In accordance with the guidance of the Most Venerable Mahanayake Theros and the All Ceylon Shasanarakshaka Mandalaya, it has been identified as appropriate to conduct the State Vesak Festival for the year 2026 (Buddhist Era 2570) at the historic Medillawala Purana Viharaya in Thihagoda, Matara District, with the collaboration of the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, and the Department of Buddhist Affairs.

It has been decided to conduct this year’s State Vesak Festival under the theme “Abhiththaretha Kalyane” (“Let us
hasten towards the common good”). Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the joint resolution furnished by the Hon. Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government and the. Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs to: conduct the National Vesak Festival
centering the Medillawala Purana Viharaya in Thihagoda, Matara District; to declare the period from 27 May to 02 June 2026 as Vesak Week; and organize and implement various Buddhist religious programmes across the island during that period.

Having considered the resolution furnished by the Prime Minister in her capacity as Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to grant concurrence for the issuance of a new circular instructions relating to the admission of students from Grades 2 to 11, excluding Grades 5 and 6, to be implemented with effect from 2026 onwards.

Lahore Qualandars have fined Shaheen Shah Afridi PKR 1 million (approx. USD 3600) following the incident that saw the Punjab police accuse him of violating security protocols at the team hotel. In a statement, Qalandars said they had imposed the fine on their captain to “maintain discipline and impose accountability”.

There will be no action taken against Qalandars player Sikandar Raza,  who was also accused by the police of violating the same protocols. At a press conference yesterday, Raza said he took responsibility for the incident and attempted to exonerate Afridi from blame.

News of the incident emerged after a letter from the Punjab police to PSL CEO Salman Naseer was made widely available on social media. It accused Qalandars, Afridi and Raza’s team, of violating security protocols, alleging that, despite being refused permission to receive visitors in Raza’s room by both the PCB’s security and anti-corruption manager as well as Naseer, Afridi and Raza took people up to the player’s room. Despite Raza saying they stayed in his room for 40 minutes, the letterclaims they spent approximately three hours there.

Qalandars accepted the broader details of the incident, but the statement said it had been “overstated in public discourse, amplified beyond its original context”, and was “unnecessarily escalated”.

“While underscoring that the matter arose from a misunderstanding rather than any deliberate attempt to violate established procedures, Lahore Qalandars reiterated its full respect for all security protocols,” the statement said.

“The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to strict adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs) and emphasised the importance of continued clarity and alignment in the communication of protocols to prevent similar situations in the future.”

[Cricinfo]