The All Island Canteen and Restaurant Owners’ Association has announced a Rs. 10 increase in the price of a cup of milk tea.

Association President Harshana Rukshan stated that the decision was made in response to the recent rise in the price of imported milk powder.

A meeting between the Minister of Health and Mass Media – Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa and US Ambassador to Sri Lanka – Julie J. Chung was held yesterday (July 10) at the Ministry of Health premises.

During the discussion, the US Ambassador agreed to facilitate a portion of essential medicines and surgical equipment to Sri Lanka from American donors.

The 02 sides also held extensive talks on the current status and future development of the country’s free healthcare system, the media industry.

Efforts to combat Dengue and Chikungunya through public awareness campaigns were also taken up.

Minister Jayatissa noted that special programs have already been launched to avoid periodic medicine shortages in state hospitals and that structured inter-governmental discussions are underway to secure essential supplies.

The Minister recalled the past assistance provided by the US government to develop Sri Lanka’s healthcare services.

He further said that work has begun to formulate a new national media policy with inputs from all stakeholders and that steps are being taken to establish an accredited training institution for journalists.

Implementing a training program for Sri Lankan journalists was also discussed.

The US Ambassador has reiterated the United States’ commitment to continue providing financial, technological, knowledge-based, and material support to strengthen the island’s health and mass media sectors.

Officials from the US Embassy and the Ministry of Health were also present at the meeting.

Commissioner General of Examinations – A.K.S. Indika Kumari announced that 237,026 students have qualified for the G.C.E. Advanced Level (A/L) based on the 2024 G.C.E. Ordinary Level (O/L) Examination results, representing 73.45% of candidates.

She made these remarks at a press briefing held this morning (July 11) at the Department of Examinations, following the official release of the O/L results.

She noted that 13,392 students (4.15%) secured ‘A’ passes in all 09 subjects, while 2.34% failed all subjects.

The Southern Province recorded the highest pass rate, with 75.64% of candidates qualifying for A/Ls.

The provincial pass percentages are as follows:

•  Southern Province – 75.64%
• Western Province – 74.47%
•  Eastern Province – 74.26%
• Central Province – 73.91%
• Sabaragamuwa Province – 73.44%
• Uva Province – 73.14%
• North Western Province – 71.47%
• North Central Province – 70.24%
• Northern Province – 69.86%

Subject-wise Performance as follows:

• Buddhism – 83.21%
• Saivanery (Hinduism) – 82.96%
• Catholicism – 90.22%
• Christianity – 91.49%
• Islam – 85.45%
• English – 73.82%
• Sinhala Language and Literature – 87.73%
• Tamil Language and Literature – 87.03%
• History – 82.17%
• Science – 71.06%
• Mathematics – 69.07%

(Previous news 2025 July 11 – 7.27.a.m.)

2024 O/L Exam results released

The results of the 2024 G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination have been released online, the Department of Examination announced.

Accordingly, the Examinations Department announced that the examination results can be obtained from the websites: www.doenets.lk or www.results.exams.gov.lk.

The examination department requests applicants to contact the following hotlines if they seek to make any inquiries regarding these results: 1911 or 011 2 785 922, 0112 786 616, 011 2 784 208 or 011 2 784 537.

The statement further said that applications for the scrutiny of the O/L results will be called from July 14 to July 28.

A total of 474,147 applicants sat for the G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination this year, of which 398,182 were school applicants and 75,965 private candidates.

The O/L examination was conducted at 3,663 examination centers from March 17 to 26.