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Sri Lanka has requested the return of six more historical artefacts from the Netherlands under the second phase of its cultural restitution process, as the two countries mark 75 years of diplomatic relations.

Deputy Minister Anil Jayantha Fernando made the disclosure while addressing the National Day Reception of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Colombo on Thursday (22).

Sri Lanka previously secured the return of six historical artefacts from the Rijksmuseum in December 2023 following joint research into their provenance.

The artefacts returned included a golden kasthana, a silver kasthana, a golden knife, two Mahathuwakku (wall guns) and Lewke Disave’s cannon. The items originated from the Kandyan Kingdom and were acquired during the colonial period.

Fernando said the return of the artefacts demonstrated the two countries’ shared commitment to mutual respect, reconciliation and the preservation of cultural heritage.

He also highlighted growing tourism ties, noting that Sri Lanka welcomed 2,362,521 international tourists in 2025, a 15.1% increase from the previous year. The Netherlands ranked ninth among Sri Lanka’s tourism markets, with 64,164 Dutch tourists visiting the country.

Referring to the longstanding ties between the two countries, Fernando said their relationship dated back more than four centuries, while formal diplomatic relations were established in 1951.

Bilateral cooperation has since expanded to areas including trade, investment, development, education, tourism, culture and maritime affairs.

He identified sustainable maritime development, ocean governance, maritime security, port development and the blue economy as key areas for future cooperation.

The Netherlands has also supported Sri Lanka in agriculture, fisheries, rural development, water supply, healthcare, disaster management and food security.

Fernando said Sri Lanka’s designation as a country of strategic focus under the Netherlands’ International Cultural Policy for 2025–2028 would further strengthen cultural cooperation.

He also highlighted the Second Round of Political Consultations held in The Hague in October 2025 and discussions between the two countries’ Foreign Ministers as important steps towards deepening bilateral relations.

Fernando reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the Netherlands and exploring new avenues of cooperation as the two countries celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations.

Sri Lanka CERT has urged public and private sector organisations and website developers to take immediate action to address critical security vulnerabilities identified in systems developed using PHP.

SL CERT warned that the vulnerabilities, identified as CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619, could expose systems to unauthorised access, data theft and disruption of services.

The agency called on organisations to identify all systems and web applications using PHP and verify the versions currently in operation.

It also urged system administrators and developers to immediately apply the relevant security patches in accordance with proper procedures.

SL CERT advised users to follow the update instructions provided on the official PHP website when installing the patches.

Organisations have also been advised to examine system logs for unusual or suspicious activity that could indicate attempts to exploit the vulnerabilities.

SL CERT further recommended restricting internet access to critical or high-risk systems that cannot immediately be updated.

The agency stressed that prompt action was necessary to minimise the risk posed by the vulnerabilities and protect systems and data from potential attacks.

The British Examination Centre (BEC), an independent examination and assessment administration centre established under CEG Education Holdings, was officially launched in Colombo, with the centre aiming to expand access to internationally recognised examinations and qualifications in Sri Lanka.

The centre was launched at Cinnamon Lakeside and has been appointed a Cambridge Associate, enabling it to support the administration of Cambridge International examinations across the country.

BEC will provide examination administration services for schools, educational institutions, private candidates and parents, including examination registration and post-results services.

It will facilitate Cambridge IGCSE, AS and A Level and Cambridge Checkpoint examinations, with the latter available for Grades 5 and 8.

BEC Executive Director and CFO Upali Witharana said the centre would provide schools with a dependable examination administration partner while enabling them to focus on education and student development.

The centre also plans to offer Cambridge professional development programmes for teachers in collaboration with international partners, aimed at strengthening teaching capabilities and classroom practices.

Cambridge Assessment International Head of Business Development Jonathan Hardy said Cambridge AS and A Level qualifications were recognised by more than 2,500 universities worldwide.

BEC Executive Director Dr Punarjeeva Karunanayake said the centre would progressively expand its portfolio of international assessments to meet the evolving needs of Sri Lanka’s education sector.