The newly constructed Relic Chamber at the historic Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Raja Maha Vihara premises was offered to the Buddha Sasana today (August 24) with the participation of the Prime Minister, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, for the veneration of the Maha Sangha and the devotees.

Following the unveiling of the commemorative plaque by the Chief Incumbent of the historic Kotte Raja Maha Vihara, Most Venerable Dr. Aluthnuwara Anuruddha Nayaka Thero, the Prime Minister paid homage by a floral offering at the newly built Relic Chamber. Thereafter, the Prime Minister also joined the opening of the newly established temple museum located on the lower floor of the chamber.

The occasion was graced by the presence of Chief Incumbents of the Lankarama in Los Angeles, the Indiana Buddhist Vihara, and the Ohio Maitri Bhavana Center in the United States, as well as the Chief Sanghanayake Thero for the Western and Central States of the United States, and the Chief Incumbent of the historic Kotte Raja Maha Vihara, Most Venerable Mangala Dharmakirti Sri Dharma Duta Seva Bhushana Talangama Devananda Nayaka Thero along with the Maha sangha, and Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Mayor of Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Arusha Athapaththu, other political authorities, and a large number of devotees.

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The Head of Mission, designate of Sri Lanka, paid a courtesy call on the Hon. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, at the Prime Minister’s Office on 22 August 2025.

The delegation comprised Ms. S.S. Premawardhane, Ambassador-designate to Indonesia, Ms. C.A.C.I. Colonne, Ambassador-designate to Brazil, Mr. M.R. Hassen, High Commissioner-designate to the Maldives; Mr. L.R.M.N.P.G.P.B. Kadurugamuwa, Ambassador-designate to Turkey; Ms. Ruwanthi Delpitiya, Ambassador-designate to Nepal; Mr. M.K. Pathmanaathan, Ambassador-designate to the Republic of Korea; and Mr. W.A.K.S. De Alwis, Ambassador-designate to the Sultanate of Oman.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister encouraged the envoys to enhance goodwill towards Sri Lanka, promote the country’s image globally, and prioritize efforts to attract quality investments. She also exchanged views with them on the opportunities available in their respective host countries and extended her best wishes for the successful discharge of their forthcoming assignments.

Mr. Pradeep Saputhanthri, Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatta, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, were also present on this occasion.

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Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police, Attorney-at-Law Priyantha Weerasuriya, who was appointed as the 37th Inspector General of Police of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, officially met with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on August 22 at the Prime Minister’s Office following his assumption of duties.

Secretary to the Prime Minister, Mr. Pradeep Saputanthri, also presented at this occasion.

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Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya visited “It’s about”, a mobile history museum which was placed at Colombo Public Library premises on August 22 with the aim of encouraging school children to explore the history of Sri Lanka after independence.

This mobile museum, launched in 2019, has so far been exhibited in 11 cities across 10 districts in 7 provinces of the country, and is now being presented in Colombo for the first time. The exhibition, which commenced on August 19, will continue until August 23 at the Colombo Public Library premises . It is created to highlight significant events in Sri Lanka’s post-independence history, presents information under the themes of nation and national identity building, conflicts, and the economy, covering the period from the 1940s to the present day.

Through various explorations and interactive activities, the exhibition primarily seeks to inspire children to reflect on questions such as: What is history? Who writes it? In what different ways can history be studied?

The mobile museum is organized by the Collective for Historical Dialogue and Memory (CHDM), with the support of the Institute for Social Cohesion and Peace (SCOPE), in partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka. The initiative is funded by the European Union and the German Federal Foreign Office.

The event was attended by H.E. Carmen Moreno, Ambassador of the European Union to Sri Lanka, Mr. Nicholas Lamade, Country Director of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) in Sri Lanka, and Ms. Tanuja Thurairajah, Executive Director of the Collective for Historical Dialogue and Memory (CHDM).

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We are always willing to listen and recorrect and be responsive for public sentiment.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while answering a question raised by the member of Parliament S. Shritharan on 22 August at the Parliament.

The prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya emphasized that the new government in Sri Lanka is committed to ensuring the protection of all people without exception or division and stated that all are equal citizens of this country who are worthy of the same level of respect, acceptance, dignity and humanity.

The Prime Minister further stated:

As a government we try to always promote and consistently promote ideas that bring about unity, respect, empathy, accountability and respect for human rights.

We can see how easily institutions can be dismantled or weakened if that culture of respect for human rights is not something that is normalised or accepted within a society. We can start with the statements, the narrative that we have framed as a government. We have consciously tried to avoid narratives that discourse the seeds of division, hatred or violence.

All representatives of our government starting from president have consistently maintained this narrative. We have stood by our pledge not to resort to rasism, to provoking violence, hatred as a means of survival or maintaining power.This is an important shift that we need to acknowledge.

We are always willing to listen and to give space for public consultation to be heard and we are willing to recorrect and be responsive to public sentiment.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

A special felicitation program organized by the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) in honor of Dr. Nanda Malini was held on August 22 at the Kumaranatunga Munidasa Hall of the Corporation, under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The purpose of this program was to pay tribute to the great service rendered by Dr. Nanda Malini for more than nearly seven decades to the field of music in Sri Lanka as well as to the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. As a token of appreciation, a building of the Corporation was also named after her and ceremonially opened.

Accordingly, within the premises of the Corporation, a portrait of Dr. Nanda Malini was unveiled, and its 9th Cabin was officially declared open under the name Dr. Nanda Malini Building” by the Prime Minister together with Dr. Nanda Malini herself.

Thereafter, addressing the ceremonial gathering, the Prime Minister stated:

Seventies years ago, a little girl came to this Broadcasting Corporation to sing for the children’s program ’Lama Pitiya.’ On that day, she sang the first song ’Dura Pawane Me Kulu Guwane.’ Recognizing her extraordinary vocal talent, Dr. Pandit Amaradeva offered her the opportunity to sing for Sri Lanka’s first color film ’Ran Muthu Duwa.’ That little girl singer recorded her voice at this very Corporation for the beautiful lyrics ’Galana Gagaki Jivithe Dayalu Lokaye.

Today, the opening of a building of the Broadcasting Corporation in the name of that very girl is indeed a remarkable occasion. That is Dr. Nanda Malini who is an epitome of music in this nation.

Nanda Malini was never just another name in our musical tradition. Beginning with Ran Muthu Duwa, her artistic journey was never limited merely to conventional themes such as love and separation. She fearlessly directed her voice toward contemporary issues of our nation such as oppression, corruption, violence, and social injustice.

The voice of Dr. Nanda Malini is an Intangible Cultural Heritage of this country. The joy you have given us, the inspiration drawn from your songs, and the strength you provided to this nation even in its darkest times through your music, we are deeply grateful for that noble service.

This occasion was graced by the presence of the Venerable Pathegama Gnaneswara Thero and Maha sangha, Rev. Saman Maximus, Minister of Health and Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, Deputy Minister of Health and Media Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni, Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne, Chairman of the SLBC Prof. Udhitha Gayashan Gunasekara, along with artists and a large number of distinguished guests.

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