2026-07-15
News Categories : News
The First Executive Committee Meeting of the Sri Lanka–South Africa Parliamentary Friendship Association was held recently (09) at Parliament under the chairmanship of the President of the Association, Hon. (Mrs) Saroja Savithri Paulraj, MP, Minister of Women and Child Affairs.
The meeting was attended by Ms. Nthabiseng Ramatshela, Chargé d'Affaires (Counsellor–Political) of the South African High Commission, who reaffirmed South Africa's commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing Parliamentary engagement between Sri Lanka and South Africa.
Delivering the welcome address, Hon. Saroja Savithri Paulraj emphasized that Parliamentary Friendship Associations serve as an important mechanism for strengthening bilateral relations through Parliamentary diplomacy. She noted that such associations provide Members of Parliament with a valuable platform to engage with their counterparts, exchange knowledge and experiences, and promote cooperation across a broad spectrum of mutually beneficial areas.
The President of the Association further stated that the First Executive committee meeting marked the commencement of the activities of the Sri Lanka–South Africa Parliamentary Friendship Association of the Tenth Parliament and represented another significant step towards strengthening the longstanding friendship between the two countries. She also recalled that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1994, Sri Lanka and South Africa have continued to enjoy cordial relations founded on shared democratic values, peace, mutual respect, and sustainable development.
During the discussions, both sides underscored the importance of further strengthening Parliamentary and diplomatic relations through regular dialogue between legislators while promoting greater people-to-people engagement. Particular emphasis was placed on enhancing cooperation between women Parliamentarians of the two countries with a view to encouraging increased participation and leadership of women in political decision-making.
Trade and investment cooperation featured prominently during the discussions. Members observed that considerable untapped potential exists to expand bilateral trade in sectors including agriculture, mining, tourism, renewable energy, manufacturing, and other emerging industries. South Africa was identified as a strategic gateway to African markets, while Sri Lanka was recognized as an important gateway to South Asia and the Indian Ocean region. The South African side further expressed its intention to bring a business delegation to Sri Lanka in January next year following the invitation extended in connection with Expo 2027.
Recognizing the longstanding sporting ties between the two countries, members exchanged views on strengthening sports diplomacy through cricket and rugby. The meeting also explored opportunities to enhance cooperation in the fields of education and skills development, including university partnerships, scholarship opportunities, and academic exchanges.
The South African delegation expressed its readiness to share South Africa's experiences and lessons learned in reconciliation and nation-building in support of Sri Lanka's continuing efforts towards strengthening national unity.
The meeting concluded with an interactive discussion among the members of the Executive Committee, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by the Secretary of the Association, Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha, MP.
2026-07-16
The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has deployed 272 investigation officers across the island to take legal action against traders who arbitrarily fix prices without any reasonable basis and engage in unfair pricing practices that disadvantage consumers. The investigation officers have been attached to the District Secretariats and will carry out their enforcement operations under the leadership of the respective District Secretaries. The Consumer Affairs Authority will continue to take legal action against traders who engage in unfair trade practices that adversely affect consumers.These facts were disclosed by Hon. Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security, R. M. Jayawardena, while responding in Parliament to a question raised by Hon.Member of Parliament Ruwanthilaka Jayakody.According to the Deputy Minister, the Consumer Affairs Authority has already established a comprehensive mechanism to control the sale of goods at unfair prices. A limited number of essential commodities are subject to government-controlled prices, and the sale of such goods above the prescribed prices constitutes an offence punishable by law. He further stated that substantial fines have already been imposed on offenders. The Deputy Minister also noted that the Consumer Affairs Authority conducts daily market inspections and special island wide raids during festive seasons to safeguard consumer interests. In addition, a dedicated monitoring programme is in operation to ensure that goods subject to controlled prices are sold at the legally prescribed prices.
2026-07-16
An awareness programme for Hon. Members of Parliament on the National Policy on Preschool Education, child protection, corporal punishment and its legal framework, and the importance of positive discipline was held in Parliament recently (July 08).The programme was conducted under the patronage of Hon. Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj and Hon. Deputy Minister Dr. Namal Sudarshana, with the participation of a number of Ministers and Members of Parliament.During the programme, Director (Preschool Education) of the Ministry of Education, Ms. K.D.T. Wimalasiri, delivered a presentation on the National Policy on Preschool Education. She revealed that preschool education reforms are scheduled to be implemented from 2027 and that, in line with the new curriculum framework, a Preschool Teacher's Guide and a Model Activity Book are expected to be launched in August under the patronage of Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.She further stated that the National Institute of Education plans to train 108 master trainers for preschool teacher training, who will subsequently train a further 556 trainers at the provincial level. Accordingly, nearly 35,000 preschool teachers identified across the country are expected to undergo a ten-day training programme during November and December this year. This initiative will facilitate the implementation of preschool teaching under a common curriculum framework. She also noted that an assessment and regulatory framework for preschools is being developed and that the National Policy on Preschool Education is expected to be enacted into law by next year.Mrs. Wimalasiri further stated that the policy had been formulated with the contributions of several key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the National Institute of Education, and the National Education Commission.Chairperson of the National Child Protection Authority, Ms. Preethi Inoka Ranasinghe, Director (Law Enforcement) Attorney-at-Law Sajeevani Abeykoon, Director (Legal) Attorney-at-Law Preethika Sakalasuriya of the National Child Protection Authority, and Consultant Paediatrician Dr. Darshani Hettiarachchi also delivered presentations. They briefed Members on a range of matters, including child protection and the role of the National Child Protection Authority, the proposed legal amendments to abolish corporal punishment, the impact of punitive disciplinary practices on child development, and the importance of promoting positive discipline in place of discipline based on fear of punishment.The officials further pointed out that Sri Lanka is currently undertaking legal and policy reforms aimed at preventing violence against children and eliminating corporal punishment. They also noted that the National Child Protection Authority is taking steps to strengthen its regulatory and coordinating role. It was further explained that amendments have been proposed to the Penal Code to abolish corporal punishment and that, as a State Party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), Sri Lanka is internationally committed to preventing physical and psychological violence against children.Hon. Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj expressed her appreciation to all stakeholders who contributed to the formulation of the National Policy on Preschool Education. She emphasised that legal reforms should not be directed against any particular group and reaffirmed the Government's commitment to taking every possible measure to ensure the protection and well-being of children.The programme was well received by the Hon. Members of Parliament, who were also given the opportunity to express their views and make suggestions.
2026-07-16
H.E. Miyoon Lee, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Sri Lanka, called on the Hon. Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, at Parliament recently. The Secretary General of Parliament Ms. Kushani Rohanadeera was also present at this meeting. Welcoming the Ambassador, the Hon. Speaker expressed his appreciation for the longstanding friendship between Sri Lanka and the Republic of Korea and conveyed his gratitude for the support extended by the Republic of Korea during Sri Lanka's economic crisis, as well as for its continued assistance towards the country's development initiatives. He particularly acknowledged the valuable employment opportunities provided for Sri Lankan workers in the Republic of Korea, emphasizing their significant contribution to Sri Lanka's economy.The Hon. Speaker also briefed the Ambassador on the Government's ongoing efforts to eradicate corruption and strengthen transparency and good governance. He emphasized the Government's commitment to advancing the national reconciliation process while fostering a peaceful and investment-friendly environment to attract foreign investment. The Hon. Speaker further highlighted the measures being taken to strengthen Sri Lanka's tourism sector and invited Korean investors to explore the country's growing investment opportunities.Ambassador H.E. Miyoon Lee reaffirmed the Republic of Korea's readiness to continue supporting Sri Lanka by sharing its knowledge and expertise across various sectors. She also expressed Korea's willingness to extend cooperation in Sri Lanka's anti-corruption initiatives.The Ambassador noted that the two countries will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year and expressed confidence that the milestone would further strengthen bilateral ties. In this regard, she also discussed plans to enhance Parliamentary exchanges between the two countries during the anniversary year.The meeting concluded with a cordial discussion on the political and cultural backgrounds of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Korea, reaffirming the shared commitment of both countries to further deepen their longstanding friendship and cooperation.
2026-07-15
The "Ceylon Tea Village" project, which aims to establish 500 tea villages across the country, will be launched island wide on 15 July with the objective of strengthening the economic well-being of smallholder tea farmers, enhancing their income levels, and promoting the sustainable development of Sri Lanka's tea industry. As part of the Government's long-term strategy to further strengthen the tea sector, Sri Lanka aims to increase its annual tea production to 400 million kgs by 2030, compared to the current production level of approximately 264 million kgs. The Government also expects to increase tea export earnings from US$1.5 billion recorded last year to US$2.5 billion by 2030.The statement was made by the Hon. K.V. Samantha Vidyarathna, Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, while responding in Parliament to an oral question raised by Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake, MP.According to the Minister, the programme will be implemented by building on the existing smallholder tea-growing villages. During its first phase, "Ceylon Tea Village" projects will be launched in 11 of Sri Lanka's 14 tea-growing districts. The national launch ceremony is scheduled to be held in the Kotmale Divisional Secretariat Division in the Nuwara Eliya District, while parallel inauguration ceremonies will be conducted in all 11 participating districts. Sri Lanka currently has approximately 418,000 smallholder tea farmers, whose contribution extends beyond tea production by supporting the livelihoods of a significantly larger number of families and making a substantial contribution to the national economy.The Minister further stated that the contribution of smallholder tea farmers is crucial to achieving the Government's target of US$2.5 billion in tea export earnings by 2030, as they account for approximately 75% of the country's total tea production. The key objectives of the "Ceylon Tea Village" programme include increasing the incomes of smallholder tea farmers, improving green leaf production, ensuring better and fairer prices for green leaf, and introducing insurance coverage and a pension scheme for smallholder tea farmers.
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