News NPP government here to stay, says Lal Kantha Published 7 mins agoon 2026/07/17 Minister Lal Kantha speaking to the media in Kandy on Wednesday Agriculture Minister Lal Kantha on Wednesday asserted that the NPP government intended to remain in power for the long term, claimi…
News NPP government here to stay, says Lal Kantha
Published 7 mins agoon 2026/07/17
Minister Lal Kantha speaking to the media in Kandy on Wednesday Agriculture Minister Lal Kantha on Wednesday asserted that the NPP government intended to remain in power for the long term, claiming that it enjoyed continued public support. Addressing a press conference in Kandy, the Minister said the government had not come into power temporarily and would continue to govern the country with the backing of the people. “We did not come here to leave; we are not going anywhere, and it is we who will remain forever,” Lal Kantha said. He said the opposition was making various allegations against the government in an attempt to justify its existence, adding that criticism was a normal role of opposition parties. The Minister also criticised the SJB, questioning its electoral performance under Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. “They previously said they could not win with Ranil Wickremesinghe. Have they won with Sajith Premadasa now? How many elections has Sajith lost?” he asked, claiming that the Opposition Leader had lost public confidence. Lal Kantha further alleged that Tamil and Muslim political parties were moving towards forming a separate alliance due to a lack of confidence in the current opposition leadership. Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways Dr. Prasanna Gunasena, who also addressed the press conference, said recent surveys had indicated high levels of public approval for the government. He claimed that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake currently enjoyed the approval of around 75 per cent of the population, while the government’s approval rating stood at approximately 65 per cent. “We are not going anywhere; our government will continue to lead this nation,” Dr. Gunasena said. Text and Pic by SK Samaranayake ✍️
News Dengue cases surpass 72,000 as death toll rises to 49
Published 7 mins agoon 2026/07/17
Sri Lanka has recorded a total of 72,430 dengue cases so far this year, with the death toll rising to 49, according to the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU). The NDCU said 1,195 new dengue cases had been reported across the country during the 24-hour period ending at 6.00 a.m. yesterday (16). The highest number of cases continues to be reported from the Gampaha and Colombo districts, which remain among the worst-affected areas. According to the NDCU, 17,051 dengue cases have been recorded during the first 15 days of this month alone, highlighting a continuing surge in infections. The health authorities have identified 175 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) divisions across the country as high-risk dengue zones. The NDCU has urged the public to take preventive measures to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds as health authorities continue surveillance and control programmes amid the rising number of cases.
News WPC signs MoU with NGO to implement an Early Childhood Education (ECE) Programme
Published 7 mins agoon 2026/07/17
MoU signing The Western Provincial Council and the Mosvold Martinus Foundation (MMF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement an Early Childhood Education (ECE) Programme aimed at improving preschool education standards in the province. Under the initiative, 500 preschool teachers will be supported to pursue diploma courses offered by the National Institute of Education (NIE) or the Open University of Sri Lanka, while 1,000 teachers will receive training in play-based learning methods. The programme will also provide age-appropriate educational materials, establish two model ECE centres and conduct parental awareness programmes. The project will contribute towards strengthening the governance framework of the ECE sector and support the implementation of the newly introduced ECE Curriculum Framework developed by the NIE. Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Paulraj stressed that early childhood education forms the foundation of formal schooling and highlighted the Government’s commitment to strengthening the sector through education reforms and public-private partnerships. The Ministry of Education said around 17,000 preschools operate in Sri Lanka with nearly 30,000 teachers, while about 70 per cent of these institutions are managed by the private sector, underscoring the need for effective quality monitoring mechanisms.