Following the bus accident in the Garandiella area of Kotmale, a large number of injured individuals were admitted to the Kotmale Regional Hospital for treatment. In response, the "Clean Sri Lanka" programme has collaborated to improve the facilities and sanitation of the hospital.
The 2025 Buddha Rashmi Vesak Festival, jointly organized by the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple, the Presidential Secretariat, and the Prime Minister’s Office, was ceremonially inaugurated on May 12 by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.
A discussion was recently held under the leadership of Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation, Mr. Bimal Ratnayake, to address the potential impact of the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan on Sri Lanka’s ports and airports.
It is an honor to extend my Vesak day message to all citizens of the nation during this sacred period in which Buddhist community across Sri Lanka come together to pay homage to the Lord Buddha, upholding both material and spiritual offerings and commemorating the threefold sacred events of the Lord Buddha's life.
The Vesak Full Moon Poya Day, which marks the Birth, Enlightenment and Parinirvana of the Lord Buddha, is a day of profound significance for Buddhists worldwide. It was on such a sacred Vesak Day that the Buddha, having fulfilled the Perfections (Pāramitās), vanquished the forces of Māra, cultivated wisdom through the Middle Path, realised the Four Noble Truths and eradicated all defilements to attain Supreme Enlightenment (Sammā Sambuddha).
A sum of Rs. 1 million from the President’s Fund will be granted for each individual who lost their life in the Kotmale bus accident.
I warmly welcome the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. An immediate ceasefire is not just an urgent need to spare innocent lives on both sides; it is also a necessary first step in achieving lasting peace and regional stability.
Coinciding with the State Vesak Festival that commenced yesterday (10) in the Nuwara Eliya District, a special waste management initiative has been launched under the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme to enhance facilities for devotees and ensure proper waste disposal in the city of Nuwara Eliya.
I was deeply shocked and saddened to hear about the tragic bus accident that occurred this morning (11) in the Garadiella area along the Nuwara Eliya–Gampola main road in Kotmale.


