AGP Executive Report

Kandy Esala Perahera Security: Sri Lanka Police have rolled out a major security and traffic plan for the Kandy Esala Perahera, deploying 6,200 officers plus Special Task Force and Tri-Forces, with roadblocks and 13 parking points to manage the crowds. Cultural Heritage Dig: Excavations at Yapahuwa have uncovered signs of an ancient “outer city” where ordinary people lived, using modern non-invasive tools like LiDAR and ground-penetrating radar to map the past. Lifestyle & Food: Yazu at the Beach in Galle launched a dedicated Jain and vegetarian Pan-Asian menu, bringing mindful, non-violence-inspired choices to Sri Lanka’s southern dining scene. Diaspora & Opportunity: Industry minister Sunil Handunneththi told overseas Sri Lankan entrepreneurs in Melbourne that Sri Lanka should be transformed into a more “Australia-like” country with equal laws and freedom to build. Economy Talk: Economists warned Sri Lanka’s fiscal recovery is still a “racket,” citing tax non-compliance and weak private-sector competition, calling for growth that improves living standards. Youth & Learning: A 14-year-old Sri Lankan-born Dineth Fernando, now in Australia, won the World Youth Scrabble Championship after studying 200 words a day. Sports & Culture: Hameedia was named Team Sri Lanka’s official clothing partner for upcoming international events, linking local lifestyle brands to global sport.

UNESCO & Youth Skills: Himali Jinadasa has been appointed Chairperson of UNESCO’s Entrepreneurship Education Network (EENET) South Asia Chapter, aiming to strengthen entrepreneurship education and regional collaboration. Disaster Preparedness for Youth: UNFPA and NYSC trained over 100 youth leaders in a simulation-based “Resilience Lab” to shift Sri Lanka’s disaster response toward early warning and community resilience, with gender and SRHR considerations built in. Cultural Heritage in Action: PM Harini Amarasuriya urged preserving Sri Lanka’s living traditions at the Bellanwila Esala Perahera, calling it a bridge for dance, music, craftsmanship and values for the next generation. Human-Elephant Coexistence Push: A new proposal from the Society for Conservation of Wild Elephants in Sri Lanka highlights a tipping point in human-elephant conflict and calls for a lasting coexistence culture. Animal Welfare Bill Critique: A sharp critique argues the Animal Welfare Bill’s broad definition of “animal” could unintentionally sweep in seafood and leave gaps in protections. Archaeology & Public Life: Excavations at Yapahuwa’s outer city are uncovering rare evidence of an ancient public settlement, using non-invasive tools like LiDAR and ground radar. Education & Science: Qatar Charity inaugurated a new science laboratory building at Kalutara Muslim Central College, adding equipped labs for chemistry, biology, physics and general science for 1,500 students. Golf Heritage: Royal Colombo Golf Club marks its 105th Club Championship, tying today’s sport to Ceylon’s golf history dating back to 1879.

Civic Tech & Local Tourism: Touli launched in Colombo, turning verified community actions (volunteering, mentoring, clean-ups) into redeemable local experiences—meals, tea sessions, heritage stays—built with Sri Lankan tech partners and aligned with the “Clean Sri Lanka” push. Education Investment: Qatar Charity inaugurated a QR1.06mn science laboratory building at Kalutara Muslim Central College, adding four equipped labs (Chemistry, Biology, Physics, General Science) and classrooms for 1,500+ students. Travel & Lifestyle: Vietjet announced its Colombo–Ho Chi Minh City route (from 18 Aug) and highlighted recent global awards for its low-cost service and cabin crew uniform. Culture, Identity & Law: A memorial exhibition, “Cast the First Stone,” is on at Saskia Fernando Gallery (until 19 Aug), revisiting Black July through an artist-led lens on gender-based and sexual violence and outdated colonial-era laws. Sri Lanka–India Ties: India’s 80th Independence Day tricolour relay, “Suryapath Tiranga,” included Sri Lanka in a global east-to-west chain of flag hoistings. Community & Safety: Qatar Charity’s education push and Touli’s verified-impact model both point to a wider theme: practical, community-facing culture and lifestyle initiatives.

Education & Science Investment: Qatar Charity inaugurated a new three-storey science laboratory building at Kalutara Muslim Central College, funding four fully equipped labs (Chemistry, Biology, Physics, General Science) plus classrooms and digital teaching tools for 1,500+ students in Sinhala, Tamil and English. Diaspora Culture & Diplomacy: India’s 80th Independence Day went global through “Suryapath Tiranga,” a relay of tricolour hoists from Fiji to San Francisco, linking 54 missions across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas under Har Ghar Tiranga. Sri Lanka–India People-to-People Ties: A Pew Research Center survey says Sri Lanka has the most favourable view of India, with 79% of adults positive—highlighting how shared history and culture shape public opinion. Art, Memory & Rights: Chandraguptha Thenuwara’s Black July memorial exhibition “Cast the First Stone” opens at Saskia Fernando Gallery, focusing on gender-based and sexual violence and the limits of outdated laws. Humanitarian Peacebuilding: Mines Advisory Group ambassador Rosamund Pike visited Sri Lanka to support landmine clearance efforts, meeting de-miners and families affected by the war. Professional Development: SLIM announced the SMEDA 2026 awards to spotlight Sri Lanka’s MSMEs and encourage stronger marketing, branding and sustainable growth. Identity & Digital Trust: A report highlights how foundational ID and biometrics—especially when linked early to birth registration—can strengthen trustworthy public services and reduce fraud.

India 80th Independence Day, Sri Lanka angle: A Pew Research Center survey puts Sri Lanka at the top for favourable views of India, with 79% of adults positive—while perceptions elsewhere swing sharply, from Pakistan’s 7% to other low points in the region. Flag relay & cultural diplomacy: India’s “SURYAPATH TIRANGA” Global Relay carried the Tricolour across dozens of countries and missions, reaching Sri Lanka and the Maldives as part of the Independence Day celebrations. Diaspora and return pathways: Sri Lanka’s Cabinet approved a mechanism to help Sri Lankan refugees in India return voluntarily, including identity checks and temporary passports, with clearance steps involving the State Intelligence Service. Black July art & gender justice: Chandraguptha Thenuwara’s memorial exhibition “Cast the First Stone” is on at Saskia Fernando Gallery, using contemporary work to challenge colonial-era laws and discrimination tied to gender and sexuality. Mines, memory, and accountability: Rosamund Pike visited Sri Lanka as Mines Advisory Group ambassador, touring minefields and meeting affected families, as landmine clearance and transitional justice debates continue. Community mediation push: Sri Lanka reported over 200,000 disputes handled via mediation boards annually, with new funding and district-level boards aimed at easing court backlogs. SME spotlight: SLIM launched the SLIM SME Development Awards 2026 to recognise marketing, branding, innovation and sustainable growth among Sri Lanka’s micro, small and medium enterprises. Education & payments: Royal College Colombo became the first school to use GovPay for parents’ facilities and service fees, replacing manual payments. Cricket in Galle: India’s team hoisted the Tricolour in Galle ahead of the first Test vs Sri Lanka, with match-day weather likely to bring rain and overcast skies.

Lifestyle & Retail: Colombo’s City of Dreams Sri Lanka is gearing up for “In Good Taste” at The Shoppes on 7–8 November, a two-day festival built around food, experiences, entertainment and family-friendly fun. Education Reform: PM Harini Amarasuriya says Sri Lanka’s education system must move beyond exam-only success toward skills, creativity and experiential learning. Catholic Schools Dialogue: The Government and the Catholic Church met to discuss administration of state-managed Catholic schools, religious education arrangements, and ensuring students can learn their faith without discrimination. Digital Payments in Schools: Royal College Colombo becomes the first Sri Lankan school to use GovPay, letting parents pay SDS and facilities/service fees digitally instead of manual payments. Mediation for Faster Justice: Sri Lanka referred over 200,000 disputes to mediation boards in 2026 so far, with new funding for training, mediators and community boards. LGBTIQ Rights & GSP+: EU calls for anti-discrimination laws and decriminalisation of same-sex relations as part of GSP+ recommendations. Culture & Arts: Mount Studio Analogue Film Lab marks its first anniversary with free screenings and workshops, while WelcomGallery at ITC Ratnadipa hosts “Artful Echoes” (14–30 August). Music: “Swar Sangam” brings Indian veena maestro Rajhesh Vaidhya and Sri Lankan singer Yohani to Colombo on 15 August.

Mediation & Justice Reform: Sri Lanka marked National Mediation Day with the Justice Ministry saying mediation boards handle over 200,000 disputes yearly, easing court delays and helping prevent backlogs; the 2026 Budget has allocated over Rs. 800 million for mediator training, appointments, and stronger community mediation at divisional secretariat level, including special land and financial dispute boards. Education & Rights Debate: Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya urged a shift away from exam-only schooling toward skills, creativity, and experience-based learning, while a separate discussion in Parliament reignited calls to reform restrictive abortion laws that push women toward unsafe, unregulated options. Catholic Schools & Religion in State System: Government and Catholic Church representatives met at the Presidential Secretariat on administration of state-managed Catholic schools, religious education staffing, and the ongoing need to investigate X-Press Pearl maritime damage. Arts & Culture Calendar: Mount Studio Analogue Film Lab celebrates its first anniversary with free screenings, exhibitions, workshops, and photo walks, including a World Photography Day event honouring Nihal Fernando; WelcomGallery at ITC Ratnadipa hosts “Artful Echoes” (five artists, free entry, 14–30 Aug). Music & Celebrity Culture: “Swar Sangam” brings Indian veena maestro Rajhesh Vaidhya and Sri Lankan singer Yohani to Colombo for Independence Day celebrations, with MEXC sponsoring Yohani’s recent concerts. Skills & Work Pathways: Sri Lanka is set to award one million NVQ certificates, spotlighting vocational training as a route to a skilled future. Culture, Nature & Heritage: Commentary on the proposed Animal Welfare Bill warns it could reduce elephant custody and threaten a living cultural tradition.

Women’s Health & Rights: Parliament’s debate on Sri Lanka’s restrictive abortion law is being challenged as women face unsafe underground terminations, with reports citing up to 658 abortions a day despite harsh penalties and tight medical requirements. Education Reform: PM Harini Amarasuriya says Sri Lanka must modernise education and assessment beyond exam-only schooling, pushing skills, creativity, experiential learning, and stronger digital literacy for teachers and parents. Skills & Jobs: Sri Lanka will award one million NVQ certificates and plans about Rs. 42 billion for vocational education (2027–2031), aiming to expand pathways beyond the traditional exam culture. Disability Rights: Sri Lanka’s first UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities report heads to Geneva for review on Aug 14–15. LGBTQ+ & Anti-Discrimination: The EU’s GSP+ assessment urges anti-discrimination laws, decriminalisation of consensual same-sex relations, and action against harassment and torture. Elephants & Animal Welfare: A proposed animal welfare bill faces backlash over fears it could reduce private and temple elephant custody, while social media misinformation about the elephant-chain ban is flagged as fabricated. Culture & Religion: Kandy Esala Perahera begins with the Kap planting ceremony, kicking off a multi-day sequence leading to major processions. Tourism & Lifestyle: Port City Colombo hosts an investor forum for Maldivian leaders, while travel demand signals rising interest in Sri Lanka among regional travellers.

Education & Skills: Sri Lanka will invest nearly Rs. 42 billion in vocational education for 2027–2031, aiming to upgrade the Vocational Training Authority into a “centre of excellence” across provinces with updated courses, better facilities, and more staff. Youth & Learning Access: Laptop.lk is handing Lenovo laptops to top A/L students from all 25 districts, pushing tech access beyond the exam-focused system. Culture & Faith: Kandy Esala Perahera has begun with the traditional Kap planting ceremony, kicking off days of devale processions and the main peraheras leading to the grand finale. Rights & Inclusion: The EU’s GSP+ review urges Sri Lanka to strengthen anti-discrimination protections, decriminalise consensual same-sex relations, and tackle harassment and deaths in custody, while Sri Lanka’s disability rights record heads to a UN review in Geneva. Tourism & Lifestyle: Indonesia Cultural Centre opens in Colombo, featuring language learning, gamelan, and film screenings—another boost to people-to-people cultural exchange. Wildlife & Heritage: Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa calls for the Sri Lankan elephant to be named the national animal, backed by science-based conservation and human-elephant coexistence. Sports Culture: Cricket talk dominates—Harbhajan warns T20 leagues may crowd out bilateral Tests, as India prepares for its Sri Lanka Test series.

Education & Youth Tech: Sri Lanka’s vocational education gets a boost, with the government planning nearly Rs. 42 billion for 2027–2031 to upgrade training quality, including Rs. 4 billion for the VTA as a “Centre of Excellence” in every province. Digital Learning Access: Laptop.lk hands out Lenovo laptops to top A/L students from all 25 districts, aiming to bridge the digital divide for higher education and future careers. Community Libraries: Seylan Bank opens its 294th “Pahasara” Library at Galgamuwa Maha Vidyalaya, adding books, a multimedia setup, and laptops for students. Culture on Stage: Somalatha Subasinghe’s theatre productions “Walas Pawula” and “Vikurthi” run at Elphinestone Theatre on Aug 20–21, mixing Sinhala adaptation, music, and family-friendly lessons. Wildlife & Heritage: Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa urges the Sri Lankan elephant to be named the National Animal, stressing science-based conservation and human-elephant coexistence. Tourism & Lifestyle: National Geographic Signature with G Adventures expands with 17 new high-end itineraries, pushing community tourism into luxury travel. Regional Ties: Port City Colombo hosts an invitation-only investor forum in Maldives, pitching the 269-hectare master-planned city and Special Economic Zone to Maldivian business leaders.

Women’s Finance Access: Sri Lanka’s Women Entrepreneurs Finance Code got its first annual report (2025/26), tracking early progress since the March 2025 rollout and highlighting how signatory banks are supporting women-owned and women-led businesses. Tourism & Lifestyle Tech: Cinnamon Box Office launched an AI-powered Destination Event Calendar to help locals and visitors discover events across Sri Lanka, aiming to boost Colombo’s year-round culture and entertainment pull. Roads & Rural Mobility: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake ordered the resumption of road projects paused in 2022 and pushed officials to prioritise urgent rural needs with faster delivery. China–Sri Lanka Diplomacy: New Chinese Ambassador Wei Huaxiang arrived in Colombo, pledging deeper cooperation in areas like water technology and education, while pointing to the long history of ties. Immigration Overhaul: Sri Lanka’s Cabinet approved replacing the 1948 immigration law and moving toward an electronic passport system with biometric data. Human–Elephant Conflict: Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa called for recognising the Sri Lankan wild elephant as the national animal, urging a scientific approach that protects both people and elephants. Heritage Meets Business: The government invited private investors to lease Colombo’s heritage bungalows for 30 years, raising big questions about revenue, efficiency, and protecting national heritage.

AI & Assurance: IIA Sri Lanka’s 11th National Conference is set for 13 Aug in Colombo, focusing on how internal audit must evolve in an AI-accelerated era—sharpening intelligence, integrity, and real organisational impact. Tourism & Lifestyle Tech: Cinnamon Box Office launched an AI-powered Destination Event Calendar to help locals and visitors discover events across Sri Lanka, aiming to boost Colombo’s year-round culture and entertainment pull. Diplomacy & China Ties: New Chinese Ambassador Wei Huaxiang arrived in Colombo, pledging deeper cooperation in areas like water technology and education, and framing the relationship through long maritime history and the Rubber-Rice Pact. Immigration Reform: Cabinet approved replacing the 1948 Immigrants and Emigrants Act with a new Immigration Bill, including biometric e-passport provisions. Refugee Return (War-Era): Sri Lanka also eased voluntary return rules for refugees in India, allowing eligible returnees to enter via authorised ports on temporary passports without immigration-law proceedings, after State Intelligence screening. Human-Elephant Coexistence: Sajith Premadasa called for the Sri Lankan wild elephant to be recognised as the national animal, urging a scientific approach to the human-elephant conflict. Elephant Welfare Regulation: The Environment Ministry moved to strengthen captive elephant rules, including welfare standards and how elephants are used in cultural and religious pageants. Education & Skills: SLIIT became the first Sri Lankan member of the Global Alliance of Entrepreneurial Universities, signalling a push for enterprise and innovation in higher education. Health Exchange: Sri Lanka and Suwasevana Hospitals signed an MoU to place 20 Maldivian medical graduates in annual clinical internships in Sri Lanka. Public Service Disruption: A technical outage at the Department of Immigration and Emigration disrupted passport issuance under the one-day service.

Elephant Culture & Policy: Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa marks World Elephant Day by urging Sri Lanka to name the Sri Lankan wild elephant as the national animal, calling for a scientific, people-and-elephants approach to human-elephant conflict. Captive Elephant Welfare: The Environment Ministry moves to tighten rules for captive elephants used in cultural and religious pageants, with draft 2026 registration and licensing regulations under review. Immigration Reform: Cabinet approval clears the way to replace the 1948 Immigrants and Emigrants Act, including biometric provisions for the planned electronic passport system. Refugee Returns: Sri Lanka also eases voluntary return for refugees in India, allowing eligible returnees to enter via approved ports on temporary passports without facing legal action under the old immigration law. Tech & Services: A computer system outage at the Department of Immigration and Emigration disrupts one-day passport issuance. Culture & Learning: Arana Bhikkhu Giman Hala marks 10 years helping Maha Sangha members in transit in Colombo, supporting visa formalities and daily religious routines. Biotech Push: The National Biotechnology Industry Association relaunches to boost industry–academia collaboration and skills in Sri Lanka’s biotech sector. Food Culture: A Sri Lankan-inspired coconut sweet potato dhal and vegetable biryani recipe round-up highlights local culinary influence.

Drug crackdown: Sri Lanka’s “A Nation United” steering council met at the Presidential Secretariat and discussed tougher action on drug-related crime, including the death penalty, with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake calling for urgent attitude change and support from religious leaders, parents and community groups. English skills snapshot: Sri Lanka ranked 73rd out of 123 in the 2025 EF English Proficiency Index, in the “Low Proficiency” band, with writing strongest and listening weakest; Colombo led among cities. Digital government push: A plan to roll out up to 500 Digital Transformation Units across government aims to modernise services, revenue and treasury systems, immigration, police and divisional secretariats, with a national data centre in the roadmap. Indigenous rights: Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya announced legal identification and formal recognition measures for Indigenous communities, including registration and permission to access forests for traditional livelihoods, with an Indigenous Peoples Bill now submitted to Cabinet. Cultural education & faith: Four Sri Lankans—two women included—competed at Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Holy Quran Memorization Competition, marking the country’s biggest-ever delegation. Landmine progress: Actor Rosamund Pike visited as Sri Lanka cleared one million landmines over 17 years, meeting deminers and families and joining risk-education sessions. Sports & lifestyle: The Lanka Premier League season ended with Galle Gallants winning their first title, while cricket fans also get a steady stream of local events and coverage.

English Skills Check: Sri Lanka slipped to 73rd out of 123 in the 2025 EF English Proficiency Index, landing in “Low Proficiency,” with writing its strongest skill and listening its weakest. Digital Government Push: Cabinet approval is being sought for up to 500 Digital Transformation Units across ministries, aiming to modernise services, revenue systems, police work, immigration, and divisional secretariats by 2030. Indigenous Rights Move: On World Indigenous Peoples’ Day, PM Harini Amarasuriya announced legal identification and formal recognition for Indigenous communities, including permission to access forests for traditional livelihoods, with an Indigenous Peoples Bill now in Cabinet discussions. Landmine Clearance Milestone: Actor Rosamund Pike visited as Sri Lanka cleared one million landmines in 17 years, supporting safer returns and risk education for schoolchildren. Coastal Safety Story: Fishermen around Muthalapozhi describe the “mouth of death” where boats capsize and deaths have mounted, as rescue efforts continue for missing crew. Sports & Culture Spotlight: The Derana Colombo International Kite Festival returns as a major cultural tourism event, while LPL Season 6 ends with Galle Gallants winning their maiden title. Community Leadership: “Heart to Lead” launches to nurture empathetic youth leaders through a coalition of local organisations.

Youth Leadership & Community: Indira Cancer Trust’s new “Heart to Lead” programme launches a shared movement to nurture empathetic youth leaders, bringing together nine partner organisations and focusing on leading without needing a title. Indigenous Rights & Culture: On World Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya says legal identification and rules for Indigenous communities’ traditional forest activities are moving forward, with an Indigenous Peoples Bill submitted to Cabinet. Mine Action & Public Awareness: Rosamund Pike visits Sri Lanka as the country clears one million landmines, meeting deminers, affected families, and schoolchildren for risk-education. Digital Life & Trust: A Digital Outlook Sri Lanka 2026 report finds 81% of users now rely on AI for searching, raising concerns that confidence is outpacing digital literacy. Education & Sport: Henarathgoda Keppetipola Maha Vidyalaya wins the Western Province Under-18 boys’ volleyball title and qualifies for the national schools championship. Tourism & Heritage: Kandy’s Esala Perahera returns for ten nights from 18 August, blending ancient rain rites with the Sacred Tooth Relic procession. Local Culture Events: Derana Colombo International Kite Festival traces its comeback after years of disruption, aiming to keep Sri Lanka’s kite tradition international.