New Ministers sworn in before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa

Published

5 years ago

2020/08/12

Sahan Weerasooriya

Cabinet Ministers

1. His Excellency President Gotabaya Rajapaksa – Defence

2. Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa – Finance

3. Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa – Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs

4. Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa – Urban Development and Housing

5. Nimal Siripala De Silva – Labour

6. G.L Peiris – Education

7. Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi – Health

8. Dinesh Gunawardena – Foreign Relations

9. Douglas Devananda – Fisheries

10. Gamini Lokuge – Transport

11. Bandula Gunawardena – Trade

12. R.M.C.B. Rathnayake – Wildlife and Forest Conservation

13. Janaka Bandara Tennakoon – Public Services, Provincial Councils and Local Government

14. Keheliya Rambukwella – Mass Media

15. Chamal Rajapaksa – Irrigation

16. Dullas Alahapperuma – Power

17. Johnston Fernando – Highways

18. Wimal Weerawansa – Industries

19. Mahinda Amaraweera – Environment

20. S.M. Chandrasena – Land

21. Mahindananda Aluthgamage – Agriculture

22. Vasudeva Nanayakkara – Water Supply

23. Udaya Prabhath Gammanpila – Energy

24. Ramesh Pathirana – Plantation

25. Prasanna Ranatunga – Tourism

26. Rohitha Abeygunawardena – Ports and Shipping

27. Namal Rajapaksa – Youth and Sports Affairs

28. PC Ali Sabry – Justice

State Ministers

1. Chamal Rajapaksa – Internal Security, Home Affairs and Disaster Management

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 Protection

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

District Coordinating Committee Chairmen:

1. Pradeep Udugoda – Colombo

2. Sahan Pradeep Vithana – Gampaha

3. Sanjeewa Edirimanna – Kalutara

4. Wasantha Yapa Bandara -Kandy

5. N. Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda – Matale

6. S.B. Dissanayake – Nuwara Eliya

7. Sampath Athukorala – Galle

8. Nipuna Ranawaka -Matara

9. Upul Galappaththi -Hambantota

10. Angajan Ramanathan -Jaffna

11. Douglas Devananda -Kilinochchi

12. K. Dileepa – Vavuniya

13 K. Kader Masthan -Mannar and Mullaitivu

14. D. Weerasinghe – Ampara

15. Kapila Athukorala -Trincomalee

16 Gunapala Rathnasekara -Kurunegala

17. Ashoka Priyantha – Puttalam

18. H. Nandasena -Anuradhapura

19. Amarakeerthi Athukorala – Polonnaruwa

20. Sudarshana Denipitiya – Badulla

21. Kumarasiri Rathnayaka – Monaragala

22. Akila Ellawala – Ratnapura

23 Rajika Wickramasinghe – Kegalla

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Navy seize an Indian fishing boat poaching in northern waters

Published

1 hour ago

2026/01/3

Priyan

During an operation conducted in the dark hours of 01 Jan 26, the Sri Lanka Navy seized an Indian fishing boat and apprehended 11 Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, off Kovilan of Kareinagar, Jaffna.

The Northern Naval Command spotted a group of Indian fishing boats engaging in illegal fishing, trespassing into Sri Lankan waters. In response, naval craft of the Northern Naval Command were deployed to drive away those Indian fishing boats from island waters off Kovilan.

Meanwhile, compliant boarding made by naval personnel resulted in the seizure of one Indian fishing boat and apprehension of 11 Indian fishermen who continued to engage in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

The seized boat (01) and Indian fishermen (11) were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Myliddy, Jaffna for onward legal proceedings.

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Tri-Forces donate LKR. 372 million, a day’s pay of all ranks to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund

Published

7 hours ago

2026/01/3

Priyan

Members of all ranks from the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force have collectively donated a day’s basic salary to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, which was established to restore livelihoods and rebuild the country following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

Accordingly, the total contribution made by the Tri-Forces amounts to LKR. 372,776,918.28.

The cheques representing the financial contributions were handed over on Wednesday (31 December) at the Presidential Secretariat to the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

The donations comprised LKR. 250 million from the Commander of the Army, Major General Lasantha Rodrigo; LKR. 73,963,879.71 from the Commander of the Navy, Rear Admiral Kanchana Banagoda and LKR. 48,813,038.97 from the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Vasu Bandu Edirisinghe.

Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha, was also present on the occasion.

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CEB demands 11.57 percent power tariff hike in first quarter

Published

10 hours ago

2026/01/3

Thilina Walpola

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has submitted a proposal to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) seeking an 11.57 percent increase in electricity tariffs for the first quarter of 2026, citing an estimated revenue shortfall and additional financial pressures, including cyclone-related damages.

According to documents issued by the PUCSL, the proposed tariff revision would apply to electricity consumption from January to March 2026 and includes changes to both energy charges and fixed monthly charges across all consumer categories, including domestic, religious, industrial, commercial and other users.

Under the proposal, domestic electricity consumers would face increases in unit rates as well as fixed monthly charges across all consumption blocks.

The CEB has estimated a deficit of Rs. 13,094 million for the first quarter of 2026, which it says necessitates the proposed 11.57 per cent tariff hike. The utility has noted that any deviation from this estimate whether a surplus or a shortfall will be adjusted through the Bulk Supply Tariff Adjustment (BSTA) mechanism and taken into account in the next tariff revision.

In its submission, the CEB said the proposed revision is aimed at ensuring the financial and operational stability of the power sector and mitigating potential risks to the reliability of electricity supply. The board-approved tariff structure for the first quarter of 2026 has been submitted to the PUCSL for approval and subsequent implementation, as outlined in Annex II of the proposal.

The CEB has also highlighted the financial impact of Cyclone Ditwah, which it said caused extensive damage to electricity infrastructure, with total losses estimated at around Rs. 20 billion. Of this amount, Rs. 7,016.52 million has been attributed to the first quarter of 2026, which the utility said has a direct bearing on electricity tariffs.

The CEB warned that if external funding is not secured to cover the cyclone-related expenditure, the costs incurred would need to be recovered through electricity tariffs in the second-quarter revision of 2026.

Meanwhile, the PUCSL has said that a decision on whether to approve the proposed tariff increase will be made only after following due regulatory procedures and holding discussions on the matter.

By Sujeewa Thathsara ✍️