M.G.H. Kulatunga, J.
The petitioners sought the explanation in the absence of any judicial order dismissing, rejecting, striking out, terminating or otherwise disposing the said petitions. They have requested the disclosure of the complete procedural history of the unlisted cases.
The second petitioner Gunathilaka has referred to a speech by Jaffna District Independent MP Ramanathan Archuna in Parliament, on 21 August, 2026, regarding X-Press Pearl, a container carrier that sank off the port of Colombo, and related matters.
They have sought leave to proceed under Articles 17 and 126 of the Constitution and asked for a full Bench of the Supreme Court, or the widest Bench, constitutionally permissible.
They also requested that the Chief Justice and Achala Wengappuli refrain from participating in the hearing and determination of their application, having regard to the objective-appearance issue arising from their prior constitutional and judicial participation in matters forming part of the factual subject matter now requiring examination.
Meanwhile, General Secretary of Vinivida Foundation, Nagananda Kodituwakku, has requested the Supreme Court Registrar not to proceed with the determination of 22nd Amendment process, pending the hearing of fundamental rights petition filed by Chairman of the Vinivida Foundation lawyer, Sugandhika Fernando, seeking a full bench, excluding Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, to hear the petitions challenging the 22nd Amendment Bill. She also requested that the hearing be suspended immediately until the matter was fully heard and determined.
Among the respondents are Chief Justice Surasena, the first respondent, and Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe. Justices Yasantha Kodagoda, Shiran Gooneratne, Achala Wengappuli and Priyantha Fernando.
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