Dr. Gita Gopinath, the First Deputy Managing Director (FDMD) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has arrived in Sri Lanka for a two-day official visit.

According to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), it is the first time since 2005 that a serving FDMD of the IMF has visited Sri Lanka.

During this visit, Dr. Gopinath will be the guest of honour at the conference on “Sri Lanka’s Road to Recovery: Debt and Governance”, co-hosted by the Ministry of Finance, Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the IMF, scheduled to be held tomorrow (June 16).

At the mid-point of the IMF-supported reform programme, the conference aims to reflect upon the lessons learnt from Sri Lanka’s experience in restoring macroeconomic stability, implementing debt restructuring and governance reforms, and to focus on the challenges ahead.

Dr. Gopinath is also expected to hold bilateral discussions with the Sri Lankan authorities and several key stakeholders on the IMF’s engagement with Sri Lanka.

General Hamilton Wanasinghe, a former Army Commander and Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, passed away on Friday (June 13) following a brief illness. He was receiving treatment at the Narahenpita Army Hospital at the time of his death.

His funeral, with full military honours, will be held at the new crematorium of the General Cemetery in Borella today (15) at 5.30 pm. The remains of the late senior officer were kept in Malwana from Friday (13) for the public to pay their final respects.

General Wanasinghe served in Sri Lanka’s armed forces for four decades and was appointed as the the country’s 11th Army Commander in 1988. He also held the posts of Joint Operations Commander (from November 19, 1991 to September 6, 1993, and Defence Secretary from September 1993 to February 1995).

He began his military journey in 1954, joining the Ceylon Army as an Officer Cadet. He received his basic training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was later commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Ceylon Artillery.

he 2025 Silver Screen Awards Ceremony held with the participation of the Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The 2025 Silver Screen Awards Ceremony was held on June 13 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), with the participation of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The aim of this year’s awards ceremony included appreciating artists who enriched the Sri Lankan cinema industry during the years 1970–1975. At the ceremony, renowned actress Iranganie Serasinghe was presented with the Sumith Bibile Memorial Gold Award by the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister also conferred awards to distinguished artists Padma Sri Kodikara, Dinesh Priyasad, and Indrani Perera.