Colombo (LNW): Education Minister Susil Premajayantha emphasised the importance of fostering a well-rounded educational experience that includes co-curricular and extra-curricular activities to develop versatile human resources.

He made these remarks during the opening ceremony of the inaugural session of the student parliament programme at Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, Colombo.

Minister Premajayantha highlighted the active implementation of the Student Parliament Programme in major schools across the island.

This program plays a vital role in enhancing students’ personality development by instilling leadership skills, team spirit, respect for ideas, listening abilities, patience, and fostering a broader vision and understanding.

Moreover, the programme aims to raise awareness among students about universal suffrage, the democratic role of parliament, fiscal responsibility, the powers and responsibilities of the legislative, executive, and judiciary branches, as well as providing insights into local and foreign governance systems, parliamentary functioning, election procedures, and the role of people’s representatives.

Implemented collaboratively by the Election Commission and the Ministry of Education, the Student Parliament Programme focuses on engaging school children directly in nation-building efforts, achieving common national education goals, and developing essential skills through citizenship education.

The event was attended by Dr. J Sumedha Jayaweera, the Principal of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, Colombo, Chairman of the Election Commission RMAL Ratnayake, Election Commissioner General Saman Sri Ratnayake, and other distinguished guests.

Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Education has directed education authorities to launch an inquiry into the tragic incident where a student lost her life and five others sustained injuries as a wall at a school in Wellampitiya collapsed on a group of girls on November 15.

Education Minister Susil Premajayantha has instructed the officials at the Zonal Education Office to thoroughly probe the incident and provide an immediate report.

In response, the Jayewardenepura Zonal Education Director’s office has announced their prompt visit to the affected school to commence an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Yesterday afternoon, six first-grade students, engaged in handwashing activities, were injured when a concrete wall housing water taps collapsed on them.

Tragically, a six-year-old student succumbed to her injuries after being admitted to the Colombo National Hospital. The remaining five injured students are currently under medical care at the hospital. Hospital sources have indicated that one of the five students is in critical condition.

Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has secured a position at the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for the term 2023-2027, according to an announcement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The election took place during the 42nd General Conference of UNESCO held in Paris this week (Nov 15).

During the election, Sri Lanka garnered 144 votes out of 188 member states participating, securing the third-highest vote count in the region, alongside Bangladesh.

Out of the nine candidates from the Asia-Pacific Region, six were elected to the UNESCO Executive Board, including Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Republic of Korea, and Australia. Sri Lanka had previously served on the Executive Board from 2015 to 2019.

UNESCO plays a crucial role in promoting international cooperation in education, sciences, culture, communication, and information, contributing to peace, security, and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.

Sri Lanka’s membership in UNESCO since 1949 underscores the country’s steadfast commitment to the organisation’s values and principles, fostering collaboration among nations through education, science, and culture while promoting universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and fundamental freedoms.

Throughout its history with UNESCO, Sri Lanka has actively contributed to advancing the organisation’s mandate. The Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO, operating under the guidance of the Ministry of Education, serves as the government arm for implementing UNESCO’s Agenda in the country.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Embassy in Paris and the Ministry of Education (National focal point), expressed satisfaction in leading the successful effort to secure Sri Lanka’s election to the UNESCO Executive Board.

The Foreign Ministry highlighted the noteworthy achievement that, in recent months, Sri Lanka has consecutively secured positions in three UN bodies/committees: the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (CMW), and the UNESCO Executive Board.

Colombo (LNW): The Court of Appeal is set to consider the petition regarding the Sri Lanka Cricket interim committee on Monday, November 20, 2023, under a new panel of judges.

The decision follows the recusal of three judges from the case, including Justice Neel Iddawela and President of the Court of Appeal Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne, who cited unfair criticism by the Sports Minister and others.

Subsequently, the petition was transferred to another court for consideration, but Justice Dhammika Ganepola also recused himself, necessitating the formation of a new judge bench to hear the case.

Colombo (LNW): Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said he does not accept the recent Supreme Court ruling on Sri Lanka’s economic crisis.

Speaking in Kandy on November 15, MP Rajapaksa stated that they will respond to the matter when granted an opportunity by the court.

The Supreme Court held former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and other officials, including Mahinda Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa responsible for mishandling the economic crisis in response to a petition filed by Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) and activists Chandra Jayaratne, Jehan Canagaretna, and Julian Bolling.

By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has ramped up their commitment to achieving the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and has outlined targets in an Implementation Plan till 2030.

It will be focusing on an integrated, holistic approach to enable transformative impact across sectors, the Ministry of Environment and UNDP said in a joint statement.

The NDC Implementation Plan sets out a blueprint for immediate climate action. With the first global stocktake of progress on the Paris Agreement scheduled for discussion at the 28th session of the Conference of Parties (COP28) in Dubai later this year.

It is an opportunity for all countries to course correct and accelerate action to tackle the climate crisis, the joint statement said.

Sri Lanka annually spends LKR 50 billion on climate-induced post-disaster contingent liabilities that arise through floods, droughts, landslides, and storms including relief assistance for damages incurred to housing, infrastructure, agricultural crops, and businesses.

Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Secretary, Ministry of Environment stated, “Sri Lanka accelerated its climate action through the launch of the Climate Prosperity Plan at COP27.

The revised National Policy on Climate Change (2023) and 2050 Carbon Net Zero Road Map and Strategy are expected to be launched at COP28 this year.

The NDCs act as the base for these strategic interventions and implementing the NDCs will lead to increasing Sri Lanka’s share of renewable energy, adopting adaptation interventions and increasing our coping capacity and resilience to climate disasters”.

Sharing progress on Sri Lanka’s NDCs, Dr. Jayathunga, Additional Secretary (Environment Development), Ministry of Environment highlighted,

“The NDCs are a nexus and linking point through which we can reinforce our national sustainable development targets including the targets laid out in our National Environment Action Plan and National Adaptation Plan”.

From record-breaking temperatures to increasing extreme weather events, in 2022 alone Asia recorded 81 weather, climate and water-related disasters which directly affected more than 50 million people, costing USD 36 billion in economic damages, according to the World Meteorological Organisation’s State of the Climate in Asia report.

The global landscape is changing dramatically with the climate crisis becoming the new normal. Sri Lanka too is reeling from multiple crises and with climate change impacts already being experienced, recovery comes at a high cost.

The Paris Agreement lays out a collective framework for all countries to address climate change. But reports come in that there is still limited progress in reducing the emissions gap by 2030, and there is a global call to scale up climate action to keep the 1.5°C objective within reach.