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A woman who was disabled while working abroad receives a new house from the Bureau…

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The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment has built a house for a woman who became disabled due to a car accident while working abroad.

Mrs. Nilanthi Hemalatha, a mother of one, residing in Hidogama, Anuradhapura, has registered with the Bureau to work as a domestic worker. He left for Dubai in November 2016. During that job, he was employed in 2019.  She was involved in a car accident in January, which resulted in serious head injuries and memory loss. Ms. Hemalatha, who was left disabled, was later repatriated to the country in March 2019 through the Bureau’s intervention.

Mrs. Hemalatha has been living at her father’s house with her son, who is studying at school. Her son was previously granted Rs. 2500.00 per month for 15 months for his education by the Welfare Division of the Bureau.

Since Ms. Hemalatha was not entitled to the free insurance coverage provided by the Bureau due to her stay in Dubai beyond the Bureau’s registration period and without renewing it, a house was constructed for her as a special project, at a cost of over Rs. 1.6 million from the Bureau’s Relief Housing Fund. The construction of the house was carried out under the supervision of the Nachchaduwa Divisional Secretariat.

The handover ceremony for the house built for Mrs. Nilanthi Hemamala with the support of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment was held recently with the participation of the Bureau Chairman, Mr. Kosala Wickramasinghe. The event was attended by the Bureau’s Senior Manager (Northern Province) A. L. D. D. Lakrani, along with officers and family members of the Bureau’s Anuradhapura District Center.  A group of people participated.

SLAF DOMINATES NATIONAL WEIGHTLIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP WITH OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES

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The SLAF Women’s Weightlifting Team secured the Overall Women’s Title at the National Weightlifting Championship, organized by the Sri Lanka Weightlifting Federation, by achieving an impressive tally of five gold medals and three silver medals.

The National Weightlifting Championship took place at the Gallella Sports Complex in Polonnaruwa from 29 March to 02 April 2025 attracting participation from numerous athletes representing various weightlifting clubs. Meanwhile, the SLAF Men’s Weightlifting Team demonstrated commendable performance, winning two gold medals, two silver medals and five bronze medals, thereby securing the Runner-Runner-Up position in the championship.

The Awards Ceremony was held at the same venue and was graced by the presence of the Chairman of Air Force Weightlifting, Air Commodore Dinesh Jayaweera. The event was also attended by the President of the National Weightlifting Federation, Mr. Ashoka Bandara, along with the Vice Presidents of the Federation, Secretary of Air Force Weightlifting, Wing Commander Sanjeewa Nanayakkara and other distinguished officials.

Summary of Results

Men’s
Gold Medalists
Leading Aircraftman Jayasena URR (Senior)
Aircraftman Dissanayaka HMSM (Senior)

Silver Medalists
Leading Aircraftman Jayalath PGD (Senior)
Aircraftman Harshana KVGP (Senior)

Bronze Medalists
Leading Aircraftman Jayathilaka SMM (Senior)
Leading Aircraftman Wijesinghe AUMM (Senior)
Aircraftman Chandupa HHBP (Senior) , Gold Medal (Junior)
Aircraftman Welagedara GGTM (Junior)
Aircraftman 2Under Training Sadeepa GAC (Junior)

Women’s
Gold Medalists
Corporal Wickramasinghe WMAS (Senior)
Leading Aircraftwoman Umeira M (Senior)
Aircraftwoman Premarathna MDM (Senior)
Aircraftwoman Gurugama GGGDT (Senior)
Aircraftwoman Madhushini ERD (Senior)

Silver Medalists
Corporal Gomas BDH (Senior)
Aircraftwoman Udara KAGHN (Senior) , Gold Medal (Junior)
Aircraftwoman Wimalasena JACD (Junior)

Lenovo Launches 14th Gen Intel Desktop and elevates user experience by providing Onsite Warranty on all commercial products in Sri Lanka.

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26th March 2025,Colombo, Sri Lanka — Lenovo, a leading name in innovative technology solutions, in collaboration with IT Gallery Computers Pvt Ltd , hosted an exclusive event today in Sri Lanka, bringing together channel partners and valued customers for an immersive experience in the latest advancements in computing. The event featured an impressive lineup of devices, insightful keynotes, and in-depth product sessions, with a special focus on the introduction of the next-generation ThinkCentre Neo 50t Gen 5 and upto 5 years onsite warranty.

The ThinkCentre Neo 50t Gen 5 is designed for modern businesses, powered by 13th and 14th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 or Intel® 300 processors, delivering high-performance computing with Intel UHD graphics (710, 730, or 770) and up to 64GB DDR5-5600 memory. With support for up to three independent displays and an optional Intel Arc A310 GPU, professionals can enjoy seamless multitasking and exceptional visuals. The Smart Power On feature and Smart Connect enhance efficiency, ensuring smoother workflows and cross-device integration.

Key specifications include:
Processors: 14th Generation Intel Core i3 / i5 / i7 or Intel 300 Processor,Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 710 / 730 / 770 or Intel Arc A310 LP,Memory: Up to 64GB DDR5-5600 (dual-channel),Storage: Up to 1TB M.2 SSD and optional HDD up to 2TB,Connectivity: HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA, USB-C with 15W charging, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.3,Design: Compact 13.6L tower with Smart Power On and optional rear system fan for enhanced cooling

In a move to further enhance customer satisfaction, Lenovo also announced a significant upgrade to its service commitment. Effective immediately, the company is announcing industry-leading Onsite warranty from 1 year to 5 years on all commercial products. This expanded warranty reflects Lenovo’s unwavering dedication to delivering reliable and robust after-sales support. Now Corporate customers can get their machines serviced by authorized Lenovo engineers at their own premises thus ensuring faster and hassle free solution.

Speaking about the event, Naveen Kejriwal, Director – Overseas Business, Lenovo said,
“We are excited to bring the latest ThinkCentre Neo 50t Gen 5 to our partners and customers in Sri Lanka. This new generation delivers an unparalleled combination of performance, security, and sustainability, helping businesses stay ahead in an evolving digital landscape. Additionally, our newly introduced Onsite warranty underscores our commitment to providing reliable and long-term support to our customers”.

Adding to this, Dilantha Parera, Managing Director & CEO, IT Gallery Computers Pvt Ltd stated,
“Our partnership with Lenovo has always been about delivering best-in-class technology solutions to the Sri Lankan market. The ThinkCentre Neo 50t Gen 5, along with the enhanced warranty, represents a strong step forward in providing businesses with cutting-edge devices backed by superior service. We look forward to strengthening our collaboration and supporting customers with innovative IT solutions.”

The event will also highlight Lenovo’s commitment to sustainability, with the ThinkCentre Neo 50t Gen 5 incorporating 85% post-consumer recycled materials in its chassis and packaging. With advanced manageability, security features, and customizable configurations, this desktop is engineered to optimize enterprise-level performance.

CAPTION- Dignitaries from IT Gallery Computers and Lenovo India at the launch of commercial products- Desktop neo50T G5 and Thinkbook G7 laptop range.
(L to R)- Gerald John, Nuwan Perera, Sachin Kinagi, Sameer Varshney, Shanika Perera, Dilantha Perera(MD/CEO-ITG), Naveen Kejriwal(Director – Overseas Business Lenovo India), Subodh Deshpande, Siraj Jabir, Prasanna Kulasinghe, Mohamed Rikaash, Deylon Peris

SLAF TO DEVELOP NATIONAL EDUCATION MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM IN COLLABORATION WITH THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

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The Sri Lanka Air Force is set to embark on an ambitious project to develop a unified software solution, the ‘National Education Management Information System’ for the Ministry of Education. This initiative, aligning with the goals of the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ campaign to enhance national efficiency through technological advancement, aims to integrate, streamline and enhance the operational efficiency of the various educational departments currently utilizing different software systems.

The automated software solution is designed to address existing challenges within the education sector by providing a centralized platform beneficial for over 4.2 million students, 10,000 schools and approximately 240,000 teachers across the country. Moreover, the system will support 15,000 administrators, including Sri Lanka Education Administrative Service (SLEAS) officers, principals and education advisors. This unified platform is expected to streamline student admissions, improve communication between schools and departments and provide better data for informed policy decisions, ultimately leading to more efficient resource allocation.

An initial discussion regarding the project took place on 26 March 2025 at the Presidential Secretariat, attended by the SLAF representatives, including Director Information Technology, Air Commodore Asitha Hettiarachchi and other Senior Officers.

The Presidential Secretariat took a leading role in discussions. The Additional Secretary Clean Sri Lanka Programme, Mr. SPC Sugeeshwara and the Director Clean Sri Lanka Programme, Mr. D Somirathne were central to initiating and guiding the conversation, clearly demonstrating the government’s dedication to this transformative project.

Representatives from the Ministry of Education included Additional Secretary for IT & Digital Education, Mrs. Vasana Edirisuriya, Director of Technical Education, Mrs. HHVM Sanjeewani, alongside several other administrative and IT technical staff.

The meeting also benefited from the diverse expertise representing the Ministry of Digital Economy. The Advisor to the Ministry, Mr. Indika Gamage and the Coordinating Secretary to the Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, Mr. Priyankara, contributed their knowledge in the digital sphere. Furthermore, the presence of the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Mr. G Mahagamage highlighted the broad support and importance of this project across different sectors.

This collaborative effort between the Sri Lanka Air Force and the Ministry of Education marks a significant step towards modernizing our education sector and Sri Lanka Air Force is committed to leveraging technical expertise to develop a robust and efficient system that will benefit all stakeholders in education sector.

The development of this integrated automated solution is set to transform educational management in Sri Lanka by enhancing data management, optimizing resource allocation and strengthening policy implementation across the education sector. As the project advances, the next phases will focus on comprehensive system design and development, with the goal of empowering teachers and administrators. Ultimately, this initiative is expected to contribute to improved educational outcomes for all stakeholders involved.

Death toll in Myanmar earthquake exceeds 1,000.-Foreign News

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A powerful earthquake rocked Myanmar on Friday, March 28, causing extensive damage across a wide swath of one of the world’s poorest countries and prompting officials to warn that the initial death toll was updated to 694 dead, 1,670 injured, according to the junta on Saturday.

In Thailand, authorities in Bangkok said six people were killed, 22 were injured and 101 were missing from three construction sites, including the high-rise. 

They revised the death toll Saturday morning from 10 reported the previous day, saying several critically injured people were mistakenly reported dead. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said that more people were believed to be alive in the wreckage as search efforts continued Saturday morning.

The 7.7 magnitude quake struck at midday, with an epicenter near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city. Aftershocks followed, one of them measuring a strong 6.4 magnitude. Myanmar is in an active earthquake belt, though many of the temblors happen in sparsely populated areas, not cities like those affected Friday. 

The US Geological Survey, an American government science agency, estimated that the death toll could top 1,000.

In Mandalay, the earthquake reportedly brought down multiple buildings, including one of the city’s largest monasteries. 

Photos from the capital city of Naypyidaw showed rescue crews pulling victims from the rubble of multiple buildings used to house civil servants.

The Serendib Foundation for Relief and Development (SGRD) had organized an iftar gathering.

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COLOMBO – The Serendib Foundation for Relief and Development (SGRD) had organized an Iftar Gathering which was held at the Mandarina, Colombo on Thursday March 27.

The activities of the Serendib Foundation for Relief and Development was screened at this ceremony.

Ambassador to the Republic of Türkiye Semih Lütfü Turgut and SFRD Legal Consultant M.S.M.Faris Saly addressed the gathering.

Ambassador of Republic of Indonesia Dewi Gustina Tobing, Counsellor, High Commission of Malaysia Muhammad Tumming and Maldive High Commission third Secretary Hassan Suad were graced the event.

The organisers presented token of apprecaition to the Ambassador to the Republic of Türkiye Semih Lütfü Turgut, Ambassador Republic of Indonesia Dewi Gustina Tobing and Counsellor, High Commission of Malaysia Muhammad Tumming.

Former Minister A.H.M. Fowzie, Member of Parliament Mujeebur Rahuman, JJ Foundation Director I.Y.M. Hanif, SFRD Directors Rifas Jabbar, Mohamed Rafique, and SFRD CEO Amanullah Hasan were also present.

Hayleys Solar secures two prestigious awards at National Industry Brand Excellence Awards 2024

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Hayleys Solar, the renewable energy arm of Hayleys Fentons, has reaffirmed its industry leadership by securing two prestigious accolades at the National Industry Brand Excellence Awards 2024. Organised by the Industrial Development Board of Ceylon (IDB) under the guidance of the Ministry of Industries, the awards ceremony took place on 21st February 2025 at Eagles’ Lakeside, Attidiya, celebrating outstanding achievements in Sri Lanka’s industrial sector.

Strengthening its position as Sri Lanka’s No.1 renewable energy solutions provider, Hayleys Solar emerged as the Award Winner for Best National Industry Brand in the Large-Scale Electrical and Electronics and Allied Industry Sector. Further cementing its market leadership, Hayleys Solar also received the Award for Best New Entrant Brand – Western Province.

Hasith Prematillake, Managing Director of Hayleys Fentons Limited, highlighted the significance of these achievements, stating, “These dual recognitions are a testament to our brand purpose: providing sustainable and innovative engineering services. Whether empowering industries with tailored solutions or advancing renewable energy adoption, these accolades inspire us to continue delivering value and delivering on our brand promise with purpose-driven excellence.”

Roshane Perera, Director/CEO of Hayleys Solar, expressed his appreciation, stating, “These recognitions are a testament to our unwavering commitment to innovation, market leadership, and a strong, consistent brand identity. At Hayleys Solar, we remain dedicated to providing scalable and sustainable energy solutions that drive both environmental and economic value, empowering businesses to embrace a cleaner, more resilient future.”

Captions-
Hayleys Solar team receiving the prestigious award for Best National Industry Brand in the Large-Scale Electrical, Electronics & Allied Industry Sector.

Kanthirantha Menike, who was involved in an accident in Kuwait, receives a new house from the office

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The handover ceremony of the new house built with the support of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau for Mrs. R.M. Kanthirathna Menike, who became disabled due to an accident while working abroad in Kuwait, was held yesterday in Magandanamulla, Monaragala, with the participation of the Bureau’s Monaragala District Center officers, led by the Bureau Chairman, Mr. Kosala Wickramasinghe.

The husband of Mrs. R.M. Kanthirathna Menike, a mother of two children, has died. The eldest daughter is serving in the army and the youngest is awaiting her A/L results.

Mrs. Kanthirathna Menike, who lived in a house covered with planks and thatch and with a tin roof, was provided with this house at a cost of Rs. 1.75 million through the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau Relief Housing Welfare Program . The construction of the house was carried out under the supervision of the Monaragala Divisional Secretariat.

It is mandatory to obtain registration with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment when seeking employment abroad, and Ms. Kanthirathna Menike received this house after registering and leaving for work abroad. Also, by obtaining bureau registration, migrant workers , scholarships for her children and school supplies, etc., by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment.

The handover ceremony at Mrs. Kanthiratne’s house was attended by the Bureau’s Senior Manager (Uva Province) Mrs. S. Gallage, officers from the Bureau’s Monaragala District Center and a group of Foreign Employment Development Officers.

Winners of the ’Lesser-known Foods of Sri Lanka’ Cooking competition announced in line with the finale of a 6-week long campaign

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The Ministry of Environment, UNDP and WFP in Sri Lanka collaboratively encourage mainstreaming the use of traditional underutilised crops.
The ‘Lesser-Known Foods of Sri Lanka’ campaign – an advocacy initiative launched by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Food Programme (WFP) in Sri Lanka together with the Ministry of Environment launched on 22 January 2025 sought to reintroduce nutritious underutilised traditional, heirloom food crops into the diet of everyday Sri Lankans. This campaign is directly supported through the Early Action Support (EAS) project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) which plays a critical role in accelerating Sri Lanka’s implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework by integrating biodiversity conservation into national policies and strategies.
A final event to conclude the 6-week long campaign was held yesterday with the attendance of Mr. Gamini Wijesinghe, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment in Sri Lanka; Ms. Chandani Wilson, Director- Biodiversity, Ministry of Environment; Ms. Malin Herwig, Officer-In-Charge, UNDP in Sri Lanka; Mr. Abdur Rahim Siddiqui, Representative and Country Director, WFP Sri Lanka; Dr. Manjula Wickramasinghe, Dean – Faculty of Technology, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka; and other key government officials and stakeholders from the private sector and academia.

A digital cooking competition was held throughout the campaign, inviting people from all over the country to submit recipes that use underutilised crops. A highlight of the finale event featured the three finalists of the competition in an exciting live cook-off, crowning Dayathree Nayanathara Munasinghe – with a Kaju Dalu Wanjanaya (Cashew leaf curry) as the Winner, Udeshika Hansani with a Madatiya dalu vanjanaya (Red bead leaf curry) and Panchamee Hewavissenti with an Attika vanjanaya (Curried Wild Figs) as Joint Runners-Up. The dishes prepared by the three finalists were judged by famous social media and YouTube personality Dinux Kitchen, along with representatives and partners of the campaign.
Commenting on UNDPs leadership in this campaign, Ms. Malin Herwig, Officer-In-Charge, UNDP in Sri Lanka stated, “This campaign marks a crucial step toward reshaping food systems, reviving local crops and ensuring a more nutritious, resilient future for all. By reintroducing indigenous foods and innovative practices, it supports food security, enhances nutrition and promotes environmental sustainability. We are thankful to all the partners that have come onboard for this important campaign, and we look forward to expanding into tangible and sustainable initiatives to promote these lesser-known foods.”
The campaign included online and offline activities that engaged both urban and rural communities. A key knowledge product of the campaign included the curation of a recipe book, with the support of the Department of Agriculture, comprising over 50 recipes using underutilised ingredients. Over the course of the next few months, this recipe book will be distributed amongst school meal providers enrolled in WFP’s Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) programme who supply meals for over 200,000 school children across seven

DIMO Healthcare Elevates Durdans Hospital’s Cardiac Care with WorkMate Claris 2D by Abbott

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Durdans Hospital, the first hospital in Sri Lanka to implement an Electrophysiology (EP) system, has now upgraded to the advanced Abbott WorkMate Claris 2D from DIMO Healthcare, further enhancing the cardiac care treatments offered by the hospital.
The WorkMate Claris 2D System is designed to assist electrophysiologists in diagnosing, addressing and treating irregular heart rhythms. The human heart depends on a precise electrical system to maintain its rhythm and ensure proper blood flow through its four chambers. Electrical impulses originating in the sinus node (SA node) travel through the atrioventricular node (AV node) to regulate the heartbeat. Disruptions to this electrical system, caused by many conditions leading to arrhythmias, can result in severe complications, as heart attacks, complete heart blocks, and may even lead to premature loss of life. The EP system resolves these irregularities through a procedure called ablation, which targets and prevents heart tissues from emitting erratic electrical impulses, thereby normalizing the heart’s rhythm.
A key innovation of Abbott WorkMate Claris 2D System is its advanced cooling technology, which minimizes damage to healthy tissues during ablation. By precisely controlling heat delivery to affected areas, this state-of-the-art system ensures safer and more effective treatment, marking a significant breakthrough in cardiac care. Furthermore, the system prioritizes sustainable patient management, ensuring optimal care with long-term benefits.
One of the standout features of the Abbott WorkMate Claris 2D is its ability to share live visuals securely over a network, enabling real-time collaboration between medical professionals globally. This fosters precision in treatment while promoting a global standard of care through seamless consultations and referrals.
Durdans Hospital selected DIMO Healthcare, the healthcare arm of DIMO, as its EP system augmentation partner, recognizing the expertise DIMO Healthcare has acquired as the local representative for globally renowned medical equipment brands such as Abbott, Siemens Healthineers, and Carl Zeiss. DIMO Healthcare’s unwavering commitment to bringing cutting-edge healthcare technologies to Sri Lanka also played a pivotal role in this collaboration for the EP system upgrade at Durdans Hospital.
Dr. Lasantha Karunasekara, CEO/DMS at Durdans Hospital, said: “The installation of the Abbott WorkMate Claris 2D System is a testament to our dedication for giving our patients the finest care possible through the most advanced and innovative healthcare solutions. We will be able to provide advanced cardiac treatment and significantly improve the lives of people with heart rhythm abnormalities, thanks to this state-of-the-art technology.”
Mr. Priyantha Dissanayake, Chief Operating Officer – DIMO Healthcare, said, “Our goal at DIMO Healthcare is to introduce top-notch medical technology to Sri Lanka. Our dedication to providing healthcare professionals with the resources they need to offer outstanding patient care is demonstrated by the installation of the Abbott WorkMate Claris 2D System at Durdans Hospital. As a company, we take pride in fuelling dreams and aspirations of the communities we serve, and this initiative is yet another step towards building a healthier nation.”
DIMO Healthcare provides comprehensive after-sales support for the WorkMate Claris 2D System, ensuring healthcare providers maximize its potential. This includes installation assistance, specialized medical staff training, and ongoing technical support for seamless system utilization. A dedicated service team ensures swift maintenance and troubleshooting, reducing downtime and enabling uninterrupted delivery of high-quality cardiac care.