President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has called for the integration of political leaders and public officials into a unified system to accelerate development and uplift the people’s standard of living. Speaking at the Hambantota District Special Coordination Committee meeting held yesterday (11) at the District Secretariat auditorium, the President emphasised that “no one can work in isolation” and urged all parties to support the government’s initiatives aimed at serving the public interest.

During the meeting, President Dissanayake conducted a comprehensive review of district development issues in sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, education, health, rural roads, irrigation, and land use. Despite a Rs. 574 millionallocation to Hambantota under the 2025 Southern Province Development Programme, it was revealed that only Rs. 23 million — just 4% — had been utilised so far. The President questioned officials over the poor progress and stressed the urgency of effectively using the funds to meet public needs within this year.

The President criticised irregular land allocations and directed officials to develop a system where land is granted to individuals for productive economic purposes, not to agencies for bureaucratic ownership. He also instructed a comprehensive review of the district’s school system, calling for a data-driven, realistic education plan that ensures quality and equitable access.

President Dissanayake further noted that challenges in the public service, including staff shortages, would be addressed through the recruitment of 30,000 new public servants after a five-year hiatus. He assured that provisions would be made in the upcoming budget to equip Divisional Secretaries and officials with essential vehicles for administrative work.

The digitalisation agenda was another key focus, with the President stressing that development today is measured by technology, not buildings. He announced that September will be declared the “Month of Digital Culture”, marking a national campaign to foster digital awareness and transformation. He highlighted the introduction of the Digital IDas a milestone in redefining Sri Lanka’s global identity.

The Hambantota Elephant Management Reserve and the implementation of an elephant corridor project were also discussed, with the President affirming his commitment to acquiring necessary lands for wildlife conservation. Additionally, he vowed to secure Rs. 70 million in funding for the completion of the kidney unit at Hambantota District General Hospital.

The session concluded with the participation of several key officials and MPs, including Governor Bandula Harischandra, MPs Nihal Galappaththi, Aravinda Witharana, Athula Welandagoda, and Saliya Sandaruwan Madurasinghe, as well as Provincial Deputy Minister Ruwan Prabha Senarath, and senior government and security officials from the Hambantota District.

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British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Andrew Patrick has stated that the United Kingdom’s new trade measures will create a mutually beneficial situation for both Sri Lanka and the UK. Speaking on the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), he encouraged Sri Lankan exporters to take greater advantage of the trade preferences being offered.

“This is a win for the Sri Lankan garment sector and for UK consumers. With the UK being Sri Lanka’s second-largest export market, and garments accounting for over 60% of that trade, manufacturers here will no doubt welcome this announcement,” he said.

The High Commissioner further emphasised the UK’s intention to support Sri Lanka in expanding its export portfoliounder the DCTS beyond the garment industry. He noted that the simplification of rules of origin across multiple sectors presents new opportunities for Sri Lankan exporters.

“We want Sri Lanka to improve the utilisation of the UK’s DCTS for a wider range of goods, not just garments,” he added.

Highlighting the Sri Lankan government’s ambition to boost exports, Patrick stressed the UK’s continued support in fostering shared prosperity between the two nations.

The DCTS is part of the UK’s post-Brexit trade strategy aimed at strengthening economic ties with developing countries by offering preferential access to the British market, thereby encouraging sustainable economic growth.

Examinations Commissioner General Indika Kumari Liyanage yesterday (11) announced that 237,026 students have qualified for the G.C.E. Advanced Level, based on the results of the 2024 G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination. This figure accounts for 73.45% of the total number of candidates who sat the exam.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Department of Examinations, she stated that 13,392 students had achieved A passes in all nine subjects, representing 4.15% of the overall candidate pool.

However, she also noted that 2.34% of students did not pass any subjects, underscoring the need for targeted intervention and support in underperforming areas.

According to the Commissioner General, the Southern Province recorded the highest pass rate, with 75.64% of students qualifying for A/Ls, reflecting strong academic performance across the region.

The press conference followed the official release of the 2024 O/L examination results, which are now accessible via the websites www.doenets.lk and www.results.exams.gov.lk. Students seeking further assistance or information have been advised to contact the Department of Examinations via the designated hotlines.

Applications for result re-scrutiny will be accepted from July 14 to July 28.

A total of 474,147 students sat for the examination this year, comprising 398,182 school candidates and 75,965 private applicants, with exams conducted across 3,663 centres island-wide from March 17 to 26.

Showers will occur at times in the Sabaragamuwa province and in Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Galle and Matara districts. Several spells of showers may occur in the Western and North-western provinces.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Uva and Eastern provinces during the afternoon or night.

Fairly strong winds of about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in North-western, North-central and Southern provinces.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake urging decisive and transparent action over the ongoing investigations into the Chemmani mass graves in Jaffna. In a strongly worded letter, ITAK called for international collaboration, proper forensic standards, and accountability for what it described as clear evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The letter highlights the grim history of the Chemmani site, which came to light in 1999 after disclosures during a trial revealed the burial of Tamil civilians. Initial excavations unearthed 15 skeletons, with estimates of hundreds more allegedly buried there. Earlier this year, redevelopment work at the Chemmani Ariyalai Hindu crematorium led to the discovery of further human remains, prompting a new court-supervised excavation.

According to ITAK, approximately 65 skeletons — including those of infants and children — have already been exhumed in 2025, accompanied by personal belongings that affirmed their civilian identity. The party warned that despite repeated findings, meaningful justice and accountability have yet to be delivered, and many perpetrators remain unpunished.

The letter emphasizes the need to:

• Consolidate the 1999 and 2025 investigations into a single judicial and forensic inquiry under the Colombo and Jaffna Magistrate’s Courts.
• Engage independent, internationally respected forensic experts to oversee the excavation process.
• Publicize interim and final forensic findings and DNA identifications.
• Repatriate remains sent abroad for analysis to Sri Lanka for proper examination and dignified return to families.
• Allocate sufficient resources and ensure prosecution of those responsible for the atrocities.

ITAK stressed that failure to act decisively would continue to undermine national healing and reconciliation efforts, calling the current gestures of reconciliation “hollow without real legal action.”

Signatories C.V.K. Sivagnanam and M.A. Sumanthiran stated that ITAK stands ready to support constructive measures to uphold Sri Lanka’s moral and legal obligations and to chart a credible path toward truth and justice.

The party concluded that addressing these long-standing issues is essential not only for the families of the victims but also for the country’s moral integrity and future unity.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated as the Chief Guest at the inauguration of the international conference “Nourishing South Asia”, held from July 9 to 11 at Cinnamon Lakeside, Colombo, with the central aim of reducing anemia among young women and children across South Asia.

Delivering the keynote address, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of regional cooperation and multi-sectoral commitment to address what she described as a “solvable but urgent” public health challenge.

“The goal of this conference is to build a South Asia where no adolescent girl or woman suffers from preventable anemia. Achieving that requires more than government intervention — it calls for a united effort from every sector of society,” she said.

Dr. Amarasuriya stressed the need to ensure that every girl has access to nutritious food, proper health education, and quality care, while also fostering an environment that enables women to realise their full potential.

She reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s governmental commitment, citing the country’s school nutrition programme as a key initiative designed to protect children from malnutrition and improve overall public health outcomes.

“Anemia among adolescent girls and women is a serious concern. But it is not insurmountable. Through renewed commitment, regional cooperation, and collective action, we can nourish future generations and break the cycle of undernutrition,” she added.

Concluding her remarks, the Prime Minister called on all participating nations to unite under a shared regional visionand pledged Sri Lanka’s continued support in building a healthier and more equitable South Asia.

“By nurturing our women and young girls, we can nourish the entire South Asian region,” she declared.

The event, organised with participation from key regional and international stakeholders, saw the presence of Md. Golam Sarwar representing SAARC, Sanjay Wijesekera of UNICEF, and several high-level delegates. The Prime Minister was formally welcomed by noted moderator and media professional Rini Simon Khanna.

The three-day conference is expected to yield practical commitments and collaborative strategies to combat anemia, and foster long-term investments in women’s and children’s health across South Asia.

Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dharmapala Weerakkody, paid a courtesy call on the newly appointed Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh, Ambassador Asad Alam Siam, during which the two sides held extensive discussions on enhancing bilateral cooperation.

The meeting, also attended by Minister Counsellor (Commerce) Srimali Jayaratne, focused on advancing collaboration in key sectors such as trade, investment, pharmaceuticals, ICT, education, and tourism.

High Commissioner Weerakkody congratulated Ambassador Siam on his new role and highlighted the strengthening economic and cultural ties between the two countries. He noted the growing number of Bangladeshi tourists visiting Sri Lanka and underscored the potential to further enhance tourism cooperation. He also urged the early convening of the next round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) within the year and called for the expedited finalisation of pending bilateral Agreements and MoUs.

A key area discussed was the procurement of pharmaceuticals from Bangladesh. The High Commissioner requested support from the Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry to fast-track the finalisation of a Government-to-Government MoUfor Sri Lanka to purchase medicines from Bangladesh.

Ambassador Siam reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to strengthening ties with Sri Lanka, particularly in economic cooperation. He stressed the value of expanding into new areas such as maritime affairs, education, ICT, tourism, and pharmaceuticals, noting that such efforts would provide mutual benefits.

He also welcomed Sri Lanka’s proposal to hold the Foreign Office Consultations by the end of 2025, recognising it as a platform to deepen strategic and people-centric collaboration.

Also present at the meeting were Ishrat Jahan, Director General of the South Asia Division, and Director Baky Billahfrom the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with Dr. Chris Elias, President of Global Development at the Gates Foundation, on Wednesday (10) for high-level discussions aimed at fostering strategic collaboration in agriculture, nutrition, digital public infrastructure, and rural technology integration.

Held at the Presidential Secretariat, the meeting centred on the Inclusive Digital Agriculture Transformation (IDAT) initiative, a programme that harnesses technology and data to support smallholder farmers in making informed decisions, enhancing rural livelihoods, and boosting climate resilience.

Welcoming the partnership, President Dissanayake said,

“We appreciate the continued support of the Gates Foundation as we work to build a healthier, more equitable, and digitally empowered Sri Lanka.”

He noted the Government’s broader goal of integrating rural communities with modern technology and expressed optimism that the Foundation’s global expertise would help Sri Lanka overcome economic challenges and implement national development priorities.

The Gates Foundation delegation reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s digital economy strategy, with special emphasis on modernising agriculture, improving livestock and dairy industries, and enhancing socio-economic development.

President Dissanayake also highlighted the importance of bridging the technological divide between urban and rural areas, stressing the need to ensure that all citizens benefit from digital transformation.

Dr. Elias responded positively, stating,

“Our continued discussions in agriculture, health and digital infrastructure reflect a shared interest in advancing impactful solutions. We thank the Government of Sri Lanka for its commitment to inclusive development.”

Gates Foundation representatives included Dr. Chris Elias, Jamal Khan, Archna Vyas, Thushan Wijesinghe, and Chandita Samaranayake.
The Sri Lankan delegation comprised Deputy Digital Economy Minister Eranga Weeraratne, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Chief Digital Economy Advisor Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, and Roshan Gamage, Senior Additional Secretary to the President.

The Environment Ministry has launched the ‘Vanaspathi’ national programme with the goal of increasing Sri Lanka’s forest cover and strengthening environmental protection. As part of its first phase, 20 forests located on state lands in the Moneragala and Ampara districts will be declared as forest reserves.

Deputy Environment Minister Anton Jayakody announced that the initiative involves identifying forest areas of five hectares or more in every district, with particular focus on mountain peak regions due to their ecological importance.

Sri Lanka’s forest cover, which ideally should be 32% of the total land area, has dropped to 28%, according to figures from the Forest Conservation Department. The Vanaspathi programme aims to restore and expand forest coverage to meet the recommended target through strategic conservation measures and the formal designation of reserves.

Gold prices edged higher on Thursday, fuelled by a weaker U.S. dollar and escalating global trade tensions following U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest tariff measures.

Spot gold rose 0.2% to $3,320.58 per ounce, while U.S. gold futures advanced 0.3% in early morning trade (8:21 a.m. GMT). The U.S. dollar index slipped by 0.2%, making dollar-denominated assets like gold more appealing to investors using other currencies. Additionally, the 10-year Treasury yield declined by 0.074% to 4.341%, reflecting growing investor caution.

The rise in gold prices comes a day after Trump announced a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports, surprising markets, especially as the U.S. recorded a trade surplus with Brazil last year. The decision followed a public spat with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

In addition to Brazil, the U.S. has issued letters to several other nations, including Sri Lanka, outlining reciprocal tariff measures, with an enforcement deadline of August 1. Trump also revealed a 50% tariff on copper, a metal critical to multiple industries, further stoking market fears.

Gold has gained 26% so far this year, driven by safe-haven demand amid mounting economic uncertainty and recession risks linked to aggressive trade actions.

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