The "Dr. Sujatha Attanayake Tribute Ceremony," organized to appreciate her peerless contribution of nearly seven decades to the Sri Lankan music industry, was grandly held at the Kumaratunga Munidasa Studio of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

During this prestigious ceremony, a special portrait of Dr. Sujatha Attanayake was also unveiled by the Prime Minister.

Distinguished guests present at the occasion included Deputy Minister of Mass Media Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathne, Minister of Cultural Affairs Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, and Chairman of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation Prof. Uditha Gayashan Gunasekara.

Dr. Sujatha Attanayake, who studied music at the Government Institute of Fine Arts and entered the music field through the Broadcasting Corporation, has so far rendered over 5,000 songs. She has showcased her matchless vocal talent both locally and internationally by singing in 11 languages, including Sinhala, Tamil, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Marathi, Nepali, Malay, Sanskrit, and English.

Her outstanding service in enriching the minds of listeners with high-quality music over several decades was specially praised and commended by the Prime Minister and the Deputy Minister of Mass Media at this event.

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Cabinet_Decision_on_27.07.2026_English.pdf

The inaugural program of "Integrity Week," held in parallel with the national initiative to establish an upright public service, took place today at the Ministry of Mass Media premises under the patronage of the Hon. Deputy Minister of Mass Media, Dr. Kaushalya Ariyaratne. The staff officers and the entire staff of the Media Division of the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, as well as the Department of Government Information, attended the event.

A wide range of programs are scheduled to be implemented during "Integrity Week," which is launched in alignment with this national operation jointly executed by the Presidential Secretariat and the 'Clean Sri Lanka' initiative.

Addressing the staff at the event, the Hon. Deputy Minister stated that the government's primary expectation is to establish a good, dedicated, and corruption-free public service, as promised to the public. She further emphasized that the government is working towards creating a satisfying salary structure and a good working environment for public servants; therefore, everyone must fulfill their duties in unison for the aspirations of the people, regardless of status or rank. Additionally, the Deputy Minister highlighted that among the 10 ideals for an ethical public service, the most important ideal is "humility."

A special media sensitization workshop organized under the theme "Let’s Create Equal and Fair Space in Society Through Media Reporting...!" was successfully held on July 15th at the Department of Government Information auditorium. The workshop was organized for the benefit of communities with various levels of mental and physical disabilities, based on a special concept by Member of Parliament Mr. Sugath Wasantha.

Aimed at enhancing the quality and sensitivity of media reporting regarding persons with disabilities, the workshop was attended by a number of leading academics and professionals in the field. Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathne — Ministry of Health and Mass Media, Mr. Sugath Wasantha — Member of Parliament, Mr. Harsha Bandara — Director General of Government Information, Ms. Deepanjalie Abeygunawardena — Deputy Director, Verité ResearchAdditionally, a large number of mainstream journalists, including those actively engaged in media reporting on persons with disabilities, enthusiastically participated in the event.

The workshop extensively discussed the responsibility of journalists to move away from viewing the community with disabilities through a lens of pity in media reporting. Instead, it emphasized the need to advocate for their equal rights and fair opportunities within society.

Through this workshop, it is expected that a more equitable, sensitive, and inclusive media culture will be fostered in Sri Lankan society in the future.

The "Media Fest 2026", a landmark media festival organized by the Sri Lanka-India Media Friendship Association (SLIMFA), was held on a grand scale on July 11th in Colombo.

Centered around the timely theme "Steadfast in a Changing World," the event was attended by the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, H.E. Santosh Jha, the Deputy Minister of Health and Media, along with prominent local and international senior journalists, newspaper editors, and academics.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Kaushalya emphasized the critical importance of safeguarding credibility and truth in journalism within today's rapidly evolving digital media landscape. It was pointed out that in the face of the rapid spread of misinformation and misleading news, practicing responsible journalism remains one of the primary responsibilities of professional journalists.

Special attention was also drawn to the need for further strengthening the bilateral communication and technological cooperation between Sri Lanka and India by utilizing modern digital technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI). It was highlighted that exchanging technology and knowledge between the media sectors of both countries could elevate regional journalism to a new dimension.

"Equipping ourselves with digital technology while safeguarding media ethics and truthfulness is the key factor that will determine the survival of the modern media industry."

This milestone event served as a significant turning point in further developing media relations between the two nations and successfully confronting future challenges in the field of media.

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Cabinet_Decisions_on_13.07.2026_E.pdf

The Minister of Women and Children's Affairs, Mrs. Saroja Savitri Paulraj, stated that the National Early Childhood Care and Development Week will be implemented island-wide from today (14th) until July 20th under the theme "Happiness in the Family – A Ray of Sunshine for a Blossoming Child's World".

Speaking at a press conference held yesterday (13th) at the Department of Government Information, the Minister emphasized that the primary objective of this national week is to nurture a generation of Sri Lankan children endowed with sound physical, psychosocial, and intellectual development.

In conjunction with this national week, the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs has planned to implement various awareness and development programs across the country.

The key goals of this initiative include fostering a community equipped with knowledge on early childhood care and development, educating society on the importance of accessing quality services in this sector, and enhancing active parental participation.

The Minister further noted that the core expectation of this national week is to encourage parents and the community to pay greater attention to early childhood development, driven by the message "Wake up for your child."

The report, prepared to establish a systematic, fair, and transparent mechanism for granting Presidential Pardons to convicted prison inmates, was handed over by retired Supreme Court Judge Mr. S. Thurairaja to the Secretary of the Ministry of Justice and National Integration, Ms. Ayesha Jinasena, PC.

On June 25, 2025, the Cabinet of Ministers appointed a committee chaired by retired Supreme Court Judge Mr. S. Thurairaja to study the proviso of Article 34 (1) of the current Constitution, along with other statutory acts and judicial rulings. The committee's mandate was to rectify existing administrative procedural deficiencies in the prison sector and present recommendations.

The other members of this committee included Deputy Minister of Mass Media Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathne, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Justice and National Integration Piyumanthi Peiris, Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle, Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) Legal Asanga Karawita, Chairperson of the Bureau of Rehabilitation Professor Wasantha Subasinghe, Specialist Dr. Chiththahari Abayanayake, former Acting Commissioner of Prisons Nishan Dhanasinghe, Acting Commissioner General of Prisons Prasad Hemantha Kumara, Senior Assistant Secretary (Legal) to the Ministry of Justice and National Integration Roshani Hettige, and Senior Assistant Secretary to the Ministry of Justice and National Integration Chandima Welikala.

This initiative is recognized as a fundamental step in the government's ongoing reforms to create a prison system that aligns with international standards, while easing the current severe overcrowding in prisons and addressing various shortcomings in inmate rehabilitation processes.

The Ministry of Justice and National Integration stated that it will review these recommendations and take appropriate measures to implement them in the near future.

A delegation led by Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Special Envoy of the President of the Republic of Sri Lanka and Senior Advisor to the President on Digital Economy, recently participated in the "United Nations Global Dialogue on AI Governance" held at the Palexpo premises in Geneva, Switzerland.

Established by the UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/79/325, this global dialogue is the world's first UN-led global platform dedicated to international artificial intelligence (AI) cooperation. The inaugural session of this historic summit commenced under the leadership of UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the President of the UN General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, along with several other keynote addresses.

At a time when the world is rapidly transforming towards an AI-driven future, the delegation highlighted Sri Lanka's commitment to international cooperation, digital equity, and the establishment of a fair, inclusive, and secure global digital governance framework.

Representing the Sri Lankan delegation alongside the Presidential Special Envoy, Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, were Mr. Sumith Dassanayake, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva; Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Bandula Herath, Director General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL); and senior officials from the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Geneva. Held from July 6 to 10, this delegation also participated in a series of international summits, including the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS Forum), and the "AI for Good Global Summit 2026.

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Cabinet_Decision_on_06.07.2026_English.pdf

It was on a Poson Full Moon Poya Day such as today that the noble teachings of Buddhism, which profoundly transformed the course of the Sri Lankan nation, were first bestowed upon this land.

The arrival of Arahat Mahinda Thera marked the beginning of Sri Lanka's emergence as a centre of Theravada Buddhist philosophy and tradition. That momentous event, which gave rise to both a spiritual awakening and a far-reaching social transformation, extended far beyond its religious significance and laid the foundation for a more advanced cultural, social and political order throughout the country.

Buddhism not only established a strong foundation for the nation to flourish but also brought about a transformation in education. By turning temples into centres of learning and monastic education, it fulfilled a vital social role as a hub of knowledge, fostering a profound spiritual renaissance among the people. Moreover, it inspired remarkable developments in architecture, painting, irrigation engineering, building design, wood carving and other artistic traditions, elevating our nation to a position of distinction and pride before the world.

As the present-day heirs to such a glorious and noble heritage, we all bear an inescapable responsibility to revive the values and moral principles that are gradually fading from society and to work together towards building a civilised State. In this endeavour, we are already engaged in the struggle to restore civility across all spheres of public life, including Parliament and State institutions.

No nation can achieve genuine progress without an ethical foundation. The Cūḷa Hatthi Padôpama Sutta, expounded by Arahat Mahinda Thera, underscores the importance of gradual training and disciplined development. By re-establishing on Sri Lankan soil the proud legacy of the civilised society that came with Buddhism, let us join hands with unwavering determination to build a modern and enlightened State founded upon the ethical, social and environmental values that our nation so urgently requires.
I therefore invite all citizens to unite in this noble endeavour with strength and conviction.
May this sacred Poson Festival illuminate every heart with compassion, loving-kindness and wisdom.