For the first time in the history of the Lake House institution, 66 employees were simultaneously recruited into permanent service and awarded their appointment letters yesterday (17th) at the Ministry of Media auditorium, under the patronage of the Deputy Minister of Mass Media, Dr. Kaushalya Ariyaratne, alongside Lake House Chairman, Mr. Gamini Varushamana, and the Board of Directors. The picture shows the permanent appointees posing for a group photograph with the guests.

Download Now 👇

Cabinet_Decision_on_15.06.2026_English.pdf

Download Now 👇

Cabinet_Decision_on_08.06.2026_English.pdf

The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (Sri Lanka CERT) has received numerous complaints regarding an ongoing financial fraud operation. The scam involves uploading fake videos to the internet, created using AI technology that mimics the likeness of prominent figures in society, including the President and the Prime Minister.

These fraudulent videos have been deceptively crafted using the images and voices of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, famous athletes, and other notable personalities. According to the complaints, a coordinated effort is underway to swindle money from the public using these Deepfake videos.

The Mechanics of the Scam

Sri Lanka CERT urges the public to remain highly vigilant regarding these deepfake videos, which depict the President, the Prime Minister, and other VIPs seemingly urging people to invest money to earn monthly returns. The agency noted that these creations are also disguised as fake news updates concerning:

• Lucrative investment opportunities

• Job openings

• National economic updates and tax policies

Risks and Methods Used

CERT further stated that these fake videos are being widely circulated across the internet. The accompanying messages entice users to click on a provided link to invest money and claim profits.

By clicking these links, internet users are redirected to fraudulent websites, where scammers have successfully stolen both personal data and money in several instances.

Safety Advisory from Sri Lanka CERT

In light of this situation, Sri Lanka CERT strongly advises the public to be extremely cautious regarding such manipulative videos found online. The agency further urges citizens not to click on these links, to avoid handing over their valuable personal data to scammers, and to protect themselves from falling victim to such fake news and financial fraud.

World Environment Day falls today (05th). The National Environment Day Official Ceremony will be held this morning at Temple Trees, under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The international theme designated for World Environment Day this year is "Global Call for Climate Action."

However, Sri Lanka has decided to celebrate Environment Day under the national theme: "Let it Bloom – Let's Align to Mitigate Climate Change." In conjunction with World Environment Day, an Environment Week was also declared from May 30th to June 5th (today). Accordingly, the Ministry of Environment and its affiliated institutions organized numerous programs to mark the week.

Declaration of New Forest Reserves

Coinciding with this year's Environment Day, five forests—Ritigala Reserve, Aliyawatunu Wewa Reserve, Bulagala Reserve, Konkatiyawa Reserve, and Kallanchiya Forest—are scheduled to be officially declared as reserves. Additionally, the 'Kuda Bubula' water spring reserve was established as a new protected area.

Including these five reserves, a total of 81 forests have been designated as reserves since 2025 under the 'Wanaspathi' program. All five forests declared as reserves this time are located in the Anuradhapura District, spanning an area of approximately 2,169 hectares.

Government Initiatives for Conservation

The Ministry of Environment, under the current government, has launched several programs to protect the ecosystem. A new initiative named 'Wana Surakuma' (Forest Protection) was introduced to prevent deforestation. This program has been launched by integrating security forces, including the Tri-Forces and the Special Task Force (STF). Furthermore, a special hotline number has also been introduced to report and raise awareness about deforestation.

A special discussion was held yesterday (03) regarding the digitalization of the public service and the development of technological skills among officials, in line with the national program to steer Sri Lanka towards a digital economy.

During the discussion, attention was focused on introducing an e-learning system for public servants, making digital literacy mandatory, enhancing cyber security awareness, and implementing a mobile-based Micro-learning methodology. The primary objective of this program is to transform the public service from an individual-dependent system into a modern, system-based service structure.

This program is scheduled to be implemented under a three-fold plan. Its key objectives include training currently employed officials, making digital literacy a mandatory requirement for new recruits, and developing school and university curricula to align with the digital economy.

As the first phase of this initiative, plans are underway to provide public officials with basic cyber security awareness courses and practical training on using official government email and collaboration tools.

The Ministry of Digital Economy, the Ministry of Public Administration, and other relevant institutions will jointly implement this program. It was also decided to hold further discussions with relevant stakeholders to formulate a scientific project proposal

Download Now 👇

Cabinet_Decisions_on_01.06.2026.pdf

The "Praja Shakthi – Gam Dahasaka Wada Dahasak" (A Thousand Projects in a Thousand Villages) program, implemented under the "Praja Shakthi" National Initiative aimed at eradicating multidimensional poverty among the rural population, begins today (02).

An allocation of Rs. 25,000 million has been set aside to implement identified projects under this program. As the initial phase, 1,000 projects are scheduled to be launched simultaneously across the island.

Key Launch Details

• Main Ceremony: Held at 9:00 AM in the Pinwala area of the Ambagaspitiya Grama Niladhari Division, within the Mahara Divisional Secretariat Division of the Gampaha District.

• Chief Guest: Dr. Upali Pannilage, Minister of Rural Development, Social Security, and Community Empowerment.

• Island-wide Launch: Parallel district-level main programs will launch across the island, headed by the respective District Coordinating Committee Chairpersons.

Under the main program centered in the Gampaha District, the restoration of the Pinwala Amuna (anicut) and the construction of its retaining walls will be carried out. In addition, arrangements have been made to start at least 3 to 5 projects in every Divisional Secretariat Division.

Project Scope and Implementation

The Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security, and Community Empowerment stated that the necessary funds have already been released to the districts. These funds will support projects identified by the Community Development Councils—which have been established in all Grama Niladhari Divisions under the ‘Praja Shakthi’ National Initiative—focusing on strengthening:

• The production economy

• Food security

• Livelihood development

The Ministry highlights that these projects will be implemented with the participation of Community Development Council members, government officials, and representatives of supporting agencies, marking a significant step toward the economic and social empowerment of the rural population.

The Vesak festival, which commemorates the three pivotal milestones in the life of Lord Buddha: his birth, his attainment of enlightenment, and his passing (Nirvana), is the most sacred celebration for Buddhists across the world. The people of Sri Lanka, heirs to a proud culture enriched by Buddhist heritage, join Buddhists worldwide in devoutly observing this noble occasion.

Buddhism is the greatest philosophical teaching to have conveyed to the entire world a timeless and practical message of peace. The entirety of the Dhamma preached by the Gautama Buddha is founded upon the Four Sublime Virtues of loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy and equanimity.

Furthermore, peace, coexistence and reconciliation constitute the supreme teachings expounded not only by the Buddha but also by all enlightened teachers. Buddhism teaches that, in order to establish peace in the external world, inner spiritual peace within the individual must first be secured. We must recognise that this inward and peaceful approach, as advocated by Buddhism in guiding society towards collective noble objectives, is more relevant today than ever before. I believe that this was also the message brought to Sri Lanka recently by the Vietnamese monk Venerable Pannakara Thero, who undertook a pilgrimage on foot across the country.

Moreover, the celebration of Vesak is not merely a religious observance, but also a magnificent cultural festival that has, for thousands of years, reflected Sri Lankan identity, solidarity and artistic creativity. It is indisputable that the programmes organised alongside Vesak celebrations, giving prominence to acts of religious observance such as almsgiving, the observance of sil, meditation and Dhamma sermons, as well as the devotional offerings and festivities including dansals, Buddhist devotional songs, beautifully crafted lanterns and splendid pandals, greatly contribute towards fostering mutual understanding, reconciliation and coexistence among communities.

Inviting all people to further embrace in their lives the values of Buddhism founded upon non-violence, compassion and boundless loving-kindness towards all living beings, I extend my heartfelt wishes for a blessed Vesak festival in which all hearts may find peace, comfort and serenity through the soothing grace of the Dhamma.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake

President

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

30.05.2026