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21/01/2026

Russia's Kamchatka Buried Under Heavy Snow: Residents Jump Out Of Windows For Fun

21/01/2026

Dharma Yuddhaya 2 Hits Big in Australia: 1,000+ Tickets Sold, 47 Cinema Shows Locked In

21/01/2026

Massive M**h Bust in Trishaw!: Rs. 900M Ice Haul Seized in Nittambuwa

21/01/2026

Nostalgia Is Not A Strategy: The Old Order Is Gone. Cooperation Is The New Power

COLOMBO (News1st): An adjournment debate regarding the present situation in the country following Cyclone Ditwah is sche...
21/01/2026

COLOMBO (News1st): An adjournment debate regarding the present situation in the country following Cyclone Ditwah is scheduled to be taken up for discussion in Parliament today.

Opposition Member of Parliament, Rohini Kumari Wijerathna will present the motion for the debate.

Parliament will convene at 9:30 AM under the patronage of the Speaker, Dr.Jagath Wickramaratne and the debate is scheduled to continue until 5:00 PM this evening.

21/01/2026

පාර්ලිමේන්තු සජීව විකාශය | parliament live | பாராளுமன்ற அமர்வு நேரலை | Newsfirst - 21.01.2026

COLOMBO (News1st): The second phase of the first school term for all government and government-approved private schools ...
21/01/2026

COLOMBO (News1st): The second phase of the first school term for all government and government-approved private schools begins today.

The Ministry of Education says that the second phase of the first term will continue until the 13th of February.

Meanwhile, the government has decided to postpone the implementation of new educational reforms for Grade Six until next year.

Before the postponement, The educational reforms for Grade Six were originally scheduled to take effect from today.

Accordingly, Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Madhura Seneviratne noted that the existing old syllabus will remain in effect for Grade Six students this year.

The Ministry of Education announced that, in accordance with the new educational reforms, classes for Grade One students are set to commence on the 29th of this month.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who is on an official visit to Switzerland, has met with the President of the Asi...
21/01/2026

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who is on an official visit to Switzerland, has met with the President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Masato Kanda.

The meeting was held at the Congress Centre in Switzerland, where the World Economic Forum is being held.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and her delegation, will participate in the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum held in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and her delegation were warmly received at Zurich Airport by Ms. Himali Arunatilaka, Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative and Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva.

The forum is being held under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue," this year, the main sessions of the forum commenced on the 19th of January and the forum will be held for five consecutive days until the 23rd of January.

Nearly 3,000 high-level participants from business, government including heads of state, CEOs of multinational corporations, policymakers, tech innovators, untold numbers of activists, journalists and outside observers are attending the event.

During the visit, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya is scheduled to hold a series of high-level bilateral discussions with international leaders, heads of global organizations, and other dignitaries.


COLOMBO (News 1st); A single reference in a Grade 6 English module has triggered a major controversy within Sri Lanka’s ...
21/01/2026

COLOMBO (News 1st); A single reference in a Grade 6 English module has triggered a major controversy within Sri Lanka’s education sector, forcing the Government to take disciplinary action against senior officials at the National Institute of Education (NIE) and raising questions about oversight within the ongoing education reform programme.

The issue emerged after it was discovered that the Grade 6 English module contained the name of an inappropriate website, sparking public criticism as well as concerns from religious groups and education reform advocates. The incident quickly escalated into a national debate, placing pressure on authorities responsible for curriculum development.

Following an internal inquiry, the Ministry-appointed committee led by Ranjith Ariyaratne recommended immediate administrative action. Based on its initial report, the Deputy Director General of the NIE, Darshana Samarawira, was sent on compulsory leave.

Samarawira served as the Deputy Director General in charge of the Faculty of Languages and Social Sciences, under which the Grade 6 English module was developed.

Read the full story on www.newsfirst.lk

COLOMBO (News 1st); Parliament witnessed another intense round of exchanges over the Government’s proposed education ref...
21/01/2026

COLOMBO (News 1st); Parliament witnessed another intense round of exchanges over the Government’s proposed education reforms, with both Government and Opposition MPs sharply divided on the path forward.

The debate followed recent controversy involving an inappropriate website reference in a Grade 6 English module, which has heightened scrutiny over the reform process.

Opposition MPs argued that the Government should correct the module’s error and move ahead with the broader reform agenda without delay.

Dr. Harsha de Silva, MP, stressed that the digital age demands a shift from memorisation to analytical learning.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa challenged the Government’s accusations, saying the Opposition had never opposed implementing reforms for Grades 1 and 6.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Ajith P. Perera echoed the call for swift implementation, saying education reform was a collective national responsibility.

However, dissent came from within the Opposition ranks as well.

MP Dilith Jayaweera of Sarvajana Balaya strongly criticised the reforms, alleging that traditional tools used for handwriting practice, such as the five-rule exercise book, were being removed.

Government MP Lakshman Nipunarachchi offered a sharp rebuttal, saying such criticisms were based on misinformation.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Parliament witnessed another intense round of exchanges over the Government’s proposed education reforms, with both Government and Opposition MPs sharply divided on the path forward.

The debate followed recent controversy involving an inappropriate website reference in a Grade 6 English module, which has heightened scrutiny over the reform process.

Opposition MPs argued that the Government should correct the module’s error and move ahead with the broader reform agenda without delay.

Dr. Harsha de Silva, MP, stressed that the digital age demands a shift from memorisation to analytical learning.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa challenged the Government’s accusations, saying the Opposition had never opposed implementing reforms for Grades 1 and 6.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa clashed in Parlia...
21/01/2026

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa clashed in Parliament over the country’s coal supply tender, with the government insisting the award followed “a proper tender procedure” and the Opposition alleging rushed timelines, diluted qualifications, and quality risks that could cost the state billions.

Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody accused the Opposition of stoking controversy after a long-held coal supply contract-previously “approved purely through Cabinet papers” and linked to figures “close to the former regime”-was awarded to a new supplier through what he described as Sri Lanka’s most competitive coal tender to date.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, however, questioned the timing, shortened bid window, eligibility thresholds, and coal quality specifications, warning of potential operational inefficiencies and a possible loss exceeding Rs. 10 billion if low-grade coal drives higher consumption at the country’s main coal-fired power plant.

Read the Full story on www.newsfirst.lk

20/01/2026

13 Sri Lankan Beaches Make Lonely Planet List!

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