The draft of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution was presented to the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday (23).

The Cabinet took the decision to distribute copies of the draft amendment amongst the Parliament Party Leaders for their observations. This will be discussed on Friday (27). Following this, the draft amendment is expected to send back to Cabinet for final approval, said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. 

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday (23) appointed a new cabinet Spokesperson and three Co-Cabinet spokespersons. Dr.Bandula Gunawardane, Minister of Mass Media, Transport and Highways has been appointed as the Cabinet spokesperson.

The three Co-Cabinet spokespersons are Mahinda Amaraweera –Minister of Agriculture, Wildlife and wildlife Conservation, Manusha Nanayakkara, Minister of Labor and Foreign Employment and Kanchana Wijesekera, Minister of power and Energy, the Government Information Department said.

The new Minister of Mass Media Dr.Bandula Gunawardane assumed duties at the Ministry of Mass Media yesterday. Dr.Gunawardane has held the same portfolio previously. He has also been appointed as the Minister of Transport and Highways in addition to the post of Minister of Mass Media. Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media Anusha Palpita and other Ministry officials were also present on this occasion.

Eight new cabinet ministers were appointed by Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Monday (23). The following MPs were sworn in as ministers Monday morning before President Rajapaksa.

Douglas Devananda: Minister of Fisheries

Bandula Gunawardane: Minister of Transport & Highways, and Mass Media

Keheliya Rambukwella: Minister of Water Supply

Mahinda Amaraweera: Minister of Agriculture, and Forest Resources and Wildlife

Ramesh Pathirana: Minister of Industries

Vidura Wickramanayake: Minister of Buddhashasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs

Ahamed Naseer: Minister of Environment

Roshan Ranasinghe: Minister of Irrigation, Sports and Youth Affairs.

Member of Parliament Hon.Dr.Bandula Guawardane has been appointed as the Minister of Mass Media. He took over his appointment letter from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the presidential secretariat today (23). Dr.Gunawardane has held the same portfolio previously. He has also been appointed as the Minister of Transport and Highways in addition to the post of Minister of Mass Media.

Nine more Members of Parliament were sworn in as Cabinet Ministers this morning, the President’s Media Division says.

They took oaths before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the President’s House in Colombo this morning.

The newly-appointed ministers are as follows:

1. Nimal Siripala de Silva – Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation

2. Susil Premajayanth – Minister of Education

3. Keheliya Rambukwella – Minister of Health

4. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe – Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms

5. Harin Fernando – Minister of Tourism and Lands

6. Ramesh Pathirana – Minister of Plantation Industry

7. Manusha Nanayakkara – Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment

8. Nalin Fernando – Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security

9. Tiran Alles – Minister of Public Security

E.M.S.B Ekanayake has been appointed as the Secretary to the Prime Minister, President's Media Division said.

He received his letter of appointment from Secretary to the President Gamini Senarath at the President's House, Colombo today (12).

Mr. Ekanayake is a Special Grade Retired Officer of Sri Lanka Administrative Service. He has served as the Secretary to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on three occasions during the period 2015-2019 and has been appointed to the post for the fourth time.

Mr. E.M.S.B Ekanayake graduated from the University of Peradeniya and he received his Postgraduate Degree in Public Administration from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

He has served in the Ministries of Youth Affairs, Sports, Samurdhi, Housing, Industries, Foreign Affairs and Finance as well as in the Sri Lankan High Commissions in Malaysia and London during his 30 years of Administrative Service.

Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s new prime minister by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who had pledged to form a new government to end political instability.

Wickremesinghe, the 73-year-old leader of United National Party (UNP), was appointed prime minister after he held closed-door talks with Rajapaksa on Wednesday.

Wickremesinghe is widely accepted as a man who could manage the economy with far-sighted policies and is perceived as the Sri Lankan politician who could command international cooperation.

The International Workers’ Day comes at a time when the world’s working community is facing its greatest challenge, says President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in his May Day message while once again inviting the leaders of all political parties to come to a consensus on behalf of the people to overcome the challenge.

“In the past three years, the group that faced the most serious challenges in our country is our working class. They are also the ones who were resilient in the face of all these challenges and made great commitments to strengthen the national economy,” he said.

The President said the day-to-day challenges they face are even more intense today. The government is taking various approaches to liberate the people from this situation and alleviate the oppressive nature of the situation, he assured.

President Rajapaksa said the loss of foreign exchange has created many issues and that managing all these factors is the way to solve the issues.

“Instead of following up on who is responsible for the current problematic situation, what we need to do now is to focus on what action can be taken to provide immediate relief to the public, and also to go for the most appropriate and efficient program to find solutions to the burning issues of the people.”

“Bearing the responsibility of creating a better future for the people of this country, as the Head of State and on behalf of the people I invited the leaders of all political parties to work together,” he said.

He stressed that each second, their goal is to find solutions to existing crises by resorting to methods that can alleviate the suffering of the people.

“On this year’s Workers’ Day, I once again invite the leaders of all political parties to come to a consensus on behalf of the people to overcome the challenge we face.”

He also respectfully called on the working people to put politics aside and join to steer the struggle in a positive direction with “a pro-people revolutionary transformation” on behalf of the working people.

“It is with these aspirations that I join with you in celebrating the International Workers’ Day that embodies the Workers’ Brotherhood, the global labour force,” President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said in his May Day message.

May Day Message

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the dear working people who are working day and night for the betterment of all citizens.

It is no secret that you, who have been facing various economic hardships in the face of the global epidemic for more than two years, have also been affected by this economic crisis faced by the country.

Even in the face of this unexpected economic crisis, the example you set for the country by working with great commitment and restraint is not insignificant.

I have come forward with you for the workers' struggle and I have not neglected the duties and responsibilities that must be fulfilled for your rights every time I am held accountable.

However, in order to overcome this economic crisis faced by the country, we must all work together and overcome this challenge first.

The Government is currently taking all possible measures to manage the economic crisis and is seeking the necessary support at the local and international levels.

The ultimate goal of all these efforts is to create a better country. On this International Labour Day, I respectfully recall the immense sacrifices made by the working people in this regard.

Mahinda Rajapaksa

Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

The World Bank has agreed to provide Sri Lanka with $600 million in financial assistance to help meet payment requirements for essential imports, the Sri Lankan president's media division said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The World Bank has agreed to provide $600 million in financial assistance to address the current economic crisis," the statement said.

The World Bank would release $400 million "shortly", it said. According to the statement, the World Bank said it would continue to help Sri Lanka to overcome the current economic crisis.

New mass media Minister Dr.Nalaka Godahewa assumed duty at the ministry of mass media yesterday(19)