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International Day of Yoga 2025 marked in all Ayurveda hospitals in SL (Pics)

Published

22 hours ago

June 19, 2025

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The Department of Ayurveda, under the Ministry of Health of Government of Sri Lanka and the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC), the cultural arm of the High Commission of India in Colombo jointly organised International Day of Yoga (IDY) celebrations today (June 19) from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM, across the island.

In a historic first, this IDY event was simultaneously held in 113 Ayurveda hospitals, including teaching and research institutions across all nine provinces of Sri Lanka along with four universities, which also joined this landmark initiative. In addition to this island-wide observance, the main 11th IDY 2025 event will be held on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at 6:30 AM at Independence Square, Colombo, organised by the High Commission of India in Colombo. Simultaneous celebrations will also take place in Jaffna, Kandy, and Hambantota, led by Indian diplomatic missions in these regions, further amplifying the spirit of yoga across the country.
The Department of Ayurveda under the Ministry of Health of Government of Sri Lanka is a key government institution responsible for the promotion, regulation, and preservation of Ayurveda and traditional indigenous medicine in Sri Lanka. As part of its ongoing commitment to holistic health and well-being, The Department of Ayurveda promotes Yoga as a vital tool in Ayurvedic healthcare delivery, education and research.

This collaborative celebration with SVCC marks the first time that the entire network of Ayurveda institutions in Sri Lanka participated in the International Day of Yoga, in a unified manner. The SVCC extended generous support by providing yoga mats, instructional books, and curated video contents to all participating centres to facilitate the event.

This island-wide event underscored the growing global recognition of Yoga as a powerful tool for physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, while also strengthening the traditional healthcare ties between Sri Lanka and India.

The theme of IDY 2025 “Yoga for One Earth, One Health” reflects the profound connection between individual well-being and the health of our planet. Yoga, as an ancient practice rooted in harmony between mind, body, and nature, promotes a sustainable and balanced lifestyle essential for global health and environmental consciousness. This universal message was powerfully endorsed by the Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi, whose historic proposal at the United Nations General Assembly in 2014 led to the declaration of June 21st as the International Day of Yoga. Since then, Yoga Day has become a global movement, inspiring millions across the world to embrace yoga as a way to cultivate inner peace and collective well-being.

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UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit SL

Published

5 minutes ago

June 20, 2025

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The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk will undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka from June 23 – 26, 2025.

This marks the first visit by a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to Sri Lanka since February 2016.
During the visit, the High Commissioner is scheduled to call on the President and the Prime Minister. He will also hold meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, several other Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, senior Government officials, religious leaders, representatives of civil society, members of the diplomatic community, and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.

As part of the programme, the High Commissioner will travel to Kandy where he will pay respects to The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and call on the Chief Prelates of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters. He will also travel to Jaffna and Trincomalee where he will meet with the Governors of the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

Substantive discussions during the visit will focus on further advancing the promotion and protection of human rights and reconciliation, in line with the Government of Sri Lanka’s ongoing constructive engagement with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

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3 DMT officials remanded until July 07

Published

4 hours ago

June 20, 2025

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Three officials from the Narahenpita branch of the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT), including the Deputy Commissioner, have been remanded until July 07 following allegations of accepting bribes totaling nearly Rs. 04 million.

The suspects were presented before Colombo Chief Magistrate Tanuja Lakmali Jayatunga earlier today (June 20) and court ordered their continued detention as investigations are continuing.Authorities allege that the officials solicited bribes from members of the public seeking vehicle licenses and registration services with these bribes reportedly discovered in their possession during the arrest.

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Billion rupee loss due to Southern Expressway design changes – Bimal

Published

4 hours ago

June 20, 2025

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Minister Bimal Ratnayake revealed in Parliament today (June 20) financial losses running upto to billions of rupees has occured due to politically influenced changes made to the original design of the Southern Expressway.

He stated that two interchanges, which were not included in the expressway’s initial plan, were constructed under political pressure – leading to unnecessary cost escalations and inefficiencies.

These interchanges are located in Kapuduwa and Bedigama, the minister revealed.

Minister Ratnayake emphasized the need to protect large-scale infrastructure projects from political interference to avoid waste of public funds and ensure proper planning and execution.

He also revealed that there is only one rest area in the Southern Expressway which has been leased by the Rajapaksas for a prolonged period of 99 years for a mere Rs. 10,000.

(Video : VoiceTube)