Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya arrived in Beijing, China, on 12 October for an official visit to attend the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women 2025, upon the invitation of the Government of the People’s Republic of China. On her arrival, she was welcomed by Ms. Cao Shumin, Minister of the National Radio and Television Administration.

During the first day’s programme, the Prime Minister visited the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China. The Forbidden City (Palace Museum), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, showcases imperial architecture and nationally curated collections. The Great Wall, also a UNESCO site, stands as a symbol of China’s historical ingenuity and ongoing conservation efforts.

Dr. Kaushalya Ariyaratne officially assumed her duties as the Deputy Minister of Mass Media at the Ministry of Mass Media in Narahenpita this morning (11).

Her appointment follows a Cabinet reshuffle carried out by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in conjunction with the 2026 budget, aimed at accelerating and streamlining the government’s development goals.

Speaking after taking office, Dr. Ariyaratne highlighted the ongoing initiatives under the “Rich Country, Beautiful Life” policy and noted that many projects are still underway. She emphasized that the Ministry of Mass Media plays a central role, reflecting government policies and state affairs both locally and internationally through the media.

Dr. Ariyaratne stressed the importance of responsible journalism, media freedom, and balanced information, stating that policy formulation to achieve these goals will require the cooperation of all stakeholders.

Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa says that the Government is creating a national renaissance in the postal service and that the 152nd Postal Day should be celebrated as a postal day that achieved its goals.

World Post Day, which celebrates the postal service that delivers happiness, hope, and love for millions of people throughout the country and around the world, fell yesterday (9).

The national celebration to mark the occasion organised by the Postal Department was held at the Badulla Postal Complex Auditorium with the participation of Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.

The 151st World Post Day is being celebrated this year, and this is also the 56th National Post Day celebration in this country.

The Minister also stated that the postal service has a long history and is of economic importance, and that the Government is bringing about a national renaissance of the postal service.

The Minister emphasised that the postal service, also generates revenue by providing services. He also pointed out that the Government is taking steps to strengthen the services provided through human resource development, building development, and equipping the postal service with modern technology, and that all employees have the responsibility to turn all post offices into entrepreneurial centers.

The Minister stated that the 152nd Postal Day should be celebrated with the trust of the people as a rapidly developing, modern technology-based service that has achieved its goals and is not a burden on the Government.

Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara said that efforts should be made to build a positive response among the public towards the postal service.

He also stated that the services would be launched under the guidance of the Universal Postal Union and that the postal service should be made a service that would not be a burden on the country, and that all staff should dedicate themselves to achieving the objectives of the service.

The commemorative stamp issued by the Department of Posts to mark the 151st World Post Day was released under the patronage of the Minister and with the participation of distinguished guests.

The Minister also presented Postal Day commemorative magazine and presented award certificates to best performing Sub-Post Offices, Postal Superintendents’ Offices, District Administrative Superintendents’ Offices, and District Accounts Offices.

The Cabinet of Ministers is expected to be reshuffled today (10), according to political sources. The government has reportedly decided to carry out the reshuffle in order to accelerate and enhance the efficiency of its development objectives, in line with the 2026 Budget.

Accordingly, the newly appointed ministers and deputy ministers are scheduled to be sworn in before the President at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (10).

The reshuffle is as follows:

• Cabinet Ministers –The following Cabinet Ministers have been sworn in:

  • Bimal Niroshan Ratnayake – Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development

  • Anura Karunathilaka – Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation

  • Dr. H.M. Susil Ranasinghe – Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply

  Deputy Ministers –

  The following Deputy Ministers have been sworn in:

  1. Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando – Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning

  2. T.B. Sarath – Deputy Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply

  3. M.M. Mohamed Muneer – Deputy Minister of Religious and Cultural Affairs

  4. Eranga Gunasekara – Deputy Minister of Urban Development

  5. Dr. Muditha Hansaka Wijayamuni – Deputy Minister of Health

  6. Aravinda Senarath Vitharana – Deputy Minister of Lands and Irrigation

  7. H.M. Dinidu Saman Kumara – Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs

  8. U.D. Nishantha Jayaweera – Deputy Minister of Economic Development

  9. Dr. Kaushalya Ariyaratne – Deputy Minister of Mass Media

  10. M.I.M. Arkam – Deputy Minister of Energy

The National Commemoration of World Post Day was held today (9) at the Badulla Postal Complex Auditorium under the patronage of Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.

This year marks the 151st World Post Day and the 56th national commemoration celebrated in Sri Lanka.

During the event, the First Day Cover issued by the Department of Posts to mark World Post Day 2025 was officially presented to Minister Jayatissa by Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara.

The ceremony was attended by a large number of officials, including Uva Provincial Governor Attorney-at-Law Kapila Jayasekara, Badulla District Parliamentarian Ravindra Bandara, Uva Provincial Secretary Anusha Gokula Fernando, Badulla District Secretary Prabath Abeywardena, Senior DIG of Uva Province Mahesh Senaratne, and several officers of the Postal Department.

The Sri Lanka Postal Department granted permanent appointment letters to 731 newly selected postal assistants yesterday, at a ceremony held at Temple Trees, with Health and Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa in attendance.

This recruitment marks the first time the Postal Department has hired permanent postal assistants since 2021. The department had been struggling with a severe operational crisis due to 1,982 vacancies at the end of last year. Upon a request from Minister Jayatissa, the Cabinet approved the recruitment of 1,000 assistants on August 19, 2025. The 731 appointees were selected from qualified relief workers already registered with the department and are being inducted into Grade III of the Primary Non-Technical Service category. The Health and Media Ministry is currently working to recruit the remaining 269 postal assistants.

Addressing the appointees, the Minister announced that Rs. 2.085 billion has been allocated this year for the modernisation of the postal service. This investment includes Rs. 250 million for purchasing lorries, Rs. 320 million for purchasing cab vehicles, Rs. 180 million for acquiring 1,500 tablet computers to introduce modern technology to sub-post offices, Rs. 75 million for purchasing 225 desktop computers, Rs. 40 million for providing renewable solar energy to some post offices, Rs. 600 million for the construction of 20 new post offices, which the Minister expects to be completed before the end of December and Rs. 600 million for the renovation of 209 existing post offices.

“All of this is being provided at a time when the Post is a financial burden on the Treasury,” the Minister emphasised.

The Minister stressed that the ultimate goal of these investments and recruitments is to transform the postal service from a Treasury burden into a profit-generating entity.

“The purpose of these recruitments is to rapidly deliver all services, win the public’s trust, increase revenue, and make the Post a place that adds revenue, not burden the Treasury,” he said.

He reminded the recruits and the management that this is a challenge they must accept. While he fulfils his duty as the subject Minister, the Postmaster General and the management must take their responsibility, and the employees must also commit to this challenge.

The Minister issued a stark warning: if the postal service fails to become profitable even after these resources are provided, the Government will have to reconsider whether it should continue to invest Treasury funds to maintain the department in its current form. He noted that if the income of a post or sub-post office does not even cover the salary of the employee, the feasibility of continuing that office must be reviewed.

The Minister urged all nearly 20,000 postal employees to work together as one family to elevate the service, emphasising that their conduct impacts the public in many ways. He expressed his expectation that all postal workers will act responsibly, understanding the Government’s immense commitment to developing the 200-year-old postal service.

The vision of the Sri Lanka Postal Department is to become the best connectivity partner by providing modernised, multi-faceted services.

The event was attended by Health and Media Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Additional Secretary Kelum Wijenaike, Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara, Deputy Postmasters General H.M.P. Herath (Operations) and Chamesha De Silva (Administration), Controller (Operations) Indika Perera, Administration Secretary (Staff) Samanthika Premaratne, Senior Administration Secretary Chamil Wickramarachchi, Provincial Deputy Postmasters General, trade union representatives and other officials.

The fifth ‘Arogya Suwatha Centre’ (Health and Wellness Centre) in the national pilot project was recently (3) ceremonially opened to the public in Dankanda, Matale, under the patronage of Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.

Minister Jayatissa emphasised that the country has achieved high success in maternal and child health by providing continuous and accountable healthcare to a precisely identified population. He stressed that this successful model must now be applied to other sectors of the health service, which is the core reason for establishing the Arogya Suwatha Centres.

The opening of the Dankanda centre, which will serve nearly 5,000 residents across the Grama Seva divisions of Dankanda, Weralugasthenna, and Dambagolla 1, is part of the Government’s new ‘Healthy Sri Lanka’ programme. The new health policy aims to establish 1,000 primary healthcare centres nationwide in its first phase, with 100 centres scheduled to be opened by the end of 2025.

The centres are designed to be community-focused and easily accessible. During the opening, the Minister personally registered and issued the card to the centre’s first client.

The Dankanda centre is the fifth to be opened as part of the initial pilot project. The first four centers were opened in Mapalagama, Galle (September 26); Ethoya, Ratnapura (September 27); Thalpi­tiya, Kalutara (September 29); and Polgollawatte, Kandy (October 3).

Minister Jayatissa reiterated that the centres are not hospitals but wellness centres. He explained that the staff will be assigned to care for a specific, identifiable population of between 5,000 to 10,000 people across four to five Grama Niladhari divisions.

The centres will focus on areas like Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), the elderly population, mental health, and nutrition. The primary goal is early disease detection – such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer – before patients develop complications and require hospitalisation.

The Minister added that the centres will evolve beyond being mere counselling and medicine-dispensing points. Services will be gradually introduced, including traditional and Ayurvedic treatments, physical exercise, yoga, and music therapy.

Each centre will be assigned a comprehensive healthcare team, including a family doctor, a community health nurse, and a coordination officer. The centres will offer a range of services including treatment and counselling for NCDs; elderly, rehabilitation, and palliative care; primary eye, oral, and mental health care; nutritional counselling and alcohol rehabilitation services; youth and adolescent care services; and selected laboratory tests.

For medical issues exceeding the local doctor’s capacity, the centre will schedule appointments for patients at the nearest secondary or tertiary hospital. The project’s main objective is to empower the public regarding their health and use community participation to address region-specific health challenges.

The event was attended by Matale District MP Deepthi Wasalage, Central Province Chief Secretary G.H.M.A. Premasinghe, Provincial Director of Health Services Dr. Nihal Weerasuriya, Matale Regional Director of Health Services Dr. Udara Gunathilaka, Deputy Director General of the Health Ministry Dinipriya Herath, Director (Primary Care Services) Dr. Sarathchandra Kumarawansa and Central Province Health Ministry Secretary Jagath Adhikari, alongside other dignitaries, health staff, and residents.

The NinthABU Media Summit on Climate Action and Disaster Prevention (CADP-2025) will be held from November 25–27 at the Mount Lavinia Hotel, Colombo.

Organised by the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) and hosted by the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC), it will be the largest international media event in Sri Lanka this year, bringing together delegates from over 35 countries.

Delegates will include high-level representatives from major broadcasters such as NHK (Japan), CMG (China), ABC (Australia), Doordarshan (India), TRT (Turkey), and RTM (Malaysia). They will join Sri Lankan broadcaster experts and other key stakeholders in climate communication and disaster preparedness.

With climate disasters on the rise, the role of the media is shifting from reporters of tragedy to partners in resilience. SLRC believes that hosting CADP-2025 is both an honour and a privilege for Sri Lanka.The Summit logo, website, and the mascot were launched at a ceremony held at the Mount Lavinia Hotel on Septmber 30.

The Summit theme, ‘Building Resilience through Media: For a Cleaner, Greener and Safer Tomorrow’, highlights how media can go beyond daily reporting to play a proactive role in safeguarding communities. Key features of the programme include:

• Launch of the Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan (DPRP) Model for Media, supported by UNESCO.
• High-level keynote addresses and thematic panels on disaster communication and climate action.
• Training workshops for journalists to build practical skills in disaster reporting.
• The ABU Climate Change and DRR Awards Ceremony.

Since its inception in 2014 in Jakarta, the CADP Summit has been hosted by countries including Thailand, Bangladesh, Fiji, Nepal, and the Maldives. The initiative was born after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which claimed over 227,000 lives across 14 countries, underscoring the urgent need for stronger media engagement in disaster preparedness.

CADP-2025 in Colombo will spotlight Sri Lanka’s commitment to resilience and climate communication, while also promoting the nation as a sustainable tourism destination. A closing declaration will outline a regional roadmap for media cooperation in disaster risk reduction and climate action.

Health and Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa yesterday informed the Mahanayake Theras of Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters that a fully equipped, state-of-the-art hospital for heart patients will soon be built near the Colombo National Hospital, at a cost of Rs.13 billion.

The Minister elaborate about the people-oriented future health programme implemented by the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, and about the “Health and Wellness Centers” (Arogya Suwatha Centers) project being implemented countrywide as an innovative concept of the present Government.

The Minister visited the Malwatte and Asgiriya Maha Viharaya and received the blessings of the Mahanayake Thera of Malwatte Chapter Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Sumangala Maha Nayaka Thera and Mahanayake of Asgiriya Chapter Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera yesterday. The Mahanayake Theras said that the leadership provided by the Health and Mass Media Ministry is highly commendable, also expressed their appreciation to the Minister for the excellent health services provided to sick people by effectively resolving current issues.

The present Chief Incumbent of the Badulla Muthiyanganaya Rajamaha Viharaya,Ven.Murundeniye Dhammarathana Thera and Health and Mass Media Deputy Minister Dr.Hansaka Wijemuni were also present on this occasion.

The “Seth Piyasa” Women’s Cancer Treatment Ward at Kandy National Hospital, the largest cancer treatment center in Sri Lanka built within a general hospital, was inaugurated today (02) under the patronage of the Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.

Funded by the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, the new ward can accommodate 56 patients and is part of a broader initiative to provide comprehensive cancer treatment under one roof. The ward is located on the third floor of the nine-storey “Seth Piyasa” building complex, which also houses intensive care units, operating theatres, clinics, and other essential facilities across its floors.

Minister Jayatissa highlighted that the project, initiated by the Cancer Society in 2012 and handed over to the government in 2014, has been completed in stages to expedite service to the public. Specialized radiotherapy equipment has already been installed as part of the first phase.

The Minister emphasized that the government is committed to fully funding healthcare services and restarting stalled projects. He noted that three major projects at Kandy National Hospital were among 17 initiatives being resumed, with priority given to efficient utilization of allocated funds.

The estimated cost for the “Seth Piyasa” Treatment Center is Rs. 3,273 million, with Rs. 1,200 million already spent on construction. The comprehensive facility is designed to ensure that all treatment services required by cancer patients are available in a single location.

The inauguration was attended by Deputy Minister Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni, senior hospital officials, medical specialists, nurses, health professionals, and prominent local philanthropists.

A meeting was held between Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa and Phuntsho Wangyel of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) at the Health and Mass Media Ministry recently.

Views were exchanged on the current performance, future plans and challenges of the country’s healthcare system. Phuntsho Wangyel serves as the Country Officer in Charge of the United Nations Population Fund Sri Lanka and Maldives. Phuntsho Wangyel will serve as the Country Officer in Charge of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, effective from September 1.

Wangyel, who has expertise and experience in development planning, coordination and public policy as well as policy analysis, had a wide-ranging exchange of views with the Health and Mass Media Minister on the current functioning of the healthcare system in the country and the future plans as well as challenges.

Discussions were also held on supporting the promotion of child and maternal health in the country, providing the necessary medical equipment for those services, exchanging knowledge and experiences to make the country’s national health policy a success, as well as strengthening the programme for sex education and exchanging knowledge.

The Minister also briefed Wangyel on the programme to establish one thousand primary healthcare centres countrywide under the new Government’s health policy to ensure the right of the people living in this country to enjoy the optimal benefits of the health care system with respect and dignity.

• MoUs signed on: Official Security Assistance programme
• Project for enhancement of productivity in the dairy sector

The official welcoming ceremony for President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is on an official visit to Japan, at the invitation of the Japanese Government, was held yesterday morning (29) at the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office.

Upon arrival, the President was warmly received by Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and a guard of honour was accorded to him by the Japan Self-Defence Forces. The President also inspected the parade.

Following the introduction of the delegations of the two countries, official discussions commenced between President Dissanayake and Prime Minister Ishiba.

Discussions focused on strengthening the longstanding friendship between Japan and Sri Lanka, and on expanding cooperation across a wide range of fields, including trade, investment, the economy, development assistance and regional security. In line with this, documents were exchanged between the two sides on development cooperation, including the Project for the Enhancement of Productivity in the Dairy Sector and the Official Security Assistance (OSA) programme.

Addressing the joint media briefing afterwards, Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba emphasised that Sri Lanka’s stability and development, given its strategic location in the Indian Ocean, were of critical importance. He stated that Japan looked forward to further strengthening and expanding its partnership with Sri Lanka.

Speaking at the same event, President Dissanayake observed that the longstanding friendship between Sri Lanka and Japan is built on mutual trust, respect and strong people-to-people ties.

He noted that the discussions with the Japanese Prime Minister marked a significant milestone in bilateral relations and stressed that Sri Lanka is committed to working alongside Japan to ensure that the agreements reached bring tangible benefits in the shared journey towards development and stability.