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The President’s Media Division launched the “Kaleidoscope 2024 Screen Media for Gen-Z” initiative, aimed at equipping school students with practical media knowledge. The program, inaugurated today (20) at the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA), is a collaborative effort with an advisory board comprising representatives from the Presidential Secretariat, Ministry of Education, public and private media entities, academia, and industry experts.

In its initial phase, 158 students from thirty-one schools with active media units have been chosen to participate in the 16-week program, conducted once a week. Generous sponsorship from Unilever Lanka, SLIT Educational Institute, and Lanka IOC supports the initiative.

The program’s commencement involved educating students on media fundamentals, led by Senior Assistant Secretary to the President Mr. Sudheera Nilanga Withana, along with Directors from the Presidential Media Division, Engineer Mr. Stanley Hettiarachchi, and Ms. Nadeera Madugalle.

Veteran journalist Udham Satarasinghe, renowned artist Sudath Devapriya, and former head of the Media Department at the National Institute of Education, Mr. Bandula P. Dayaratne, delivered special lectures as guest speakers.

In the program’s second phase, students will receive six additional days of education across five skill areas, led by expert teachers and industry professionals.

All electronic media organizations in Sri Lanka have united in support of this initiative, offering participating students the opportunity for a two-day visit to gain practical knowledge. Furthermore, leading private sector institutions, recognizing the importance of branding and marketing understanding for journalists, have opened their doors to provide students with first-hand experience, ensuring they are equipped not just for today’s world, but also for the innovations of the future.

Phasing out of Hydro-fluorocarbon

Fulfilment of National commitments consistent with the Kigali Amendment to Montreal Protocol on gradual phase out of Hydro-fluorocarbon importation and consumption of it being mindful of not having any adverse effects in the process.

In 2018, Sri Lanka ratified the Kigali Amendment of the Montreal Protocol on the phase down of Hydro-fluorocarbon. As a result, Sri Lanka is legally bound to restrict the import, export, trade and consumption of Hydro-fluorocarbon on a phased basis from January 01, 2024. 

As such, the Cabinet approved the proposal presented by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Environment to adhere the legal obligation of the National obligations related to the Kigali Amendment of the Montreal Alliance by limiting the importation and consumption of pure Hydro-fluorocarbon and products containing Hydro-fluorocarbon to Sri Lanka on a phasing out basis and by implementing the Hydro-fluorocarbon import trade under an annual import quota system so that the hydro-fluorocarbon consuming sectors such as agriculture, fishing, health, tourism, transport, industry, housing, and construction do not have adverse effects.

Establishment of an inter-Ministerial tourism committee

It is recognised that the current revival of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry will play an important role in the country’s economic recovery and growth.

Therefore, many measures have been proposed in the 2024 budget, including the implementation of a long-term programme to promote the tourism sector and bring at least five million tourists annually.

Due to the multifaceted nature of the tourism industry and its various assets, laws and responsibilities are divided among several government agencies, it is essential to maintain efficient coordination and cooperation among the relevant agencies to achieve the desired benefits.

As such, the Cabinet approved the proposal presented by the President to establish an inter-ministerial tourism committee chaired by the Secretary to the President and with representatives from relevant government agencies.

MoU between DSRSL and Govt. of Hungary on Sports and Sport Education

It has been proposed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (DSRSL) and the Republic of Hungary in order to develop and strengthen cooperation between the two sides by promoting the fields of sports and sports education. The draft MoU has received the Attorney General’s clearance and as such, the Cabinet approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs to obtain the relevant signatures.

 

Creating a million young entrepreneurs under the ‘Urumaya’ programme

 

An islandwide programme to gather information about young entrepreneurs covering the entire island obtaining information related to grant of freehold ownership and creating a million young entrepreneurs under the ‘Urumaya’ programme. Almost two million families in the country have been given grants/permits for the land they occupy. Under the Urumaya programme, it is planned to give the absolute right of the government lands to the grantees and permit holders in the year 2024. It is also planned to implement a programme to create one million young entrepreneurs in the entire island. The information required to implement these two programmes is expected to be gathered by deploying the youth force of the National Youth Service Council covering all 14,022 Grama Niladhari Divisions in the island with the support of the Grama Niladhari in the respective divisions. In accordance, the Cabinet approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Tourism and Lands to implement the Urumaya programme and the programme to create a million young entrepreneurs by collecting the necessary information through the existing mechanisms at the divisional secretariat level.

 

Revision of Sri Lanka Foundation Act No: 31 of 1973

The Sri Lanka Foundation, established under the Sri Lanka Foundation Act No. 31 of 1973, acts as a centre for training and awareness services on subjects related to sustainable development, social integration, socioeconomic development, good governance, entrepreneurship and democracy. At present, the Sri Lanka Foundation runs various courses ranging from Certificate courses to Advanced National Diplomas. However, there is a need to revise not only the goals and objectives of the foundation but also the powers and functions to suit the current needs. Consequently, the Cabinet approved the proposal presented by the Media Minister to amend the Sri Lanka Foundation Act providing scope for the Act to perform accordingly.

Amendments to the Primary Courts Procedure Act

In a dispute affecting land, it is the function of a Civil Court to determine or give a final decision as to title or possession, and until then only preventive or remedial action is taken by a Primary Court. Inevitable delays occur here since the order entered by the Primary Court remains in effect pending a final decision by a District Court in determining rights, and since District Court decisions are subject to two appeals. That situation enables a trespasser or even a squatter to retain possession of the land for a considerable period of time. As such, the Cabinet approved the proposal presented by the Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Minister to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a Bill to amend the Primary Court Procedure Act so as to achieve the desired objectives section 66 of the Primary Court Procedure Act No. 44 of 1979 as amended by Act No. 49 of 1980 in a more effective manner.


Provision of fertilizer subsidy to farmers for Yala season

As estimated by the National Fertilizer Secretariat, the chemical fertilizers urea, TSP and MOP, respectively, MT 110298.1, MT 27711.1 and MT. 33412.4 each is required for paddy cultivation in 2024 season. Accordingly, taking into consideration the proposals presented by the Agriculture and Plantation Industries Minister, the Cabinet decided as follows.

To import fertilizer through Ceylon Fertilizer Company Limited and Colombo Commercial Fertilizer Company Limited for the 2024 ‘Yala’ season, and sell fertilizer to farmers at concessional prices competitively with the private sector. Provision of a Rs. 15,000 subsidy per hectare for a maximum of twoú hectares cultivated by a farmer during the 2024 Yala season through the Department of Agricultural Development, directly crediting of relevant subsidy to farmers’ bank accounts.


Acceleration of stalled rural development programmes

Due to the economic crisis of the last few years, many development projects that had been commenced at the rural level had to be suspended.

However, since the government has already made significant investment in those projects, those projects should be completed immediately and the expected benefits should be given to the rural people. It has been revealed that the amount of allocation allocated under the decentralized budget programme is not sufficient to continue the implementation of the rural development programmes that have already been suspended midway in the respective areas.

Hence, the Cabinet approved the proposal presented by the President to provide another Rs. 2,000 million allocation under the decentralized budget programme for the re-implementation of the development projects that had to be stopped midway at the rural level, and to increase the allocation for special development initiatives implemented under the supervision of the President’s Office by another 1,000 million rupees.


Rooftop Solar Power Generation Projects for Religious Places

Awarding procurement for the implementation of the Rooftop Solar Power Generation Projects for Religious Places under the funds provided by the Government of India.

On January 08, 2024, the Cabinet had approved the implementation of the Rooftop Solar Power Generation Projects in religious places subject to a limit of 17 million US dollars under the loan facility of 1,000 million US dollars provided by the State Bank of India.

In effect, bids have been invited to select a suitable institution for the implementation of the project, and six bids have so far been received. Considering the recommendations made by the Procurement Appellate Board regarding the recommendation made by the Technical Appraisal Committee and the Standing Procurement Committee appointed by the Cabinet, the Cabinet approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Power and Energy to award the procurement for the implementation of Rooftop Solar Power Generation Project to M/s Premier Energies Ltd., for a contract price of US$ 17 million.


Relief to low income families gets Cabinet nod

In the first half of 2023, the government has taken steps to provide ten kilos of Nadu rice per family for a period of two months covering 2.74 million families in the 25 districts, including Samurdhi beneficiaries.

In order to help maintain the nutritional level of the identified low-income earners, it has been found that it is advisable to implement the same programme this year as well. Following which, the Cabinet approved the proposal presented by the President to provide 10 kgs of rice per family per month for a period of two months covering about 2.74 million low-income families identified through district secretaries/Government Agents by involving small and medium scale mill owners.

 
 
 
 

A ceremony was held at the Lake House premises yesterday to celebrate the 92nd anniversary of Thinakaran, the Tamil language daily published by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd., (ANCL).

The Chief Guest was Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda. Among the other notable attendees included Director of the Anti-Leprosy Campaign Dr. Prasad Ranaweera and legendary cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan’s father Sinnasamy Muttiah.

Lake House Chairman Prof. Harendra Kariyawasam and the Board of directors and Thinakaran paper and Lake House Staff attended.

Also, students who excelled in an essay competition conducted by the paper also were given awards. Several veteran journalists who contributed to the success of the paper over the years too were felicitated.

The Thinakaran paper was first published in 1932. It was started by founder of the Lake House the late D. R. Wijewardene with an objective of instilling the desire for freedom in the minds of Tamil speaking community from the colonial rulers.

Thinakaran acted as a platform for the development of Tamil literature in Sri Lanka. Thinakaran, Sri Lanka’s premier Tamil language National newspaper with a tradition of more than nine decades, has successfully overcome many risks and hurdles in its history of 92 years.

 
 

The ‘Satharawa Deepani’ felicitation ceremony, organised on a concept of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana, was held under the patronage of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardhana at the BMICH on Saturday (16) evening.

Veteran Cinema Artistes Malani Fonseka, Swarna Mallwaarachchi, Anoja Weerasinghe and Ravindra Randeniya who made a major contribution to the films produced by Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana, were felicitated with ‘Satharawa Deepani’ awards by the Prime Minister, on this occasion.

A group of 250 G.C.E. (A/L) students selected from all districts, were also granted ‘Pragnabandu Scholarships’ valid for two years, on this occasion, under the patronage of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya.

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Pranith Abeysundara.

Ven. Maha Sangha including the Anunayake of the Malwatta Chapter, Sahithya Chakrawarthi Most Ven. Dr. Niyangoda Dharmakeerthi Sri Sangharakkhitha Vijithasiri Thera, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, heads of Diplomatic Missions representing India, Russia and Japan, Cabinet Ministers, Government and Opposition MPs, government officials, artistes, members of the business community were present on this occasion.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe attended the art exhibitions “Celebration of Women” and “Bhawanawaka Shanthiya” by renowned artists Mrs. Iromi Wijewardena and Mr. Winston Suludagoda at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery, Colombo 07, yesterday (14).

The art exhibition commemorating the 50th anniversary of Mrs. Iromi Wijewardena’s artistic career was themed “Celebration of Women”. Concurrently, Mr. Winston Suludagoda, known for hosting art exhibitions domestically and internationally had organized his 34th art exhibition under the theme “Bhawanawaka Shantiya”.

For 46 years, Mr. Winston, an experienced artist, has showcased his artworks in numerous foreign countries. These exhibitions featured a wide array of colourful paintings depicting various themes such as daily life relationships, global crises, and religious lifestyles.

Following his visit to the art exhibition, the President also participated in friendly conversations with the attendees of the art exhibitions and took part in group photos. Also, these artists presented a special commemorative gift to President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Former Minister Ravi Karunayake, MP Mayantha Dissanyake, Former Governor of the Central Bank Indrajith Kumaraswami, Dr. Dayan Jaayathilake, Sujan Wijewardene, Lusil Wijewardene, Natali Wijewardene, Mala Jayawardene, Roshini Gunaratne, Shirani Thenabadu, Veteran Artist Kala Soori S.H. Sarath, and other guests graced the occasion with their presence.

Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana yesterday said that the opposition has proved that it cannot govern the country as they lacked knowledge and understanding of the agreements, entered into with international organizations including International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB), he said that the efforts by Parliamentarians Dr. Harsha De Silva and Prof. G. L. Peiris to make the Opposition Leader understand about them had become futile.

“The Opposition Leader should understand that the country cannot be developed without the support of International organizations including the IMF and WB, the Minister said.

He said that the government in power is bound to implement the Extended Fund Facility Agreement of the IMF irrespective of the person in the leadership.

The Minister said that the government has entered into agreements with IMF and World Bank and any government that comes into power should comply with the terms of these agreements.

The Minister was speaking at a meeting held at the Ministry Premises yesterday to discuss on the organization of Colombo International Film Festival which is scheduled to be held this year.

He said that a person who has not done a thorough study of these agreements, cannot run a government in the country. “Such individuals cannot build the country nor can they identify the issues faced by the country”, he said.

The Minister added that Sri Lanka faced unprecedented economic recession in 2022. “The country could not pay back loans obtained from local financial sources and the foreign reserves depleted to zero level. He added that government succeeded in reaching an agreement with the IMF securing US$ 3 billion to Sri Lanka within 48 months.

“The country has already received two tranches of this loan and discussions are going on to secure the third tranche,” he said.

 
 
 
 

Homagama to be made Teaching Hospital:

To enrol 500 local, foreign students annually :

The government has decided to upgrade the Homagama Base Hospital as a Teaching Hospital for the establishment of a Faculty of Medicine under the National School of Business Management (NSBM), Cabinet Spokesman, Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana said.

 

Speaking at the weekly Cabinet media briefing held yesterday at the Government Information Department, Minister Gunawardhana said that the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to take over the Homagama Base Hospital under the purview of the Health Ministry and upgrade it as a Teaching Hospital.

He further said that the NSBM green university is a state-owned institution started when Dullas Alahapperuma was the Vocational Training Minister.

It has been proposed to establish a medical college under the direct supervision and regulation of the Education and Health Ministries and the Sri Lanka Medical Council by the National School of Business Management (NSBM), a fully self-financed institution owned by the government and to award MBBS degrees through it.

 
 

It is expected to enroll 500 local and foreign students annually for the relevant degree course. The institution has sought approval to reserve the Homagama Base Hospital as a suitable government hospital for clinical training of the degree of this Medicine Faculty. The institution has sought approval to reserve the Homagama Base Hospital as a suitable government hospital for clinical training for the degree of this Faculty of Medicine.

Since the approval of the Cabinet was already given for the use of the Homagama Base Hospital for the clinical training of NSBM medical students, it has been proposed to prepare a mechanism to reserve the hospital on the basis of resource sharing for the clinical training of medical faculty students as well as professor unit facilities.

The National School of Business Management has agreed to provide the necessary funds for the development of the Homagama Base Hospital in accordance with the standards of medical education published by the Sri Lanka Medical Council.

The Cabinet approved the proposal presented by the President to take over the Homagama Base Hospital under the purview of the Health Ministry and upgrade it as a teaching hospital.

Homagama Hospital, which is currently under the Provincial Council, is a base hospital that provides a lot of services, but it does not have advanced professor units like at the Kalubowila Hospital. With this decision, it will be possible to add machinery and buildings to the Homagama Hospital, including a professor’s unit, which will be required to provide clinical training for the NSBM without any government expenditure.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has extended an invitation to the Opposition Leader and other Opposition party leaders to engage in discussions with senior IMF officials before the disbursement of the third tranche of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan to Sri Lanka. However, there has been no positive response from the main opposition leaders. Despite this, they have failed to propose any alternative solutions to address the significant economic crisis facing Sri Lanka.

Numerous rounds of negotiations spanning a year were conducted to avert what could potentially be the worst economic catastrophe in Sri Lanka’s post-independence history. Consequently, an Extended Fund Facility was agreed with the IMF in late March 2023. This agreement stipulated fulfilling various pre- and post-conditions, demonstrating their efficacy to the global community, thereby securing the second tranche of the IMF loan.

 

Following the receipt of the second tranche, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as National Policy and Finance Minister invited Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and other responsible opposition party leaders to partake in discussions with IMF officials regarding the subsequent tranche. Notably, President Wickremesinghe emphasised this appeal, particularly to opposition leaders, given their claim to be able to modify the agreement as per their requirements. Hence, a prime opportunity has arisen to present alternative proposals to IMF officials, and accountable leaders must contribute meaningfully to these deliberations.

The primary objective of the signed IMF Agreement entails a forty-eight-month program aimed at reforming Sri Lanka’s public financial management processes, particularly concerning debt sustainability. This program is intended to support the state budget and bolster foreign reserves. As per the agreement, maintaining a surplus in the public budget’s primary account is essential to ensure debt sustainability. Accordingly, the budget deficit should be capped at five per cent or lower of the gross domestic product.

 
 

By 2032, the total outstanding foreign debt must be reduced to 95% or less of the gross domestic product. The central government’s annual gross financial requirement from 2022 to 2027 should amount to 13% of the average gross domestic product, decreasing to 4.5% from 2027 to 2032. To achieve these targets, foreign debt restructuring programs have been formulated to repay outstanding loans from 2028 onwards. These restructuring programs necessitate the repayment of 37% of the debt stock within the next five to six years, followed by gradual repayment over subsequent years. Failure to adhere to these obligations could jeopardise international agreements and exacerbate the balance of payments crisis, leading to severe repercussions such as shortages of essential goods and transportation disruptions.

Finance Committee Chairman Dr. Harsha de Silva underscores the seriousness of the situation, emphasising that it transcends mere political concerns and demands a rigorous, scientifically informed approach.

However, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and his supporters lack the requisite comprehension of these complex economic issues, opting instead for populist rhetoric. Yet, navigating the current economic crisis requires astute and visionary leadership grounded in reality.

A table detailing the foreign financial gap from 2022 to 2027 accompanies this article, providing further insights into the prevailing economic challenges.

 
 

With the aim of providing quality customer service and banking services to the people, Homagama, West Horagala Divisional Cooperative Society was modernized and handed over to the people as a “Mini Coop Super” by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media, Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana yesterday (4).

At the same time, the West Horagala Cooperative Rural Bank branch belonging to the Homagama Multi Purpose Cooperative Society, which has been modernized as well, was also handed over to the people by the Minister.

In conjunction with this event, stationery including exercise books and special commemorative gifts were presented to the account holding school students and selected account holders of the Cooperative Rural Bank.

The Minister speaking at the event said, “It is possible to build any institution without theft, corruption and fraud. It is politicized and by leading the institutions according to political agendas, all of them will collapse and be destroyed. All the chairmen and heads of institutions under my ministry have been appointed using professionals with good experience in their respective fields.

 
 Most of them are experienced engineers. My political friends have not been appointed to a high position in any of these institutions, even to the most important position of my Ministry of the Ministry Secretary and others such as Ceylon Transport Board, Railway Department, State Development and Construction Corporation, Lake House, Rupavahini Corporation and Road Development Authority. By giving professional freedom to the professionals, this country can be built under a visionary programme.
At a time when the cooperative movement, which had once become a prestigious movement in the country, was about to collapse and close down, I took steps as the minister in charge of the subject to write off all the debts that had to be paid during the governance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Also, during the opening of private supermarkets across the country, the cooperative also took steps to modernize according to the concept of Coop City. Steps were taken to start production cooperative societies. It was possible to prevent the loss of the very valuable property owned by the cooperative from various frauds.”

The General Manager of Homagama Multi Purpose Cooperative Society Dr. Thilaka Katriarachchi, the officers including Saman Manjula of the governing body, the Secretary of the Homagama Divisional Secretariat, public representatives of the area, and a large number of local residents attended the event.

The issuing of a special commemorative stamp and first day cover to mark the 150th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Law College was held recently under the patronage of the Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana at the Colombo Law College Auditorium.

This commemorative stamp and the first day cover have been designed by Ruwan Indrajith Upasena.

 
Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya PC, Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam PC, State Minister of Media Shantha Bandara, Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media Anusha Palpita, Principal of the Law College Dr. Atula Pathinayake, judges, Lawyers and Law College students attended.

The annual Navam Maha Perahera 2024 conducted by the Colombo Hunupitiya Gangarama Temple under the theme ‘Aga Nagaraye Peraharaka Pelahare Arumasiya’, commenced the street processions with the participation of several Government and Opposition political leaders, temple Dayaka Sabha members, devotees and a large crowd of the public.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa placed the casket carrying the Sacred Relics on the elephant in order for the procession to begin and take to the streets.

 

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Navam Maha Perahera, Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana said, “Colombo Hunupitiya Gangarama Temple is a place of immense blessings for this country and has contributed greatly to changing the course of our country’s history.

“Ven. Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thera resided during the British imperial era in the Gangarama Temple complex. He was instrumental in providing academic and intellectual knowledge that was needed by national patriots, Ven. Migettuwatte Gunananda Thera and the other founders of Panadurawadaya, Henry Steel Olcott and Anagarika Dharmapala, who engaged in an immeasurable national mission for the freedom of our country and for the creation of a Buddhist religious renaissance in Sri Lanka at that time. It is marked in our history that the Gangarama Temple became a prominent centre to carry out these important activities during that time.

 “After that, Gangarama Viharaya Chief Prelate Venerable Galboda Gnanissara Thera, through his talent and creative ability, has been running the Navam Maha Perahara as a cultural festival that adds new value and example to the country and the world.

“The Maha Sangharatna, including Ven. Dr. Kirinde Assaji Nayaka Thera, continues to maintain it as a cultural feast for the entire Sri Lankan people, regardless of political party, race, religion, caste or creed.

“We would like to express our sincere thanks to the large number of donors, all organisations and individuals who contribute for the success of the Navam Maha Perahera, besides the Government’s support every year. I pray that all those who contribute to Navam Maha Perahara to take this country to the world and bequeath our cultural heritage to the world will receive the blessings of the Noble Triple Gem.”

Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha, Minister Harin Fernando, Deputy Minister Rohana Dissanayake, Members of Parliament Sarath Weerasekera and Sarath Fonseka, Senior Advisor to the President, Ruwan Wijewardene and other Government and Opposition party leaders, diplomatic representatives, representatives of temple Dayaka Sabha and a large number of the public were present at the commencement of the Navam Maha Perahara.

 
 
 
 
 

The conclusion ceremony of ‘EMPOWER’, the island-wide provincial Journalist training initiative jointly conducted by the Ministry of Mass Media and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was held under the patronage of Minister of Mass Media Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana in Colombo recently.

The series of island-wide Workshops designed to emphasise the fundamental Ethics and Values in the Media was launched with a two-day programme held in Colombo in August 2023. It was supported by the UN PeaceBuilding Fund

Addressing the event, the Minister appreciated the UNDP for implementing this programme in Sri Lanka, targeting provincial Journalists regardless of their race or their based locations.

He said that Journalists have a great responsibility to report the truth to society in a fair, balanced, analysed and discriminative manner. Such reporting is essential for maintaining a non-violent society.

Workshops of this nature play a key role in training the Journalists to maintain a healthy Media culture in the country, while healing the people of this society through their reporting, the Minister pointed out.

According to the UNDP Sri Lanka, they had reached a total of 350 Journalists at the provincial level over the course of this programme.

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