News

Overseas Lankans able to obtain personal certificates online

Published

5 months ago

January 7, 2025

editor

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath launches the website to enable overseas Lankans to obtain birth, marriage, and death certificates online through their embassies.

Under the digitalisation programme initiated by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a new digital platform was launched yesterday (06) by Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath allowing Sri Lankans abroad to quickly obtain birth, marriage, and death certificates through the respective embassies without any delays.

This website, operated by the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Ministry, was inaugurated by Minister Herath. The pilot project is being implemented for seven Sri Lankan missions overseas including Japan, Qatar, Kuwait, Milan, Toronto, Melbourne, and Dubai. The project aims to cover all embassies in the future.

Attending the event Minister Herath stated, “This opportunity for Sri Lankans abroad is the result of the dedicated efforts of the officials at the Presidential Secretariat, led by Senior Additional Secretary Roshan Gamage, and the Registrar General’s Department over the past two months.”

He further said, “Even though officials could have implemented this earlier, they lacked the necessary leadership. However, with the new political leadership, the officials managed to make it a reality within two months. This is the first successful initiative under the President’s digitalisation concept.

(dailynews.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

COVID subvariants spreading in Asia detected in Sri Lanka

Published

10 hours ago

May 31, 2025

editor

The Medical Research Institute of Sri Lanka has confirmed that the COVID-19 variant currently spreading in the Asian region has also been identified in the country.

Dr. Jude Jayamaha, a specialist in viral diseases at the Medical Research Institute, stated that patients infected with the Omicron subvariants LF.7 and XFG are being reported locally.

Dr. Jayamaha explained that this finding was confirmed through research conducted on biological samples collected from several hospitals across the island.

However, he emphasized that there is no need for undue fear regarding these COVID-19 variants.

Health authorities have also stressed the importance of vulnerable groups—such as pregnant mothers, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses—following health guidelines, including wearing face masks and avoiding crowded places.

Dr. Jayamaha reiterated that new COVID-19 variants emerge periodically, and health authorities are continuously monitoring the situation, so the public should remain calm.

(newswire.lk)

(This story, originally published by newswire.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

Anudi misses out from Miss World Quarter-Finals

Published

10 hours ago

May 31, 2025

editor

The Miss World organization has announced its quarter-finalists, selecting 40 contestants from across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Sri Lanka’s Anudi Gunasekara, was not selected in the top 40, despite being recognized for her impressive performances in the Multimedia and Head-to-Head challenges.

The top 40 consisted of 10 contestants each from Asia & Oceania, Europe, Africa and the Americas.