Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Harini Amarasuriya, delivered the 2026 Oxford School of Global and Area Studies (OSGA) Annual Lecture at St Antony’s College, University of Oxford, titled “The Politics of Development: Sri Lanka and Beyond.”

Addressing students, academics, and researchers, PM Amarasuriya reflected on the intersections of development, governance, and politics in Sri Lanka while situating them within broader global realities. She emphasized that development must be understood not only through policies and statistics but also through the lived experiences of people, particularly in nations recovering from economic crises and institutional challenges.

The Prime Minister highlighted women’s political participation in Sri Lanka, noting the growing involvement of women in grassroots movements and leadership spaces, while acknowledging the challenges of transforming entrenched social and political structures. She also stressed the importance of recognizing both paid and unpaid care work, noting that women’s contributions to families, communities, and the economy often remain invisible in traditional systems.

On economic recovery and social policy, PM Amarasuriya underscored that sustainable development must balance economic progress with dignity, fairness, and social well‑being. She further reflected on the relationship between governments, international development agencies, and local institutions, urging that priorities remain grounded in local realities and accountable to the people they serve.

Drawing from her experiences as a social anthropologist, activist, academic, and political leader, she discussed the challenges of translating activism into long‑term policy reforms, noting that meaningful transformation requires patience, negotiation, and sustained public engagement.

The lecture concluded with an interactive Q&A session covering governance, institutional independence, political reform, and economic recovery.

Professor Diego Sanchez‑Ancochea, Head of OSGA, commended the Prime Minister’s address as a timely reflection on the relationship between politics and development, informed by both scholarly insight and practical political experience. (Newswire)

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Oxford College of Business (OCB), a leader in education and innovation, has been proudly recognized as the runner-up in the prestigious ACCA Sri Lanka Sustainability Reporting Awards 2025 under the SME Category. This remarkable achievement underscores OCB’s commitment to sustainability and corporate responsibility, solidifying its position as a forward-thinking institution in the education sector.

The ACCA Sri Lanka Sustainability Reporting Awards are a globally recognized platform that honours organizations excelling in transparent and accountable sustainability reporting. The awards celebrate efforts to communicate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance, emphasizing the importance of sustainability in shaping the future of businesses worldwide.

“We are deeply honoured to be recognized as the runner-up in the SME category at the ACCA Sri Lanka Sustainability Reporting Awards, and I give all Glory and Honour to Christ alone for this great achievement” said Malindu Ranasinghe, Director/CEO of Oxford College of Business. “This achievement reflects our dedication to embedding sustainability practices in every aspect of our operations and reporting. It’s a testament to the collective efforts of our team and the commitment we have made to foster responsible, sustainable business practices within the education sector.”

OCB’s sustainability initiatives, including their comprehensive reporting practices, demonstrate the institution’s active role in promoting environmental stewardship, social well-being, and good governance. By adhering to rigorous standards and offering transparency in its sustainability efforts, Oxford College of Business has not only set an example for educational institutions in Sri Lanka but also contributed to the global movement toward responsible business practices.

The ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards provide a platform for organizations to showcase their commitment to sustainability, and being named runners-up in such a respected competition highlights OCB’s leadership in integrating sustainability into its core values and practices.

“At Oxford College of Business, sustainability is not just a buzzword it is an integral part of our mission. Our students and faculty alike are encouraged to adopt innovative solutions that benefit both the environment and the community. This recognition reaffirms the importance of embedding these principles into our organizational DNA,” added Malindu Ranasinghe.

This recognition further strengthens OCB’s reputation as an institution dedicated to excellence, innovation, and social responsibility. Oxford College of Business continues to lead by example, shaping the next generation of leaders who will navigate the complexities of the modern world with sustainability at the forefront of their thinking.

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The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Andrew Patrick has hosted Ven. Wadigala Samitharathana Thero, the first Buddhist monk in many years to study at Oxford.

Taking to ‘X’, the British High Commissioner said Ven. Wadigala Samitharathana Thero’s remarkable journey reflects the power of education and the enduring ties between England and Sri Lanka. 

In December 2024, it was reported that St Cross College at the University of Oxford welcomed Venerable Wadigala Samitharathana as the first Sri Lankan Buddhist monk to attend the university in 105 years.

Venerable Samitharathana, a Glorisun Scholar, is pursuing an MPhil in Buddhist Studies at the college, marking a historic milestone for both Sri Lanka and Oxford.

St Cross College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, known for its vibrant and diverse academic community.

The last Sri Lankan Buddhist monk to study at Oxford was Venerable Suriyagoda Sumangala, who became the first monk to receive a scholarship there in 1919. He enrolled as a non-collegiate student and later pursued a BLitt at Harris Manchester College. (Newswire)

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St Cross College at the University of Oxford has welcomed Venerable Wadigala Samitharathana as the first Sri Lankan Buddhist monk to attend the university in 105 years.

Venerable Samitharathana, a Glorisun Scholar, is pursuing an MPhil in Buddhist Studies at the college, marking a historic milestone for both Sri Lanka and Oxford.

St Cross College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, known for its vibrant and diverse academic community.

The last Sri Lankan Buddhist monk to study at Oxford was Venerable Suriyagoda Sumangala, who became the first monk to receive a scholarship there in 1919. He enrolled as a non-collegiate student and later pursued a BLitt at Harris Manchester College.

Reflecting on his enrollment, Venerable Samitharathana expressed gratitude to those who supported his academic journey.

“My life as a Buddhist monk at Oxford, will solely be dedicated to the growth of Buddhist scholarship and societal well-being – far beyond all cross-sectional boundaries,” he said. (Newswire)

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Language experts choosing the Oxford word of the year 2023 were dazzled by a bright young thing, selecting a relative newcomer, “rizz,” for the top spot.

Derived from the word “charisma,” “rizz” refers to a person’s ability to attract a romantic partner through “style, charm or attractiveness,” dictionary publisher Oxford University Press (OUP) said in its announcement Monday. The word received more than 32,000 votes from the public, OUP added.

“Rizz” soared in popularity earlier this year, after Spider-Man actor Tom Holland was asked by Buzzfeed what the secret to his rizz was. His answer? “I have no rizz whatsoever. I have limited rizz.”

The publisher of the Oxford English Dictionary added that the word can also be used as a verb, in the phrase “rizz up,” meaning to attract or chat up a person.

While word of the year contenders do not need to be new words, they must have a significance to the year in question. OUP said its 2023 shortlist was chosen to “reflect the mood, ethos, or preoccupations of the year.”

So, how did “rizz” fight off its rivals?

OUP’s experts shortlisted eight words, which were put into competing pairs for the public to vote on. From the resulting four finalists, the experts did one last analysis, before picking “rizz” as the winner.

The other finalists were “prompt,” the instruction given to an artificial intelligence program that influences the content it creates; “situationship,” which means a romantic partnership that is not considered to be formal or established; and lastly, “Swiftie” – the name given to an avid fan of singer Taylor Swift.

In 2022, Oxford’s word of the year was “goblin mode,” a colloquial term for behavior that is unapologetically lazy in a way that rejects social norms. (CNN)

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