The contribution of the Colombo Plan to Sri Lanka’s development journey is commendable

The 75th Anniversary Celebration of the Colombo Plan was held on 03 July at the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

Delivering the keynote address, the Prime Minister stated that the Colombo Plan was established 75 years ago at a time when many Asian nations were embarking on the path to independence while confronting challenges of post-war reconstruction and economic development.

She noted that it is a matter of great pride for Sri Lanka that the organization bears the name ​“Colombo” and that the country continues to serve as its host.

The Prime Minister further noted that, as Sri Lanka pursues digital transformation, sustainable transport systems, and resilient supply chains, the Colombo Plan’s early investments in the country’s energy, agriculture, irrigation, and transport sectors continue to form an important part of the nation’s development foundation.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the significant contribution of the Colombo Plan’s Drug Advisory Programme in addressing the global drug menace, which has a profound impact on youth, public health, and social stability. The Prime Minister emphasized that, under the leadership of the President, the Government of Sri Lanka has accorded high priority to combating the drug menace and expressed appreciation for the continued support extended by the Colombo Plan towards these efforts.

The Prime Minister further stated that today’s world is far more complex than it was in 1951, with rapid technological transformation, climate challenges, and evolving geopolitical dynamics. In this context, the Prime Minister stressed that regional organizations such as the Colombo Plan must continue to evolve, becoming more adaptive and responsive to contemporary challenges. The Prime Minister also underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation in education and human capital development, while fostering greater awareness among younger generations of the value of international cooperation.

During the ceremony, a special tribute was paid to Dr. Benjamin P. Reyes in recognition of his distinguished service as Secretary-General of the Colombo Plan over the past four years. The newly appointed Secretary-General, H.E. Chulamee Chartsuwan, was also welcomed.

To commemorate the 75th anniversary, a special commemorative postage stamp and the publication titled ​“Colombo Plan 75 Years – 75 Stories” were officially launched.

The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra, Ambassador of Vietnam to Sri Lanka and Chairperson of the Colombo Plan Council H.E. Trinh Thi Tam, along with many distinguished guests.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

The Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka, H.E. Dr. Siri Walt, paid a farewell call on prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya at Temple Trees on 03 July 2026.

Welcoming the Ambassador, the Prime Minister expressed appreciation for Dr. Walt’s valuable contribution to strengthening the longstanding friendship and cooperation between Sri Lanka and Switzerland during her tenure.

The discussions focused on further expanding cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the field of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Both sides explored opportunities to develop industry-oriented vocational training programmes that respond to evolving labour market demands and equip young people with the skills required for sustainable employment.

The Ambassador highlighted that strengthening industry-driven vocational education would contribute to improving workforce skills, enhancing employability, and supporting Sri Lanka’s long-term economic development.

Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to further deepening Sri Lanka–Switzerland relations and expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest. 

The meeting was attended by Ms. Justine Boillat, First Secretary – Political, Ms. Andrea Kienast, First Secretary (Migration), Mr. Pradeep Saputhanthri, Secretary to the Prime Ministerand officials from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

The Chairperson and Commissioners of the Independent National Women’s Commission of Sri Lanka met with the Hon. Prime Minister, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, at Temple Trees on 3 July.

During the meeting, the delegation briefed the Prime Minister on the progress made in implementing the Women’s Empowerment Act, No. 37 of 2024. They also highlighted that the National Women’s Commission is Sri Lanka’s first independent statutory body established to promote, protect, and advance women’s rights, while leading the implementation of the national agenda for women’s empowerment.

Addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya commended the progress achieved by the Commission to date and expressed her appreciation for its continued commitment to promoting women’s rights, gender equality, and the empowerment of women in Sri Lanka.

The meeting was attended by the Chairperson of the Commission, Grace Asirwatham, Commissioners Jayanthi Kuru-Uthumpala, Janaha Selvaraj, Dr. Padma Gunaratne, and M. U. Gayani,and Executive Director K. D. R. Olga.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

It is the Government’s objective to deliver efficient and transparent Public Services

As part of the Government’s national programme to strengthen digitalization and make public services more efficient, transparent, and accessible, the official launch of the new payment facility enabling the public to make payments to government institutions via bank cards (through POS machines) was held on the 2nd July at the Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariat under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

Accordingly, the Prime Minister ceremonially inaugurated POS machines installed at the Registrar’s Division on the ground floor and the Vehicle Revenue Licence Division on the fourth floor of the Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariat. The Prime Minister also symbolically witnessed the issuance of birth certificates and vehicle revenue licences using the new payment system.

Implemented under the guidance of the Colombo District Secretariat with the financial and technical support of the Bank of Ceylon (BOC), the project covers all 13 Divisional Secretariat Offices in the Colombo District. It enables members of the public to make secure payments using credit and debit cards for services requiring payments.

Addressing the occasion, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that modernizing Sri Lanka’s public sector in line with the rapid pace of global digital transformation is one of the Government’s key priorities. The Prime Minister noted that the system enables the citizens to obtain public services more efficiently and within a shorter period of time without carrying money.

The new POS payment system, introduced today across all Divisional Secretariat Offices in the Colombo District, offers several key benefits, including:

The convenience of making direct payments using bank credit and debit cards without carrying cash, faster processing of transactions, reducing the time required to obtain government services minimizing the risks of financial fraud and loss associated with handling large amounts of cash, contributing to Sri Lanka’s overall digital economic development by encouraging the use of modern payment technologies, facilitating easier auditing of transactions while ensuring accurate recording of government revenue, thereby enhancing financial transparency and accountability.

From today onwards, this bank card payment facility will be available to the public at all Divisional Secretariat Offices in the Colombo District and it is expected to further strengthen financial governance within the public service while creating a more transparent, accountable, and citizen-friendly administrative environment.

The occasion was attended by Chairman of the Colombo District Coordination Committee Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration S. Aloka Bandara, Chief Secretary of the Western Province K. P. Pradeep Yasapala, Colombo District Secretary Ginige Prasanna Janaka Kumara, the Registrar General, the Commissioner General of Motor Traffic, Heads of Departments, Additional District Secretaries, and a number of distinguished guests.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the Government is committed to building a Sri Lanka that respects the language rights of every citizen, safeguards equality, and transforms diversity into a national strength.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the closing ceremony of the Inter-School Debate Competition held in conjunction with the National Languages Week.

The closing ceremony of the Inter-School Debate Competition, organized by the Official Languages Commission to mark the School Day of National Languages Week, observed from 1 to 5 July, was held on the 2nd of July at the Lotus Hall of the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo. The event was attended by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and the Minister of Justice and National Integration, Attorney-at-Law Harshana Nanayakkara.

During the ceremony, the Prime Minister presented awards and certificates to the winning school teams of the debate competition, which was conducted in Sinhala and Tamil under the theme, "Building National Reconciliation through the Official Languages Policy and Its Implementation.”

A concept paper prepared by the Official Languages Commission on promoting the sustainable use of bilingualism among school students was also presented to the Prime Minister.

Addressing at the event, the Prime Minister stated:

National Languages Week is not merely a week dedicated to celebrating languages. It is a week that reaffirms every citizen’s right to receive public services in their own language. It is also an opportunity to remind ourselves of our responsibility to protect, strengthen, and effectively implement that right.

At the same time, we are working to strengthen the Official Languages Commission through the necessary legal reforms and to establish an institutional framework that will enable language rights to be implemented more effectively. This will further reinforce the constitutional right of every citizen to receive public services in either Sinhala or Tamil.

The country we aspire to build is not one where one language is considered superior to another. We aspire to build a nation where every language is accorded equal respect, where every citizen enjoys equal rights, and where the State is fair, inclusive, and compassionate.

Addressing the schoolchildren, the Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of learning Sinhala, Tamil, and English, as well as sign language.

“While embracing your mother tongue as your source of pride, bridges the friendship through other languages. Never forget that every new word you learn is a step towards strengthening understanding, trust, and reconciliation among people.”

Addressing the event, Minister of Justice and National Integration, Attorney-at-Law Harshana Nanayakkara, noted that when looking at Sri Lanka’s decades-long ethnic conflict, it demonstrates that lasting peace cannot be achieved by suppressing diversity but only by embracing it with respect. The Minister emphasized that building a country where every citizen enjoys equal dignity and equal rights, regardless of language, religion, ethnicity, or culture, is the most valuable legacy that should be passed on to future generations.

He further stated that national unity does not require everyone to speak the same language; rather, it requires mutual respect for one another’s languages and cultures. He stressed that peace is built not through power or hatred, but through respect and shared humanity.

The event was attended by the Chairman of the Official Languages Commission, Senior Attorney-at-Law Nimal R. Ranawaka; Commission Members Senior Professor Sandagomi Coperahewa, Professor S. J. Yogaraja, and Dr. C. D. H. M. Premaratna; Commissioner General of Official Languages Tilak Nandana Hettiarachchi; officials of the ministry, invited guests, teachers, and students.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

The National Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS), Kalutara, the premier national training institution for public health in Sri Lanka, today (01) officially inaugurated its historic Centenary Congress, commemorating 100 years of dedicated service to the nation (1926–2026).

The grand celebration, held at the NIHS Auditorium in Kalutara, marked a century of pioneering achievements that have contributed significantly to strengthening Sri Lanka’s public health system.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister described the Institute’s centenary as a landmark moment in Sri Lanka’s public health journey, recognizing a century of service in developing the country’s public health workforce and advancing preventive healthcare.

Highlighting Sri Lanka’s achievements in maternal and child health, immunization, disease prevention, and equitable healthcare, the Prime Minister noted that these successes have been built upon strong public health institutions and the dedication of healthcare professionals.

She emphasized that as the health sector faces emerging challenges, including an ageing population, non-communicable diseases, climate-related health risks, and technological transformation, greater focus must be placed on education, research, innovation, and the development of a skilled and adaptable health workforce.

Reaffirming the Government’s commitment to building a resilient and people-centred health system, the Prime Minister stated that investments in modern health infrastructure, primary healthcare, digital technologies, and continuous professional development will remain national priorities.

The Prime Minister congratulated the National Institute of Health Sciences on reaching its centenary milestone and expressed confidence that the Congress would contribute valuable insights towards the future advancement of Sri Lanka’s public health sector.

The Centenary Congress programme included addresses by the Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, the Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media,the Director General of Health Services,and the Director of the National Institute of Health Sciences.

A keynote address on the theme “NIHS, Past, Present and Future” was delivered by Dr. Thushara Fernando. Highlighting the global significance of the Institute, the event also featured a special address by the WHO Regional Representative and a formal message delivered on behalf of the Director-General of the World Health Organization, acknowledging the Institute’s long-standing international collaboration and its contribution to sharing Sri Lanka’s globally recognized health achievements with the world.

The programme also featured the launch of the “NIHS – 100 Years” commemorative coffee table book and the unveiling of a commemorative postage stamp.

The event was attended by the Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Anil Jasinghe,Member of Parliament Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe,the Director of the National Institute of Health Sciences, representatives of the World Health Organization and partner organizations, academics,health professionals, alumni, and invited guests.

Prime Minister’s Media Division