The 50 best professionals who have excelled in various fields in Sri Lanka and the Maldives were recognized. Minister of Mass Media and Information Dallas Alahapperuma graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.
The ‘Top50’ Professional and Career Women Awards 2021 – hosted by Women in Management (WIM), in collaboration with Women in Work, a partnership between IFC and the government of Australia – recently honoured inspiring professional and career women in Sri Lanka and Maldives making a mark in their respective fields.
A news release issued in connection with the 11th edition of the awards ceremony said the event celebrated women representing a wide array of professions from industries including hospitality, banking and finance, logistics and supply chains, entrepreneurship, and media and law, among others, for excellence in either their chosen careers or for inspiring women in their community. The awards also lauded Sri Lankan corporates that have supported the growth and empowerment of women in the workplace.
Australian Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives David Holly and other dignitaries were also present.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed Ministry of Agriculture to support green gram cultivation in the lands which cannot cultivate paddy. President Media Division says green gram cultivation can be done as a supportive crop between two main harvesting seasons. Financial aids will be provided for the farmers in this regard.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, delivering the government’s policy statement in the House this morning said that no changes have been made to the green agriculture policy implemented by his administration. The president arrived at the Parliament this morning for the ceremonial opening of the second session of the 9th Parliament. In his speech the president said government’s plans and intentions for implementing the green agriculture policy were not communicated properly and several practical issues in introducing it were politicized, the President said adding that this resulted in a misunderstanding about the program. He said the government hopes to rectify the mistakes it had made when implementing the green agriculture policy and to take it forward in a more efficient manner. The President said the government has spent large sums of money to protect the lives of the people from the virus infection. He said government has also taken measures to provide assistance to daily wage earners who lost their livelihood due to the outbreak of the pandemic. The president pointed out despite all economic difficulties, the government went on to prioritize the health and well-being of the citizens. The President called on the Members of Parliament to work together as public representatives to fulfil their national responsibility to defeat the pandemic and to protect the people by setting aside the differences in their political views. President Rajapaksa said government would not under any circumstances allow any human rights violations to take place in the country and urged politicians to refrain from provoking people for petty political gains. The president reiterated that Sri Lanka is ready to respond positively to the observations of the international community. He urged all lawmakers representing the people of the northern and eastern parts of the island to set aside the differences in their political views and to support the government in its efforts to uplift the livelihoods of the people in those areas. The President said rule of law and its transparency is indispensable to strengthen democracy. The president said that he has not made any political appointments to the judiciary or the Attorney General’s Department ever since he was elected the Head of State. President Gotabhaya Rajapakse also disclosed plans to make Sri Lanka an internationally recognized investment hub within the next three years and to prioritize importation of electric vehicles.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has requested the people to keep hopes for next three years forgetting the two years lost due to the pandemic. He said the past period is important to the opposition. The Prime Minister said that hopes about the country should not be given up and the past two years should be given to the people who criticize. The Prime Minister was speaking at the launching of work of the second phase of the Eastern Terminal of the Colombo Harbor, today. The constructions were launched this morning under the patronage of President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. The constructions are expected to be completed in 2024 under three phases. Sri Lanka Ports Authority will get the fully-equipped terminal after completion of the work. Colombo harbor is ranked on the 23^rd place according to World Port Rankings. Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena said it will be placed on the 13^th position after completing development activities.

Media Minister Dullas Allahapperuma requests the government officials to keep in mind the manner in which the government, led by President Ghotabaya Rajapaksha increased salaries in the public service and provided permenant employments to graduate trainees after 9 years during the most difficult period in the history of Sri Lanka.
The minister was speaking at a ceremony held at Dikwella Divisional Secretariat recently to present appointment letters to graduate trainees.

Under the Graduate Employment Program, 51,000 trainee graduates, who have been receiving training in various government institutions for a year have been given appointments as Development Officers on a permanent basis.

Speaking futher the minister said " There have been three occasions in my life when nearly 50,000 educated young people who were nurtured by the university system were recruited into the public service at the same time. They were recruited in two occasions during the reign of Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksha in 2005 and 2012 and on the occasion during the reign of HE President Ghotbaya Rajapaksha today".

The Minister also pointed out that the responsibility of steering the country in the right direction lies with the politicians as policy makers as well as the public servants.

State Minister Kanchana Wijesekara was among others who attended the event.

Media Minister Dullas Alahapperuma insists that there is no move to curtail the freedom of speech.

Talking to regional correspondents in Trincomalee district, the minister said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the government are open to constructive crticism.

The minister pointed out that criticism is important for the progress of a society and that such criticism should be based on concrete evidence and facts and not on speculations and attitudes.

Minister Alahapperuma also said that in a democracy it's important to protect the freedom of speech.

The first batch of Korean job recipients this year left the country last night. The group is consisted of 89 workers. 48 out of them have returned to the country from South Korea after employment and going back again. The other 41 are leaving for the first time after passing the Korean language proficiency examination.  State minister priyankara Jayarathna says that over 300,000 persons are to be provided with foreign jobs this year.

The ‘Wise Woman’ National Programme was launched yesterday at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall Colombo under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. This program was launched with the intention of empowering women to the full potential and get their contribution to the economy.

The percentage of women in the country is 52%. However, a survey has revealed that the share of female labour in the total population is as low as 30 per cent.

The objective of the programme is to provide skills development and vocational training for women and get their contribution to the national economy, the President’s Media Division (PMD) stated in a statement.

Prof. Neelika Malavige, Dr. Asha de Vos, Kasthuri Wilson, Nipuni Karunaratne, Melanie Wagaarachchi, Pavithra Gunaratne, Rangana Weerawardena, Ayanthi Gunasekara, Nelka Shiromala and Thilanka Abeywardena were the women who contributed to the progress of the country by excelling in several fields.

Skills Development, State Minister Seetha Arambepola stated that when women are empowered in our country, the country will not be second to any other country in the face of any challenge.

The first meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers for the NewYear is scheduled to be held this.  The Cabinet meeting will reportedly commence at 5.00 p.m. today at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo with all ministers notified to attend the meeting. A number of Cabinet Papers are set to be taken up for discussion today as a Cabinet meeting was not held in the final week of the previous year.