News

Kasmira awarded ‘Most Peaceful Prize’ at Children’s World Peace Summit

Published

2 years ago

August 7, 2023

editor

Sri Lankan student – R.S. Kasmira Jayaweera has won the the ‘Most Peaceful Prize’ for her eloquent presentation on peace-building at the 4th Children’s World Peace Summit held in Tokyo last Tuesday.

Kasmira is a Grade 12 student at the Bandaranayake Central College, Veyangoda.

At this year’s Children’s World Peace Summit, more than 200 ideas for creating peace were submitted from 20 countries, and 12 child representatives were selected from among them to give speeches at the International Conference Hall of the House of Representatives.

Sri Lankan Ambassador E. Rodney M. Perera, along with Embassy staff, congratulated Kasmira.

Kasmira Jayaweera was selected from Sri Lanka to be amongst the 12 youth representatives from all over the world who delivered speeches on their ideas to create world peace. The theme of Jayaweera’s speech was ‘Listening to other people, learning and realizing the reality of the world and life’. Other child representatives delivering speeches were from Japan, Nepal, France, Lithuania, Malaysia, USA, and Cote d Ivoire.

Following her victory, Kasmira also sought blessings of Ven. Banagala Upatissa Thero – who is the President of Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka, Chief Sangha Nayaka of Japan and the Chief Priest-Lankaji Temple, Japan.

News

Pope Francis’s funeral on April 26

Published

46 minutes ago

April 22, 2025

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Pope Francis’s funeral will take place on Saturday (April 26) at 10:00 local time (09:00 BST, 08:00 GMT), the Vatican confirms.

The funeral will take place outdoors in front of St Peter’s Basilica.

The dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, will lead the service.

At the end of the funeral, Re will deliver the final commendation – a concluding prayer where the Pope will be formally entrusted to God – and the body moved to St Mary Major for the burial.

The Vatican has also released images of Pope Francis in an open coffin, dressed in a red robe with the papal mitre on his head and a rosary in his hand.

He will be taken to St Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday morning (April 23), where his casket will remain until burial for the public to pay their respects.

The Pope’s coffin will be there until the burial for the public to pay their respects.

His body is currently laid out in a coffin in the chapel of the Santa Marta residence, where he lived during his 12-year papacy.

The pontiff’s death has prompted an outpouring of grief from Catholics across the globe. From South Sudan to Argentina, Poland to the Philippines.

(BBC News)

News

This week’s Cabinet decisions

Published

49 minutes ago

April 22, 2025

editor

A number of decisions have been taken at the Cabinet meeting held yesterday (April 21).

The decisions taken by the Cabinet of Ministers are as follows :

Cabinet decision on 21.04.2025 (English)Download

News

Devotees in Kandy urged to be more environmentally friendly

Published

2 hours ago

April 22, 2025

editor

The Clean Sri Lanka programme respectfully urges all devotees visiting the Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic) for the veneration of sacred relics, to avoid bringing non-biodegradable items, such as polythene and to prioritize cleanliness within and around the temple premises.

Visitors are kindly reminded to dispose of waste responsibly, using only the designated disposal areas.

As a flagship government programme, Clean Sri Lanka seeks to inspire a collective awakening in environmental, social and ethical consciousness, striving to uplift the nation towards a cleaner and more responsible society.

This programme places special emphasis on creating a waste-free environment and encouraging proper waste management practices.

In alignment with the commencement of the Siri Dalada Dekma (Sacred Relic exposition), a series of activities under the Clean Sri Lanka programme have been launched around the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic to support this cause.

(President’s Media Division)