News
Dhammika Perera enters cabinet as new Minister of Technology and Investment Promotion
First resigns from the boards of a clutch of quoted companies
Mr. Dhammika Perera, who was widely tipped to enter Parliament on the SLPP National List, on Friday tendered is resignation from a clutch of public listed companies where he served as chairman or director – both executive and non-executive – with effect from June 10.
Shortly threafter his appointment as an SLPP National List MP was gazetted by the Elections Commission. He was thereafter appointed one of two new ministers – the other being Ms. Pavithra Wanniarachchi – with responsibility for Technology and Investment promotion with a wide range of subjects, previously under the Defence Ministry, assigned to him.
Former Minister Paithra Wanniarachchi has re-entered the cabinet as Minister of Women’s ad Children’s Affairs, Social Empowerment and Samurdhi.
Speculation that Perera would shortly enter the government was fueled by his resignations from quoted company boards notified to the Colombo Stock Exchange and published on its website.
Subjects assigned to Perera include a large area under the umbrella of Investment Promotion and Technology. Many subjects previously under the Defence Ministry held by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been assigned to him.
These include Department of Registration of Persons, Immigration and Emigration, Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, SLT and its subsidiaries, Sri Lanka Standards Institute, BOI and Colombo Port City Economic Commission.
The listed companies he resigned included those of his own Vallibel Group, Hayleys Group of Companies (Hayleys, Dipped Product, Haycarb, The Kingsbury and several more), Royal Ceramics, Lanka Tiles and Lanka Walltiles Group (including Horana Plantations), LB Finance, Singer Sri Lanka etc.
Perera has gone public with the claim that he’s the country’s largest taxpayer.
Lakbima Rice Mills (Pvt) Ltd, based in Polonnaruwa, has contributed Rs. 100 million to the Government’s ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, established to provide relief to communities affected by Cyclone Ditwa.
The donation cheque was handed over this morning (13) at the Presidential Secretariat to Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President, by Dudley Sirisena, Chairman of the Araliya Group of Companies.
Latest News
Advisory for severe lightning issued to the Districts of Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara
Advisory for Severe Lightning
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
at 12.30 p.m. 13 December 2025 valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 13 December 2025 for Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara Districts
The public are warned that thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur at some places in the Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara Districts.
There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.
ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
Based on the prevailing disaster situation and the upcoming festive season, arrangements have been made to provide a nutrition allowance worth Rs. 5,000 to pregnant mothers.
This allowance, which will be provided only once, will be given to pregnant mothers who were registered at maternal clinics on or before 30 November 2025.
The distribution will take place through the Divisional Secretariat offices from 16 December, as a program of the National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.
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