The Independent Television Network (ITN) and the Government Information Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding yesterday to promote media literacy among the students in schools across the island under the patronage of Mass Media Minister Vijitha Herath.

The purpose of this is to develop schoolchildren’s knowledge on communication and media studies and provide related professional value to them enabling them to develop advanced school media literacy. This project is to be implemented covering the entire school system across the country by the Education Ministry, the Mass Media Ministry, the Information Department and ITN.

Under this programme, students who are members of school media societies all over the island will also be given an opportunity to present their creative work.

A national state awards ceremony called ‘Contents Colombo 2025 – Kids’ Version’ to select best creations is scheduled to be held at the end of next year

Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, has directed all government institutions to obtain written approval from the Presidential Secretariat prior to displaying the President’s photographs or messages on commemorative plaques or in designated celebration areas for various events.

Furthermore, the Secretary has emphasized the importance of ensuring that government-funded activities align with state policies and vision during their organization.

This notice has been officially communicated in writing to all Ministry Secretaries, Provincial Chief Secretaries, Department Heads, Chairpersons of Government Corporations, Statutory Board Heads, and Heads of Government-Owned Companies.

The Postal Department has issued a clarification over the false reports that are circulating in connection with the stamps that contained the images of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and Minister Vijitha Herath.

In the statement issued on Thursday (10), the Postal Department said that sets of personalised postage stamps had been presented to the Prime Minister and Minister Vijitha Herath who participated in the special ceremony as the chief guest and special guest respectively as commemorative gifts of souvenirs to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the World Post Day on Wednesday.

The Postal Department clarifying further emphasised that it issued postage stamps under several categories and two commemorative stamps were issued to mark the 150th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union and the 2024 World Post Day and that the stamps which were presented to the Prime Minister and Minister Vijitha Herath were listed under the personalised stamp category which had not been issued to mark the 2024 World Post Day.

The Postal Department traditionally provides personalised stamps as souvenirs on special occasions and also, any citizen of Sri Lanka is legally eligible to print personalised stamps through the Postal Department with their image of choice on them for a nominal fee, the statement said.

The release of stamps with the image of the Prime Minister and Minister Vijitha Herath was heavily discussed, falsely depicted and distorted on social media, the Postal Department said.

Cabinet Decisions - 2024.10.01

• Pledges Full Support for Sri Lanka’s Debt Restructuring and Economic Stability

His Excellency Qi Zhenhong, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Sri Lanka, met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today (02) at the Presidential Secretariat.

The Ambassador extended his heartfelt congratulations to the President on his recent election victory and expressed China’s continued commitment to supporting Sri Lanka in its future endeavours.

Ambassador Qi reaffirmed the Chinese government’s continued commitment to enhancing bilateral relations with Sri Lanka, emphasizing the significance of on-going collaborative projects. He highlighted the active engagement of the China Development Bank (CDB) and EXIM Bank in supporting Sri Lanka’s development initiatives. Moreover, Ambassador Qi assured that both institutions, as key commercial and bilateral creditors, will provide comprehensive assistance in the debt restructuring process, underscoring China’s dedication to supporting Sri Lanka’s economic stability and growth.

The future belongs to our children.
Let’s dedicate ourselves to creating a better world for them.

We have identified several significant challenges facing today’s children, including poverty, malnutrition, inadequate health and sanitation, environmental degradation, educational disparities, social inequalities, and the risks associated with substance abuse and technology misuse.

Our mission in this renaissance era is to free children from harmful prejudices and social effects, and the pressures of exam-focused education, which hinder their psychosocial development. We aim to reclaim the joyful, carefree childhood that every child deserves.
By nurturing a generation of children who are healthy both in mind and spirit, we can foster compassionate, independent, and imaginative individuals who will shape a better future.

To achieve this, we are committed to promoting economic freedom, fostering human kindness, building mutual trust, and encouraging respect and acceptance within society. Additionally, we prioritize the protection of our rich environmental heritage and advocate for necessary political transformation.

This is a shared responsibility for all of us!

Anura Kumara Dissanayake
President
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
01.10.2024

This year, the theme for International Children's Day is "Investing in our future meansinvesting in our children." This is more than a slogan-it embodies a core principle and policy direction of our government.