Every intervention contributes to sustainability, equity, and human dignity.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya made these remarks while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the 28th Asia Pacific Social Work Conference 2025, held on 18 November at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), Colombo.

Organised by the Sri Lanka Association of Professional Social Workers (SLAPSW) and the National Institute of Social Development (NISD), the conference takes place from 18–21 November in Colombo under the theme “Social Work Responses to Climate Change and Other Environmental Issues.”

The Prime Minister further stated:

“Sri Lanka faces coastal erosion, unpredictable monsoons, urban flooding, droughts, and other climate-related challenges that directly affect agriculture, fisheries, and rural communities. These environmental changes also worsen existing social inequalities, disproportionately impacting rural farmers, fisherfolk, plantation communities, and other marginalised groups.

Social workers play a critical role in addressing these challenges. They are often the first responders during disasters, providing immediate assistance, psychosocial support, and long-term rehabilitation. In Sri Lanka, social workers strengthen community resilience, support youth and women’s empowerment, and advocate for environmentally responsible practices.

The government supports these efforts through integrated approaches that combine climate adaptation, social protection, and community empowerment.

Our youth are making an important contribution to climate action and sustainability. Across Sri Lanka, students participate in school-based climate clubs, lead awareness campaigns, and organise community clean-up drives. Young people, through school clubs and the National Youth Services Council, are driving large-scale tree-planting and reforestation initiatives that restore degraded landscapes and protect vulnerable communities.

Technology and innovation, including digital disaster monitoring and climate-smart agriculture are helping communities respond effectively. The 2026 national budget reinforces this vision, prioritising national research and innovation through the establishment of a National Research and Development Institute and Council to ensure evidence-based solutions to environmental and social challenges.

It strengthens the Clean Sri Lanka initiative, expands support for children with disabilities from low-income families, and improves accessible public infrastructure. The budget also addresses the housing needs of vulnerable communities, including those living in landslide-prone areas and internally displaced families. Social protection reforms are being advanced through the Integrated Social Protection Registry and the People’s Income Support Programme, alongside measures to increase wages for estate workers and dedicated support for women’s empowerment.

In addition, the budget emphasises environmental research and strategies to mitigate human–wildlife conflict, supported by targeted infrastructure investments. No state can achieve environmental justice alone; collaboration is essential. This conference provides a platform to share experiences, research, and solutions, strengthening regional capacity and solidarity. Sri Lanka calls upon our partners to join us in building resilient communities, effective social work institutions, and inclusive policies that respond to climate challenges.”

The event was attended by the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, Dr. Upali Pannilage, Prof. Machiko Ohara, President of the International Federation of Social Work Asia-Pacific, and other distinguished guests.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that education is a process of sharing collective knowledge, and has the power to bring people together politically, socially, and economically.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the conference held today (18) at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo, aimed at fostering cooperation among countries in Asia, the Middle East, and the Pacific region regarding the role of education within the Green Transition.

The Erasmus+ Programme funded by the European Union, is one of the world’s leading initiatives for international cooperation in education, training, youth, and sports. Its objectives include enhancing mobility between countries, intercultural exchange, capacity development, and policy advancement.

The programme creates opportunities for collaboration and funding in higher education, vocational training, youth development, and institutional partnerships in Sri Lanka. This conference will be held from the 18th to the 20th of this month at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo.

Further expressing her views, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya sated:

As a legacy of the post-colonial education system, Sri Lanka has become a country with a high literacy rate.

However, today, education has become something that focuses only on individual success and achievement. As a result, the planning and principles of education have become heavily driven by competition.

Consequently, our education system has become extremely competitive and examination-oriented. Education should not be a process aimed solely at individual achievement.

What we now strive for is to move away from this educational model and restore the true purpose of education where its aims be not merely scoring high marks, but sharing collective knowledge and strengthening transformative learning.

We often forget the transformative power of education. It goes beyond personal achievement. Education has the ability to unite people politically, socially, and economically. Therefore, it is essential to shape education into a shared space of mutual expectation and mutual success.

Within our new education reforms, promoting collaborative learning, fostering a sense of responsibility towards one another, building responsibility towards the world, and especially towards the environment amidst today’s global challenges, have become extremely important.

Amid the spread of unscientific methods and misinformation in the modern world, the necessity of education has become even more pronounced. Moreover, the pressures within the university system can also be overcome through this transformation.

The importance of such dialogues, exchanges, and discussions emphasises once again the need for transformative education, a form of learning that encourages sharing of ideas and working together.

Transforming our education system from a cage of competition into a free space of collaboration and responsible knowledge-sharing is one of the fundamental challenges Sri Lanka must overcome for its future.

The event was attended by the Ambassador of the European Union to Sri Lanka Carmen Moreno, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Nalaka Kaluwewa, as well as regional representatives and government officials.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

The Armed Forces Remembrance and Poppy flower celebration Day commemoration ceremony was held on 16th of November 2025 at the Cenotaph War Memorial at Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo, under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.
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The Cenotaph War Memorial has been built in memory of war heroes from Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) who were killed in action during World War I and World War II.

It was designed by the architect Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens.
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This monument is one of the oldest and most significant war memorials in Sri Lanka, and the national commemoration ceremony is held here annually on Remembrance Day (the Sunday closest to November 11).

During the event, the Prime Minister laid a wreath of poppies at the War Heroes’ Memorial and paid floral tributes in remembrance of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives.

The main purpose of this annual commemoration was to honour and remember all war heroes who have sacrificed their lives for the protection of the motherland from the period of the First World War to the present and to recognize their noble cause.

Poppy Day has been commemorated in Great Britain since 1919 to remember the members of the armed forces who died in the First World War, with the poppy becoming the main symbol of remembrance.

The poem “In Flanders Fields”, written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae after witnessing the poppies that had grown on the graves of fallen soldiers on a battlefield in Belgium, played a significant role in establishing the poppy as an eternal symbol of remembrance.

Later, Ms. Moina Michael, who served as a secretary at the American Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), further strengthened the significance of the poppy by initiating the sale of poppies and directing the proceeds towards the welfare of the families of war heroes.

The Poppy Day commemoration in Sri Lanka was organized in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen’s Association and the Armed Forces.

The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Defence Major General (Retired) Aruna Jayasekara, Secretary of Defence Ministry Air Vice Marshal (Retired) Sampath Thuyacontha, Tri-Forces Commanders, retired Tri-Forces Commanders, foreign diplomats, as well as the Chairman, Secretary, and a large number of members of the Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen’s Association.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

It is also our responsibility to transform our human resource into an internationally demanded and value added human resource.

The commemorative ceremony organized to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau was held on 15 November 2025 at Temple Trees, under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The event was organized by the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, and held under the theme “Beyond Borders – Empowering Sri Lankans.”

Coinciding with this occasion, several initiatives and benefits such as the launch of a mobile application dedicated to providing convenient services to the migrant community and Launch of the digitalization programme of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, increasing the death compensation paid to a migrant worker’s family from Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 100,000, commencement of services at the newly modernized 24/7 Call Centre of the SLBFE, recognition of migrant workers who have successfully engaged in entrepreneurship, recognition of long-standing licensed foreign employment agencies, increasing the insurance benefits paid in the event of a migrant worker’s death from Rs. 600,000 to Rs. 2,000,000, and increasing the housing loan amount available for migrant workers up to Rs. 10 million, providing welfare benefits to migrant families through the President’s Fund were initiated to enhance the welfare of the migrant community.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister appreciated and recognized not only the financial contribution that the migrant community makes to the economy, but also their contribution to technological exchange and the new entrepreneurial opportunities created through their labor.

Further expressing her views, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated:

With a history of 40 years, we have now reached one of the most progressive and successful periods in this sector. When we speak of foreign employment today, the old, unpleasant image no longer remains. Instead, it has evolved into a progressive, fair, stable sector that significantly contributes to our national economy.

The Prime Minister further emphasized the importance and responsibility of creating trained, safe, and ethical migrant workers, noting that it is a responsibility of the government to transform our human resource into an internationally demanded and highly valued one.

The Prime Minister also commended the assistance provided by embassies for Sri Lankans living abroad and stated that the wellbeing, safety, and protection of Sri Lankan migrant communities, and the Prime Minister further emphasized the continuous support of embassies to ensure the access to job opportunities and services abroad for migrant community.

Addressing the event, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, explained the responsibilities of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau, including proper facilitation for workers migrating abroad, guaranteeing their safety and wages, regulating necessary mechanisms in situations of health emergencies, and ensuring the protection of their employment and lives.

He added that through the digitalization of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau, Sri Lankans will receive a more transparent, fair, and accessible service.

Our goal and commitment are to ensure that 100% of our migrant workers are properly trained and send Sri Lankans for high-level professional and skilled employment.

We can proudly say that 2025 is the year Sri Lanka earned the highest amount of foreign exchange in history. We celebrate this 40th anniversary with pride having sent more workers abroad and earned greater foreign income. However, our national vision is to build a strong production-based economy that expands local employment opportunities and creates a country where everyone wishes to live. It is with this objective in mind that the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau functions.

Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra, while addressing the event, highlighted the commitment of the Foreign Employment Bureau towards the welfare of the migrant community and clarified the government’s ongoing process regarding granting voting rights for migrant workers.

The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau Kosal Wickramasinghe, ambassadors, the Governor of the Western Province, representatives from migrant workers and their families, and representatives from foreign employment agencies.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

All sectors must work in collective effort to empower local entrepreneurs for a digital economy.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that as the country moves towards a digital economy through a new transformation, all sectors must work together in the national mission of empowering local entrepreneurs.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while participating in the inauguration ceremony of Global Entrepreneurship Week held under the theme “Together We Build” at Temple Trees Premises yesterday (14). The event was organized by the Ministry of Digital Economy.

Addressing the event, the Prime Minister further stated,

Global Entrepreneurship Week 2025 begins today. It actively contributes to building an entrepreneurial culture in the country and creating the necessary opportunities for that purpose. This week aligns with our national objectives. Creativity, collaboration, and innovation are vital for the future development of the country.

Our government’s vision is to create a country where ideas become opportunities, innovation attracts investment, and citizens can benefit from them. Entrepreneurial development is essential for achieving this vision. Similarly, Entrepreneurship is also a crucial factor for economic diversification, export growth, youth empowerment, and balanced development

During Global Entrepreneurship Week in 2024 over 20,000 people engaged in more than 207 programs conducted across 25 districts island wide.

According to the 2024 Global Innovation Index, Sri Lanka ranks 89th place. Although we show relatively good performance in innovation outputs, data makes it clear that innovation inputs such as infrastructure and investment still at a weak level.

The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Report (2024/25) states that 49% of adults worldwide refrain from starting a business due to fear of failure. This highlights the importance of building a strong support system.

In 2023, Sri Lanka gained a significant demographic advantage, with a youth population of approximately 5.1 million aged between 15 and 29 (23.6% of the total population). Although this youth population is digitally literate, we understand that they still face challenges such as limited access to capital, fewer mentorship opportunities, and a general reluctance to take risks.

Therefore, the government has established a - Digital Task Force consisting of 30 members under education reforms. Measures are being implemented to connect all schools to the internet, provide smart boards, computers, and digital devices, and enhance knowledge. A full policy framework for digital education is being prepared to be presented to the Cabinet by March 2026.

The 2026 National Budget has allocated Rs. 1.5 billion as a Start-Up Fund to advance the digital economy and entrepreneurship among youth and emerging entrepreneurs.

Additional provisions have been allocated for AI and cloud computing research, digital infrastructure development (broadband vouchers), and investment incentives. I would also like to mention that the government has proposed a Digital Economy Act, a new Digital Economy Authority, the Sri Lanka Unified Digital Identity (SL-UDI), and an Integrated Digital Payments System.

For the development of the economy and every sector of the country, we must all work together for a national agenda. Rather than working separately, it is necessary for all to start a collaborated national movement.

The government, industry, academia, and entrepreneurs must collaborate in resource mobilization, building mentorship networks, simplifying regulations, and opening access to global markets.

The event was attended by the Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eng. Eranga Weeraratne, Deputy Minister of Industries and Enterprise Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe, President’s Advisor on Digital Economy Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Secretary to the Ministry of Digital Economy Varuna Dhanapala, as well as entrepreneurs, investors, and a large gathering.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that in the digital and social media platform, some individuals publicize false information for personal gain, so creating professional journalists who recognize the responsibility and accountability of sharing accurate and faithful information has become a timely necessity.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while attending the certificate awarding ceremony of the MMC ITN Campus of the Independent Television Network (ITN) in Colombo for students who successfully completed the first certificate course conducted by the institution held 12 th of November at Sri Lanka Foundation Institute.

The Prime Minister also presented gold awards to Abhisheka Dunukewela, Dimuthu Nirman, and Kavindya Gimhani, who completed the course successfully and achieved top honors.

Addressing further, the Prime Minister stated,

The ITN Multi Media Campus, established to provide education in the field of multimedia, is a pioneering educational institution dedicated to shaping the next generation of media professionals, broadcasters, digital creators, and communication specialists. Statistics show that globally, the creative and digital industries generate more than a trillion dollars each year. These are no longer distant figures, youth of Sri Lanka are inherently creative, and this program provides them with the knowledge and guidance needed to turn creativity into a livelihood. Therefore, this is a valuable opportunity to enter this field with proper education and training.

In today’s world, where subjects such as Immersive Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Digital Analytics, and Digital Media Technologies are increasingly discussed, studying digital creation is not something new or luxurious. It is an essential area of knowledge that every professional should utilize to some extent. Especially considering the present generation is engaged in digital and social media creation, we can observe that they are highly creative and confident individuals. The ITN MMC Campus is committed to equipping students with modern digital technical skills, practical experience, and technical expertise necessary to thrive in the rapidly evolving media industry.

Today, digital and social media have grown to a level comparable to traditional or mainstream media. This is true not only globally but also in Sri Lanka. Professions such as content creators and YouTubers have now joined the ranks of traditional media professionals. Here, the most important thing we need to consider is the very influence that these media possess. What is actually needed are only a few limited necessities. However, with the influence and reach of these media, there are both positive and negative outcomes. Therefore, providing our youth with structured and subject-based education has become essential.

At present, we frequently discuss misinformation, disinformation, and mal-information. The harm caused to society by these issues is evident, as we see many content creators spreading false information for personal gain. This is why it is so important to create journalists who possess professionalism and understand responsibility and accountability. Institutions such as this have a great duty and responsibility in nurturing such professionals. I was informed that all the courses here are designed to empower small and medium-scale digital entrepreneurs. In this regard ITN MMC Campus is courageously undertaking the responsibility in a time that it’s commitment is much more in need for our country.

Our government has taken major steps toward digitalization across all sectors. One of our key goals is to transform job seekers into job creators in the future. We are working toward that vision, and your contribution is immensely valuable in achieving it. Therefore, it is clear that the future is bright for students armed with knowledge. As creative citizens capable of competing globally, you will have limitless opportunities. You will not only shape your own future but also contribute to building the nation’s future.

Minister of Health and Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, stated that he appreciates the efforts made by the Independent Television Network (ITN) as the "Home for Television Network” to train individuals capable of moving forward with digital technology. The economy and other sectors of the country had been moving very slowly for years, which hindered national progress. Hence, the government’s goal is to achieve future objectives through a new approach, and digitalization in the media sector is a vital part of that process. Therefore the digital literacy places a vital role for citizens to connect with the world.

Deputy Minister of Media, Kaushalya Ariyarathna, mentioned that in digital marketing, advertisements often spread false and regressive ideologies. Therefore, creative productions must promote positive values such as equality, justice, and gender awareness. It is also vital to share information on social media with an understanding of its truthfulness. Merely having a mobile phone or similar device does not make one a journalist, what truly matters is the accuracy and integrity of the content being shared.

The event was attended by Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Media Mr. Anil Jayasinghe, Chairman of ITN Mr. Priyantha Wedamulla, the Board of Directors and academic staff of MMC ITN Campus, as well as certificate recipients and their parents.

Prime Minister’s Media Division