The UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Marc-André Franche,has called for urgent and concrete action to achieve gender equality, marking 30 years since the landmark Beijing Platform of Action. Franche highlighted the significant progress made by women and girls over the past three decades, noting that they have shattered barriers, defied stereotypes, and demanded their…
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa clarified the government’s proposed salary and allowance increases for healthcare professionals, who are preparing for trade union action tomorrow (6). Dr. Jayatissa detailed the increments as follows: Grade 3: The basic salary for a Grade 3 supplementary medical professional will increase from Rs 32,800 to Rs 54,120,…
The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions in Geneva have regularly been a focal point of controversy for Sri Lanka. Since 2009, the year the thirty-year internal war ended, the country has been the subject of multiple resolutions aimed at addressing human rights violations and war crimes committed during and after the war. These…
Colombo: Women’s participation in Sri Lanka’s tourism and hospitality industry remains below 10%, according to Russell Clements, the General Manager of Public and Cultural Relations at Uga Ulagalla Resort. Clements highlighted that parental concerns about safety and the challenges of sustaining a career in the hospitality sector discourage many young women from entering the field. ““Parents’…
The Department of Railways has announced a revised train schedule on the Batticaloa line, aimed at preventing collisions with elephants.This measure is part of a broader effort to ensure the safety of both wildlife and train operations. The department stated that additional speed limits will be enforced on trains operating at night to reduce the…
Kieran Culkin has won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor at the 2025 Academy Awards.He received the award for his role in the film “A Real Pain”, where he delivered an outstanding performance. This marks the first time Culkin has won an Oscar and is also his first nomination for the prestigious award.The 97th Academy…
Venerable Urulewatte Dhammarakkhita Thero, a Senior Executive Sangha Member of the Asgiriya Chapter, has called upon the public to display Buddhist flags on their homes and vehicles across the country during the exhibition period. He emphasized the importance of decorum among devotees attending the exhibition. “The entire city of Kandy will be illuminated with lights…
Maarit Kohonen Sheriff, Director of the Global Operations Division at the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, has called on the Sri Lankan government to lift unnecessary regulations and restrictions on civil society and independent media to revive civic space. Speaking at the 58th Session of the Human Rights Council, Sheriff emphasized…
The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) has issued a warning about an ongoing scam where fraudsters, posing as representatives of telephone companies, are deceiving people into paying money under the pretense of winning prizes. Director Menaka Pathirana of TRCSL explained that these scammers contact individuals via text messages or phone calls, informing them…
The Department of Meteorology says that showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Northern, North-central, Eastern, Southern and Uva provinces and in Matale and Nuwara-Eliya districts today (28). Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places elsewhere during the afternoon or night, the department noted. Meanwhile, heavy showers above 100 mm can be expected…
