News Women envoys, MPs discuss greater female leadership in diplomacy and governance Published 13 mins agoon 2026/07/4 Women ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Sri Lanka with the members of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus Women ambassadors and heads of…
News Women envoys, MPs discuss greater female leadership in diplomacy and governance
Published 13 mins agoon 2026/07/4
Women ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Sri Lanka with the members of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus Women ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Sri Lanka met members of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus at Parliament recently to mark the International Day of Women in Diplomacy and discuss ways of strengthening women’s representation in leadership and decision-making. The meeting was organised to recognise the contribution of women to global peace, security and sustainable development while promoting equal participation in international decision-making processes. Chairperson of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus and Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj welcomed the visiting diplomats and highlighted the importance of strengthening women’s leadership in public life. Addressing the gathering, Indonesia’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Dewi Gustina Tobing, said Sri Lanka had made history by producing the world’s first woman Prime Minister, describing it as a landmark achievement in advancing women’s leadership. She also welcomed the increased representation of women in the current Parliament. The meeting featured an exchange of views between members of the Women’s Parliamentarians’ Caucus and the diplomats on enhancing women’s participation in diplomacy, politics, governance and other leadership roles, while underscoring the need for closer cooperation in promoting gender equality. The visiting diplomats also toured the Parliament complex and were formally welcomed in the Chamber, where they observed parliamentary proceedings. Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera, who also serves as Secretary to the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus, and members of the caucus participated in the event.
News CPC anniversary: China highlights party-to-party engagement
Published 13 mins agoon 2026/07/4
Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong addressing the event China has reaffirmed its commitment to global cooperation, development partnerships and strengthening China–Sri Lanka relations, as the Communist Party of China (CPC) marked its 105th anniversary, Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong said. Speaking at a reception held in Colombo last Wednesday (01) to commemorate the milestone, Ambassador Qi said the CPC, over its 105-year journey, had transformed China through reform, development and modernisation while remaining “true to its original aspiration” of serving the people. He said the leadership of the CPC was “a choice of history and the people,” noting that China’s development trajectory had been shaped by decades of reform and opening-up, lifting living standards and strengthening national capacity. Highlighting China’s development achievements, the Ambassador said the country had eradicated absolute poverty, built a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and established comprehensive education, healthcare and social security systems covering both urban and rural populations. He added that China’s economy, with a gross domestic product exceeding 140 trillion yuan, continued to play a leading role in global trade and technological innovation, citing advances in areas such as lunar exploration, deep-sea research, high-speed rail and 5G technology. Ambassador Qi also underscored China’s global initiatives, including the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development, Security, Civilization and Governance Initiatives, saying they had been embraced by nearly 160 countries and international organisations. He said China remained a “builder of world peace and contributor to global development.” Turning to bilateral relations, he said China and Sri Lanka shared a longstanding friendship rooted in ancient ties and strengthened through continuous political and party-to-party engagement based on mutual respect and equality. He noted that recent high-level exchanges, including meetings between President Xi Jinping and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, had provided new direction for bilateral cooperation. The Ambassador said the Communist Party of China was ready to expand exchanges with Sri Lankan political parties, share governance experiences, and deepen practical cooperation in areas such as poverty alleviation and digital development. He added that China and Sri Lanka should work together to implement the consensus reached by both heads of state and build a “China–Sri Lanka community with a shared future of strategic significance.” Concluding his remarks, Ambassador Qi said global challenges required greater solidarity among nations and reiterated China’s willingness to work with all countries to promote peace, development and mutual prosperity. “Walking with China means walking with opportunities,” he said, proposing a toast to the CPC’s anniversary, the health of guests, and the continued friendship between the peoples of all nations.
News All Divisional Secretariat Offices in the Colombo District introduce credit and debit card payment facilities – Prime Minister
Published 56 mins agoon 2026/07/4
As part of the Government’s national programme to strengthen digitalization and make public services more efficient, transparent, and accessible, the official launch of the new payment facility enabling the public to make payments to government institutions via bank cards (through POS machines) was held on the 2nd July at the Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariat under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. Accordingly, the Prime Minister ceremonially inaugurated POS machines installed at the Registrar’s Division on the ground floor and the Vehicle Revenue Licence Division on the fourth floor of the Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariat. The Prime Minister also symbolically witnessed the issuance of birth certificates and vehicle revenue licences using the new payment system. Implemented under the guidance of the Colombo District Secretariat with the financial and technical support of the Bank of Ceylon (BOC), the project covers all 13 Divisional Secretariat Offices in the Colombo District. It enables members of the public to make secure payments using credit and debit cards for services requiring payments. Addressing the occasion, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that modernizing Sri Lanka’s public sector in line with the rapid pace of global digital transformation is one of the Government’s key priorities. The Prime Minister noted that the system enables the citizens to obtain public services more efficiently and within a shorter period of time without carrying money. The new POS payment system, introduced across all Divisional Secretariat Offices in the Colombo District, offers several key benefits, including: The convenience of making direct payments using bank credit and debit cards without carrying cash, faster processing of transactions, reducing the time required to obtain government services minimizing the risks of financial fraud and loss associated with handling large amounts of cash, contributing to Sri Lanka’s overall digital economic development by encouraging the use of modern payment technologies, facilitating easier auditing of transactions while ensuring accurate recording of government revenue, thereby enhancing financial transparency and accountability. From today onwards, this bank card payment facility will be available to the public at all Divisional Secretariat Offices in the Colombo District and it is expected to further strengthen financial governance within the public service while creating a more transparent, accountable, and citizen-friendly administrative environment. The occasion was attended by Chairman of the Colombo District Coordination Committee Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration S. Aloka Bandara, Chief Secretary of the Western Province K. P. Pradeep Yasapala, Colombo District Secretary Ginige Prasanna Janaka Kumara, the Registrar General, the Commissioner General of Motor Traffic, Heads of Departments, Additional District Secretaries, and a number of distinguished guests. (Prime Minister’s Media Division)