News

President AKD & PM Modi pay homage to ‘Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi’ (Pics)

Published

3 months ago

April 6, 2025

editor

Visiting Indian Prime Minister – Narendra Modi along with Sri Lankan President – Anura Kumara Disanayake paid homage to the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura this morning (April 06) and received blessings.

Following his visit to the sacred site, Prime Minister Modi proceeded to the Udamaluwa, where he met with the Chief Incumbent of the Great Eight Buddhist Shrines (Atamasthanadhipathi) and Chief Sanghanayake of Nuwarakalaviya, Most Venerable Dr. Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thera, for a cordial discussion.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister shared that relics of the Buddha were discovered in excavations conducted in his home state of Gujarat during the 1960s. He further stated that he would discuss with the President of Sri Lanka the possibility of exhibiting these sacred relics in Sri Lanka.

Responding to a request made by the Atamasthanadhipathi to develop Bodh Gaya as a spiritual city, Prime Minister Modi assured that he would take the necessary steps after discussions with President Disanayake and work towards making it a reality.

The Maha Sangha, led by the Atamasthanadhipathi, chanted Seth Pirith and invoked blessings on the Indian Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister also left a commemorative note in the special guest book at the site. In addition, he formally inaugurated the newly constructed ‘Makara Thorana’ within the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi premises.

The occasion was also attended by Chief Incumbent of the Ruwanweli Maha Seya Temple Ven. Ethalawetunawewe Gnanathilaka Thera and other Atamasthana Viharadhipathi Theras, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, Wasantha Samarasinghe, Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, North Central Province Governor Wasantha Jinadasa, Indian High Commissioner HE Santosh Jha and others.

(Pics : President’s Media Division / X account of PM Modi)

News

Consultant neurosurgeon further remanded

Published

14 minutes ago

July 8, 2025

editor

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered to further remand Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne, a consultant neurosurgeon attached to the Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital, until July 15.

Dr. Wijeratne was previously arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and subsequently remanded.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali issued the order after considering the facts presented by officials from the CIABOC and legal representatives of the defense.

The court also ordered the release on bail of two other suspects who had been remanded over the same case.

News

Johann Peries returns after conquering highest peaks of all continents

Published

20 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

23 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.