The Institute of Surveying and Mapping, located at Diyatalawa in the Badulla district will be made an accredited University, Minister of Information & Communications Technology, Higher Education, Technology & Innovations Dr. Bandula Gunawardena said.The Minister was speaking during an inspection tour to the Institute of Surveying and Mapping in the company of Lands and Land Development Minister S.B. Dissanayake yesterday, a ministry communiqué said.

The Minister addressing the staff and the students at the institute said that following the election of Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the country’s President, the government has given special emphasis on developing human resources.“There are two main areas of focus in the President’s manifesto and one of them is human resources development. Therefore, this government has already taken several decisions to speedily implement them to ensure employability and a prosperous future for those students who have passed the GCE Advanced Level exam but has failed to gain entry to state Universities,” Minister Dr.Gunawardena said.

The Minister said that there were around 181,000 students who passed the Advanced Level last year and only about 30,000 will gain university entry.While noting that the government’s intention was to provide quality university education opportunities to a maximum number of students, it is therefore imperative that institutions like the Institute of Surveying and Mapping should be upgraded to university status.

He said the institute had reasonable physical resources to be upgraded to university status. The minister also said the institute will be used to conduct other part time courses when it is upgraded to University status. State minister S.B.Dissanayake also spoke.

Vibhajjavada Dhamma Sangayana organized for the continued sustenance of the Buddhism and the donation of Tripitaka Dhamma scripts to 5000 monks commenced at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium on Saturday (04).The concluding ceremony of the event was held under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa this evening.This Dhamma Sangayana was organized by Labunorukanda Aranya Senasana under the guidance of Dharmacharya Ven. Mankadawala Sudassana Thero of Labunorukanda Aranya in Anuradhapura and Sasanadhipathi Shashrapathi Rajakeeya Panditha Ven. Kothmale Kumara Kassapa Thero.

The event included orations and open discussion fora with the participation of erudite Maha Sanga to discuss ways and means to preserve the original teaching of the Buddha.The meritorious act of donating Tripitaka and Atta Katha in digital form to 5000 clergies was also held today.

The President and the Prime Minister donated Tripitaka tabs to Maha Sanga.The “10-year Vibhajjavadee Plan” for the upliftment of Buddhism and the proposal to set up “Theravada Dhamma Script Donation Fund” to provide Tripitaka Dhamma texts to temples around the country free of charge were also presented to the President and the Prime Minister.

The Maha Sangha including the Maha Nayaka Theros of the Tri-Nikayas and Anu Nayaka Theros, former President Maithripala Sirisena, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya , Ministers and MPs participated on this occasion.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said that religious freedom within the country will be ensured only if Sinhala Buddhis are protected. “A unitary state, safeguarding the Buddhists and Sinhalese are all combined together. When we go back in history, it is clearly visible that religious freedom within the country will be secure and strengthened only if the Sinhala Buddhists are protected.

The Sinhala Buddhists are capable of ensuring the freedom of other religions,” the Prime Minister said.The Prime Minister was speaking at an event held to donate Tripitaka and ‘Atta Katha’ in digital format to 5,000 members of the Maha Sangha at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium last Saturday (4).

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa further said that even though new technology is misused in several ways, the importance of technology is highlighted in meritorious acts like this. “In order to protect and nurture Buddhism , Labunoruwakanda Aranya Senasanaya under the guidance of Dharmacharya Ven. Mankadawala Sudassana Thera organized this event to donate Tripitaka Dhamma scripts,’ Atta Katha, Pali-Sinhala dictionaries in digital format to 5,000 monks.

“It is not practicable to print huge number of books including Tripitaka Dhamma scripts and Atta Katha.But with the technology we can guarantee that every Buddhist monk possesses Tripitaka Dhamma scripts and Atta Katha,” the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister further said that the Tripitakaya is an important part of the world’s intellectual heritage.“Eventhough the origins of Buddhism are not initiated from Sri Lanka,we are the protectors of Theravada Buddhism. New technology must be used for the propagation of Buddhism. Buddhists across the world should appreciate the efforts taken by the Labunoruwakanda Aranya Senasanaya for safeguarding Buddhism,” he added.

The Prime Minister said that when considering the results of the last Presidential election it is clearly visible that any force that moves against Buddhism is rejected by the general public.“We also must think twice regarding the fate of Buddhism, if the forces that moved against the Sinhalese and Buddhists came into power. We must be strong after facing all these challenges. The Maha Sangha played the most pivotal role by helping to save the country,” Prime Minister Rajapaksa said.

Prime Minister Rajapaksa also pledged his fullest support for the uplift of the Buddha Sasana and considered that donating tablets containing the Tripitaka, Atta Katha and Pali-Sinhala dictionaries is a great move to uplift the entire nation.
The Vibhajjavada Dhamma Sangayana organized the ceremony to donate Tripitaka Dhamma scripts to 5,000 monks for the continued sustenance of Buddhism.The concluding ceremony of the event was held under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.
This Dhamma Sangayana was organized by Labunoruwa Aranya Senasana under the guidance of Dharmacharya Ven. Mankadawala Sudassana Thera of the Labunorukanda Aranya in Anuradhapura and Sasanadhipathi Shashrapathi Rajakeeya Panditha Ven. Kothmale Kumara Kassapa Thera. The event included orations and an open discussion with the participation of members of the Maha Sangha to discuss ways and means of preserving the original teachings of the Buddha.

The meritorious act of presenting Tripitaka and Atta Katha in digital format to 5000 members of the clergy was also held.

The President and the Prime Minister presented Tripitaka tabs to Maha Sanga.

The “10-year Vibhajjavadee Plan” for the uplift of Buddhism and the proposal to set up “Theravada Dhamma Script Donation Fund” to provide Tripitaka Dhamma texts to temples around the country free of charge were also presented to the President and the Prime Minister.

The Maha Sangha including the Maha Nayake Theras of the Tri-Nikayas and Anu Nayake Theras, former President Maithripala Sirisena, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, Ministers and MPs participated on this occasion.

The Fourth Session of the Eighth Parliament ceremonially declared open under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa a short while ago. The President accompanied to the House of Parliament by the Serjeant-at-Arms, Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms, Assistant Serjeant-at-Arms followed by the Speaker of Parliament and the Secretary General of Parliament where the session ceremonially declared open.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa joined yesterday (01) with the National Tree Planting Programme aimed at planting 1 million trees under the theme of “Hadena Ratata – Wadena Gasak” .

Under the leadership of the president Gotabaya Rajapaksa steps will be taken to create very peaceful environment within the university system where all student can enhance their studies cordially Minister of Higher Education Dr. Bandula Gunawardene informed a group of university student today.

Minister explain his position when group of university student representatives including Convener of Inter University Student Federation Rathkaravwey Jinaratha thero came to see him to present a letter protesting present practical test and qualified examinations.Dr. Gunawardena further said as the minister he tolerates students as his children.

The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology assumed duties for the New Year 2020 today (1) following a “Ruk Ropana” program with the participation of Hon. Bandula Gunawardhana, the Minister of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has paid his attention to bring a gathering of all personal information such as National Identity Cards, driving licenses, immigration and emigration documents, registration of births and deaths under one data collection center.

State Minister of Ministry of Information Communication Technology Hon. Lakshman Yapa Abeywardhana said that the public can enjoy the tax concessions given by the current government from January. The state minister revealed this at a press briefing held at the Ministry of Information Communication Technology today (31).

• Produce workers qualified for domestic and international job markets
• Priority should be given to empower low income communities

A series of commemoration events were held today (26) across the country to remember those who have been killed and injured in the Indian Ocean Tsunami 15 years ago.

The dawn of Christmas brings immense joy to all, awakening the hearts of devotees of the noble religion of Jesus Christ, which bought the message of peace and harmony to the world.