Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya attended the special ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Nippon Educational and Cultural Centre (SNECC), along with the 75th birthday of its Secretary General, the Chief Incumbent of Sri Mahindaramaya, Ethul Kotte, the Chief Sangha Nayake of the Western Province, and scholar Ven. Meegahathenna Chandrasiri Thero.

The primary objective of the event was to appreciate the service rendered by the Sri Lanka Nippon Educational and Cultural Centre, which has functioned as a bridge between Japan and Sri Lanka since 1986, contributing significantly to the development and welfare of children in Sri Lanka.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister stated that the social service carried out by Ven. Meegahathenna Chandrasiri Thero through the Nippon Centre, aimed at fulfilling the educational aspirations of Sri Lankan children, is highly commendable. She further emphasized that the Centre’s contribution to nurturing skilled children into disciplined and responsible citizens, as well as strengthening cultural ties between the two countries, is appreciated by the Government.

Over the past four decades, thousands of students have benefited from the “Nippon Scholarship” programme implemented by the Centre. In addition to providing school supplies, monthly financial assistance, medical support, and spectacles, the programme offers Japanese language education and guidance for employment and training opportunities in Japan for Sri Lankan youth. Annual study tours to Japan and collaborative programmes organized to enhance mutual understanding between students of the two countries were also highlighted at the event.

Marking this special occasion, the Prime Minister extended her best wishes to Ven. Ven. Meegahathenna Chandrasiri Thero on his 75th birthday and wished him continued strength to successfully carry forward this invaluable service.

The event was attended by the Mayor of Kotte, Arosha Atapattu, representatives of sponsoring organizations from Japan, scholarship recipients, and other distinguished guests.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

The 169th birth anniversary celebration of Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of the World Scouting Movement, and World Scout Thinking Day, was held on 22 February at the National Scout Headquarters, with the participation of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister emphasized that the Scouting Movement is not merely about holding positions, but a noble form of training that nurtures readiness to help others and to serve society while “being prepared."

She further highlighted the importance of serving society as a disciplined and intelligent “smart” Scout who respects others while effectively using modern technology. The Prime Minister also called upon Scouts to contribute responsibly to safeguarding the nation’s future through environmentally friendly initiatives such as tree planting and the protection of water resources.

During the event, laptops were symbolically distributed to several districts under the Scout Digitalization Project, along with the provision of first-aid kits. Additionally, Chief Scout Commissioner Attorney-at-Law Manoj Nanayakkara presented the Prime Minister with a special Scout stamp collection and a commemorative cover.

The occasion was attended by the Secretary to the Prime Minister Mr.Pradeep Saputhanthri, officials of the Sri Lanka Scout Association, and a large number of Scouts from across the island.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

Further recruitments to the teaching service will be carried out in the future in line with existing vacancies

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that development activities in schools within plantation areas should be carried out in coordination with District Coordinating Committees, and that further recruitments to the teaching service will be undertaken in the future according to existing vacancies.

The Prime Minister made these remarks at a meeting held on 19 February at the Parliament of Sri Lanka, attended by officials of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education and the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, convened to identify solutions to issues affecting schools within plantation areas.

During the meeting, special attention was drawn to identifying schools in plantation areas; improving infrastructure, sanitary facilities and security within those schools; confirming lands of school premises; filling existing vacancies of teachers, principals and sports instructors; and providing transportation facilities of schools within the plantation areas.

Officials also drew the Prime Minister&rsqo;s attention to challenges faced by students in Grade 13 in studying science and mathematics streams in estate schools, as well as issues related to the medium of language conducting the lessons in vocational education. The need for Tamil-medium support in teacher-training programmes was also emphasized during the meeting.

The Prime Minister stressed that resolving issues related to lands belonging to the schools in plantation areas require data collection at district-level, and that the suitability of each school site should be considered when relocating or regularizing schools, taking into account the impacts caused by Cyclone Ditwah. She instructed officials to formulate an efficient mechanism to collect the necessary data.

She further noted that schools within plantation areas are government schools and that due consideration should be given to how these schools are identified and referred to in the future.

The Prime Minister instructed officials to keep District Coordinating Committees informed and to coloborate with them in carrying out development activities related to estate schools, emphasizing that this would enable closer monitoring of school development initiatives.

She also expressed confidence that the planned recruitment of 23,000 teachers would help address the existing teacher shortages to a considerable extent, and stated that further annual recruitments would be undertaken in the future to fill remaining vacancies.

The meeting was attended by the Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, Ramalingam Chandrasekar; Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education, Dr. Madhura Senevirathne; Deputy Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, Sundaralingam Pradeep; Members of Parliament; and officials of the relevant ministries.

Prime Minister&rsqo;s Media Division

The inaugural ceremony of the Matara Festival for the Arts, featuring a wide range of creations by local and international artists, was held on February 19 at the Old High Court premises of Matara Fort, under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The festival, centred around the Old High Court premises in Matara and the auditorium of the Matara District Secretariat, will be open to the public from 20 to 23 of February. The festival will be featured by visual art exhibitions, short film screenings, Kala Pola, and a series of workshops conducted by experts.

The inaugural event was attended by the Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Ms. Saroja Paulraj, along with artists, guests, and a large number of schoolchildren.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that strengthening Sri Lanka’s professional education framework and aligning it with internationally recognised standards is essential to building a skilled, ethical, and globally competitive workforce.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the official launch of the QS-accredited Chartered Qualification in Human Resource Management (CQHRM) at SCQF Level 11 (New Syllabus), organised by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) Sri Lanka under the theme New Heights of Recognition. The event was held on Wednesday, 18 February at the Cinnamon Life, Colombo, with the Prime Minister serving as Chief Guest.

Emphasising the importance of expanding professional and vocational education pathways, the Prime Minister stated:

“This is of crucial importance to us in broadening our educational pathways and opportunities. We need to increase access to education that is globally recognised and that offers multiple pathways in professional and vocational fields. This aligns closely with the reform process we have initiated in the education sector and with our commitment to lifelong learning where individuals can work and learn at the same time, and where education is not limited to a particular age group but continues throughout life.”

Highlighting Sri Lanka’s national priorities, the Prime Minister further observed:

“At a time when Sri Lanka is focused on economic recovery, institutional reform and sustainable growth, the need for competent and ethical human resource leadership is clear. A competitive economy depends not only on investment and infrastructure but also on skilled professionals who can lead institutions effectively.”

The Prime Minister noted that the QS accreditation of the CQHRM qualification strengthens international recognition of Sri Lankan human resource professionals, enhances professional progression pathways, and reinforces confidence in the country’s professional education system. She also underscored the role of human resource leadership in advancing equity and inclusion within workplaces, including fair recruitment practices, safe working environments, leadership development for women, and inclusive policies for persons with disabilities and neurodivergent individuals.

Addressing the future of work, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of preparing for rapid technological transformation, including the growing impact of artificial intelligence on industries and workforce management, encouraging institutions to proactively adapt to emerging demands.

The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Mr. Chathuranga Abeysinghe, along with other distinguished guests.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

The Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka Dr. Siri Walt paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on the 17th of February at the Temple Trees.

Welcoming the Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka Dr. Siri Walt the Prime Minister briefed the Ambassador on her recent visit to Davos to participate in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting noting that the series of high-level bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the Forum, along with two important industry visits provided valuable insights for Sri Lanka’s economic engagement.

The discussion focused on Switzerland’s vocational education and training (VET) system, with particular interest in exploring possible cooperation and knowledge-sharing opportunities.

The Prime Minister also conveyed her appreciation for the assistance extended by the Government of Switzerland following Cyclone Ditwah. She emphasized Sri Lanka’s need for enhanced technical assistance during the ongoing rebuilding phase, especially in relation to the reconstruction of bridges and railway infrastructure.

Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Switzerland, and to expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

The occasion was attended by the First Secretary (Political) of the Embassy of Switzerland in Colombo Ms. Justine Boillat, First Secretary (Migration) of the Embassy of Switzerland in Colombo Ms. Andrea Kienast and representing Sri Lanka Secretary to the Prime Minister,Mr. Pradeep Saputhanthri, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatt and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Foreign Employment, Tourism.

Prime Minister’s Media Division