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Youth Co:Lab National Youth Dialogue 2024 focuses on innovation and entrepreneurship
Malin Herwig, Officer-In-Charge of UNDP in Sri Lanka, emphasized the crucial role of youth in shaping Sri Lanka’s future during the Youth Co:Lab National Youth Dialogue held on Thursday (9) in Colombo. The event, organized by UNDP Sri Lanka, brought together over 100 youth leaders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to discuss the challenges facing young people, particularly in governance, the startup ecosystem, and sustainable development.
Herwig highlighted the transformative potential of Sri Lanka’s youth, noting that the dialogue showcased the nation’s youth as key players in driving innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable solutions. “At UNDP, we are committed to empowering young people with the skills and opportunities to become leaders of change,” she said.
This year’s dialogue also saw the completion of several UNDP initiatives aimed at empowering youth, including the enhancement of the National Youth Corps Life Skills curriculum, which reaches over 10,000 youth annually, and capacity-building programs for 200 instructors across 58 youth centers. The initiative, supported by Youth Co:Lab, a partnership between UNDP and Citi Foundation, also saw successful outcomes from HackaDev initiatives.
Pradeep Saputhanthri, Secretary to the Prime Minister, reinforced the government’s commitment to youth empowerment, calling for collaborative efforts that include the youth, private sector, and international partners to create meaningful change.
The event concluded with a call to adopt policies that place young people at the forefront of the country’s sustainable development efforts. Recognizing the potential of Sri Lanka’s 5.125 million-strong youth population, participants advocated for inclusive leadership and entrepreneurial opportunities to address pressing issues such as youth unemployment and climate challenges.
Youth Co:Lab, the largest youth initiative in Asia and the Pacific, continues to support innovation and entrepreneurship across the region, contributing to the empowerment of young people through platforms like the National Youth Dialogue.
During an operation conducted in the dark hours of 01 Jan 26, the Sri Lanka Navy seized an Indian fishing boat and apprehended 11 Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, off Kovilan of Kareinagar, Jaffna.
The Northern Naval Command spotted a group of Indian fishing boats engaging in illegal fishing, trespassing into Sri Lankan waters. In response, naval craft of the Northern Naval Command were deployed to drive away those Indian fishing boats from island waters off Kovilan.
Meanwhile, compliant boarding made by naval personnel resulted in the seizure of one Indian fishing boat and apprehension of 11 Indian fishermen who continued to engage in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters.
The seized boat (01) and Indian fishermen (11) were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Myliddy, Jaffna for onward legal proceedings.
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Tri-Forces donate LKR. 372 million, a day’s pay of all ranks to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund
Members of all ranks from the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force have collectively donated a day’s basic salary to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, which was established to restore livelihoods and rebuild the country following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Accordingly, the total contribution made by the Tri-Forces amounts to LKR. 372,776,918.28.
The cheques representing the financial contributions were handed over on Wednesday (31 December) at the Presidential Secretariat to the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
The donations comprised LKR. 250 million from the Commander of the Army, Major General Lasantha Rodrigo; LKR. 73,963,879.71 from the Commander of the Navy, Rear Admiral Kanchana Banagoda and LKR. 48,813,038.97 from the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Vasu Bandu Edirisinghe.
Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha, was also present on the occasion.
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has submitted a proposal to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) seeking an 11.57 percent increase in electricity tariffs for the first quarter of 2026, citing an estimated revenue shortfall and additional financial pressures, including cyclone-related damages.
According to documents issued by the PUCSL, the proposed tariff revision would apply to electricity consumption from January to March 2026 and includes changes to both energy charges and fixed monthly charges across all consumer categories, including domestic, religious, industrial, commercial and other users.
Under the proposal, domestic electricity consumers would face increases in unit rates as well as fixed monthly charges across all consumption blocks.
The CEB has estimated a deficit of Rs. 13,094 million for the first quarter of 2026, which it says necessitates the proposed 11.57 per cent tariff hike. The utility has noted that any deviation from this estimate whether a surplus or a shortfall will be adjusted through the Bulk Supply Tariff Adjustment (BSTA) mechanism and taken into account in the next tariff revision.
In its submission, the CEB said the proposed revision is aimed at ensuring the financial and operational stability of the power sector and mitigating potential risks to the reliability of electricity supply. The board-approved tariff structure for the first quarter of 2026 has been submitted to the PUCSL for approval and subsequent implementation, as outlined in Annex II of the proposal.
The CEB has also highlighted the financial impact of Cyclone Ditwah, which it said caused extensive damage to electricity infrastructure, with total losses estimated at around Rs. 20 billion. Of this amount, Rs. 7,016.52 million has been attributed to the first quarter of 2026, which the utility said has a direct bearing on electricity tariffs.
The CEB warned that if external funding is not secured to cover the cyclone-related expenditure, the costs incurred would need to be recovered through electricity tariffs in the second-quarter revision of 2026.
Meanwhile, the PUCSL has said that a decision on whether to approve the proposed tariff increase will be made only after following due regulatory procedures and holding discussions on the matter.
By Sujeewa Thathsara ✍️
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