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Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya emphasised that childcare is not solely a women’s issue as it is an economic and policy issue. She said that enabling women to balance work and caregiving is not only the right thing to do, but also essential for economic progress.

The Premier made these remarks while participating in a World Bank Group event titled Childcare as an Enabler of Women’s Increased Economic Participation in Sri Lanka, held today (17) at Cinnamon Life Hotel, Colombo, according to the Prime Minister’s Media Division.

The roundtable mainly focused on how opportunities can be granted to women to thrive in the workforce while contributing to the nation’s economy through childcare services.

Delivering the keynote address, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya highlighted that women are central to the economy through both paid and unpaid contributions. However, barriers continue to restrict their workforce participation.

It is true that women’s labour force participation in Sri Lanka stands at only 32%, significantly lower than men’s participation at 74%. However, this statistic fails to capture the full scope of women’s economic contributions, as unpaid work by women is not statistically included.

Closing the gender gap could increase Sri Lanka’s GDP by up to 20%, as this is not just a social goal; it is an economic strategy that strengthens family well-being and national development.

The Sri Lankan government has taken steps such as Early Childhood Development (ECD) programs through the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs to expand childcare services in order to support women in the workforce, the statement said.

The Prime Minister further stated that tax incentives are being provided to businesses offering child protection services, economic assistance is being granted to working families, and a National Child Protection Framework is already in operation to ensure the quality of such services. Furthermore, she emphasized that public-private partnerships are crucial in expanding the provision of these services.

The Prime Minister appreciated the World Bank’s support in this regard.

The event was attended by the Secretary to the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, K.D.R. Olga, Gevorg Sargsyan, World Bank Group Country Manager for Sri Lanka, and representatives from the government, private sector, civil society, and officials from the World Bank Group.

The Colombo Commercial High Court has ordered the public auction of three companies reportedly linked to former State Minister Daya Gamage, to recover an outstanding sum owed to People's Leasing and Finance PLC.

According to a public notice issued by the Registrar and Deputy Fiscal of the High Court, the auction is scheduled for July 2 at 10 a.m.

The companies listed for auction are Daya Group Limited, Daya Apparel Exporter (Pvt) Ltd, and Olympus Construction (Pvt) Ltd.

The auction is being conducted to recover a balance of Rs. 104,229,342, as per a court judgment delivered on November 10, 2022.

Since the respondents have so far paid Rs. 4,080,000 from the total sum of Rs. 108,309,342 owed to the finance company, the remainder is now being sought through the sale of the companies' assets under court order.

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered Member of Parliament Chamara Sampath Dassanayake to reappear on November 16, 2025, in connection with three cases related to alleged financial misconduct during his tenure as Chief Minister of Uva Province.

The cases were heard today before Chief Magistrate Tanuja Lakmali Jayasinghe, who issued the summons following a review of the charges.

According to the allegations, Dassanayake is accused of prematurely withdrawing funds from six fixed deposit accounts belonging to the Uva Provincial Council, causing a financial loss of approximately Rs 17.3 million to the government. The deposits were reportedly held in a state-owned bank and withdrawn before their maturity dates.

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption arrested Dassanayake on March 27, 2025, in connection with the case. He was subsequently remanded and later released on bail on April 8, 2025.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya says the Ministry has launched a formal review into the quality of educationist degrees awarded by private universities and affiliated higher education institutes in Sri Lanka.

She stated that issues have arisen concerning the qualifications of graduates with educationist degrees from these institutions, particularly regarding their eligibility and suitability for recruitment into the Sri Lanka Teachers’ Service.

The Minister made these comments on June 14 during a meeting with representatives of teacher and principal unions at the Ministry of Education premises in Isurupaya.

Dr. Amarasuriya further clarified that recent teacher appointments were done in line with prevailing teacher service regulations as they had been been approved by the previous Government.

However, she emphasized that the quality and credibility of educationist degrees—especially from government-approved private universities—are now under renewed scrutiny by the Ministry.

She noted that future recruitments to the Teachers’ Service would be guided by the outcomes of this quality review.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Labour Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe, Acting Education Ministry Secretary Amal Edirisuriya, and senior ministry officials.

The high-level Committee of Inquiry investigating allegations of gross abuse of power by suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon will commence daily hearings starting today.

The committee, chaired by Supreme Court Justice P. P. Surasena, includes Justice W.M.N.P. Iddawela and National Police Commission Chairman E.W.M. Lalith Ekanayake.

This follows a series of preliminary sessions and the submission of affidavits by the Attorney General’s Department, with formal hearings now underway.

The inquiry comes from serious allegations of misconduct during Tennakoon’s tenure, prompting Parliament to pass a resolution under the Removal of Officers (Procedure) Act No. 5 of 2002 2.

IGP Tennakoon is expected to appear before the committee at 9:30 a.m. today (16), continuing a process that began with his initial appearance in May.

The Attorney General’s Department, represented by senior legal officers, has already submitted key evidence, while Tennakoon’s legal team has also made presentation to the committee.

Acting Defence Minister Maj. Gen. (Retd) Aruna Jayasekara visited the Turkish Navy ship TCG Büyükada (F-512) on June 13, where he was welcomed by Turkish Ambassador Semih Lütfü Turgut and the ship’s commanding officer.

In his address, Jayasekara highlighted the visit as a sign of growing defence ties and maritime cooperation between Sri Lanka and Türkiye.

He also held discussions with Turkish defence officials on strengthening bilateral military collaboration. The visit included a tour of the vessel, attended by senior naval officers and diplomatic representatives.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake says by 2028, the government will have laid the foundation for a stable and self-reliant Sri Lankan economy, one capable of meeting its external debt obligations independently.

The President emphasised that true sovereignty cannot exist amidst economic collapse, reaffirming that the government’s ultimate goal is to restore national sovereignty through economic stability and self-reliance.

President Dissanayake further called upon all public officials and citizens to actively contribute to this national effort, highlighting that the ongoing reform process requires a collective and sustained commitment from everyone.

The President made the remarks today while delivering the keynote address at the international conference “Sri Lanka’s Road to Recovery: Debt and Governance” in Colombo.

This landmark conference was jointly hosted by the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

President Anura Kumara Disanayake, who is currently on an official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany, met with representatives of the Tourism and Travel Industry Associations, along with Outbound Travel/Tour Operators, this morning (13) at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Berlin.

During the meeting, the President outlined the progressive measures undertaken by the Sri Lankan government to promote sustainable tourism. The President emphasized improvements in tourism infrastructure, on-going promotional campaigns and enhanced safety protocols aimed at positioning Sri Lanka as a leading travel destination through sustainable tourism practices.

President Disanayake also drew attention to key focus areas such as human resource development within the tourism sector, the promotion of cultural and eco-tourism and environmental protection initiatives. He noted that these efforts are part of a comprehensive strategy to strengthen the tourism industry while preserving the island’s natural and cultural heritage.

Highlighting the new investment opportunities available in Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, the President extended an open invitation to German investors to explore and engage in tourism-related ventures in the country.

Germany currently ranks as the fourth-largest source market for tourism to Sri Lanka. In 2024 alone, the country welcomed approximately 136,000 German tourists, with over 69,000 arrivals recorded by the end of May this year.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vjitha Herath, along with Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Germany, Ms. Varuni Muthukumarana and other officials, participated in the meeting. (PMD)

Gita Gopinath, First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), met with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo today (16) to discuss the country’s ongoing economic reform program.

The meeting took place during her two-day official visit, which coincides with a high-level conference titled “Sri Lanka’s Road to Recovery: Debt and Governance”.

“We discussed Sri Lanka’s strong performance on economic reforms and the importance of maintaining momentum,” she noted.

She emphasized the importance of maintaining reform momentum, noting that “continued commitment is vital for lasting stability and prosperity for all Sri Lankans.”

The visit marks the first time since 2005 that a serving IMF Deputy Managing Director has visited Sri Lanka.

The acceptance of applications for medical assistance under the President’s Fund through Divisional Secretariats island wide commenced on February 7. Following the successful implementation of that initiative, preparations have now been completed to expand the digital system to include all other services offered by the Fund.

Accordingly, the public will be able to apply online via any Divisional Secretariat across the country for a wide range of services provided under the President’s Fund. These include assistance for poverty alleviation, provision of educational scholarships, recognition of students demonstrating academic excellence, support for individuals with special needs, relief assistance for children affected by wild elephant conflict, recognition of individuals for their national service or contributions to the country, Emergency and disaster relief.

This digital transformation marks a significant milestone, as it enables people across Sri Lanka to access services of the President’s Fund from anywhere in the country for the first time in its 47-year history, which had previously been limited to Colombo-based operations.

This move comes as a result of a decision taken by the Board of Governors of the President’s Fund, chaired by the President. It is expected to broaden access to assistance for a larger number of beneficiaries while also minimizing opportunities for misuse of the Fund.

In a closely watched and hotly debated vote, Vraîe Cally Balthazaar of the National People’s Power (NPP) has been elected as the new Mayor of Colombo, securing 61 votes in a secret ballot held during the inaugural session of the Colombo Municipal Council.

Balthazaar defeated Riza Zarook of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), who received 54 votes. Two votes were rejected.

The election followed intense discussions among council members over whether the vote should be conducted openly or by secret ballot. After more than an hour of deliberation, consensus was reached to proceed with a secret vote.

The Colombo Municipal Council, comprising 117 members, saw the NPP emerge as the largest party with 48 seats in the May 6 local government elections.

However, it lacked an outright majority.

The inaugural session was presided over by Western Province Commissioner of Local Government, Sarangika Jayasundara. According to council procedure, the first order of business was the election of the Mayor.

Balthazaar’s election marks a significant milestone for the NPP and for Colombo’s political landscape, as she becomes one of the few women to hold the city’s top municipal office.

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Tel Aviv has issued an urgent notice in response to escalating tensions following a series of Israeli airstrikes on Iran earlier this morning (13).

The strikes have significantly heightened the risk of a large-scale military conflict in the Middle East.

In its statement, the embassy noted that flight restrictions have been imposed due to the prevailing situation.

Sri Lankan nationals intending to travel to or from Israel are advised to postpone their travel plans until further notice.

The embassy also urged Sri Lankans residing in Israel to exercise extreme caution, remain close to designated shelters, and be prepared to seek cover in the event of missile attacks by hostile parties.

Transportation services across Israel have been suspended, and authorities have instructed civilians to relocate to safe areas.

Additionally, the embassy advised Sri Lankans to maintain an emergency supply of drinking water and dry food, and assured that embassy officials are available around the clock for assistance.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it is in continuous contact with the Sri Lankan embassies in both Israel and Iran, and is actively monitoring the evolving situation.

According to foreign media reports, the Israeli operation—reportedly codenamed “Operation Rising Lion”—targeted key Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure, including nuclear facilities, missile production sites, and military headquarters. The attacks were carried out by Israeli Air Force (IAF) fighter jets.

Among the high-profile casualties, Iranian state media confirmed the deaths of Major General Mohammad Bagheri, the Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces and the country’s highest-ranking military officer, and General Hossein Salami, Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Several Iranian nuclear scientists were also reportedly killed in the strikes.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that the Natanz nuclear site was among the targets but stated that radiation levels remained within normal limits.

In response to the attack, Iran has reportedly dispatched approximately 200 fighter jets towards Israeli airspace, signaling the potential for further escalation.

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, condemned the strikes, stating that the attack reflects Israel’s “vile nature” and that a bitter consequence awaits the aggressors.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing the nation, declared that this marks the beginning of an extended offensive against Iran, aimed at preventing it from acquiring nuclear weapons and protecting the Israeli people.

He affirmed that the strikes will continue as long as necessary.

The United States has stated that it did not support or participate in the Israeli operation. Nevertheless, it recently ordered the evacuation of all non-essential American citizens from the Middle East.

The United Nations has condemned Israel’s attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites, warning that such actions further destabilize the already fragile Middle East region.