News

Sri Lanka receives World Methodist Peace Award 2022

Published

2 years ago

February 16, 2023

editor

The World Methodist Peace Award presented by the World Methodist Council for rendering a commendable service creatively with fearless conformity for the building of peace, justice and harmony in the countries around the world has been awarded to Rev. Ebenezer Joseph, the President of the Methodist Church Sri Lanka.

The World Methodist Peace Award honoured by over 80 million Methodist devotees across the world began in 1977. Since then, this peace award has been presented 38 times to people dedicated to peace and reconciliation around the world.

The award recipients include great personalities who committed to national religious and ethnic harmony in the US, Egypt, England, Zimbabwe, South Korea, Ireland, Germany, Israel, South Africa, Ghana, Argentina, Sierra Leone, Brazil, Australia, Nigeria, Kenya, Bolivia as well as Nelson Mandela, Jimmy Carter, Mikhail Gorbachev and Kofi Annan.

Reverend Ebenezer Joseph is the first recipient of the Peace Award in the Asian region. Born in Kandapola, Nuwara Eliya, Rev. Joseph received his basic education from Wesley College, Colombo.

He then pursued higher education at the Theological Institute in Tamil Nadu and obtained bachelor’s degrees from several universities.

He commenced his career as a Methodist pastor in 1980 and started his work at the City Mission Church located in Dam Street, Colombo. The reverend priest helped the members of the low-income families in the area and played a large role in protecting the Tamil people during the July 83 riots.

From 1999 to 2020, he held the position of General Secretary of the National Christian Board twice.

Rev. Ebenezer Joseph worked very closely with Ven. Itthepane Dhammalankara Maha Nahimi, Maduluawe Sobitha Nahimi, Banagala Upatissa Nayaka Thera, Bellanwila Wimalarathane Nahimi, Murutthettuwe Ananda Thera and other religious leaders to build national unity among the people of the North and South following the end of the war.

Together with Buddhist and other religious leaders, he worked to convey a deep message about the religious harmony of Sri Lanka to the world by participating in various conferences abroad.

He has already received many national and international honors and awards for his work in building reconciliation in the country.

Rev Leslie Dareeju, the General Secretary of the Assembly of the Sri Lanka Methodist Church said the ceremony of presenting the Award to Rev. Ebenezer Joseph will be held on Saturday, February 18 at 5:00 pm at Wesley College, Colombo under the aegis of the President of the World Methodist Church Bishop K.J. Park (S. Korea) and its Secretary General Bishop Ivan Abraham (S.Africa).

News

Johann Peries returns after conquering highest peaks of all continents

Published

7 minutes ago

July 8, 2025

editor

Sri Lankan mountaineer Johann Peries returned to the island this morning (08) after successfully summiting Mount Denali in Alaska, completing his remarkable journey to conquer the highest peaks on all seven continents.

Starting with Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa in 2014, Johann has now achieved the prestigious Seven Summits challenge — scaling the tallest mountain on each continent. His journey includes Mount Everest (Asia), Mount Elbrus (Europe), Aconcagua (South America), Mount Vinson (Antarctica), Mount Kosciuszko (Australia), and now, Mount Denali (North America).

Johann, a professional hairdresser and entrepreneur with salons in Colombo, London, and Australia, proudly planted the Sri Lankan flag atop each summit, earning international recognition and bringing pride to the nation.

Speaking at the Katunayake Airport, he announced plans to publish a book based on his mountaineering experiences and expressed hopes of promoting Sri Lanka as a premier destination for adventure tourism.

(dailynews.lk)

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

News

Presidential Secretariat declines to disclose names of PMD officials

Published

9 minutes ago

July 8, 2025

editor

The Presidential Secretariat has informed social activist Anuruddha Bandara that the names of officials attached to the President’s Media Division (PMD) cannot be disclosed.

Senior Assistant Secretary to the President G.P.H.M. Kumarasinghe has conveyed the decision in a written response to an appeal filed by Bandara, who had sought details regarding all designations at the Presidential Secretariat, along with the names of appointees, their salaries, allowances and other benefits.

The Presidential Secretariat invoked Section 5(1)(a) of the RTI Act. Section 5(1)(a) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act No. 12 of 2016 of Sri Lanka relates to the exemptions under which a public authority may refuse to disclose information.

News

SC rules against Police after FR filed by 02 farmers

Published

25 minutes ago

July 8, 2025

editor

The Supreme Court (SC) has ruled that police violated the fundamental rights of two farmers who were arrested and remanded following a protest in 2018 along the Polonnaruwa-Mahiyanganaya road.

The protest was held to demand action to prevent wild elephants from entering villages.

Delivering the verdict yesterday (July 07), the court ordered Mr. S.M.L.R. Bandara – the then OIC of the Aralaganwila Police to personally pay compensation of Rs. 30,000 each to petitioners R.A. Gamini Jayaratna and H.R. Eranda, both residents of Polonnaruwa.

The judgment, delivered by Justice – Yasantha Kodagoda with Chief Justice – Murdhu Fernando and Justice – S. Thurairaja concurring, stressed that magistrates must not remand individuals solely on police requests and should make careful, informed decisions.

The bench emphasized that bail should be the norm under the Bail Act, while denying bail should be exceptional, and that the judiciary must protect people’s fundamental rights.

The SC also ruled that protests should be handled without violating citizens’ rights and directed the Director General of Wildlife to develop a proper plan to prevent wild elephant intrusions.

Copies of the judgment have been sent to the Attorney General, Inspector General of Police, Director General of Wildlife, Director General of Forest Conservation, the Mahaweli Authority, and the OIC of Aralaganwila Police for further action.