Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya met with the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, at Marlborough House in London on Thursday (21).

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the meeting took place during the official visit of PM Amarasuriya to London, for the 43rd Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Board of Governors Meeting 2026. 

PM Amarasuriya met with the Secretary-General to discuss areas of mutual cooperation and shared priorities within the Commonwealth framework. 

During the meeting, the Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the Commonwealth’s engagement with Sri Lanka and commended the Secretary-General’s leadership in enhancing the relevance and effectiveness of the Commonwealth.

Discussions focused on climate change, climate finance, democratic governance, women’s political participation, and ongoing Commonwealth support for member states. 

PM Amarasuriya highlighted Sri Lanka’s commitment to resilience-building, sustainable development, and inclusive governance, while appreciating the continued engagement and support extended by the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The Secretary-General reaffirmed the Commonwealth’s readiness to continue supporting Sri Lanka through technical assistance, capacity-building initiatives, and collaboration in areas including climate finance and electoral governance.

Both sides also exchanged views on upcoming Commonwealth engagements and underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation among member states to address shared global challenges. 

High Commissioner Nimal Senadeera and senior officers of the High Commission of Sri Lanka accompanied the Prime Minister to the meeting. (Newswire)

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Sri Lankan female sumo wrestlers secured the Bronze Medal in the Open Weight category at the Commonwealth Sumo Cup 2025 held in Moscow, Russia.

According to the Sports Ministry, the winning team met with the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage, at the Ministry premises on Thursday (18). 

Minister Kumara Gamage extended his heartfelt congratulations to the athletes for their remarkable achievement. 

He further assured the Ministry’s full support for their future endeavours and upcoming international tournaments scheduled for 2026.

​The participating athletes were:

• ​H.D.K. Sandaruvi
• ​H.A.K. Kawsika
• ​P.A.S.S. Lakshani
• ​K.N.V.S.L. Nanayakkara

​The management and coaches of the Sri Lanka National Sumo Association expressed their gratitude to the Minister for his encouragement.

Discussions were held regarding the promotion of Sumo in Sri Lanka and enhancing the talents of athletes to reach international standards. 

Special emphasis was placed on providing international training opportunities for local sportsmen and women.

​The meeting was attended by the officials of the National Sumo Association, including President Yohan Fonseca, Secretary P.G.P. Udayanga, Treasurer Asanka Vishwajith, and Senior Athlete Dinesh Jayasinghe. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lankan delegation, headed by Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane, participated in the Commonwealth Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) and the Committee of the Whole (COW) held in London, United Kingdom from 03-06 September 2024. 

According to Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry, the discussions at the meetings focused on the arrangements for the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in October in Samoa and its outcome documents.

On the sidelines of the Commonwealth meetings, Foreign Secretary Wijewardane met the Permanent Under Secretary Sir Philip Barton of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom on 03 September 2024. Foreign Secretary Wijewardane and Permanent Under Secretary Barton discussed the ongoing implementation of the outcomes of the second meeting of the Sri Lanka – UK Strategic Dialogue convened in May 2024 in Colombo. 

Foreign Secretary Wijewardane apprised the Permanent Under Secretary of Sri Lanka’s progress in stabilizing the economy and the work to achieve sustainable development for all segments of the people. The Foreign Secretary also welcomed the recent high-level visits from the UK, as well as the ongoing discussions related to the implementation of the Developing Country Trading Scheme (DCTS) in Sri Lanka which is an impetus to bilateral trade. Both sides welcomed the recent signature between the two countries of the MoU on the Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP). The vibrant people-to-people ties emanating from the significant community of Sri Lankan heritage in the UK also featured in the discussions. 

On 05 September 2024, Foreign Secretary Wijewardane met with The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth at the Commonwealth Secretariat. Both sides reviewed the ongoing collaborations between Sri Lanka and the Commonwealth Secretariat in diverse areas such as education, combating climate change, mangrove conservation and assistance in strengthening financial oversight. Secretary General Scotland apprised the Foreign Secretary of the deployment of the Commonwealth Election Observer Group led by Danny Faure, former President of Seychelles to observe the forthcoming Presidential Election. The Secretary-General also highlighted that for the first time, the upcoming Commonwealth Summit will be held in a Pacific Island Member State of the Commonwealth – Samoa – and would draw attention to climate change and related challenges. 

Foreign Secretary Wijewardane also met with The Rt David Lammy, Secretary of State for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs at the Lancaster House on 04 September along with Heads of SOM delegations, and with Catherine West Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Indo–Pacific for the FCDO at a working dinner on 05 September.

On invitation extended by the Anagarika Dharmapala Trust, Foreign Secretary Wijewardane addressed a gathering at the London Buddhist Vihara on 06 September where she highlighted the important religious contacts between the UK and Sri Lanka carried out through the work of the Vihara and the British Maha Bodhi Society of the UK. 

The Foreign Secretary was accompanied to the meetings by the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the UK Rohitha Bogollagama and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the High Commission of Sri Lanka to the UK. (Newswire)

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Plans for one of the world’s biggest sporting events have been thrown into disarray after the Australian state of Victoria pulled out of hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games due to cost overruns.

Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters in Melbourne Tuesday that initial estimates had put the cost of the Games at 2.6 billion Australian dollars ($1.7 billion), but new estimates suggested it would be closer to 7 billion Australian dollars ($4.77 billion).

“I’ve made a lot of difficult calls, a lot of very difficult decisions, in this job. This is not one of them,” he added. “Frankly, 6 to $7 billion for a 12-day sporting event. We are not doing that. That does not represent value for money. That is all cost and no benefit.”

The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport event involving thousands of athletes representing 72 Commonwealth countries and territories, held every four years. The last edition of the event, held in Birmingham, England in 2022, was the largest Games on record.

Victoria was announced as 2026 host last March after organizers had struggled to find an appropriate location due to lack of interest and Covid-19 disruptions.

The decision to pull out appears to have surprised the event’s organizing committees, who say they had no warning about cost overruns, nor any opportunity to work on alternative proposals.

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) said in a statement Tuesday the decision was “hugely disappointing for the Commonwealth Sport Movement,” and suggested that Victorian authorities hadn’t previously raised cost concerns.

“We are disappointed that we were only given eight hours’ notice and that no consideration was given to discussing the situation to jointly find solutions prior to this decision being reached by the Government,” the statement said.

The statement said the estimated cost of 6 billion Australian dollars quoted by Victorian authorities on Tuesday was 50% higher than the figure advised to the Organizing Committee board in June.

The CGF said decisions the state had made concerning sports and venues had “added considerable expense” often against its advice and that of the Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA).”

CGA Chief Executive Officer Craig Phillips said in a statement that the government had “willfully ignored” recommendations to move events to Melbourne to lower the cost.

He said the multi-city concept was pitched by Victoria after the CGA sought interest from other states, and that the stated cost overuns were, in their opinion, “a gross exaggeration.”

“CGA would welcome the opportunity to review the financial analysis prepared independently of those who have been involved at the coal face of planning and delivery,” he added.

According to the Victoria 2026 website, the Games were to have been held from March 17 to 29 of that year in regional Victoria, giving areas outside the state capital Melbourne much-needed investment and international exposure.

“Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Gippsland and Shepparton will be on the world stage, attracting millions of viewers and creating thousands of jobs,” the site said.

Five regional centers were to host 20 sports and 9 “fully-integrated” Para sports, including weightlifting, lawn bowls and track cycling.

Instead of hosting the Games, Victoria will build at least 1,300 affordable homes and the permanent sporting facilities it had promised in an effort to boost regional tourism and events, Andrews said.

The Federation said it was “taking advice on the options available” and remained committed to finding a solution so the Games could go ahead. (CNN)

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Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry has participated in several Commonwealth Day Commemorative events that were held in the United Kingdom on Monday (13), the High Commission of Sri Lanka in London said.

The Sri Lankan High Commission said in a statement that the Foreign minister had participated in the events during his official visit to the United Kingdom to participate in the 22nd Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Meeting.

The main event was the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey which His Majesty King Charles III, Queen Consort and members of the Royal Family attended. 

During the service, Chief Sangha Nayaka of Great Britain and Chief Incumbent of London Buddhist Vihara Ven. Dr. Bogoda Seelawimala invoked blessings on the Commonwealth of nations and its peoples on behalf of Buddhists. 

In commemoration of the 75th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s independence, the High Commission of Sri Lanka in the UK facilitated Roshani Abbey and Nuwan Hugh Perera, Sri Lankan artists to perform at the service. 

The service also featured a procession of young flag bearers representing each of the 56 nations of the Commonwealth, where Thejani Mahadiulwewa carried the Sri Lankan flag.

The Sri Lankan Embassy stated that Foreign Minister Sabry also attended the reception hosted by His Majesty King Charles III at Buckingham Palace on the occasion of Commonwealth Day.

Earlier in the day Foreign Minister Sabry participated in the Commonwealth Day ceremonial flag-raising hosted by Speaker of the House of Commons The Right Hon. Sir Lindsay Hoyle at the Palace of Westminster. 

The minister laid a wreath at the wreath-laying ceremony at the Commonwealth Memorial Gates, to pay tribute to the five million servicemen and women who served in the Armed Forces during the First and Second World Wars, and also participated in the flag-raising event for the Commonwealth Flag for Peace at Marlborough House.

The High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the UK Saroja Sirisena attended the events alongside Foreign Minister Ali Sabry. (NewsWire)

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Two artists of Sri Lankan origin performed at the Service of Celebration for Commonwealth Day 2023 held at the Westminister Abbey in the United Kingdom on Monday (13).

Roshani Abbey who plays the role of Peggy in the Westend production of ‘Hamilton’ and Nuwan Perera who most recently played the lead in the Westend production of ‘Life of Pi’ performed at the service.

The two artists of Sri Lankan origin performed the song ‘Anagathey’ by Wayo to mark the long-standing ties between Britain and Sri Lanka, and to honour the 75th Independence anniversary of Sri Lanka marked in February this year. 

For the first time, His Majesty, King Charles III delivered his Commonwealth Day Message during the service of celebration at Westminster Abbey, in his new role as Head of the Commonwealth. 

This historic occasion, in the presence of senior members of the Royal Family, featured musical performances from all regions of the Commonwealth including artists from New Zealand, Rwanda, Cyprus, and Sri Lanka. (NewsWire)

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