Mr. Pradeep Yasaratne, new secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed ten Ministry Secretaries and two Chief Secretaries which will be effective from 01st of January, 2024.

Mr. Pradeep Yasaratne has been appointed as the new Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government. Mr Yasaratne, a special grade officer of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS), has served as the Chief Secretary of the Western Province and as Colombo District Secretary. He has gained exceptional experience in Sri Lanka’s administrative service by holding executive-level positions in a number of major government institutions.

Other newly appointed Secretaries –

Mrs. Vasantha P MORE >>

Do not touch co-operative properties to cause public frustration - Prime Minister.

Expedite all the development activities across the island under the new budget provisions...

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena advised all the governors and district coordinating committee chairpersons to speed up all development activities across the island under the new budget provisions.

The Prime Minister gave these instructions in a discussion held at the Temple Trees on 19.12.2023 with Governors, District Coordinating Committee Chairpersons and senior officials regarding the activities related to Provincial Councils and Local Government Institutions and future development activities.

In the year 2024, projects proposed to be implemented under the supervision of the provincial governors and  MORE >>

Pakistan to promote Buddhist pilgrim tours

Outgoing Pakistani High Commissioner, Major General (Retd.) Umar Farooq Burki paid a farewell call on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple Trees today (December 18) and thanked the Prime Minister for excellent support extended to him during his tenure in Sri Lanka.

The High Commissioner briefed the Prime Minister about the steps taken to promote tourism, especially Buddhist pilgrim tours to Pakistan.

The Prime Minister, while welcoming the offer by Pakistan to open Buddhist pilgrim sites for Sri Lankans and thanked the Pakistan High Commission for organizing a tour for Buddhist monks, journalists and academics on a familiarization visits to Pakistan to witness the diversity of well-preserved Buddhist MORE >>

Mahapola was able to make a revolutionary impact on education... - Prime Minister

Under the shadow of Mahapola, new opportunities have arisen to bring together education and knowledge....

The Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that the Mahapola Scholarship Scheme was able to make a revolutionary impact on education and new opportunities have arisen to bring together education and knowledge under the shade of Mahapola. He said this while marking the last day of the ’Mahapola’ Educational and Trade Fair which was held after a decade at Ja-Ela Municipal Stadium on 17.12.2023.

Speaking on this occasion the Prime Minister stated that –

Mahapola which was revived after a decade is a special program that changed the history of Mother Lanka. This program which flows like MORE >>

Recruitment of Grama Niladhari officers for 3000 vacancies will be expedited... - Prime Minister

The newly constructed Wattala Divisional Secretariat was vested with the public by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on 17.12.2023. The Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government has taken necessary steps to shift the Wattala Divisional Secretariat, which has been carried out in a temporary location, to a new building with better facilities.

Speaking on this occasion the Prime Minister stated that-

It is time for us to end the unpleasant era and get ready to step on the threshold of an optimistic future. All the government institutions have been entrusted with a great responsibility in this concern. The government had to bear a huge cost to construct the building o MORE >>

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena took part in the Colombo District Literary Art (Sahitya Kala) Festival as the chief guest which was held at Tower Hall, organized by Colombo District Secretariat (15.12.2023) Colombo Abhinandana – 2023.

District Member of Parliament Jagath Kumara, Premanath Dolawatta, Madhura Withana, Yadamini Gunawardena, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration Ranjith Ashoka, Colombo District Secretary K. G. Wijesiri and other artistes including a large number of people participated for this event. MORE >>

Sri Lanka to assist coconut cultivation in Cuba

A meeting between Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Cuban Ambassador Andres Marcelo Gonzales Garrido took place on 14.12.2023 at the Temple Trees in Colombo.

The Prime Minister thanked Cuba for the consistent support extended to Sri Lanka at the United Nations and other international forums. He also referred to the assistance given to Sri Lanka to combat Dengue pandemic and stressed the need for continuous cooperation in the field of medicine. The Ambassador agreed to share Cuban expertise in mosquito eradication with Sri Lankan health authorities.
The Prime Minister emphasized the need to exchange new scientific and technological innovations in agricultural sector between the two countries.

 MORE >>

Denmark to increase investments in Sri Lanka

Danish Ambassador Freddy Svane called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple Trees today (December 14) to exchange views on bilateral ties and development cooperation between Sri Lanka and Denmark.

The New Delhi-based Ambassador said that yesterday he took part at the opening of electronics production factory of major Danish company, GPV Group A/S of Copenhagen that would provide over 1,000 employment opportunities. He said many investors in Denmark are willing to invest in power sector, deep sea fishing, mechanized boat production and other projects.

The Prime Minister briefed him on the current economic development in the country, including the progress made on IMF package. He thanked Denmark for  MORE >>

The South China Sea Region Buddhist Round Table Conference is being held in Sri Lanka currently with the participation of high-level representatives from thirty two countries.

China’s Venerable Master Yin Xun Nayake Thera, who presides over this conference, met Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at Temple Trees on 12.12.2023.

Gangarama chief incumbent Dr. Kirinde Assaji Thera, Chinese Ambassador Qi ZhenHong, Chinese Religious Affairs and Relations Administration Head Chen Ray Fong and other representatives joined this event.

Prime Minister’s Media MORE >>

JICA to continue assistance to Sri Lanka

Special Advisor to Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Dr. Shinichi KITAOKA assured that JICA would continuously assist Sri Lanka. He said this during a discussion with Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake at the Prime Minister’s Office in Colombo on Monday (Dec 11).

Dr Shinichi Kitaoka, former President of JICA is on a visit to Sri Lanka to ascertain the development requirements to plan future assistance programmes and projects. He expressed satisfaction over Sri Lanka’s success in overcoming the economic crisis to get back the economy back on rails. He added that JICA focuses its assistance on uplifting the agriculture and fishing industries, developing rural communities and expanding soc MORE >>

Birth centenary of late Prof Stanley Wijesundera Professor Stanley Wijesundara’s 100th birthday celebration was held at the invitation of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on 10.12.2023 at Temple Trees under the patronage of the president Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe.

On this occasion a symbolic virtual inauguration of Colombo University’s “Stanley Wijesundara AI Centre” and release of a commemorative stamp and a first day cover had taken place.

The Stanley Wijesundera oration was delivered by Professor Mohan Munasinghe.

The Chancellor of the University of Colombo, Ven. Narahenpita Abhayaramadhipathi Murutthettuwe Ananda Thera, Ministers Bandula Gunawardena, Mahinda Amaraweera, State Ministers Shanta Bandara, Members of Parliament Vajira Abeywardena, Professor G. L. Peiris, Rajitha Senaratne, Yadamini Gunawardena, Chief of the President’s Staff Sagala Ratnayake, Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Prime Minister’s Secretary Anura Dissanayak MORE >>

Outgoing Indian High Commissioner bids goodbye to Prime Minister

Indian High Commissioner Gopal Bagley, paid a farewell call on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple Trees today (December 10). He thanked the Prime Minister for the unstinted support extended to him during his tenure to strengthen age-old friendly ties between the two countries. He expressed fullest confidence that same support would be given to his successor too.

The Prime Minister thanked the High Commissioner for the support given to Sri Lanka during most difficult times.

Minister Vidura Wickremanayake, MP Yadamini Gunawardena, Secretary to the Prime Minister, Anura Dissanayake and Mrs. Bagley were also present on this occasion.

Prime Minister’s Media MORE >>

Egg incubators from China...

Egg incubators are distributed with the objective of strengthening the rural economy and empowering small scale poultry farm owners...

With the objective of strengthening the rural economy and empowering small scale poultry farm owners, 100 egg incubators were distributed today (2023.12.08) under the patronage of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple Trees.

Acceding to a request made by Prime Minister during his visit to China’s Yunnan Province, the Chinese Ambassador Mr. Qi Zhenhong handed over 100 incubators to the Prime Minister and these machines were distributed all over the island by the Hadabima Authority of Ministry of Agriculture.

The Chinese Ambassador who participated  MORE >>

Even in the face of the economic crisis, the current government protected the public servants. - Prime Minister

The Grama Niladhari Service Minute will be implemented within the next few months.

The Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that the Grama Niladhari Service Minute will be implemented within the next few months. Further he stated that even in the face of the economic crisis,the current government protected the public servants .The Prime Minister expressed these views at the Gampaha District Progress Review Meeting of the National Integration Participation Development Program “Aluth Gamak - Aluth Ratak” held at the Gampaha District Secretariat on 06.12.2023.

Speaking on this occasion the Prime Minister stated that-

Last year we faced an unprecedented economic and financial problem. Thoug MORE >>

Our school education system should change as a digital foundation for the classroom.. - Prime Minister

In the next five years, digital technology will overwhelm the entire country.

The Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena mentioned that, digital technology will overwhelm the entire country in the next five years and our school education system should change as a digital foundation for the classroom on 04.12.2023 at the occasion of handing over the new building of Sri Siddhartha Kanishta Vidyalaya, Kaluaggala to the students.

Speaking on this occasion the Prime Minister stated that-

Digital technology will overwhelm the entire country within next five years. During that time, education and the classroom are changing very rapidly. Therefore, we consider it as a very important step for everyone to suppo MORE >>

The ceremony to felicitate Aggamahapanditha Vinayacharya, Maha Kammattanacharya, Venerable Inguruwatte Piyananda Thera, Mahanayaka of the Sri Lanka Amarapura Shwejin Nikaya who has been awarded the title of Aggamahapanditha by the Government of Myanmar was held at the Kanduboda Siane Vipassana Meditation Center presided by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on 02.12.2023.

On this occasion, Nayaka theras ,Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Vidura Wickramanayake, State Minister of Indigenous Medicine, Sisira Jayakodi, Myanmar Ambassador Yu. Han Thu (Han Thu) Members of Parliament Yadamini Gunawardena, Harshana Rajakaruna and many public representatives and devotees participated in this event. MORE >>

European Union Ambassador Carmen Moreno called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple Trees on December 1.

The Prime Minister welcomed Ambassador (Mrs.) Carmen Moreno and Mr. Lars Bredal, the deputy head of the EU delegation and expressed sincere gratitude for EU assistance extended during the difficult period in Sri Lanka.

The PM recalled the strong relationship between EU and Sri Lanka over a decades and thanked EU for the concessions provided through GSP Plus facility for the Sri Lankan exports to the European market. Specially, he emphasis the export of textile products and fisheries products to EU countries. He also urged to explore the possibility of export of Cinnamon and agriculture products to the EU market.

The cooperation with Universities of the EU countries for education sector development of Sri Lanka  MORE >>