A gift of Buddha statue from the Mahasangha of Thailand

To mark the 270th anniversary of re-establishment of the higher ordainment (Upasampada) from Siam to institute Syam Nikaye and to symbolise the longstanding relationships between Thailand and Sri Lanka since time immemorial , Vice-Sangharaja of Thailand, most Venerable Theerayanmuni of Phra Wat Debsirindravas Temple, donated a Samadhi Buddha statue for the people of Sri Lanka. Prime Minister Mr. Dinesh Gunawardena welcomed the statue with overwhelming religious faith and joy and exchanged casket containing the edict (Sannaspathra) on 24.09.2023 at Temple Trees.

Ven Elle Gunawansa Thera, Member of Parliament Yadamini Gunawardena, Thai Ambassador Poj Harnpol and a delegation from Thailand and officials joined this event. MORE >>

India is playing a crucial role in promoting developmental and humanitarian goals around the world - Prime Minister

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said India, in recent years, has been growing at an exponential rate, and especially while celebrates 77th anniversary of independence, while functioning as a democracy. Speaking at the 77th Independence Anniversary celebrations organized by the India Sri Lanka Society in Colombo on Saturday (September 23), he mentioned the great achievements of India –Chairing G20, Landing on moon, largest population and market and the 5th largest economy in the world.

“India has become not only an Asian Giant, but also a Global Force. Your leaders, scientists, artistes, sports, agriculture and yoga to cinema have become international exceptions,” he said. “Freedom is not merely a word or an abstract MORE >>

Clarification of the fake news ’biggest land robbery’

Mr. Chamuditha Samarawickrama,
Truth With Chamuditha
Head of the YouTube Channel,
No. 39,
University Avenue
Katubedda, Moratuwa.


Clarification of the fake news ’biggest land robbery’

There is absolutely no truth in the allegation levelled against Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in the above interview with the title, ’Biggest Land Robbery’ broadcast on CNB – Truth With Chamuditha YouTube News Brief on September 19, 2023.

The fabricated statement made in the broadcast that Ven Hadapangoda Mahinda Thera, the chief incumbent of Rajamaha Vihara of Kiriella, is a relative of the Prime Minister is completely false.

 MORE >>

Invaluable role played by Philip - Kusuma Gunawardena couple for China Sri Lanka friendship - Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong

The 73rd anniversary celebration of the Sri Lanka China Friendship Association was held under the patronage of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on 21.09.2023 at The Temple Trees.

Addressing the gathering, Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong said that the strong foundation laid by Philip-Kusuma Gunawardena couple in the 1940s for the China-Sri Lanka Friendship Association is most valuable.

Mrs. Kusuma Gunawardena was the first president of the Sri Lanka China Friendship Association, which was then known as the Ceylon Chinese Friendship Association. The Chinese ambassador further mentioned that while China is grateful for that, they should also be grateful to Mrs. Kusuma Gunawardena for giving birth to Mr. Dinesh Gun MORE >>

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena presides over the fortieth death anniversary commemoration of Mr Hector Kobbekaduwa, who was the Minister of Agriculture and Land held today (2023.09.20) at Hector Kobbekaduwa Agricultural Research and Training Institute

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, former President Maithripala Sirisena, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, State Ministers Jagath Pushpakumara, Suren Raghavan, Kader Mastan, Members of Parliament Duminda Dissanayake, Jagath Kumara, former Governors Sarath Ekanayake, Tikiri Kobbekaduwa and many family members and guests attended the event.

Prime Minister’s Media MORE >>

Prime Minister’s continuous support helped to promote bilateral ties - Iran Ambassador

Outgoing Ambassador of Iran Hashem Ashjazadeh thanked Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena for continuously extending support to him during his diplomatic tenure to promote bilateral friendship and development cooperation.

The Ambassador, who paid a farewell call on the Prime Minister at the Temple Trees on Monday (September 18), recalled that during the challenging period of Covid pandemic and the global economic crisis he could count on the Prime Minister’s support when he was the Foreign Minister and later as the Premier.

The Prime Minister thanked Ambassador Hashem Ashjazadeh for his efforts to promote the friendship and cooperation between Iran and Sri Lanka during a difficult and challenging period. He pr MORE >>

BIMSTEC and IORA will boost regional cooperation - Bangladesh Speaker

Speaker of Bangladesh Parliament, Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury said upcoming BIMSTEC and IORA meetings will boost cooperation between the countries in the region. She referred to close cooperation between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in international forums, and emphasized the need for further expansion of people-to-people ties between the two countries.

The Speaker said this when she called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple Trees today (September 18).

She expressed appreciation over the rapid recovery made by Sri Lanka after the recent economic crisis. She said Sri Lanka has tremendous potential to expand tourism as she noticed that required infrastructure is in place already.

The Prime MORE >>

Since Dharmapala presented the idea of world philosophies and religions meaningfully, Buddhism spread across the world. - Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

Where are we, when a century has passed since universities around the world began to conduct research on Buddhism?

The Prime Minister made these comments while participating in the 159th birthday celebration of Anagarika Dharmapala held on September 17 at Mahabodhi Agrasrawaka Maha Viharaya, Maradana. There are no statues of Anagarika Dharmapala resembling him as a monk, but only those resembling him as a layman. Hence, a foundation stone was also laid on this occasion for a statue resembling him as a monk.

The Prime Minister made the following comments addressing the gathering –

“Anagarika Dharmapala was a true citizen of Ceylon who has gifted a great humanity to the world. He could go on s MORE >>

In the future, it will be possible to receive graduation one year earlier. - Prime Minister.

Exams should be conducted on time and results should be given on time.

There are many human resources that have bequeathed by Vishakha, which brought pride to the nation.

The Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena announced that exams should be conducted on time and results should be given on time. It will lead to receive graduation one year earlier. Moreover Vishakha has bequeathed many human resources which brought pride to the nation. He expressed these views on 15.09.2023 while attending the prize giving ceremony of Vishakha Vidyalaya.

Speaking on the occasion the Prime Minister stated that.

Vishakha Vidyalaya which has begun as the Buddhist Ladies’ College,added great exempl MORE >>

“Construction permitted by local government institutes must be in accordance with the development plan.” - Prime Minister

“Although certain shortcomings were existed, everyone should get together regardless of party or colour to reconstruct the country.” - MP Patali Champika Ranawaka

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena pointed out that Construction permitted by local government institutes must be directed according to the development plan. He said this at the District Secretary Conference which was held on 15.09.2023 at the State Ministry of Home Affairs under the patronage of Prime Minister.

Speaking on this occasion the Prime Minister stated that

“Billions of funds were allocated by the monitory commission for development work. Clear guidelines have been given to contact the district secretaries and the gover MORE >>

Korea will recruit more skilled Sri Lankan workers – Korean Minister of Labour & Employment

Minister of Labour & Employment of Republic of Korea, Lee Jungsik said Korea has doubled the recruitment of Sri Lankan employees this year and it will be further increased by giving more opportunities to skilled workers with knowledge of Korean Language.

He said this when he called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple Trees on September 14 with a delegation of senior officials and Korean Ambassador Lee Miyon.

The Prime Minister thanked Korean Government for generous development assistance for several sectors including health, agriculture, education and Information Technology. Thanking the Minister for his plan to recruit more Sri Lankan workers, the Prime Minister urged further assistance for yout MORE >>

Provincial council and local government laws should change on par with the time - Prime Minister

The Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that Provincial Council and local government laws should change on par with the time. He said this today (2023.09.14) while attending the progress review of the Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government.

Speaking on this occasion the Prime Minister stated that –

There is a strong objection from the people that solid waste management is not being done properly in the Western Province, especially in Gampaha and Colombo districts a vast amount of garbage is accumulated daily. The garbage problem in the Western Province has been identified in the Mega Polis Plan. Meethotamulla garbage dump collapsed. Still no proper measures have been taken for waste managemen MORE >>

Indian CEOs to promote investments in Sri Lanka

Members of the Sri Lanka India Society comprising of Indian CEOs assured to promote further Indian investments as the time is ripe for expanding collaboration in several sectors. They stated this when they called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple Trees today (September 13) to discuss ways and means of expanding bilateral economic ties including trade and investment.

The Prime Minister, pointing out the growth in government-to-government development cooperation, thanked the Indian CEOS for their efforts to promote private sector Indian investments.

Kishore Reddy, Managing Director, Platinum Realty Investments and President, Sri Lanka India Society said there is enormous potential for investments MORE >>

Prime Minister discusses early implementation of Lower Malwathu Oya hydro-solar-irrigation project as a PPP

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena discussed the possibility of early resumption of the Lower Malwathuoya hydro-solar-electricity-irrigation project as a Public-Private-Partnership Project with foreign investments.

The Chinese investors who built the Yan Oya Dam called on the Prime Minister at the Temple Trees today (September 11) to discuss the Prime Minister’s proposal to install solar panels on Yan Oya resorvir as well as the proposed Malwathu Oya reservoir to generate 100 megawatt electricity and irrigate 22,000 hectares of land in Anuradhapura and Trincoamelee districts.

The Chinse investment team headed by Senior Business Manager Andrew Yang said Yan Oya reservoir could be used as a mega solar power  MORE >>

දේශීය වෛද්‍ය ක්‍රම පිළිබඳ අධ්‍යාපනික සහ වෙළඳ ප්‍රදර්ශණය අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය දිනේෂ් ගුණවර්ධන මහතාගේ ප්‍රධානත්වයෙන් ඇරඹෙයි.

දේශීය වෛද්‍ය රාජ්‍ය අමාත්‍ය සිසිර ජයකොඩි මහතා ගේ ආරාධනයෙන්,

අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය දිනේෂ් ගුණවර්ධන මහතාගේ ප්‍රධානත්වයෙන් අද (2023.09.08) බණ්ඩාරනායක සම්මන්ත්‍රණ ශාලාවේ දී ආරම්භ කෙරිණි.

අමාත්‍ය මහින්ද අමරවීර, රාජ්‍ය අමාත්‍යවරුන් වන අරවින්ද කුමාර්, ඩී. බී. හේරත්, පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්‍රීවරු MORE >>