Pulse Today, 320 T. B. Jayah Mawatha (2025)

04/09/2025

CINEC Campus launched a partnership with the UK’s Anglia Ruskin University on 7 August at a ceremony held at the Shangri-La. The collaboration covers 17 graduate and postgraduate programmes in engineering, health sciences, and computing.

British High Commissioner Andrew Patrick praised CINEC’s focus on hard sciences, advanced infrastructure, and simulators, noting the partnership strengthens educational ties and people-to-people relations between Sri Lanka and the UK.

CINEC CEO Captain Ajith Peiris and Anglia Ruskin Pro Vice Chancellor Dr Mark Norrich unveiled the agreement, pledging to advance academic standards and research opportunities. The event was attended by government officials, industry leaders, and media representatives.

04/09/2025

Research students at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Moratuwa, have created the country’s first and largest language model (LLM) focused exclusively on Sinhala, marking a major step for local language computing.

The model, named SinLlama, was built by continually pre-training Llama-3-8B with nearly 10 million Sinhala sentences, making it the first and largest Sinhala LLM to date. It has already outperformed Llama-3-8B on Sinhala text classification benchmarks.

The project was jointly supervised by Dr Surangika Ranathunga (Massey University, New Zealand), Dr Nisansa de Silva (University of Moratuwa), and Dr Rishemjit Kaur (Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, India). Both SinLlama and its 10-million-sentence dataset have been made freely available for researchers and innovators, supporting wider AI research and the preservation of local languages.

-DM for photo credits-

04/09/2025

The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka (MMCA Sri Lanka) announced that No More Land (2024), a documentary by Anomaa Rajakaruna, has won the Satyajit Ray Bronze Award at the 8th South Asian Short Film Festival in Kolkata, India.

Commissioned for the museum’s Total Landscaping exhibition under the EU-funded Arts 4 ADR project, the film explores land disputes tied to the Gal Oya resettlement scheme, using the oral histories of eleven women from Ampara to capture the complexity of displacement and memory.

MMCA Sri Lanka Chief Curator Sharmini Pereira said the award underscores the importance of supporting contemporary works that address Sri Lanka’s histories and realities. British Council Sri Lanka Country Director Orlando Edwards praised the film as an example of storytelling’s power to foster dialogue and social change.

Founded in 2019, MMCA Sri Lanka remains committed to commissioning artworks that encourage critical reflection on the past and present. For more information, visit www.mmca-srilanka.org.

-DM for Photo credits-

04/09/2025

Wildlife photographer Laksh*tha Karunarathna has brought pride to Sri Lanka once again by winning at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year (WPY) competition, organised by the Natural History Museum in London. This marks his second success at what is widely regarded as the “Oscars of wildlife photography,” making him the first Sri Lankan in the event’s 61-year history to be recognised more than once.

The competition, established in 1965, received a record 60,636 entries from over 120 countries this year, with only 100 images selected. Karunarathna’s awarded photograph, titled Toxic tip, was captured in Ampara District, where he has spent almost three years documenting the impacts of human-elephant conflict and poor waste disposal.

The image shows a lone elephant foraging at a vast rubbish dump, a stark reminder of how plastic, polythene and microplastic ingestion is threatening Sri Lanka’s elephants. Scientific research has shown that such waste can cause digestive blockages, poisoning and reduced lifespans. Sri Lanka already records some of the highest human-elephant conflict figures in Asia, with nearly 400 elephants and 100 people killed every year due to habitat loss, farming expansion, deforestation, unplanned development and mismanaged waste.

Karunarathna described the award as a call to action: “This award is not just for me. It is a reminder of the urgent need to address how our waste and lifestyles affect wildlife. As Sri Lankans, elephants are part of our cultural identity, and protecting them is protecting our heritage.”

Recognised internationally, Karunarathna’s work has earned multiple awards and has been featured in leading global media. His photograph Toxic tip was also among just 15 images included in the official global press release ahead of the awards ceremony on 13 October 2025 at the Natural History Museum, London.

-DM for Photo credits-

03/09/2025

From 1 September, passengers on expressway buses are required to wear seat belts, a gazette notification issued on 31 August confirms. Manjula Kularatne, Chairman of the National Council for Road Safety, said legal action will be taken against violators, though a three-month grace period will be allowed for buses not yet fitted with seat belts.

Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake noted the initiative is part of the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme. He also highlighted that seat belt prices, previously around LKR 2,000, have risen to LKR 5,000–7,000, urging the Consumer Affairs Authority to monitor the increase.

-DM for Photo credits-

03/09/2025

A new study by the Ocean University of Sri Lanka has found that the artificial breakwater at Hambantota International Port has become a thriving marine ecosystem.

The reef now supports the highest diversity of reef-associated fish in southern Sri Lanka, surpassing natural sites such as Weligama and Polhena. Researchers attribute its success to minimal human disturbance, low pollution, and a balanced population of herbivorous fish that prevent algae from overwhelming the corals.

The reef has created a strong food web supporting a wide range of species, including economically important fish and lobsters. It may also serve as a key breeding and nursery ground, boosting local fish catches.

The study highlights that artificial coastal structures can support both economic development and conservation, with Hambantota Port serving as a potential model for future eco-conscious coastal projects.

-DM for Photo credits-

02/09/2025

Oscar-winner Olivia Colman calls Sri Lanka “the holiday of a lifetime” and “the best food” during 'The Roses' press tour with co-star Benedict Cumberbatch.

During a viral Condé Nast interview, Colman was asked about her favourite food city. She instantly named Sri Lanka, calling it “the holiday of a lifetime” and praising it for having “the best food.”

Her remarks have drawn wide attention online, with many Sri Lankans celebrating the glowing endorsement. Colman, one of Britain’s most decorated actresses with an Academy Award, four BAFTAs, two Emmys, and three Golden Globes, has further highlighted the island’s reputation as a world-class culinary destination. Her latest film, 'The Roses', premiered worldwide on 29 August 2025.

-DM for Photo credits-

02/09/2025

Sri Lanka sealed a 2-0 series victory against Zimbabwe, ending a six-year drought in away ODI series. The triumph came with a five-wicket win in the second ODI in Harare, chasing 278.

Pathum Nissanka starred for the visitors, scoring 122 off 136 deliveries with 16 fours in the decider, following his crucial 76 in the first ODI. “It has been a little while since I have been among the runs in one-day internationals, so I am glad I was able to score some here,” Nissanka said. “I wanted to do well for the team and I trusted myself.”

Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka also contributed with 71 off 61 balls, praising Nissanka and the young players for their efforts. “I just told the team to do the basics well,” he said. “Young players are doing a good job, playing with less risk and running hard.”

Zimbabwe skipper Sean Williams acknowledged missed opportunities in the series decider, saying, “The series could have gone differently. It could have been 1-1. Today we missed an opportunity to be more aggressive in the middle overs.”
Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe will next face each other in a three-match T20I series starting 3 September.

-DM for Photo credits-

02/09/2025

Sri Lanka will be represented by three elite athletes at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, from 13–21 September. Male javelin throwers Rumesh Tharanga and Sumedha Ranasinghe earned their spots through direct qualification, with throws of 86.50 m and 85.78 m, respectively, following strong performances in domestic and regional competitions.

No Sri Lankan female athlete met the direct qualifying standard, so Sri Lanka Athletics nominated Dilhani Lekamge and Nadeesha Ramanayake for universality places, which allow countries to send athletes without direct qualification. Ramanayake, who specialises in the 400 m, secured her place through this system, while Lekamge missed out.

Ramanayake, from Weeraketiya in Hambanthota District, is a former Asian Championship gold medallist and a member of the national 400 m women’s and mixed relay teams. She will make her maiden appearance at the World Championships, marking the first time a Sri Lankan female has competed at the event since Chandrika Rasnayake in the 400 m at Berlin 2009. The three-member team, accompanied by head coach and manager Pradeep Nishantha and trainer Tony Prasanna, is scheduled to fly to Tokyo on 9 September.

-DM for Photo credits-

02/09/2025

Commuters in Sri Lanka are seeing a slight relief at the pump as the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (Ceypetco) announced reductions in fuel prices from midnight on 31 August.

Petrol 92 Octane dropped by LKR 6 to LKR 299 per litre, while Auto Diesel fell by LKR 6 to LKR 283 and Super Diesel by LKR 12 to LKR 313. Petrol 95 Octane and Kerosene prices remain unchanged.

Despite the cut in fuel costs, the National Transport Commission confirmed that bus fares will remain the same, meaning public transport commuters will not immediately benefit from the lower prices.

-DM for Photo credits-

02/09/2025

Kumudika Fernando, Chairperson and Group Managing Director of Maliban Group, has been recognised as the Sri Lankan iconic woman 2025 at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation’s centenary awards ceremony held at the BMICH. The honour was presented as part of SLBC’s 100th anniversary celebrations, which paid tribute to women whose leadership, integrity and innovation have shaped the nation.

Fernando, who has led Maliban for more than a decade, has driven product diversification, export growth and key international partnerships, including Maliban’s entry into the Indian market through Reliance Consumer Products Ltd. Under her leadership, the company continues to strengthen its position globally while upholding its long-standing reputation in Sri Lanka.

The recognition highlights her role as a trailblazer in business and community development, ensuring Maliban’s tradition of excellence remains relevant in a changing world. As Maliban marks over 70 years as a trusted household name, the award reflects both the brand’s enduring legacy and Fernando’s vision for a more inclusive and progressive future.

-DM for photo credits-

02/09/2025

Sri Lanka will start using the Commonwealth Meridian software next month to manage public debt, as part of its economic recovery plan. The move follows IMF and World Bank recommendations to establish a Public Debt Management Office, after Sri Lanka defaulted on foreign debt in 2022 and sought IMF assistance. Since then, the government has been implementing reforms, including debt restructuring and improved borrowing management.

The Commonwealth Secretariat, at the IMF’s request, has advised Sri Lanka on the legal framework, governance and systems for the new debt office. After reviewing options, the government selected Commonwealth Meridian in October 2024 for its cost-effectiveness, system compatibility, and comprehensive debt management features.

The software allows governments to record, analyse, manage and monitor public debt with greater accuracy and transparency. A Commonwealth delegation recently visited Colombo to plan deployment, including staff training and data migration. Currently, 45 countries use the Commonwealth Meridian to manage government debt portfolios worth a combined USD 4 trillion.

-DM for photo credits-

Pulse Today

04/09/2025

04/09/2025

04/09/2025

04/09/2025

03/09/2025

03/09/2025

02/09/2025

02/09/2025

02/09/2025

02/09/2025

02/09/2025

02/09/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share