51st commemoration ceremony of the National hero Mr. Philip Gunawardena was held at Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, Colombo on 29.03.2023.

The ceremony was held under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Former presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena participated in the event while the guests were welcomed by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

Vice-Chancellor of Uva Wellassa University Prof. Jayantha Lal Ratnasekara and Historian, Academic Scholar and International Film Award Winner Dr. Sinharaja Tammita Delgoda delivered keynote speeches at the event.

Member of Parliament Mr. Yadamini Gunawardena, Director of Philip Gunawardena Trust Foundation,  MORE >>

President of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe has proposed to set up Sinhala and Hindi departments in several Indian and Sri Lankan universities. He also proposed to increase number of ICCR scholarships for Buddhist studies.

Dr Sahasrabuddhe stated this when he called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple Trees on Monday (27).

The Prime Minister thanked ICCR President or granting hundreds of scholarships to Sri Lankan students, musicians, artists and sponsoring cultural and musical exchanges between the two countries over the years. He said the ICCR’s programmes for Youth Leadership Training were of immense use to enhance leadership skills of young professiona MORE >>

The Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said teaching is the most valuable gift that can be given to children. He stated this while speaking on the occasion of upgrading Sri Siddhartha Junior College in Homagama as a school providing education up to G.C.E. Ordinary Level on 27.03.2023 and the launching of construction of the new multipurpose center in line with the 51st Commemoration of late Mr. Philip Gunawardena a National Hero.

Siddhartha Junior College was founded in the year 1905 by Mr. Don Jacolis Rupasingha Gunawardena, named after Boralugoda Ralahami, the grandfather of the Prime Minister.

In his speech the Prime Minister claimed that Mr. Philip Gunawardena as student of the first batch of this school wa MORE >>

"The government is negotiating with the International Monetary Fund to provide more relief to low-income earners.

* Now almost all the countries of the world have declared their support to Sri Lanka. - Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

The Prime Minister mentioned this when free rice was distributed to low income earners under the government’s programme to purchase and disposal of paddy in Maha season on 26.03.2023 at Maharagama.

The Prime Minister speaking at the occasion declared that:

Today, it has been possible to deliver rice to the low-yielding areas of the country, as there is a surplus in several rice-growing districrs. It was possible to take a leading approach espe MORE >>

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena chaired the meeting of the Buddha Sasana Fund at the Prime Minister’s Office with the participation of Minister of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs Vidura Wickremanayake and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. They discussed the current position of the Fund and reviewed the progress and examine the proposals for the propagation of Buddhism and development of places of worship. MORE >>

Resident Representative of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Azusa Kubota called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple trees on 23.03.2023.

She exchanged her views with the Prime Minister on collaboration under the implementation of its new Country Programme Document (CPD) 2023-2027 with three priority areas: social inclusion and macroeconomic stability; Green Development and Inclusive governance and justice, peace and social cohesion.

She said that the UNDP, with the support from the Government of Japan would commence two projects in Sri Lanka on Enhanced food and Livelihood Security and Green Technologies and Renewable Energy.

The Prime Minister expressed his thankfulness MORE >>

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena emphasized the importance of harvesting rainwater to preserve water resources for future generations. Speaking at the World Water Day celebrations organized by the Lanka Rain Water Harvesting Forum (LRWHF) at the Water’s Edge at Battaramulla, he pointed out the Rainwater Harvesting Policy adopted by government of Sri Lanka in 2005, when he was the Minister of Water and Drainage was aimed at encouraging communities to preserve water near its source by harvesting rainwater.

“There is much to be done to conserve and preserve the 65% of the rainwater which our island receive flowing as run off to the sea through our 106 rivers flowing from our central hills in Sri Lanka. Our industries, p MORE >>

The Prime Minister mentioned that veteran lyricist Sunil Sarath Perera developed Sinhala language and its meaning by means of classical songs making the language richer. He said this at the launch of “Mathaka Nimnaya” book by the veteran lyricist Sunil Sarath Perera held at Ananda Samarakoon Studio of Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation on 20.03.2023.

The Prime Minister, addressing the audience said that Sunil Sarath Perera had a great love for our country. Because of that love, our language and its meaning developed. He had a special talent of producing creative masterpieces in different fields at different situations. It is unique of him to be able to bestow that wealth of experience to our culture, literature as well as MORE >>

Water is life. There is no alternative.

The Sri Lankan inherits a great irrigational civilization that is not second to any. The expertise in irrigation and water systems of our ancestors amazed the whole world. They took great care not to let flow a single drop of water fallen from the sky to the sea without making any use of it. It was the most inspiring claim by the King Parakkramabahu the Great. They safeguarded rain water and ground water resources as of a gift from heaven and managed properly to bestow them to the next generation.

Though inherited such a history of water conservation, Sri Lanka and the rest of the world is in the verge of a drinking water crisis today. The next world war will be for water MORE >>

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena inspected the progress of Uma Oya hydro-electricity project which will add 120 megawatts of electricity to the national grid and irrigate barren lands in several districts.
He entered the 3 kilometer tunnel and climb down nearly 50 meters to the power house transformer, which is schedule to generate electricity by middle of this year.

The Prime Minister spoke to project officials and the engineers of the Iranian Company that has been entrusted with the construction work. He thanked them as well as Iranian Ambassador Hashem Ashjazadeh for the excellent implementation of the long-delayed project and for granting loan facilities from Iran.

The tunnel, in addition to generat MORE >>

The Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena instructed the officials to suspend the issuance of permanent and daily excise licenses for liquor sales in the Maharagama Divisional Secretary’s division. He said this at the Maharagama Regional Coordination Committee meeting held on 20.03.2023.

He also advised them to suspend the issuance of excise permits issued daily for events such as music shows, carnivals and various other occasions.

The progress of development projects in Maharagama area was reviewed and a special attention was paid to social welfare programmes. It was revealed that 13,377 applications have been received for the government’s new social welfare programme and relevant data of 2,560 people  MORE >>

The Prime Minister made these observations while addressing the gathering on the occasion of conferring the title of Sanghanayake of Uva Wellassa Divisions to the Chief Incumbent of historical Yudagana Rajamaha Vihara, Karmacharya of Asgiri Maha Vihara, Venerable Galtamwatte Dharmakeerthi Sri Chandrajothi Nandarathana Nayaka Thera held at Yudagana Rajamaha Vihara on 18.03.2023.

The Prime Minister delivering the speech stated that the contribution, leadership, effort and innovative concepts of Venerable Nandarathana Thera to make this Yudagana temple a more preferable place of worship must be mentioned with gratitude. "On behalf of the government, we offer you our respect", he said.

Yudaganawa and Dematamal Vih MORE >>

The Prime Minister said that with the approval granted by the International Monetary Fund for the agreement by next week, the doors of our economy will be opened again to the international community. Participating in the progress review meeting of Aluth Gamak- Aluth Ratak National Development Program - a multi-sectoral joint mechanism for empowering rural economic revitalization centers to ensure food security and nutrition held at the Hambantota District Secretariat on 17.03.2023.

The Prime Minister pointed out that Hambantota district was an important center of this national programme. The district has proved that it is not only a self-sufficient district but also a district that can be transformed its produce into a surplu MORE >>

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena inspected the final phase of the construction work of the UMA Oya Project, which will add 120 megawatts of electricity and irrigate barren lands in several districts.

Iran Ambassador, Hashem Ashjazadeh, Uva Province Governor A J M Musaamil, State Ministers Shashindra Rajapaksa, Jagath Pushpakumara and Chamara Sampath, MPs Sudarshana Denipitiya, Gayashan Nawanandana and Yadamini Gunawardena and project officers were present on this occasion. MORE >>

Reasonable action should be taken regarding the lands taken over from the Land Reforms Commission.- Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena

The Prime Minister mentioned that Union actions are undermining the workers’ rights, their right to organize as unions and their bargaining power when they make vengeful demands. He said this at the Progress Review Meeting on Aluth gamak- Aluth ratak National Development programme- Multi- Sectoral joint mechanism of empowering rural economic revitalization centres to ensure food security and nutrition held at the Matara District Secretariat on 17.03.2023.

The Prime Minister in his speech further mentioned that in order to overcome the most serious crisis that our country has fac MORE >>

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that he did not believe that the governments should control media. However, media should ensure ethical standards, he said while addressing the gathering at the felicitation of Mr. Kumar Nadesan for conferring Pravasi Bharatiya award - the highest recognition given to a non-Indian by the Government of India.

Folowing are the excerpts from the speech of the Prime Minister;
I am delighted to be present at this occasion when we felicitate a Son of Sri Lanka, who has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (Overseas Indian Honour).

It has been conferred on our good friend Kumar Nadesan by no lesser person than Indian President Her Excellency Droupadi Murmu herself.< MORE >>

A discussion was held between Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and the Governors at Temple Trees on 14.03.2023 regarding the future activities and maintenance of 340 Local Government Institutions as the term of office of those institutions ends on March 19th midnight.

Governors Tikiri Kobbekaduwa (Sabaragamuwa), Wasantha Karnagoda (North West), M.J.M. Musammil (Uwa), Mahipala Herath (North Central), Willy Gamage (Southern), Lalith U. Gamage (Central), Anuradha Yahampath (Eastern) Roshan Gunathilake (Western), Jeevan Thyagaraja (Northern), Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake, Public Administration Secretary Neil Hapuhinna and Prime Minister’s Legal Adviser Dr. Jayatissa de Costa participated in the discuss MORE >>

The Prime Minister held a discussion with Trade Union representatives at the Temple Trees on 14.03.2023.

The Prime Minister speaking at the occasion said that if the heritage of an institution or an organization is deteriorating a little by little, if it is falling apart, those who are working in the organization and in the trade union movement will feel the pain.
“The ministers in charge of the subject should discuss with the trade unions of the respective institutions. Some institutions implement decisions and take actions without any discussion with the trade unions. It not only frustrates the employees but an act detrimental to the existence of the institution. Taking decisions without such discussion is a hindra MORE >>