President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, speaking at the National Poson Festival held on June 10 at the sacred Mihintale temple grounds, issued a powerful call for restoring the country’s ethical and civic foundation, citing the collapse of the disciplined social structure historically rooted in Buddhist values.

The President highlighted that although Buddhism, introduced over 2,000 years ago, laid the groundwork for a disciplined, educated, and cultured society, that structure has eroded over time. He pointed to alarming institutional decay, stating:
“Some members of the police have reached a point where they protect criminals. Certain officers at the Immigration and Emigration Department are issuing travel documents illegally. Underworld figures have been granted passports. Some Prisons Department officials have unlawfully released inmates. Even within the Motor Traffic Department, some officers are engaged in illegal activities.”

He stressed that citizens no longer view state institutions with trust or peace of mind, urging the need for a national civic renewal guided by Buddhist philosophy. “A well-disciplined civic programme must be established to foster a sense of civic responsibility among the people,” he said, adding that the teachings of the Buddha could provide the ethical foundation for such a transformation.

Reflecting on the spiritual and cultural impact of Arahant Mahinda Thera’s arrival in Mihintale, President Dissanayake described it as a civilisational turning point that shaped Sri Lankan identity. He questioned how the Poson Festival could be meaningfully celebrated without honouring Mihintale’s historical significance and called for its preservation for future generations.

The President also outlined the government’s initiative to restore and redevelop the ancient city of Anuradhapura, the cradle of Sri Lankan civilisation, citing support pledged by the Prime Minister of India. The reconstruction plan includes revitalising the country’s first city, reservoir, surgical facility, and irrigation canals such as Yodha Ela, while restoring the nation’s cultural heritage.

Underscoring the broader civilisational contributions of Buddhism, he said:
“More than two thousand years ago, Buddhism introduced a transformative change in education by transforming temples into centres of learning—Pirivenas—which imparted spiritual and secular knowledge. For this, our monastic leaders deserve the nation’s utmost gratitude.”

He concluded by stating that a disciplined and ethical society is essential for the country’s progress, and reaffirmed his government’s unwavering commitment to reform and rebuild public institutions, appealing to citizens to unite in this national mission.

This year’s National Poson Festival was the first to be held under state patronage in two years. The Chief Incumbent of Mihintale Rajamaha Viharaya, Most Venerable Dr. Walawahengunawawe Dhammarathana Thera, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the President for reviving the tradition. The welcome address was delivered by Viharadikari Venerable Surukkulame Indrarathana Thera.

The event was attended by numerous dignitaries, including Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe, Deputy Ministers Gamagedara Dissanayakeand Susil Ranasinghe, MPs Sena Nanayakkara, Thilina Tharuka Samarakoon, and Bhagya Sri Herath, and Anuradhapura District Secretary Ranjith Wimalasuriya, along with a large gathering of devotees.

Sri Lanka officially initiated engineering consultancy services for the technical implementation of the Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting (DTTB) project on Monday (9), marking the beginning of the country’s long-anticipated transition from its 46-year-old analog terrestrial broadcasting system to a unified digital platform.

The launch event took place at the Health and Mass Media Ministry auditorium under the patronage of Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa. Addressing the gathering, the Minister highlighted that the commencement of DTTB technology operations is not only a transformative step for Sri Lanka’s broadcasting landscape but also a significant stride in advancing the nation’s broader digital economy. He noted that the project, delayed for over a decade due to various reasons, has now been expedited as part of a renewed commitment to modernising telecommunications infrastructure.

The Minister emphasized that the DTTB initiative underscores the longstanding friendship and technical cooperation between Japan and Sri Lanka, as Japanese engineering consultants have joined hands with local experts to carry out the project. A key feature of the project is the establishment of a state-of-the-art 4K digital studio complex for the Sri Lanka Television Corporation, representing a major upgrade in national broadcasting capabilities.

With this digital migration, Sri Lankan viewers will benefit from high-definition (HD) picture quality, and broadcasters will enjoy more efficient operations thanks to the enhanced spectral efficiency of digital systems. The upgrade will also allow for more television channels to be transmitted within the same frequency spectrum.

Moreover, the shift to digital broadcasting frees up valuable spectrum—particularly in the 700MHz band—which can now be redirected to support the rollout of 5G technology and improve broadband internet access, especially in rural areas.

DTTB Project Director, Eng. Prasanga Rajapaksa, delivered a comprehensive overview of the project, outlining its strategic importance to the future of broadcasting in Sri Lanka and reaffirming the government’s commitment to driving digital transformation across the media and communications sectors.

Dr. Gita Gopinath, the First Deputy Managing Director (FDMD) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka beginning June 15, marking the first visit by a sitting FDMD to the country since 2005.

A key highlight of her visit will be her participation as Guest of Honour at the high-level conference titled “Sri Lanka’s Road to Recovery: Debt and Governance”, to be held on June 16. The event is jointly organised by the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, and the IMF, and comes at the mid-point of Sri Lanka’s IMF-supported reform programme.

The conference will serve as a platform to:

• Reflect on lessons learned from Sri Lanka’s efforts in achieving macroeconomic stability
• Assess progress in debt restructuring and governance reforms
• Discuss the challenges ahead for sustained recovery

Dr. Gopinath is also expected to engage in bilateral discussions with Sri Lankan authorities and key stakeholdersregarding the IMF’s continued engagement and support for the country’s economic recovery efforts.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake departed for Germany on a three-day official visit from June 11 to 13, 2025, at the invitation of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism confirmed.

During the visit, President Dissanayake is scheduled to:

• Hold bilateral talks with President Steinmeier and senior German federal ministers
• Discuss enhanced cooperation in trade, the digital economy, investment, and vocational training
• Chair a Business Forum hosted by the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) to promote Sri Lanka’s economic reforms, investment potential, and trade partnerships
• Engage with German tourism and travel industry stakeholders to boost Sri Lanka’s appeal as a secure and attractive destination

The President is accompanied by Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath and a delegation of senior government officials. The visit aims to deepen economic and diplomatic ties between Sri Lanka and Germany, in line with Sri Lanka’s development and international engagement strategies.

By: Staff Writer

June 10, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka aims to complete 50% of construction at the East Container Terminal (ECT) in Colombo Port by the end of 2025, though full completion is now expected in 2027 due to repeated delays, according to Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation Minister Bimal Rathnayake.

Speaking in Parliament recently , the Minister cited corruption and political interference as primary reasons for the delay. Originally scheduled for completion in 2026, the ECT project began sluggishly, despite being declared a special development initiative under full ownership of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).

However, controversy has emerged around the project’s stagnation. Shyamal Sumanaratna, co-convener of the Port Trade Union Joint Alliance, alleged that a senior Port Regulatory Authority official is deliberately allowing the terminal to deteriorate. At a press briefing in Colombo, Sumanaratna revealed that multiple attempts to inform the Minister about these concerns were ignored.

He claimed that tenders for essential equipment, such as straddle carriers, have been cancelled for over eight months without reissue—potentially benefiting rival terminals. The delay means even if a new tender is called now, it would take more than a year to import the necessary equipment.

Sumanaratna also disputed the President’s announcement that the ECT would be operational by the end of June, asserting it would realistically take at least another 18 months. He warned that whistleblowing union leaders face disciplinary actions and transfers, but vowed to continue speaking out despite the risks.

The ECT, once completed, will include a 1,400-metre jetty capable of handling three large vessels simultaneously, supported by 12 gantry cranes and 40 transfer cranes. The terminal will span 75 hectares and handle up to three million containers annually, with semi-automated and digital operations. Contractors China Engineering and Access Engineering are tasked with completing the $585 million project.

Meanwhile, the Central Expressway Project (CEP)—another key national infrastructure effort—has also suffered from years of stalled construction. Originally launched in 2020 as a four-year initiative, the CEP has cost Sri Lanka over Rs. 55 billion in penalties due to delays.

In Parliament, Minister Rathnayake condemned the CEP’s mismanagement, calling it “a theft, a fraud, and a tragedy.” The expressway, which stretches 136.9 km from Kadawatha to Dambulla in four sections, has seen only Section 2 (Mirigama to Kurunegala) fully completed.

The Road Development Authority (RDA) stated that work on Section 3 (Pothuhera to Galagedara) is progressing steadily and is expected to be completed by 2026. Preliminary work on Section 1 is ongoing, while Section 4 remains in early planning.

The CEP includes 14 interchanges, three of which are system interchanges, and 12 service interchanges to improve regional connectivity. Despite setbacks, officials assert that both the ECT and CEP remain high-priority projects in the government’s infrastructure agenda.

June 10, Colombo (LNW): The scheduling of Provincial Council elections remains in limbo as Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister for Provincial Councils and Local Government, Prabha Ruwan Senarath, confirmed that a final decision is anticipated in the opening months of next year.

He cited lingering legal complexities and administrative setbacks—chief amongst them the unresolved delimitation process—as primary reasons for the ongoing delay.

Minister Senarath clarified that no elections will take place until these fundamental challenges are thoroughly resolved and a cohesive, legally sound framework for local governance is firmly in place.

This stance follows controversy surrounding a previously submitted delimitation report, which was introduced under the tenure of former Minister Faizer Musthapha but was ultimately discarded after considerable political backlash.

Given the stalemate, the current administration is actively reviewing the possibility of reinstating the previous electoral model whilst reconfiguring the geographical boundaries of provincial councils to reflect more equitable representation.

Yet, the Deputy Minister underscored that the holding of any election must come after a comprehensive reform of the local government system, designed to enhance its capacity to deliver essential services at the community level.

Looking ahead, the government is tentatively eyeing January 2026 to revisit the question of elections. By then, authorities aim to have resolved the myriad legal and procedural issues that currently hinder the democratic process at the provincial level.

Preliminary consultations are reportedly already underway, though Senarath warned that multiple obstacles remain and must be addressed systematically before the nation can return to the polls.