The Primary Care Community Centre project slated to begin shortly will establish one primary health care centre covering nearly 10,000 of the country’s population, Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said.

“Under the first phase, 2,000 centers are to be established throughout the country over the next three years. It is planned to establish 100 primary health care centers this year, marking the beginning of this programme and services are to be implemented with a staff of eight in each centre” the Minister said.

The Minister was speaking at a workshop for Public Health Nursing Officers (PHNOs), to raise awarness about the programme at Sri Lanka Foundation Auditorium, Colombo on Saturday.

The Minister said that this programme is an essential process to further elevate the efficiency of the health service in the country today.

The Minister pointed out that until now, the country’s focus has been on the development of secondary and tertiary hospitals, and that providing buildings with a few storeys for hospitals was politically more important than primary health development.

He said that in order to go further in the future, this new programme will be implemented over the next three years.

The Minister said that in the past, politicians wanted to bring big hospitals to their constituency and district and raise the standards of those hospitals. He added that the current government does not grade hospitals based on political expediency, but rather carries out these activities by giving priority to the needs of the people.

He also stated that the country needs about 2,000 primary care units and that the work related to this will be carried out within the next three years, and that efforts will be made to select only places that are familiar to the people, where people gather, and which are attractive to the public.

The centers are scheduled to implement a number of primary health services, including non-communicable diseases, basic surgical treatment, elderly rehabilitation, primary eye, oral, mental health, nutrition, alcohol rehabilitation and youth selective care chosen laboratory testing, and community empowerment.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has departed for the Maldives on a state visit, which will continue until the 30th of this month.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visit is being undertaken at the invitation of Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu. During the visit, the two leaders are expected to engage in bilateral discussions aimed at deepening cooperation between Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) are also scheduled to be exchanged to further strengthen ties in areas of mutual interest.

Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa signed the Declaration of Angkor Initiative 2.0 during the closing ceremony of the 20th Asia Media Summit in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on Wednesday (23).

The agreement brings together ministers and media leaders from across the Asia-Pacific to strengthen regional efforts against disinformation and promote information integrity.

The Asia Media Summit, organised by the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) and hosted by Cambodia’s Information Ministry, drew over 200 foreign delegates, including ministers, media executives and professionals from around the region. The summit opened on July 22 with addresses by Cambodia’s Information Minister Neth Pheaktra and AIBD’s CEO Philomena Gnanapragasam.

Minister Dr. Jayatissa arrived in Siem Reap on Wednesday (23) to participate in the summit and engaged in several bilateral meetings on the sidelines. He held discussions with Cambodia’s Information Minister, State Minister and Chief Spokesperson at the President’s Office of the Maldives, Heena Waleed, as well as representatives from the International Telecommunications Union and the AIBD.

During the summit, Minister Dr. Jayatissa presented a special award to Cambodia’s Information Minister Neth Pheaktra, recognising him as ‘Special Envoy of Information Integrity’ in appreciation of his commitment to media and information standards.

The Declaration of Angkor Initiative 2.0, signed by AIBD member states, sets out a framework for enhancing the region’s media landscape and strengthening cooperation against disinformation. The summit also featured pre-summit workshops aimed at supporting the professional development of media practitioners across Asia and the Pacific.

The event concluded with the announcement that the Maldives will host the 21st Asia Media Summit in 2026.

The Cabinet of Ministers decided on Monday (21), to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Digital Economy Ministry and the National University of Singapore to initiate joint research for the development of artificial intelligence (AI).

Cabinet spokesman and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa stated, “The MoU will facilitate joint research in artificial intelligence technologies, support various AI programmes, and promote cooperation to address both local and global challenges,” he added.

During the weekly cabinet press briefing yesterday (22), the minister mentioned discussions with the “Programme on Artificial Intelligence in Singapore” (AI Singapore) at the National University of Singapore.

These discussions aim to explore opportunities for an active partnership and knowledge sharing that will contribute to Sri Lanka’s strategic goals in artificial intelligence development. Dr. Jayatissa added that a proposal has been submitted to formalise cooperation between the two countries through this memorandum of understanding. This initiative is expected to lead to joint research efforts, the implementation of AI programmes and collaborative solutions for local and global issues.

The Cabinet has approved a landmark project to establish a Threat Hunting and Malware Analysis Research Lab, marking a major step toward strengthening Sri Lanka’s cybersecurity infrastructure.

The proposed lab, to be set up under the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Response Team (Sri Lanka CERT), will play a key role in identifying and responding to cyber threats, enhancing malware analysis capabilities, and building specialized human resources in the field of cybersecurity.

This initiative is crucial to the success of the country’s major digitalization efforts, including the Sri Lanka Digital Identity Card Project, National Data Exchange Digital Platform, Lanka Government Cloud, and various other digital government initiatives.

Recognizing that a secure cyberspace is essential for digital transformation, the Cabinet approved the proposal submitted by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as the Minister of Digital, to launch the Cyber Threat and Malware Analysis Research Unit.

Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela said that plans have been made to publish all relevant matters in a gazette in order to preserve the Kandy Esala Perahera’s traditions without undergoing modernisation in the future.

He also said that, following the advice of the Mahanayakes of the Malwathu and Asgiri Ubhaya Maha Viharas, a document containing proposals to obtain legal permission for the traditions of the perahera was submitted to the previous Government last year, after obtaining the opinions and suggestions of the Maha Sangha and scholars.

Nilanga Dela made this statement while speaking to the media at the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy.

The Diyawadana Nilame stated that the primary objective of this is to prevent the commercialisation of the Kandy Esala Perahera, which is considered the great cultural festival of this country since the days of the ancient kings, and that once its traditions are published in a gazette, the perahera will not be able to be changed according to the wishes of any individual.

He also stated that since the relevant request submitted to the previous Government last year had not been gazetted, he expects to make this request from the current President Anura Kumara Dissanayake through this year’s Perahera Sandesha.

He also said that this will ensure the safety and cultural value of the procession.

A short-term training program aimed at enhancing the professional skills of journalists from electronic media institutions and media organizations was held yesterday (15) at the Department of Government Information.

Organized on the instructions of Director General H. S. K. Bandara and conducted by the department’s Mass Media and Research Division, the program focused on the role and responsibility of journalists, media credibility, and overcoming professional challenges.

Veteran journalists Lal Hemantha, Upendra Herath, and Anil De Silva shared their expertise during the sessions. The program saw the participation of journalists from both private and government media organizations, as well as university students.

Procurement of five (5) Power Sets for the Sri Lanka Railway Department

A minimum of 96 Power Sets is required to maintain the Railway service currently in operation, and to meet this minimum requirement, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation for the procurement of 5 Power Sets for suburban and long-distance services.

Procurement of 400,000 vials of Desferrioxamine Mesylate Injection BP 500 mg

Following international competitive procurement procedures, of the 2 Bidders, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to award the relevant procurement to M/s. ABC Pharma Services (Pvt) Ltd, being the lowest Bidder, based on the recommendations of the higher-level Standing Procurement Committee.

Installation of Treatment Centres to upgrade Sewage and Soakage Management activities

The requirement to develop infrastructure facilities to manage Soakage and Sewage has been recognised as per the National policy on Waste Disposal. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Governments for construction of Mechanical Sewage Refinery Centres in selected Local Government bodies utilising Rs 200 million from the provisions allocated for ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ Programme.

Project to enhance Capacity in Secondary Treatment Hospitals

The Asian Development Bank has expressed their concurrence to provide US$ 100 million as result-based Budget assistance for the quality and capacity building programme in Secondary Treatment Hospitals throughout the island.

Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the Minister of Health and Mass Media to execute this project from 2025 to 2030, utilising the said finances-grants which is provided via the result-based Loan grant methodology.

The final match of Group "D" in the 2025 State Services (50-Over) Cricket Tournament was held on July 3, 2025, against the Police Department team, where the Ministry of Mass Media Cricket Team emerged as the runners-up.

This tournament, organized annually by the Sri Lanka State Services Cricket Association, saw the Ministry of Mass Media Cricket Team achieve a remarkable milestone — becoming Champions (2023 – Group F), Joint Champions (2024 – Group E), and now Runners-Up (2025 – Group D) for three consecutive years in their respective groups. This achievement is a significant and rare accomplishment for a public sector cricket team in Sri Lanka.

Having started as a softball (tennis ball) team in 2007, and transitioning into a leather ball cricket team in 2016, the Ministry of Mass Media Cricket Team has come a long way. Their consistent progress and success over the years have earned them notable recognition.

During this year's tournament:

• Opening batsman and wicketkeeper Pradeep Perera was honored as the highest run scorer of the team with a total of 357 runs.
• Opening bowler Prasad Niroshan was recognized as the highest wicket-taker with 19 wickets.

As a result of their continued success, the Ministry of Mass Media Cricket Team is now set to take a step forward and compete under Group “C” in the 2026 tournament, aiming for even greater achievements.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),Resident Representative Azusa Kubota affirmed that the UNDP will support the Sri Lankan Government’s ongoing initiatives to build an efficient and accountable public service.

She made these remarks during a meeting with the Secretary to the President, Dr.Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, at the Presidential Secretariat held yesterday (13).

The discussion focused on improving collaboration with the UNDP to strengthen staff training and establish Internal Affairs Units (IAUs) aimed at delivering efficient services across all Government institutions.

These units are intended to prevent corruption, promote transparency and accountability, uphold ethical governance and support law enforcement in coordination with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.

Further discussions were held on introducing programmes aimed at cultivating a culture of compliance within public institutions by encouraging ethical behaviour among public officials. Ms. Kubota assured to the Secretary to the President that the UNDP is fully committed to supporting these programmes.

Also participating in the meeting were Drago Kos, UNDP international expert and Chair of the OECD’s Istanbul Anti-Corruption Action Plan and Dhammika Dassanayake, Anti-Corruption Specialist.

Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa and US ambassador in Colombo Julie Chung discussed the growth and further enhancement of Sri Lanka’s healthcare system for the benefit of citizens during a meeting in Colombo on Thursday.

During their brief conversation, the US Ambassador emphasised that numerous donors from the USA are keen to contribute medicines and essential medical supplies to hospitals in Sri Lanka.

The Health Minister expressed deep appreciation for the invaluable assistance provided by the US Government in advancing country’s healthcare sector through the regular supply of medicines and medical equipment. Furthermore, she mentioned that the US Government is prepared to offer the necessary technical expertise to Sri Lanka to further enhance its health sector.

Minister Dr. Jayatissa also discussed about the rise of dengue and chikungunya cases in the country, stating that the Government has implemented all feasible measures to curb the spread of these illnesses.

“The Health Department also organises seminars and health camps to raise public awareness about the seriousness of these diseases, and these awareness initiatives are yielding significant improvements,” he added.

The Minister also recalled that in 1973, the US Government established a Thriposha manufacturing facility in the country, and the products from this factory greatly benefit the children in Sri Lanka.

The Minister also informed the US envoy that his Ministry has taken decisive steps to foster a positive media culture in the country, including efforts to establish a “Chartered Media Institution” for the benefit of all media professionals.

In response, the Ambassador said that the US Government is also eager to assist both the healthcare and media sectors in Sri Lanka by providing essential knowledge and the latest technology to advance both fields.

The National Media Policy will be launched and will come into effect within three months, Mass Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa informed Parliament yesterday.

The Minister said that this National Media Policy will be formulated by key media stakeholders themselves through proper discussions to arrive at common consensus with the Government and that the Government will only be playing a facilitator’s role throughout the process.

He said that if any media institution does not comply with the common media law of the country, such media institutions will be dealt with according to prevailing media laws of the country. The Minister emphasised that the Government’s objective is to not impose rules on the media but to allow them to operate freely and ethically according to the country’s existing common media law.

He said that the Government hopes that the media institutions and media journalists will operate and work ethically within a highly competitive media environment in the country, abiding by the country’s laws on media.

“The government’s attention has been drawn in preparing a code of ethics for media journalists and currently the Ministry is in the process of drafting a code of ethics for media journalists.”

Responding to a question raised by NPP MP Prof. Sena Nanayakkara yesterday (8), the Minister said that presently there are 23 Sri Lankan television channels that are broadcast in Sri Lanka with five state television channels and 18 private television channels.

The Minister said the Government’s special attention has been also drawn towards enhancing the quality of the TV programmes that are broadcast by state and private sector TV channels and an action plan will be set up towards achieving this objective for the benefit of the viewers across the country.