News
Govt. to introduce major higher education reforms aligned with school education changes - PM
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the Government has planned to introduce relevant changes in the higher education sector in alignment with the new reforms being implemented in the primary and secondary education sectors.
The Prime Minister made these remarks in parliament while responding to questions raised by Member of Parliament Manjula Sugath Rathnayaka, according to the Prime Minister’s Media Division.
The Prime Minister further stated:
“A special expert committee appointed for this purpose has been in operation over the past six months, and based on the report of this panel, existing issues in the higher education sector will be identified and the necessary reforms will be implemented.
“A total number of 281,810 students sat for the 2025 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination, of whom 176,538 qualified for university admission. Following the subject streams, the number of qualified students is as follows: 32,935 in Biological Sciences, 23,012 in Physical Sciences, 39,608 in Commerce, 58,269 in Arts, 4,199 in the General Stream, 12,472 in Engineering Technology, and 6,043 in Bio-Systems Technology and 42,937 students are expected to be admitted to universities.
“While ensuring the quality of education, the Government gives priority to improving facilities for university students. It has also been decided to maintain the intake for first-degree admissions at the same level as in previous years.
“A new course in Geographic Information Systems has been introduced at the University of Ruhuna, and a course in Electronic and Intelligent Systems Engineering has been introduced at the University of Peradeniya from the academic year 2025/2026. Fifty students will be enrolled for each of these new programmes. Steps have already been completed to release the cut-off marks and forward the registration lists to the respective universities.
“Responding to a question raised by the Member of Parliament K. Kader Mastan regarding preschool education, the Prime Minister stated:
“As most preschools in the country are managed by the private sector, the Ministry currently has no provision to offer permanent appointments or salaries to their staff. However, steps are already being taken to provide a certain allowance to volunteer teachers in selected preschools under Provincial Councils.
“By 2027, the entire preschool education system is expected to undergo comprehensive reform, with necessary measures being jointly undertaken by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.
“In addition, based on the recommendations of the National Education Commission, a national policy to regulate preschool education is scheduled to be established in 2026. Under this policy, teacher guidelines and model activity manuals are being prepared, along with plans to conduct teacher training programmes at the provincial level.
“Commenting on volunteer teachers, the Prime Minister emphasized that, in accordance with the Cabinet decision dated 04.01.2007, the policy of not recruiting any volunteer teachers beyond the approved 4,700 teacher aides will continue to be implemented.”
(Adaderana.lk)
Prices of multiple food items to increase from midnight today
The All Ceylon Restaurant Owners’ Association has decided to increase the prices of Fried Rice, Biryani, and Nasi Goreng by Rs. 25 with effect from midnight today (07).
The association also announced price increases for plain tea and milk tea at restaurants operating using Laughs Gas cylinders.
Chairman of the association, Harshana Rukshan, stated that around 25% to 30% of eateries and restaurants use Laughs gas cylinders and are finding it increasingly difficult to bear the rising cost of LP gas.
Accordingly, the price of plain tea at such outlets has been increased by Rs. 5, while milk tea prices have gone up by Rs. 10.
Meanwhile, the prices of short eats have been increased by Rs. 5, he said.
However, the association noted that there will be no price increase for ‘Egg Rotis’ and ‘Parathas’.
(Adaderana.lk)
Modi’s party set to gain big in Indian state elections
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party was on course to win two of four crucial state elections on Monday (May 4), expanding its influence and weakening its key rival half-way into his third term in office.
Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was set to return to power in the eastern state of Assam for the third straight term, and was sweeping West Bengal, counting trends on the Election Commission website showed.
Both states border Bangladesh and infiltration into India was a key poll issue.
The BJP has never ruled West Bengal, a state where it had only three local lawmakers until 2021.
Modi, his closest aide and Home Minister Amit Shah and several senior BJP leaders have campaigned extensively in West Bengal for weeks, focusing on what they called illegal immigration from Bangladesh and the weak local economy under incumbent Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Banerjee is a fierce critic of Modi and a key member of India’s opposition alliance. She has been in power in the state since 2011.
The positive trend for the BJP in West Bengal also boosted market sentiment, with the 10-year bond yield down 2 basis points at 6.9954 per cent, bond traders said.
BLOW TO OPPOSITION ALLIANCE
In the southern state of Tamil Nadu, a major hub for electronics and automobiles, popular movie star Joseph Vijay, a first-time entrant into politics who launched his party only two years ago, looked on course to oust the ruling DMK party.
The actor, who goes by the single name Vijay, has a frenzied fan following in the state, which has a history of electing film stars to the top office.
In the other southern state of Kerala, an alliance led by the Congress party looked set to defeat the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist).
The DMK is also a vocal rival of Modi, and DMK and Banerjee’s ruling TMC party were the main pillars of the Congress-led opposition INDIA alliance.
The alliance jointly fought the 2024 general election and deprived Modi of an outright majority, forcing him to rely on the support of regional parties to form a coalition government.
Their losses are expected to significantly weaken opposition to Modi in 2029, when he will contest for a record fourth term in office.
Final results are expected to be clear by Monday evening but the outcome is not expected to have an immediate impact on politics or policy at the federal level.
Source: Reuters
Australia says 13 citizens linked to alleged IS members returning from Syria
A group of 13 Australians related to alleged Islamic State jihadists is returning home from Syria, Australian authorities said Wednesday (May 6), warning some will face arrest.
The four women and nine children, who had been living in Roj camp in Syria, are expected to land in Sydney and Melbourne airports on Thursday, according to local media.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said he received an alert on Wednesday morning when the group’s travel booking was made.
“The government is not assisting and will not assist these individuals,” he told a news conference.
“They made an appalling, disgraceful decision. If any of these individuals find their way back to Australia, if they have committed crimes, they can expect to face the full force of the law, without exception.”
Police said they collected evidence in Syria as they investigated whether Australians had committed crimes under Australian law, including travelling to a prohibited area and engaging in slave trade.
“Some individuals will be arrested and charged,” Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said.
She did not indicate when they would be arrested, and said others in the group will remain under investigation.
“Children who return in the cohort will be asked to undergo community integration programmes, therapeutic support, and countering violent extremism programmes,” she added.
“HORRIFIC CHOICE”
The Australian government has issued an exclusion order preventing another woman in the Syrian camp from entering Australia.
“These are people who have made what is a horrific choice to join a dangerous terrorist organisation and to place their children in an extraordinary situation,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters.
Australia’s Human Rights Commission president, Hugh de Kretser, in March urged the government to support the return of 34 Australian women and children living in the Roj camp, where they have been held for seven years, noting Australian citizens had previously returned from the camp in 2019, 2022 and last year.
Australia made it an offence to travel to the Islamic State’s stronghold of Raqqa province in Syria between 2014 and 2017, an attempt to stop its citizens joining the militant group.
A woman who returned from Syria in 2022 was later charged by Australian police with entering a terrorist controlled area.
Around 2,000 foreign national women and children remain living in Roj camp, displaced after the collapse of the Islamic State in March 2019, Syrian officials said in March.
Source: AFP
Page 2 of 717