Sri Lanka left with a mountain to climb in Rawalpindi
Lahiru creates history with Youth Olympic silver
Wesley stun Nalanda to reach Under 19 Division I final
Sri Lanka U-19s eliminated from Asia Cup with one win
CDB, Hayleys Group A, HNB and Fairfirst Insurance meet in semifinals today
Sri Lankan professionals trained in India under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme have formed a national alumni association. The Sri Lanka ITEC Alumni Association was formally launched at its inaugural meeting on Thursday, 8 October 2026, at the Grand Crystal Ballroom of Hotel Taj Samudra, Colombo.
The Association is a unique initiative of the Education Wing of the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka. The Wing oversees India’s education and scholarship programmes for Sri Lanka, including the ITEC programme. The initiative was led by Sandeep Chaudhary, First Secretary (Education), High Commission of India. His vision and support were key to bringing Sri Lanka’s ITEC alumni together under one platform for the first time.
The Government of India launched ITEC in 1964, and it has since become one of the cornerstones of India’s development partnership with countries of the Global South. The programme is fully funded by the Government of India and offers civilian training in a wide range of fields, including public administration, finance, information technology, engineering, management, agriculture, health and the environment. Courses are delivered at leading Indian institutions. Over six decades, ITEC has trained officials and professionals from more than 160 partner countries. Sri Lanka has been one of its most active participants, and thousands of Sri Lankan public servants and professionals have benefited from the programme.
The new Association brings these alumni together from government, semi-government and private sector institutions. Its aims are to foster professional networking, knowledge sharing, capacity development and community service. It will also encourage collaboration among alumni and guide and support future Sri Lankan participants in ITEC programmes. In doing so, the Association seeks to deepen the long-standing friendship and people-to-people ties between Sri Lanka and India.
At the meeting, members elected an Executive Committee to lead the Association. Ms. Gayathri Suveendran was elected President. The other office-bearers are:
Vice Presidents : P.B. Hasith Sandaruwan and Leo Darshan General Secretary : Anupa Weerarathne Assistant Secretary : Vimukthi Dushantha Treasurer : S. Rubadharshan Assistant Treasurer : I. Ravikumar
Four sectoral committees will carry the Association’s work forward:
Establishment, Administration and Finance: Prof. M.I.M. Mujahid Hilal, M. Farwis, Milroy Aluthwatta, W.P. Suraweera, M.S. Thayaraj and Asinsala Senevirathne.
ICT, Digital Transformation and Innovation: Sujah Ameer, Danushka Diunugala, T.M.M. Perera, Tharanga, M.K.H.P. De Silva, Pubuditha Madushan and Arulkumaran Mahalingam.
Coordination, Organising and Legal Affairs: T. Srirajeevan, Theja Jayathilaka, Eng. A. Lingeswaran, Chaminda K. Uda, Kumuduni, S. Sinthujan and Ananda Arasu.
Media, Public Relations and Publications: Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi, Dr. Gayani Kaushalya, Anandi Premarathne, Vimukthi Dushantha, R. Suhanthan and Shyam Nuwan Ganewatta.
The founding of the Association marks a significant milestone for the ITEC community in Sri Lanka. It turns individual training experiences in India into a shared national resource, and it adds a new professional dimension to the enduring partnership between the two neighbours.
The Anti-Corruption Act is being amended to strengthen It, not to weaken it – PM
Measures underway to protect Diyagama Forest as a Reserve — Deputy Minister of Environment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
The Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) has brought to Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayathissa’s attention the fast spreading measles among inmates at the Welikada, Magazine, and the Colombo Remand Prisons.
Top CPRP spokesperson Attorney-at-Law Senaka Perera said that the deteriorating situation had even disrupted court proceedings. The civil society activist blamed the developing situation on the failure on the part of prison administration to meet basic medical requirements of the prison population.
“The extreme congestion in prisons has worsened the situation,” lawyer Perera said, reminding how trouble erupted at the Mahara Prison during the Covid-19 crisis. Eleven inmates died in clashes while over 100 inmates and Prison personnel were wounded in late Nov. 2020. Of the 11 dead, eight were tested positive for Covid.
Lawyer Perera said that unless preventive measures weren’t taken immediately the contagious disease could spread rapidly.
Referring to the 2022 Auditor General’s report , the CPRP spokesman said that the prisons had failed to ensure adequate medical facilities to inmates.
Accusing the establishment of failing to take remedial measures, in spite of knowing the pathetic conditions in prison, lawyer Perera warned that the prison administration seemed not uninterested in addressing issues at hand even after the deadly Negombo Prison crisis that claimed the lives of 31 inmates, and prison officials, last July.
Top Global Sri Lanka Forum (GSLF) representative Yasus Dharmadasa yesterday (10) said that Colombo based western diplomatic community remained mum over the NPP government crackdown on protests, led by the Maha Sangha.
Referring to the police action directed at the Viharamahadevi Park protest, demanding presidential pardon to Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara and the recent incident at Ruwanwelisaya, Dharmadasa said that those who had intervened on behalf of the Aragalaya turned a blind eye to what was happening today. Anuradhapura police were yet to apprehend the JVP/NPP activist who had been involved in the incident at Ruwanwelisaya where police manhandled monks.
A group of monks was protesting against the February 27, 2026, gazette issued by the National Physical Planning Department (NPPD). The gazette reactivated the Anuradhapura Sacred Area Development Plan, originally introduced in 1984. In terms of the new proposal the sacred area would be expanded from 28 to 38 square kilometres, alongside improvements to infrastructure, pilgrim facilities and archaeological conservation, Dharmadasa said.
Responding to The Island queries, Dharmadasa said that during the 2022 protests, diplomatic missions, international organisations, civil society and the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) threw their weight behind the protest campaign. In fact, there had been occasions when they warned the government not to take action against protesters, in spite of violence unleashed by them, Dharmadasa said, recalling the attempt made by a mob to set a fuel bowser ablaze at Rambukkana, on 19 April 2022.
Dharmadasa emphasised that the government should be sensitive to Buddhist monks raising concerns about a proposed security fence around the Ruwanweli Maha Seya stupa, restrictions on Buddhist religious activities, and allegations of new Hindu religious structures.
Dharmadasa said that the position taken by the Colombo-based diplomatic community on government crackdown on protests by Buddhist monks and the Sinhala community reflected their geopolitical agenda.
“They seemed to be determined to protect the NPP government,” Dharmadasa said, claiming the possibility of the current administration receiving tacit support from some Western governments to enact new security laws. The NPP appeared to have received the blessings of the Western bloc and India and the government was busy advancing the agreed strategy, he said. There had never been a time the Buddhist and nationalistic group felt betrayed and so much under pressure during the conflict that was brought to a successful conclusion in 2009 or after, he said.
Declaring GSLF’s unconditional support to the ongoing protest campaign at Ruwanwelisaya, Dharmadasa urged the Sinhala community to hit back hard at the government at the first given opportunity. “The reason behind their disgraceful stance is clear. During Aragalaya , all interested parties stressed what they repeatedly called the right of the people to protest. Now, the same lot declared the need to maintain law and order. Under the NPP, it has become a security issue.”
Dharmadasa found fault with the parliamentary Opposition over its failure to vigorously campaign, both in Parliament and outside, against the government, succumbing to those still pursuing a separatist agenda. The government owed an explanation why it obtained a court order against monks engaged in sit-in-protests at Ruwanwelisaya whereas the death anniversary of an LTTE terrorist leader was commemorated at the Nallur kovil premises. The police allowed the week-long commemoration and then removed the statue of a terrorist who fasted to death, demanding the withdrawal of the Indian Army. The 1987 fast unto death had been allowed, while the Yahapalana government, and the NPP administration, discouraged commemoration of armed forces, or the war victory.
A collision involving three buses at Rambewa, Anuradhapura, yesterday morning (10) killed five passengers and injured more than 50 others.The accident occurred on the Medawachchiya–Rambewa stretch of the A9 Road, involving two Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses and a private bus. Police said the SLTB buses collided head-on, seconds before the private bus crashed into one of them.The injured were admitted to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital for treatment, hospital sources said.One of the SLTB buses was travelling from Janakapura to Colombo via Padavisripura, while the other was plying from Akkaraipattu to Jaffna. About 100 passengers were aboard the three buses at the time of the accident.
Searching for leadership: Can we bring back qualities of our golden years?
Wins for Dialog Axiata and Green Miracle Grand on Wednesday
Mendis and Udara steady ship with warm-up fifties
Prospect of ‘spaceport’ on Sri Lanka’s east coast
Batting frailties give Sri Lanka food for thought
Why the Jaffna Man Eats So Much Murunga
Sarojini Kadirgamar –a lady for all seasons
Copyright © 2020 Upali Newspapers (Pvt) Ltd. Solution by LankaCom Privacy Policy
Loading comments…