Kandy District MP Keheliya Rambukwella has been appointed as the Minister of Mass Media in the new Cabinet.
The ministers of the new government took oath before President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa at a swearing-in ceremony this morning.
Rambukwella has held the post of Media Minister prior to this instance as well. He also contributed exceptionally as the Government Spokesman during the 30-year war.
Sathasivam Viyalendran took oath as the new State Minister for Mass Media of the new government today (12 August).
The newly appointed State Minister took oath before President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa at a ceremony held at the historic Magul Maduwa in Kandy this morning (12).
Viyalendran was elected as a Member of Parliament in 2015 from the Batticaloa District under the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) Party. This time he contested under the SLPP ticket and obtained 22,210 votes from the Batticaloa District and was elected to parliament.
During the 52-day government, he extended his support to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and served as the Deputy Minister for Eastern Development.
The Cabinet of Ministers and State Ministers of the new Government led by Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) were sworn in before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The swearing in ceremony was held at the Magul Maduwa (Audience Hall) of the historic Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic premises in Kandy this morning (12).
The President has repeatedly stressed the requirement of an efficient Cabinet of Ministers dedicated to build a prosperous nation in the future.
According to “Saubhagyaye Dekma” (Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour) policy statement the composition of the Cabinet has been formulated in a pragmatic and a realistic manner to implement the national programme. Special attention was paid to the areas of national security, economic development, infrastructure facilities, education, health and sports in the process of formulation of the ministerial structure.
The new Cabinet of Ministers comprised 25 Ministers including the Prime Minister. There are 39 State Ministers. 23 Members of Parliament have been appointed as District Coordinating Committee Chairmen.
Maha Sangha invoked blessings on newly appointed Ministers and Committee Chairmen.
District Coordinating Committee Chairmen:
13 K. Kader Masthan -Mannar and Mullaitivu
16 Gunapala Rathnasekara -Kurunegala
23 Rajika Wickramasinghe – Kegalla
Cabinet Ministers :
2. Piyankara Jayaratne – Foreign Employment Promotions and Market Diversification
3. Duminda Dissanayake – Solar, Wind, Grid Power Generation Projects Development
4.Dayasiri Jayasekara – Batik, Handloom Fabrics and Local Apparel Products
5. Lasantha Alagiyawanna – Cooperative Services, Marketing Development and Consumer Protection6.
6. Sudarshani Fernandopulle -Prisons Reforms and Prisoners’ Rehabilitation
7.Arundika Fernando – Coconut, Fishtail Palm, Palmyra and Rubber product Promotion and Allied Industrial Production and Export Diversification
8. Nimal Lansa – Rural Road and other Infrastructure Facilities
9. Jayantha Samaraweera – Warehouse Facilities, Container Yards, Port Supply Facilities and Boats and Shipping Industry Development.
10. Roshan Ranasinghe – Land Management Affairs, State Business Lands and Property Development
11. Kanaka Herath – Company Establishment Reforms, Tea Estate Crops, Tea Factory Modernization and Tea Export Diversification
12. Vidura Wickramanayake – Promotion of National Heritage, Performing Arts and Rural Artists
13. Janaka Wakkumbura – Development of Sugarcane, Maize, Cashew, Pepper, Cinnamon, Cloves, Betel Production and Promotion of Allied Products and Export
14. Vijitha Berugoda – Dhamma Schools, Bhikku Education, Pirivenas and Buddhist Universities
15. Shehan Semasinghe – Development of Samurdhi Home Economy, Microfinance, Self-Employment and Businesses and Under-Utilized State Resources
16. Mohan de Silva – Regulation of Fertilizer Production and Supply, use of Chemical Fertilizers and Pesticides
17. Lohan Ratwatte – Gem and Jewelry related Industries
18. Dilum Amunugama – Vehicle Regulation, Bus Transport Services and Carriages and Automotive Industries
19. Wimalaweera Dissanayake – Wildlife Conservation Protection Programmes including Electric Fence and Ditch Construction and Re-Forestation and Wildlife Resources Development
20. Tharaka Balasooriya – Regional Cooperation
21. Indika Anurudda – Rural Home Construction and Building Materials Industry Promotion
22. Kanchana Wijesekera – Ornamental Fish, Freshwater Fish and Shrimp Farming Development, Multi-day Fishing and Fish Export
23.Sanath Nishantha – Development of Rural and Regional Drinking Water Supply Projects
24. Siripala Gamlath – Development of Common Infrastructure Facilities of Settlements and Canals in Mahaweli Zones
25. Sarath Weerasekara – Provincial Councils and Local Government Affairs
26. Anuradha Jayaratne – Development of Rural Paddy Fields and Associated Tanks, Reservoirs and Irrigation
27. Sadasivam Viyalendran – Professional Development of Postal Services and Mass Media
28. Thenuka Vidanagamage – Rural and School Sports Infrastructure Promotion
29. Sisira Jayakody – Promotion of Indigenous Medicine, Development of Rural Ayurvedic Hospitals and Community Health
30. Piyal Nishantha de Silva – Women and Child Development, Pre-School and Primary Education, School Infrastructure and School Services
31. Prasanna Ranaweera – Cane, Brass, Clay Furniture and Rural Industry Promotion
32. D. V. Chanaka – Development of Aviation and Export Zones
33. D. B. Herath – Livestock and Farm Promotion and Dairy and Eggs Related Industries
34. Shasheendra Rajapaksa – Paddy and Cereals, Organic Food, Vegetables, Fruits, Chilies, Onions and Potatoes, Seed Production and High Tech Agriculture
35. Nalaka Godahewa – Urban Development, Coast Conservation, Waste Disposal and Public Sanitation
36. Jeewan Thondaman – Estate Housing and Community Infrastructure Facilities
37. Ajith Nivard Cabraal – Finance and Capital Markets and Public Enterprise Reforms
38. Seetha Arambepola – Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research and Innovation
39. Channa Jayasumana – Pharmaceutical Production, Supply and Regulation
Cabinet Ministers:
Following the ceremony, President, Prime Minister and the newly appointed Ministers paid homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic.
Mahinda Rajapaksa has assumed duties as the newly appointed Prime Minister of Sri Lanka at the Prime Minister’s Office today (11.08.2020)
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa through an Extraordinary Gazette notification announced the Ministerial structure consisting 28 Ministries and 40 State Ministries. This includes Ministries that come under the purview of the President and the Prime Minister.
The Gazette notification giving details of Ministerial structure, relevant institutions and rules and regulations was issued this evening (10).
National priorities, policy responsibilities and functions have been taken into consideration in formulating Ministries. State Ministries have been structured to facilitate the achievement of special priorities and the implementation of relevant programmes according to the broad scope of each Ministry.
Special attention was paid to the areas of national security, economic development, infrastructure facilities, education, health and sports in the process of formulation of the ministerial structure.
The formulated structure covers a number of aspects of rural and agricultural development as well as the field of education.
The scopes, priorities, affiliated institutions and legal frameworks of each Ministry have been explained under several subheadings.
The Subject Ministers and State Ministers are scheduled to be sworn in at the Magul Maduwa(Audience Hall) of the Temple of Sacred Tooth Relic premises in Kandy on the morning of Wednesday(August 12) before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Gamini Sedara Senarath, an experienced senior officer in the Sri Lanka Administration Service has been reappointed as the Secretary to the Prime Minister.
He received his Letter of Appointment from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat today (August 10).
Mr Gamini Sarath had served as the Additional Secretary and the Chief of Staff to the President during the tenure of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He was appointed as the Secretary to the Prime Minister following Mahinda Rajapaksa’s appointment as the Prime Minister on the 21st of November 2019.
Mr Gamini Sedara Senarath read his basic degree at the University of Kelaniya and entered the Sri Lanka Administration Service(SLAS) in 1984.
He has completed his Post Graduate degree in Information Technology at the University of Colombo. He has also followed a number of academic courses abroad.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa through an Extraordinary Gazette notification announced the Ministerial structure consisting 28 Ministries and 40 State Ministries. This includes Ministries that come under the purview of the President and the Prime Minister.
The Gazette notification giving details of Ministerial structure, relevant institutions and rules and regulations was issued this evening (10).
National priorities, policy responsibilities and functions have been taken into consideration in formulating Ministries. State Ministries have been structured to facilitate the achievement of special priorities and the implementation of relevant programmes according to the broad scope of each Ministry.
Special attention was paid to the areas of national security, economic development, infrastructure facilities, education, health and sports in the process of formulation of the ministerial structure.
The formulated structure covers a number of aspects of rural and agricultural development as well as the field of education.
The scopes, priorities, affiliated institutions and legal frameworks of each Ministry have been explained under several subheadings.
The Subject Ministers and State Ministers are scheduled to be sworn in at the Magul Maduwa(Audience Hall) of the Temple of Sacred Tooth Relic premises in Kandy on the morning of Wednesday(August 12) before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
In keeping with the regulations issued by the Ministry of Health, local schools have been allowed to re-open from today in several phases so to prevent overcrowding within confined spaces.
Accordingly certain days of the week have been reserved for particular grades and students to attend school.
As per the new schedule, only Grades 5, 10, 11, 12, and 13 will be allowed attend school on all five weekdays. Grades 1, 2, and 3 will have school for only one day per week. It has also been decided to reopen schools according to the number of students in the school.
Schools with less than 200 students may reopen for all grades from August 10.
Primary schools with over 200 students will reopen as:
Grades 1 and 5 - Monday
Grades 2 and 5 -Tuesday
Grades 3 and 5 -Wednesday
Grades 4 and 5 -Thursday, Friday
Secondary schools with over 200 students will reopen as:
Grades 6, 10, 11, 12, 13 - Monday
Grades 7, 10, 11, 12, 13 - Tuesday
Grades 8, 10, 11, 12, 13 - Wednesday
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 - Thursday, Friday.
However, the time duration for a school day for Grades 6, 7, 8, and 9 will be from 7.00 am till 1.30 pm, while it will be from 7.30 am until 3.30 pm for Grades 10, 11, 12, and 13.
Meanwhile, Heads of Schools have been informed not to open school canteens until health officials confirm that the prevailing situation is under control
dailynews
The High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka HE Gopal Baglay called on the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka His Excellency Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa today afternoon to congratulate him on the emphatic victory of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) in the recently held General Elections. The High Commissioner recalled that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had complimented the people and Government of Sri Lanka on the successful conduct of elections and had acknowledged the impressive electoral performance of the SLPP.
The High Commissioner reiterated the strong desire and the commitment of the Government of India to work very closely with the new Government and Parliament in Sri Lanka for further strengthening comprehensive bilateral cooperation. He looked forward to continued guidance from Sri Lanka’s leadership in this endeavour. The strong mandate received by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa provides a fresh opportunity for the two countries to enhance bilateral engagement, including mitigating the adverse economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The leader of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Mahinda Rajapaksa was sworn in as the 13th Prime Minister of Sri Lanka before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The swearing in ceremony took place at the historic Kelani Raja Maha Viharaya this morning (9).
Elected to the post for the fourth time, Mr. Rajapaksa served two terms as the Executive President of the country from 2005 to 2015.
Completing five decades in active politics, Mr. Rajapaksa entered the Parliament in 1970 and he played a pivotal role as a Cabinet Minister during 1995-2004 period.
First elected as the Prime Minister in 2004, Mr. Rajapaksa was sworn in as the Prime Minister for the second time on October 26, 2018. The third time he was sworn in as the Prime Minister was on November 21, 2019.
During his 10-year tenure as the Executive President Mr. Rajapaksa was able to eradicate the 3-decade old terrorism from the country and to accelerate country’s economic development.
Contesting from Kurunegala district in the recently concluded Parliamentary Election Mr. Rajapaksa received a record-breaking 527,364 Preferential Votes, the highest number of votes a candidate ever received.
Mr. Rajapaksa will go down in history as the first ever Sri Lankan to become Prime Minister for four times after serving two terms as the Executive President.
Maha Sangha chanted Seth Pirith and invoked blessings on the new Premier.
Later, the President and Prime Minister engaged in religious observances at the Viharaya.
At the conclusion of the ceremony both President and Prime Minister greeted the public gathered at the venue.
Maha Sangha and other religious leaders, Governors, Secretary to the President, members of the diplomatic corps, newly elected members of Parliament of SLPP and other Parliamentarians who extend their support to the new government and family members were also present on the occasion.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa says the Sacred Tooth Relic protected our Motherland and its people right throughout.
We pay homage to the most Sacred Tooth Relic the same way we venerate the Buddha said the President adding that we are obliged to pay our veneration to the most sacred Tooth Relic in accordance with our ancient customs.
President made these remarks at the ceremony to announce the successful completion of the Dalada Perahera in Kandy today (4).
In keeping with the traditional customs Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Dala Bandara presented the Sannasa (scroll) of the successful conclusion of Kandy Esala Perahara to the President.
President planted a Na sampling at the premises of the President’s House in Kandy to mark the occasion.
President posed for a group photo with Diyawadana Nilame, Basnayaka Nilames and officials who supported the conduct of Perahara.
Donations to Pitisara Devalas were handed over by the President.
The Governor of the Central Province Lalith U. Gamage presented a book titled “Poojaneeya Dalada Sanskruthiya” to the President.
Madam Ayoma Rajapaksa, Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundera, government officials and several other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has summoned the new Parliament to meet on 20th August, 2020 (Thursday) following the General Election tomorrow, August 5th.
President has made this decision under the powers vested in him by the Constitution of Sri Lanka and the Parliamentary Election Act. The Extraordinary Gazette notification announcing the summoning of the new Parliament was issued last night.
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