It is an honor to extend my Vesak day message to all citizens of the nation during this sacred period in which Buddhist community across Sri Lanka come together to pay homage to the Lord Buddha, upholding both material and spiritual offerings and commemorating the threefold sacred events of the Lord Buddha’s life.

Since ancient times, the lives of the Sri Lankan people have been deeply rooted by the teaching of the Lord Buddha and this is a greater inheritance we have received through the Dhamma. In our country, where people of diverse ethnicities and religions coexist in harmony, the collective celebration of a major religious festival such as Vesak stands as a powerful testament to that unity.

This year Vesak day celebration marks the first to be celebrated under the current government, which was established with the vision of “A Prosperous Country, a Beautiful Life.” I believe that this Vesak season is a particularly a time to heal the hearts and minds of humanity, especially as our nation embarks on a path of meaningful transformation. Through this message, I take this opportunity to invite all of citizens to unite in mind and spirit, bound together by mutual respect and compassion.

I join all Sri Lankans in praying that the flames of war burning in various parts of the world at this moment may be extinguished, and that all people across the globe may be blessed with lives of happiness and peace.

May all of you have a blessed Vesak!

Dr. Harini Amarasuriya,
Prime Minister,
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
12th May 2025

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya visited Gampola and Peradeniya hospitals on May 11 afternoon to inquire into the condition of the patients injured in a tragic bus accident. The incident occurred in the early hours of May 11 when a bus traveling from Kataragama to Kurunegala veered off the road and plunged into a 500 feet steep cliff in the Garandiella area.

During the visit, the Prime Minister paid special attention to the availability of essential medication for patients being treated in intensive care units, as well as the need to ensure that all patients receive the required medical attention without delay.

Responding to questions from the media, the Prime Minister stated:

This is a dire tragedy, and it is deeply difficult to come to terms with such loss. Children, parents, and loved ones have been taken from us. Our country witnesses a high number of road accidents each day. The Minister of Transport is making great efforts to prevent such tragedies.

At this moment, I would especially like to express my gratitude to our medical professionals and hospital staff who, despite the challenges, are working together to provide treatment to the injured. I also wish to extend my gratitude to everyone who set aside their duties to transport the victims to hospitals without hesitation in this humanitarian rescue. This is what makes our country special. We must preserve such compassionate values. I also want to affirm that the government will intervene to do everything necessary in response to this tragedy.

Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Mr. Bimal Rathnayake also joined the visit.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

A meeting chaired by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya was held on May 10 at the Prime Minister’s Office with the police team conducting investigations and the parents of the deceased child from Kotahena.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister instructed the police investigation team to carry out an impartial, accurate inquiry into the incidents that occurred both within the school and in the tuition class.

The Prime Minister further informed the group that the Ministry of Education is presently conducting an internal inquiry to assess the efficiency and adequacy of the procedures that were followed at the time the incident was reported.

In light of the observed lack of coordination among state institutions responsible for responding to cases of child abuse and the failure of these systems to adequately intervene in the recent case involving the abused child the Prime Minister has appointed a three-member committee, chaired by Consultant Paediatrician Dr. Asvini Fernando, to oversee and ensure the efficient execution of relevant procedures.

The event was attended by Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayathissa, Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Saroja Paulraj, and Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananda Wijayapala.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated in Parliament on May 9 that incidents and crimes involving children must be addressed with responsibility and should never be politicized or used for political advantage.

The Prime Minister made these remarks in reference to the recent incident involving a school girl in the Kotahena area who commit suicide.

The Prime Minister emphasized that a child contemplating suicide reflects a collective failure of society and that such incidents must never be repeated. The Prime Minister further emphasized that investigations are currently being conducted with the involvement of all relevant parties concerning the incident involving the Kotahena schoolgirl.

Further, the Prime Minister stated that discussions have been conducted with the Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Saroja Paulraj, regarding the rapid establishment of a mechanism involving the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, the Ministry of Education, the National Child Protection Authority, and the Sri Lanka Police to address incidents and crimes involving children.

The Prime Minister also extended her condolences to the parents of the child, and emphasized that as a government, a broader intervention will be made to prevent such tragedies and a program will be implemented to ensure the complete protection of children in such vulnerable situations.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

The Prime Minister made these remarks while attending the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia (RIMES), held on 8th May at the Cinnamon Life Hotel in Colombo. The conference was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation.

RIMES was established on 30th April 2009 to facilitate hazard monitoring, risk assessment, risk communication, and the application of risk information in decision-making among countries in Africa and Asia.

Addressing the event, the Prime Minister further stated:

“The proposal to host the Fourth Ministerial Conference of RIMES in Sri Lanka was first put forward and seconded during the Third Ministerial Conference held in Papua New Guinea in 2017. Although this important gathering could not take place until now due to various challenges, including the global COVID-19 pandemic and Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, we are grateful to all institutions—especially RIMES, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, the Department of Irrigation, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism—for their unwavering support in making this event a reality.

Among natural disasters, the 2004 tsunami stands out as the most devastating in recent memory, claiming nearly 40,000 lives. The economic and social repercussions of this tragedy continue to reverberate, and the emotional trauma endured by children who lost parents, and siblings who lost each other, is a pain that words can hardly convey — one that still endures.

In this context, the role of RIMES is truly invaluable. Its efforts have significantly contributed to protecting Sri Lankan society from disaster risks and supporting the country’s journey towards sustainable and resilient development. I wish RIMES continued success in its mission, and I reaffirm our commitment to strengthening our collaboration for the benefit of both Sri Lanka and the broader global community.”

The event was attended by Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Mr. K.D. Lal Kantha, Deputy Minister Mr. Namal Karunarathne, ambassadors, representatives of RIMES member countries, representatives from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, and officials from relevant ministries.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya met with Mr. Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, at the Prime Minister’s Office to discuss Sri Lanka’s development priorities and the continuation of strategic collaboration.

The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the World Bank’s support during Sri Lanka’s recent economic crisis and reiterated the government’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable development. Mr. Banga commended the government’s reform agenda and emphasized the importance of job creation and enhancing employment quality as key drivers of economic recovery.

Discussions focused on investment in critical sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, tourism, and production industries. Mr. Banga also highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence to transform key sectors, particularly agriculture, and encouraged Sri Lanka to explore its application for innovation and productivity.

The Prime Minister noted ongoing efforts to strengthen healthcare policy and expand technical and vocational education to better align with the demands of emerging industries.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Trevor Kincaid, Special Advisor; Mr. David Sislen, Country Division Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka; Mr. Gevorg Sargsyan, Country Manager for Maldives and Sri Lanka; and Mr. Imad Fakhoury, Regional Director for South Asia at the International Finance Corporation. Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Mr. Pradeep Saputhanthri, Secretary to the Prime Minister; Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatta, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister; Dr. P.K.G. Harischandra, Alternate Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund for the constituency of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Sri Lanka; Mr. Dharshana Perera, Senior Director General of the Economic Affairs (Bilateral) Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism; and Mr. Dammika Premarathna, Additional Director General of the External Resources Department.

Prime Minister’s Media Division