Major General Vikum Liyanage has been appointed as the new Commander of Sri Lanka Army by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Major General Liyanage is the 24th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army and he has received the letter of appointment from the President. He succeeds General Shavendra Silva who served as the Commander of the Army for nearly three years. 

The functioning of the Parliament has been paralyzed due to the weakening of the Parliamentary powers by the 20th Amendment. The Executive has been given more powers, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said making a special statement yesterday afternoon.

The full statement: Today, the main issues in our country are not limited to the economic sphere. There are also two major issues in the political sphere. The re-introduction of the 19th Amendment is one of these issues. We, as Party leaders, are now preparing the 21 st Amendment in this regard.

The timing and methodology must be decided by the Party Leaders. The functioning of the Parliament has been paralyzed due to the weakening of the Parliamentary powers by the 20th Amendment. The Executive has been given more powers. The main allegation today is that the Parliament has not acted to prevent the economic crisis. There is an allegation that even though the ruling party had a majority in Parliament they neglected the work of Parliament.

Everything was systematically controlled by the Cabinet Ministers.

We do not always have to look at what happened in the past, but there are examples we can follow. Before the independence of Sri Lanka, there was a State Council from 1931 to 1947. That State Council functioned following the committee system. Each subject was divided into seven committees. The Chairmen of the Committees became Ministers. The seven Ministers had formed a Cabinet. In addition, there were three officials appointed by the Governor. In addition, there was an Accounts Committee to control public money. At that time we had the opportunity to carry out this methodology successfully.

Now we need to change the structure of Parliament and create a new system by combining the existing system of Parliament or the Westminster system and the system of State Councils. In those cases, Parliament can participate in governing the country.

First of all, the existing laws need to be strengthened in order to give those powers to Parliament in the exercise of monetary powers. Following the example of countries such as the United Kingdom, New Zealand and India, we are proposing a stronger and more powerful law. At present, there are three Committees on Government Finance. The three Committees are the Public Finance Committee, the Accounts Committee and the Committee on Public Enterprises. Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardena has made several proposals to strengthen the powers of these three Committees.

In addition, we are bringing recommendations forward. We are working to establish two new Committees on Monetary Affairs. We will appoint a Legal and Methodological Committee to look into the matter. Secondly, the main problem we face is the financial condition of the banks and financial institutions. There are a number of issues that have been weakened. Under our Standing Order 111, we can appoint oversight committees. No oversight committees have been appointed before. Therefore, we propose to appoint ten oversight committees. They also report to Parliament on policies. Parliament should act on that.

It should also be noted that the chairpersons of these five Finance Committees and the Ten Supervisory Committees are appointed by backbenchers. They are not appointed by Ministers. Therefore, we have the opportunity to work out a methodology that is independent of the Cabinet of Ministers and works with both the Minister and the Parliament. The youth are calling for a change in the existing system. They also want to know the current issues. Therefore, I propose to appoint four youth representatives to each of these 15 committees. One of them will be appointed by the Youth Parliament. The other three will be from the protesting groups and other activist groups. The methodology used to choose these individuals can be decided by the youth organizations themselves.

In addition, we hope to involve people with expertise in specific fields in this work. Through this work, young people will be able to learn about problems and provide solutions to them on their own. They will be able to contest elections if they wish to do so.

We also propose a National Council. A committee consisting of the Speaker, the Prime Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition and the leaders of the major parties is called the National Council.

It should be said that the National Council is very important. The National Council can talk about the policies of the country. It can also talk about the decisions of the Cabinet. It can also talk about the reorganization of the Parliament of this country. If so, it can be called a political body. The National Council has the right to summon the Cabinet of Ministers and the Chairmen of Committees.

According to the new system, we have proposed, the President will be held accountable to the Parliament. The Cabinet of Ministers is also accountable to Parliament. The National Council is also accountable to Parliament. Fifteen Committees and Oversight Committees are accountable to Parliament.

There is a system in place to control the Government through the Cabinet, to examine the work of the President, to oversee the work of the political affairs through the National Council, and to oversee the financial affairs and other matters of the other fifteen committees. There are articles prepared on this matter. I appreciate that a number of other organizations have made similar proposals.

Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has been appointed as Finance Minister on May 25 by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, sworn in as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stability and National Policies.

Secretary of Ministry of Mass Media Anusha Palpita assumed duties today (25) at the Ministry of Mass Media. He took over his appointment letter as the Secretary of the Ministry of Mass Media yesterday (24) before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Mr. Anusha Palpita is a senior administrative officer, who has experience in several fields in the state sector. 

The Government is not a pro-Rajapaksa Government at all, says the Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Bandula Gunawardane.

While briefing the decisions taken on the cabinet discussion (24), Minister Gunawardane denied the statement which is meant as the current Government is a pro-Rajapaksa Government.

While responding to the question raised by a journalist, Minister said, that it is not a Rajapaksa Government, however, it is a Government made of Ministers who stepped up to take up responsibilities as Independent MPs. Therefore cabinet of ministers is now focusing on the current challenges faced by people, he stated.

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.