Measures Underway to Hold Provincial Council Elections at the Earliest Possible Time

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that steps are being taken to abolish the Executive Presidency and establish a parliamentary system of government, including the appointment of a President without executive powers. The Prime Minister further stated that measures are currently underway to hold the Provincial Council elections, which have been stalled due to provisions in the Provincial Councils Elections (Amendment) Act No. 17 dated 2017.

The Prime Minister made these remarks on the 19th of December at Parliament while responding to a question raised by the Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa, under Standing O MORE >>

Noritake Company Limited of Japan has donated Rs. 20 million to the Government’s disaster relief programme.

The cheque was presented to Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya by the Managing Director of Noritake Lanka Porcelain (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Kenji Obara, at the Parliament Complex on 18 December.

Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Mr. Chandana Abeyratne, Director and General Manager of Noritake Lanka Porcelain (Pvt) Ltd, Ms. Sujatha Egodagedara, and Assistant General Manager Captain M. M. Athula Rohan Senarath also participated in the event.

Prime Minister’s Media Division. MORE >>

An official meeting was held between Hon. Wang Dongming, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) of the People’s Republic of China, and Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya on 17 December at the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

During the meeting, the long-standing bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and China and areas for further cooperation were discussed.

The Prime Minister expressed her appreciation for the timely assistance extended by the Government of China during Sri Lanka’s recent disaster response efforts and noted that the country has now transitioned from the emergency rescue phase to the post-disaster recovery and reconstruction phase. She also a MORE >>

The Graduation Ceremony of Defence Services Command and Staff Collage Course 19 was attended by the Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya as the Chief guest on 16th of December at Nelum Pokuna Theater.

The Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC), the highest seat of military learning, marked the graduation of Course 19 by recognizing 149 graduates, including 26 Foreign Course Participants whose presence underscored the growing international engagement and the spirit of regional and global military cooperation.

The special Awards were awarded to graduates who have excelled in academic achievements under the three different levels of special awards of the Golden Owl Award, the Golden Pen award and th MORE >>

A meeting was held between the officials of the Government Translators’ Service Union and the Prime Minister, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, at the Prime Minister’s Office on December 16, to discuss the issues faced by the officers of the Government Translators’ Service.

Attention was drawn to the existing salary issue in the Government Translators’ Service, the salary disparity between grades, and vacancies.

The Prime Minister stated that several issues have arisen due to the previous governments not implementing salary increases in the public service through a proper and logical method, and that the discussions regarding salary disparities are currently underway. The Prime Minister also ment MORE >>

ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ විශ්ව විද්‍යාල සහ විදේශීය විශ්වවිද්‍යාල අතර අවබෝධතා ගිවිසුම්වලට එළැඹීම සඳහා අමාත්‍ය මණ්ඩල අනුමැතිය හිමි වී තිබේ.

ඊයේ (දෙසැම්බර් 15) පැවති අමාත්‍ය මණ්ඩල හමුවේදී ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ විශ්ව විද්‍යාල සහ විදේශීය විශ්ව විද්‍යාල, විදේශීය සංවිධාන අතර අවබෝධතා ගිවිසුම්වලට එළඹී� MORE >>

H.E. Isabelle Catherine Martin, the newly appointed High Commissioner of Canada to Sri Lanka, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on 15 December 2025 at Temple Trees.

The High Commissioner conveyed Canada’s condolences over the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah and reaffirmed Canada’s readiness to extend further support to Sri Lanka during the recovery process. The Prime Minister expressed her appreciation for the assistance extended by the international community, including Canada, noting that Sri Lanka has now entered the second phase of post-disaster recovery following the completion of rescue and immediate relief operations.

The Prime Minister further noted that sch MORE >>

H.E. Mr. Sergey Viktorov, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Sri Lanka, paid a courtesy call to Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on 15 December at Temple Trees.

The meeting focused on Sri Lanka’s ongoing rebuilding and rehabilitation efforts following Cyclone Ditwah. The Prime Minister outlined the government’s priorities in the recovery process, including the restoration of essential infrastructure, housing, and agricultural livelihoods. She also highlighted the support extended by international partners in facilitating these efforts.

Discussions further covered the strengthening of bilateral cooperation between Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan. Both sides explored opportunities to enhance ec MORE >>

The ninth phase of the islandwide programme to recognise outstanding achievers of G.C.E. Advanced Level implemented by the Presidential Fund, was held under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on the 14 th of December at Temple Trees.

Under this phase, students from the Western Province who obtained excellent results at the G.C.E. Advanced Level Examinations in the year 2023 and 2024 were recognised. Accordingly, 361 outstanding students from the Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara districts were awarded scholarships amounting to LKR 36.1 million by the Presidential Fund.

Addressing at the event, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the Presidential Fund is a public fund belonging to MORE >>

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that education should not be a burden to children during the recovery period after the disaster, and priority must be given to their psychosocial well-being. The Prime Minister emphasized that this approach would help foster a supportive school environment during disaster situations.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing a discussion held with education authorities of the Nuwara Eliya District on measures to restore educational activities and reopen schools for students following the recent disaster situation.

Although the Ministry of Education has decided to reopen schools island-wide on the 16 th of December, the Prime Minister noted that the auth MORE >>

The Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya met with Mr. Julian Hill, M.P., Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs and Assistant Minister for International Education of Australia, on 11 December 2025 at the Ministry of Education, Isurupaya.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the support extended by the Government of Australia with a contribution of AUD 3.5 million following the recent adverse weather conditions that affected the entire nation to provide humanitarian assistance and restore essential services. The Prime Minister further stated that Sri Lanka has completed search and rescue operations and is now beginning the next phase of recovery, focusing on resettl MORE >>

A meeting between representatives of UNICEF and Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya was held on the 10 th of December at the Prime Minister&rsquos Office.

During the discussion, an initial review of the new digitalization policy draft was conducted, and it was emphasized that the new digital policy must be formulated to align with the ongoing education reforms.

The Prime Minister highlighted that the digital policy should be developed in a way that supports all five core pillars of the current education reforms, including curriculum reform, infrastructure development, and administrative restructuring.

It was further noted that the current draft is primarily focused on curriculum-related matter MORE >>

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the government is taking steps to strengthen local exporters by making trade facilitation, customs procedures, and investment approvals more efficient, and by improving export services.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the 27th Presidential Export Awards 2024/25 ceremony organized by the Ministry of Industries and Industrial Development together with the Export Development Board.

At this ceremony, which was held to recognize the best exporters of Sri Lanka for the financial year 2024/2025, a total of 107 awards including 15 overall awards and 92 sectoral awards for products and services were presented. Merit awards were also presented to el MORE >>

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that accurate data is essential for the post-disaster recovery process of the country, and that a structured mechanism with public participation is needed for efficient data collection.

The Prime Minister made these remarks during a discussion held on the 10th of December at the Prime Minister’s Office regarding the country’s recovery process following the recent disaster situation.

During the meeting, Professor Nihal Perera demonstrated how national development should take place in harmony with nature while minimizing natural disasters.

Addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya further stated:

One of the  MORE >>

A series of inter-religious programs launched across the island under the directions of the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs to offer blessings for the people affected by the Ditwah Cyclone and floods and to confer prayers for all those who lost their lives during the disaster.

Accordingly, under the supervision of the Chief Prelate of Hunupitiya Gangarama temple, Ven. Dr. Kirinde Assaji Nayaka Thero, a Sarwa Rathika Pirith chanting ceremony was held at the Seema Malaka of Hunupitiya Gangarama Temple in Colombo. Following the offering of gilanpasa and flowers for the sacred relic by the Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Hiniduwa MORE >>

We cannot allow flooding to become a part of the daily lives of the people in the Colombo District.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that there will be no permission granted for unauthorized constructions within the Colombo District, nor any form of residential developments that endanger the public by carrying out under the guise of development agenda.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the media at the conclusion of the Colombo District Disaster Management Committee meeting held on December 09 at the Colombo District Secretariat.

Addressing further, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated:

The Colombo District has become vulnerable to this e MORE >>

A meeting was held to discuss post-disaster planning and the reconstruction process, with special focus on flood-prone areas on 8 th of December at the Prime Minister’s Office. The discussion was held under the patronage of the Prime Minister, and attended by representatives from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

During the meeting, the Prime Minister emphasised the critical importance of timely and systematic information and data collection to support timely and effective decision-making on a daily basis following the post disaster situations. The Prime noted that accurate data flows are essential for guiding recovery efforts in  MORE >>