The iconic Taj Samudra, Colombo known for many groundbreaking initiatives, teamed up with Rescue Animals Sri Lanka (RAS) founded by Anusha David, one of Sri Lanka’s well known animal welfare activists, by donating pet food to feed the street dogs whom RAS have been taking care of for 40+ years now.
The initiative, which was spearheaded by Area Director Taj Maldives & Sri Lanka Samrat Datta, resulted in a sizable team from the Taj Samudra visiting RAS and spending time with some of the animals. Director HR Jayantha Tillakaratne, Learning and Development Manager Dr Shweta Chandra, Associate Director PR Onitha Gurugalla and several others were present.
RAS presently takes care of over 100 dogs and 40 + cats housed in Vidiyagoda, all of whom accident victims or abandoned by their owners, were rescued from the streets. “We are also active in rescuing cattle, birds, and monkeys who are then rehomed in safe sanctuaries.
We assist in elephant rescues and are involved in environmental conservation”, said Thiran Ranatunge of RAS. “RAS provides food in the form of chicken pet food and rice to people who love animals but do not have the financial means to feed them. We also assist them with their veterinary bills and organize sterilization programmes. It is our strong belief that this is of utmost importance in the reduction of the number of street animals, as well as being the most humane way to tackle the problem. We appeal to all animal lovers to contribute towards our work. This would go a long way, making the world of difference to a sad, hungry, sick, animal on the streets of Sri Lanka”.
Taj stands in solidarity with its belief that all animals, regardless of size or species, have intrinsic value and deserve to be respected and protected. Keeping this in mind, the brand has long been an advocate for animal welfare and is committed to the preservation of the environment and its creatures. As per Mr. Datta ”Our service philosophy aka ’Tajness’ is all about sincere care and personal touch. Through this endeavour our team has taken it beyond the premises of the hotel to this home of rescue animals. It will be delightful to see more and more people and organizations coming up with their support for such causes.”
The Sri Lankan Embassy in Tehran, Iran has been relocated amid the prevailing situation, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told the Parliament today (June 17).
Embassy officials have also been moved due to the situation. In addition to embassy staff, eight Sri Lankan students who had been at the Embassy in Tehran have also been relocated to the northern part of Iran due to security concerns.
However, all contact numbers remain operational, the minister added.
Herath said that approximately 35 Sri Lankans remain in Iran, with those residing in Tehran currently facing heightened risks. He also pointed out that nearly 20,000 Sri Lankans are presently in Israel.
Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has assured that there is no risk of an impending fuel shortage in the country due to the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict.
Speaking during the Cabinet briefing earlier today (June 17), he assured that Sri Lanka currently has adequate fuel reserves to meet national demand for at least two and a half months and and that necessary arrangements have been made to procure upcoming fuel shipments without any issues.
He urged the public not to be misled by such claims on social media.
In line with the vision to build a transparent and corruption-free public service, the Secretary General of Parliament has taken steps to establish an “Internal Affairs Unit” in Parliament in accordance with the circular PS/SB/Circular/2/2025 issued by the Presidential Secretariat on 18 February 2025.
The newly established unit aims to achieve several key objectives, including the prevention of corruption, promotion of a culture of integrity, ensuring accountability and transparency in all institutional operations, and guaranteeing public access to information related to parliamentary activities and decisions. Additionally, the unit will work to promote ethical governance, encourage reporting of misconduct, protect whistleblowers through secure and accessible mechanisms, and assist law enforcement agencies and the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption in enforcing relevant laws.
Mr. Chaminda Kularatne, Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament, has been appointed as the Head of the Internal Affairs Unit, while Mr. W.K.D.C. Vithana has been designated as the Integrity Officer. All department heads of Parliament will serve as members of the unit, supported by a dedicated team representing all departments.
The unit held its inaugural meeting on June 6, 2025, under the leadership of Mr. Kularatne. The meeting focused on discussing the implementation procedures in accordance with the directives outlined in the circular.