News
SLT-MOBITEL and STEMUP Foundation empowering children to unlock their future extending free coding programmes
SLT-MOBITEL, the National ICT Solutions Provider, and STEMUP Foundation continue their collaboration to empower children and unlock their potential by extending the free coding programmes from SLT-MOBITEL Training Centres in Welisara, Moratuwa, and Panadura. The free coding programme is to now also be available at Public Libraries in Colombo, Batticaloa, Kirimatiyana, Hanguranketha, and Doluwa. Further, by December 2023, SLT-MOBITEL is ambitious to expand its free coding programme to a total of 15 public libraries Island wide, in collaboration with the National Library of Sri Lanka.
The initiative of offering these free coding programmes is aligned to SLT-MOBITEL’s belief in the importance of supporting children thrive in the digital era, develop critical thinking, future proof their skills set, contributing to the technological advancement of the country.
The STEMUP Foundation, a not-for-profit organization is driving a mission to inspire and engage students to become interested in pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education.
The primary objective of this extension is to provide children with the opportunity to obtain STEM education at libraries free of charge. Notably, volunteers are also dedicating their time and knowledge as instructors for the programmes, to assist the children.
The ‘CoderDojo@SLT’ Coding is based on STEM education, emphasizing critical thinking capabilities, creativity, collaboration, and communication. Through these skill development programs; students will be encouraged to pursue their research problems and solutions from different perspectives.
These programmes are scheduled to take place monthly throughout the year, providing an opportunity for children to develop their coding skills. The programmes are an ideal opportunity for the children of the company’s employees as well.
SLT-MOBITEL invites any child between the ages 8 to 17 years to register for these programmes through http://coderdojo.lk.
As per the provisions of section 51 of the Public Finance Managaement Act No. 44 of 2024, the public should be issued with a report on the final budgetary situation for each year and, the report is then published in the official website of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
Thereby the report has to be submitted to the Parliament. The final budgetary situation report (Annual Report) – 2025 has been prepared by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and published. The report contains the Public Finance Policy, strategies and challenges, economic trends in 2025, macro – economic and socio – economic indicators covering all sectors of the economy as well as description on the global economic growth.
Furthermore, it accompanies a detailed description government revenue and expenditure, cash flow management, financing the budget deficit and the loan structure.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to submit the Report on the Final Budgetary Condition (Annual Report) – 2025 to Parliament.
Business
Cabinet nod to accept increased Loan Grant provided by the Asian Development Bank under Policy Based Loan Facilities – 2026
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 16.03.2026 to obtain United States Dollars 380 million from the policy – based loan facilities of the Asian Development Bank in the year 2026.
United States Dollars 100 million out of it is allocated for Trade, Investment and Industries Development Programme – Sub Programme 1. However, amidst the economic uncertainty resulting from the current Middle East crisis and the climatic tragedies, the Asian Development Bank has agreed to assist
by increasing a supplementary financing package of United States Dollars 100 million so that it will beMincreased up to United States Dollars 200 million.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to take further measures to obtain the said loan grant.
News
Submission of Revenue Protection Order Prepared under the Provisions of the Revenue Protection Act No. 19 of 1962 to the Parliament for its approval.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was given at the meeting held on 23.02.2026 to impose the custom import duty amounts under four (04) categories as 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% which had been executed only under three (03) categories in order to increase the target export income of the country, to execute the
recommendations of the national customs duty policies committee, and to implement new national sub division customs codes for promoting the local agricultural and industrial sector.
Imposing provisions in relation to the above, the Revenue Protection Order – No. 01/2026 under the Revenue Protection Act No. 19 of 1962 has been published in the extraordinary gazette notification No. 2478/03 of 03.03.2026.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to submit the said revenue protection order to Parliament for its concurrence.
Report on the Final Budgetary Condition (Annual Report) – 2025 submited to parliament
Cabinet nod to accept increased Loan Grant provided by the Asian Development Bank under Policy Based Loan Facilities – 2026
Submission of Revenue Protection Order Prepared under the Provisions of the Revenue Protection Act No. 19 of 1962 to the Parliament for its approval.
Resettlement of unauthorized settlers affected by the Land Acquisition process for the implementation of Phase III of the Baseline Road Extension Project
Cabinet approves project to modernize school hostel facilities during the 2026–2028 period at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,008 million
New National Action Plan for Human-Elephant Conflict Management to be drafted
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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