News

President meets with SLRCS & IFRC leaders

Published

2 years ago

June 7, 2023

editor

In a momentous development, President Ranil Wickremesinghe convened a meeting today with a delegation composed of members from the esteemed Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) and the prestigious International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

The delegation comprised distinguished leaders, including Mr. Jagath Abeysinghe, President of SLRCS, Dr. Mahesh Gunasekara, Director General of SLRCS, Mr. Alexander Matheou, IFRC Regional Director for Asia Pacific, and Mr. Udaya Regmi, IFRC Head of Country Cluster Delegation for South Asia.

The primary objective of the meeting was to provide President Wickremesinghe with a comprehensive update regarding the ongoing South Asia National Societies Leadership meeting held in Colombo on June 6th and 7th.

Eminent leaders from eight South Asian Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies graced this noteworthy event. To inaugurate the gathering, the South Asia Launch of the World Disasters Report 2022 (WDR 2022) took place on June 6th. In a gesture of gratitude, President Wickremesinghe received a copy of the WDR 2022.

Throughout the meeting, the delegation also apprised the President of the pressing necessity for the enactment of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Act. This legislation aims to fortify the operational capacity of the Sri Lanka Red Cross and provide efficacious support to vulnerable individuals across the nation. The President attentively absorbed the briefing and engaged in deliberations concerning potential measures to enhance the functionality of the Sri Lanka Red Cross, thereby ensuring the welfare of the Sri Lankan people.

This meeting between President Wickremesinghe and the collective team of SLRCS and IFRC leaders epitomizes Sri Lanka’s steadfast commitment to collaborating with international humanitarian organizations in tackling crucial issues and fostering a more robust and resilient society.

Leaders of eight national associations of the Asian Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies were also present at this meeting.

(President’s Media Division)

News

24 schools closed due to “Siri Dalada Vandanawa” to reopen on Monday

Published

11 hours ago

April 26, 2025

editor

A total of 24 schools in and around Kandy that were closed due to “Siri Dalada Vandanawa,” the special exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic, will reopen on Monday (April 28), said the Chief Secretary of the Central Province.

Meanwhile, another 37 schools that are accommodating Police and security forces personnel will reopen on 29 April.

Over 50 schools in the Kandy town and surrounding areas were closed from April 21 in view of the special exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

The special exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic at the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy got underway on April 18 and will conclude tomorrow.

Schools that will reopen on Monday are as follows;
1. Dambawela Primary School
2. Gothami Balika Vidyalaya
3. St. Anthony’s College
4. Sri Chandananda Buddhist College
5. Chandananda Buddhist Girls’ College
6. Pushpadana Girls’ College, Kandy
7. Good Shepherd’s Convent, Kandy
8. Hindu Senior College, Kandy
9. Madduma Bandara Vidyalaya, Kandy
10. Viharamahadevi Girls’ College, Kandy
11. Girls’ High School, Kandy
12. Siddhi Lebbe College, Kandy
13. Dharmawickrema Girls’ College, Kandy
14. Kingswood College, Kandy
15. Peradeniya Central College, Kandy
16. Senkadagala Weerodhara Vidyalaya, Kandy
17. Dharmasoka College, Kandy
18. Sanghamittha College, Kandy
19. Eriyagama Pushpadana Vidyalaya, Denuwara
20. Gannoruwa Junior School, Denuwara
21. St. Mary’s Vidyalaya, Ampitiya
22. Uduwela Buddhist College
23. Uduwela Maha Vidyalaya
24. Wathuliyadda Primary School

Schools to be reopened on Tuesday are as follows:
1. Berrewaerts College
2. Berrewaerts Primary School
3. Siddhartha College, Ampitiya
4. St. Anthony’s Girls’ College
5. Vidyartha College
6. Thakshila College
7. Keppetipola College
8. Mahinda (Special) Model School Kandy
9. Special Education Resource Centre, Ampitiya
10. Asoka Vidyalaya Kandy
11. Gurudeniya Maha Vidyalaya
12. Vidyaloka Maha Vidyalaya, Thennekumbura
13. Dharmaraja College
14. D.S. Senanayake Maha Vidyalaya
15. Mahamaya Girls’ College
16. Sri Rahula National School
17. St. Sylvester’s College
18. Swarnamali Girls’ College, Kandy
19. Wariyapola Sri Sumangala College, Kandy
20. Seethadevi Girls’ School, Kandy
21. Sarasawi Uyana Maha Vidyalaya, Kandy
22. Peradeniya Junior Secondary School, Kandy
23. Peradeniya Hindu College
24. Lumbini Royal College, Kandy
25. Sri Vimalabuddhi Junior School, Kandy
26. Rasindev Vidyalaya, Kandy
27. Risikala Aesthetic College
28. Thalathuoya Junior School
29. Badi-Ud-Din Mahmud Girls’ College, Kandy
30. Mahaweli Navodya Maha Vidyalaya
31. Kandy Model School, Wattegama
32. Samudradewi Girls’ College, Wattegama
33. Bandaranayake National College – Kundasale
34. Hemamali Girls’ College
35. Ranabima Royal College, Kandy
36. Vivekananda Vidyalaya, Kandy
37. Mahanama College, Kandy

News

Pope Francis laid to rest

Published

11 hours ago

April 26, 2025

editor

Pope Francis has been buried at Santa Maria Maggiore basilica following his funeral in the Vatican.

In a statement the Vatican says Pope Francis’ coffin has been entombed in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in central Rome.

“The Pope is the first in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican, and his entombment was a private event, allowing for those closest to him to pay their respects,” the statement adds.Pope Francis “touched minds and hearts” and wanted to “build bridges, not walls”, said Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who led the funeral service.

Dozens of leaders and dignitaries – including Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky and Prince William – joined an estimated 400,000 mourners who lined the streets of Rome and gathered inside St Peter’s Square itself.

(BBC News)