A discussion to review the progress of projects implemented under the Ministry of Digital Economy in 2025 and to examine new projects planned to be implemented under the 2026 budgetary allocations was held this morning (19) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of the Minister of Digital Economy, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Special attention was paid to the plans and progress of programmes to promote a cashless economy.

Accordingly, an extensive discussion was held on the progress of projects planned by the Government to promote a cashless economy in Sri Lanka, including the digitalisation of government institutions, promotion of QR transactions, establishment of a Cloud infrastructure centre, a national programme to provide high-speed broadband facilities, provision of single-window facilities, the digital identity card project and the project to digitalise payment of traffic spot fines.

Noting that much of the economic activity of rural communities remains in the informal sector, the President emphasised the need to formally document these activities and stressed that this is essential when formulating future economic and development plans.

The performance, progress and future plans of institutions under the Ministry of Digital Economy, including Sri Lanka CERT, the Data Protection Authority and the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC), were also reviewed.

The current status and new recruitments of the GovTech institution, established to implement the Government’s digitalisation programme, were also discussed.

Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, Eranga Weeraratne, Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Senior Presidential Adviser on Digital Economy, Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Roshan Gamage, Secretary to the Ministry of Digital Economy, Varuna Sri Dhanapala, senior officials of the Ministry and heads of institutions under the Ministry also participated in the discussion.

At the inaugural ceremony of ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’, held this morning (13) at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, land donations were made by Mrs Chandra Kusumawathi Everett, Mr G. Rasanga Prageen Fernando, Ms P. Nimesha Madhumadali Siriwardena and Mr D. M. Samantha Sarath Ananda.

Accordingly

Mrs Chandra Kusumawathi Everett of Savendana, Wadakada, donated 2 acres and 29.5 perches of land in the Alawwa area of Kurunegala.

Mr G. Rasanga Prageen Fernando of Wekada, Panadura, donated 70 perches of land in the Bandaragama area of Kalutara.

Ms P. Nimesha Madhumadali Siriwardena of Wawagedara, Kurunegala, donated 64 perches of land in the Polpithigama area of Kurunegala.

Mr D. M. Samantha Sarath Ananda of Owatta, Hingula, donated 15 perches of land in the Maspotha area of Kurunegala.

Sri Lanka Post has exceeded the revenue target set by the Treasury for 2025, earning Rs 13,100 million beyond expectations, Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara said yesterday (11).

He said the department had not only surpassed the income target allocated by the Treasury for the year but had also recorded one of its strongest operational performances in recent history, alongside wide-ranging reforms in recruitment, infrastructure and logistics.

He noted that a large number of recruitments and confirmations across several service categories had been completed, while new post offices were opened and foundation stones laid for future facilities across the country.

Providing details, the Postmaster General said that in June 2025, the Ministry of Health and Mass Media confirmed the permanent appointments of 378 Sub Postmasters. This marked the first such confirmation since 2020, ending a prolonged period of stagnation in the service.

He further said that in September last year, steps were taken to confirm the appointments of 1,000 Postal Assistants, the first such confirmations since 2022. In addition, arrangements have been made to recruit 600 Postal Service Officers through an open competitive process, with the recruitments scheduled to take place in February this year.

Sathkumara also revealed that 40 appointments were made in November last year to fill vacancies for Postal Drivers in Grade III of the Primary Skilled Officers Service. This was the first time such appointments had been made since 2018.

He said that while no permanent Postal Assistants had been recruited since 2021, Cabinet approval had been granted following a request by Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa to recruit 1,000 assistants to fill existing vacancies. From among those already registered as substitute workers with the department and who met the required qualifications, 731 were recruited last year.

Marking a significant milestone in the history of Sri Lanka’s media education sector, the MMC–ITN Campus today ( ) initiated a new phase of development, reinforcing its commitment to academic excellence and global collaboration.

Established in early 2025 with the objective of addressing a long-standing gap in professional media education in the country, the MMC–ITN Campus operates under the guidance of the Independent Television Network (ITN), Sri Lanka’s pioneering and leading state media institution with a legacy spanning nearly 47 years. At present, the campus offers five certificate-level programmes, with plans already underway to expand these into Diploma, Higher Diploma, and Degree-level qualifications from this year onward. Accordingly, three new Diploma programmes are scheduled to commence towards the end of March.

In line with its vision to deliver both theoretical knowledge and comprehensive practical training, the MMC–ITN Campus places strong emphasis on hands-on exposure, leveraging ITN’s extensive infrastructure and professional expertise to ensure students receive industry-oriented education of the highest standard.

As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen international cooperation, the MMC–ITN Campus has also embarked on developing innovative student exchange programmes in collaboration with several foreign universities. Marking the commencement of this initiative, a delegation from Shenyang City University of the People’s Republic of China visited the ITN premises today. The delegation was warmly received by Deputy Minister of Mass Media, Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathne, together with Chairman of ITN, Mr. Priyantha Wedamulla.

Subsequent discussions focused on academic collaboration between the MMC–ITN Campus and Shenyang City University, including student exchange opportunities and future joint programmes. The visiting delegation also toured the MMC–ITN Campus facilities and the ITN premises, observing the practical training environment provided to students. The integration of students into real-world media production processes received particular commendation from the delegation.

Addressing the occasion, Deputy Minister of Mass Media Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathne emphasised the importance of transforming well-formulated plans into tangible outcomes, noting that institutions such as the MMC–ITN Campus play a critical role in aligning national development goals with global trends in media education. She further highlighted that the Government remains committed to strengthening such institutions in line with its broader vision for educational reform and international engagement.

The event was attended by senior officials representing both institutions, including academics and industry professionals, reaffirming a shared commitment to advancing Sri Lanka’s media education landscape through innovation, collaboration, and global partnerships

The Apeksha Hospital in Maharagama will open a Food and Beverages Department tomorrow (6), marking the first time such a facility is being introduced in a government hospital. The initiative, led by the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, aims to provide customised, nutritious meals to in-house patients under a pilot program.

The launch will be inaugurated by Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, and is designed to enhance patient care by ensuring access to balanced and appetizing meals. Under the new system, patients will receive customised plates with separate portions of rice, vegetables, and proteins, replacing the traditional single-plate model.

A newly established modern kitchen, capable of preparing meals for up to 2,000 patients at a time, will also be inaugurated. This kitchen will operate under the newly formed Food and Beverages Department.

The program is being implemented under the guidance of the Apeksha Hospital Governing Authority, in collaboration with the Ministry, the Sri Lanka Medical Nutrition Association (SLMNA), and the Nutritionists’ Association. Support has also been provided by institutions including the Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya, Sri Lanka Army, Lady J, Hirdaramani Group, and Grand Monarch Hotel.

Speaking about the initiative, Dr. Sajitha Mallawarachchi, Clinical Nutrition Physician and project coordinator at Apeksha Hospital, said that providing nutritious and palatable meals is essential to minimise complications during treatment. He added that the main goal is to ensure meals are equal to or better than food brought from home, with sufficient quantity, taste, and nutritional value.

Dr. Mallawarachchi further stated that the Ministry of Health and Mass Media plans to expand the program to other government hospitals across the country in the future.

The government will commence the disbursement of the Rs. 5 million (50 Lakhs) grant for the construction of new houses to replace those destroyed by Cyclone Ditwa starting from the second week of January, Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced.

Speaking at the Cabinet decision press briefing held at the Department of Government Information yesterday (06), the Minister detailed the progress of the extensive relief program currently underway.

Progress of Relief Disbursements

The Minister provided a breakdown of the financial assistance already distributed to those affected by the disaster:

• Cleaning Allowance (Rs. 25,000): Over 92% of the payments have been finalized. Out of 452,658 eligible households, 415,818 have already received the funds. Districts including Kalutara, Hambantota, Kandy, Jaffna, Ampara, and Monaragala have achieved 100% completion.

• Intermediate Allowance (Rs. 50,000): Of the 146,475 applications received, payments have been successfully made to 92,697 housing units.

• Support for Children: In addition to the standard Rs. 15,000 disaster allowance, an additional Rs. 10,000 per child is being provided through the President’s Fund. As of early January, over 113,000 children have already been reached.

Compensation and Long-term Housing

The Minister further noted that a compensation of Rs. 1 million (10 Lakhs) is being granted to the next of kin in cases of death, or to individuals who suffered permanent disabilities. These payments are being coordinated through the respective Divisional Secretariats.

Regarding the housing crisis, while 6,056 houses were identified as fully destroyed, the government estimates that a total of approximately 25,000 new houses will need to be constructed. This figure includes homes that, while not completely leveled, have been rendered structurally unsafe or are located in areas where rebuilding is no longer permitted.