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The ‘Panadura Debate’ stands out as a globally renowned event in the history of Sri Lanka.
Today marks the 153rd anniversary of this debate. Held in Panadura on August 26 and 28, 1873, this exchange was an ideological clash between the Buddhist and Christian communities.
Public debates emerged across the country in response to anti-Buddhist propaganda launched by English missionary movements during the era of British colonial rule; these came to be known as the ‘Pancha Maha Vada’ (Five Great Debate).
Statute of Ven. Migettuwatte Gunananda Thero
The Panadura Debate gained international attention due to the publication of the book titled”*Full “Account of the Buddhist Controversy Held at Panadura” in several countries; it also became widely known under titles such as “The Great Debate: Buddhism and Christianity Face to Face.”
In 2025, UNESCO inscribed the collection of historical documents—including the manuscripts related to the Panadura Debate—into the Memory of the World Register, recognizing its exceptional historical significance. These documents are currently housed at the Rankoth Vihara in Panadura.
Coinciding with this year’s 153rd commemoration, work has commenced on the construction of a special exhibition hall that will provide the public with the opportunity to view artifacts—including the aforementioned documents and ancient palm-leaf manuscripts preserved at the Rankoth Vihara in Panadura.
The construction work was recently inspected by the Chief Incumbent of the Panadura Rankoth Vihara, Ven. Prof. Kahapola Sugatha Rathana Thero, the Vihara Administrator, Ven. Kahapola Nanda Rathana Thero, and Ven. Panadure Prasanna Thero, together with Desamanya Mr.Jagath Sumathipala—Chairman of the Bauddhaloka Foundation, which sponsors this project—and others. This special exhibition hall is scheduled to be opened to the public at the end of the coming September.
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The opening ceremony of the 63rd General Assembly of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) was held in Colombo on Sunday morning (01), under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Representatives from 225 electronic media organisations across 66 countries affiliated with the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union are participating in the conference.
The conference is set to hold extensive discussions on technological advancements in the regional media industry, sports broadcasting and media content, as well as current challenges facing the sector, including the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the media and cyber security.
Several technical and expert committee sessions were also held on 30 and 31 October, alongside the General Assembly.
A commemorative memento was presented to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to mark his participation in the opening ceremony of the General Assembly.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath, foreign ambassadors, government officials, heads of the security forces and media industry representatives also attended the event.
Appointment letters were presented to 2,819 trainee nurses from the 2020 student nursing cohort, who completed the three-year Higher Diploma course at nursing colleges under the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, recruiting them to the Sri Lankan health service as Grade III nursing officers.
The ceremony was held at Temple Trees on Sunday morning (01), under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The 2,819 nursing officers who were appointed had sat the GCE Advanced Level examination in the Science and Mathematics streams in 2019 and 2020. They entered 16 nursing colleges across the island in 2023 and successfully completed the three-year Higher Diploma course.
The newly appointed nursing officers will be assigned to hospitals and healthcare institutions across the island administered by the central government and provincial councils.
Alongside the presentation of these appointment letters, promotion letters were also presented, under the patronage of the President, to 76 Grade I nursing officers (Hospital Services) for promotion to the Special Grade of nursing officers (Hospital Services).
Addressing the event, Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr Nalinda Jayatissa said that steps had been expedited to fill vacancies in order to address staff shortages across the country’s hospital system and provide the public with a higher-quality healthcare service.
The Minister noted that, since 2017, the Ministry had given special attention to filling vacancies in the nursing service.
He further stated that, in line with the health policy and strategic plans for the next decade (2025–2035), staffing requirements had been forecast using scientific data. Accordingly, arrangements had been made, subject to the approval of the Department of Management Services of the Ministry of Finance, to recruit 13,000 personnel to the nursing service over the three-year period from 2027 to 2029.
Deputy Minister of Health Dr Hansaka Wijemuni, Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media Dr Anil Jasinghe, and several additional secretaries, deputy directors-general and other ministry officials attended the event.
At least 21,356 people from 5,800 families have been affected by adverse weather and Cyclonic Storm ‘Arnab’ across Sri Lanka, as a new Cyclone, named ‘Murasu,’ intensifies over the Bay of Bengal, prompting a red-level warning for strong winds and rough seas.
The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said six people had died, eight were injured and three remained missing in weather-related incidents, between October 23 and November 01.
The adverse weather has affected 137 Divisional Secretariat Divisions, in 19 districts, while eight houses have been completely destroyed and another 737 partially damaged.
Ratnapura remains the worst affected district, with 10,051 people, from 2,666 families, affected across 15 Divisional Secretariat Divisions. Puttalam follows, with 6,900 people, from 1,850 families, affected across 11 divisions.
Meanwhile, the Department of Meteorology yesterday issued a red-level warning for strong winds and rough seas, following the intensification of the deep depression over the Southeast Bay of Bengal into Cyclone ‘Murasu’.
The warning, issued at 3 p.m. yesterday by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre, will remain valid for 24 hours.
The Cyclone was located near latitude 12.1°N and longitude 85.3°E at 11.30 a.m., yesterday, and was moving west-northwestwards.
The Meteorology Department said ‘Murasu’ was very likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the West-central Bay of Bengal today (02).
The system is thereafter expected to move northwestwards, and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast of India, as a severe cyclonic storm, between midnight on November 02 and the early hours of November 03.
The Department warned that winds in the affected sea areas could reach 70–80 kmph, accompanied by heavy thundershowers and very rough seas.
Naval and fishing communities have been strongly advised not to venture into deep-sea areas bounded by 10°N–15°N and 80°E–90°E until further notice.
Those already operating in the affected areas have been urged to move to safer locations.
The warning also covers deep-sea areas, extending from Mannar to Trincomalee, via Kankesanthurai, where fishing and naval communities have been advised to remain vigilant and closely monitor weather forecasts and further advisories.The Department urged all those operating at sea to follow official warnings as the Cyclone continues to intensify.
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