News
UNICEF representatives and PM discuss rebuilding schools affected by the Disaster
A meeting between Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and a delegation of UNICEF representatives was held on Saturday, (December 20) at the Prime Minister’s Office.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister explained the measures taken by the Government to ensure the protection of the affected student community and to restore the damaged school system, as well as the challenges encountered in this process.
The Prime Minister stated that reopening schools located in landslide-prone areas would be extremely dangerous. Accordingly, the Government is focusing on identifying such schools and relocating them to suitable locations based on scientific assessments.
The Prime Minister further noted that financial assistance has been provided to students affected by the disaster, enabling parents to send their children back to school without an additional financial burden. Emphasizing that school is the safest place for children after their homes, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the school environment would help restore and improve students’ mental well-being
The Prime Minister also highlighted that attention has been given to several key areas, including the relocation of disaster-affected schools, restoration of school infrastructure, merging and operating certain schools jointly, facilitating teaching and learning through digital and technological strategies, and providing special transportation facilities. She emphasized that the Government is examining these issues and is committed to finding long-term solutions.
The UNICEF representatives commended the Government’s commitment and the initiatives undertaken to restore the education sector and assured their support to the Government. Both parties also discussed working together collaboratively on future initiatives.
The meeting was attended by the UNICEF representatives to Sri Lanka Emma Brigham, Lakshmi Sureshkumar, Nishantha Subash, and Yashinka Jayasinghe, along with Secretary to the Ministry of Education Nalaka Kaluwewa, Director of Education Dakshina Kasturiarachchi, Deputy Directors Kasun Gunarathne and Udara Dikkumbura.
(Prime Minister’s Media Division)
The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) yesterday (12) announced that it wouldn’t support the Samagi Jana Balawegaya-led no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya over the ongoing educational reforms controversy and the inclusion of homosexual website in the Grade 06 English module.
Political sources said that the ITAK had informed the Opposition of its decision.
Sri Lanka’s power sector reform programme has reached a critical milestone, with the Initial Vesting Plan to restructure the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and establish successor companies now completed and ready for Cabinet approval.
Speaking to The Island, Director General of the Power Sector Reforms Secretariat, Eng. Pubudu Niroshan Hedigallage, said the programme, launched under the Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Act No. 36 of 2024, is being implemented in two phases — the Initial Vesting Plan and the Final Vesting Plan — within the Secretariat’s two-year mandate, ending on June 26, 2026.
“The Initial Vesting Plan, which details the creation of successor companies and the transfer of CEB assets, liabilities, duties and operations, has now been finalised in line with the policy directions of the Minister of Power and Energy,” he said.
Eng. Hedigallage added that the plan incorporates observations from the Attorney General and guidance from the Minister of Finance and the Secretary to the Treasury, ensuring alignment with wider fiscal consolidation and structural reform objectives.
Once Cabinet approval is obtained, the Minister in charge will gazette the appointed date on which the CEB will be legally dissolved. Prior to that, the CEB Board must complete the transfer of assets and liabilities to the new companies, which will take over electricity services and commercial operations from that date.
He said the preparatory work was completed over 15 months with voluntary contributions from Secretariat members, including himself, Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka President Eng. Kosala Kamburadeniya and Dr. Indra Mahakalanda.
Clarifying media reports on his resignation, Eng. Hedigallage said the move was a formal administrative step to ensure a smooth and speedy transfer, and did not indicate any disruption to the reform agenda.
“The reforms will advance for the benefit of employees opting for voluntary retirement, those joining the successor companies, electricity consumers, and the national economy,” he said, adding that the move also supports Sri Lanka’s ongoing IMF-backed structural adjustment programme.
By Ifham Nizam
A head-on collision, involving a car and a van at Navadankulama, Mundalama, along the Puttalam–Colombo main road, in the early hours of yesterday (12), claimed the lives of three persons and left five others, including a six-year-old child, injured.
The dead were identified as the 26-year-old driver of the car Lahiru Heshan Costa and two passengers – Mary Theresa Costa, 84, and Subhashini Jayasinghe, 58.
The five injured were in the van that came from the direction of Puttalam.
Police said that the driver and the two women succumbed to their injuries after being rushed to the Mundalama Hospital.
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