News
With decision pending on MCC Compact, Ravinatha named Lanka’s US envoy
Ex-navy Chief and former Colombo VC among 6 named for top posts
By Shamindra Ferdinando
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s government has chosen former Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Ariyasinha to head the Sri Lanka mission in the US.
Ariyasinha, a veteran career diplomat will replace another career officer Rodney Perera, who received the appointment in June 2019. Rodney is a son of late veteran UNPer Paul Perera.
Perera was appointed in place of Prasad Kariyawasam, nearly two years after the latter was brought back to Colombo as Secretary to the Foreign Ministry.
Ariyasinha, who had been Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative in Geneva at the time the previous yahapalana administration co-sponsored an Accountability Resolution 30/1 in respect of the conflict and post-conflict period, will appear before the newly constituted Parliamentary High Post Committee (PHPC).
In the wake of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s victory at the November 2019 presidential election, the administration brought in one-time Navy Commander Admiral Jayanath Colombage as the Foreign Secretary. Colombage replaced Ariyasinha.
The PHPC headed by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena comprises 18 lawmakers, with the SLPP having a clear majority therein. The Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) is represented by Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, Thalatha Atukorale and Rishad Bathiudden, leader of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC).
JVPer Vijitha Herath represents the National People’s Power in the PHPC.
A spokesperson for the SJB told The Island that Sri Lanka proposed to change the head of the mission at a time the country was under pressure to finalize the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact. The lawmaker pointed out that a four-member committee headed by Prof. Lalithasiri Gunaruwan appointed by the current dispensation strongly opposed the MCC Compact in its present form.
The US also wants consensus on Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) in the wake of the previous government extending the Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA). The then President Maithripala Sirisena authorized ACSA, first entered into in 2007 for a ten-year period by the Rajapaksa administration.
Office of the Secretary General of Parliament on Wednesday, Sept 9, announced Ariyasinha’s appointment coming before the PHPC soon. According to the statement, representations in respect of altogether six diplomatic postings could be made till September 23.
In addition to parliament clearinghouse’s posting to Washington, the Office of the Secretary General of Parliament announced nomination of former minister Asoka Milinda Moragoda (High Commissioner designate to India), former VC of the Colombo University Professor Kshanika Hiriburegama (Ambassador designate to France), one-time Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona (Ambassador designate to China), US-based real estate agent Vishramal Sanjiv Gunasekera (Ambassador to Japan) and recently retired Navy Commander Piyal de Silva (Ambassador to Afghanistan).
The Office of the Secretary General of Parliament announced the decision on Moragoda amidst continuing protests against the former minister’s appointment. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa recently declared that appointments made following careful consideration wouldn’t be changed under any circumstances.
A discussion between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and senior officials of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) was held this afternoon (18) at the Presidential Secretariat.
The meeting focused extensively on new development projects planned by the Urban Development Authority. The President emphasised the need to ensure that the budgetary allocations made for these projects in the current year are utilised effectively within the same financial year.
Detailed discussions were also held on projects planned to be implemented jointly by multiple institutions, including the importance of holding consultations with all relevant agencies to reach final decisions and the need to clearly define responsibilities for each institution in both implementation and maintenance phases of the projects.
Attention was drawn to key initiatives such as the Kelani River flood control project, water management projects in Colombo city and the Beira Lake restoration project. The need for a dedicated programme for low-income housing in areas such as Ratmalana and Moratuwa was also highlighted. During the discussion, Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake underscored the importance of introducing a structured management framework for the effective coordination of certain projects.
Deputy Minister of Urban Development, Eranga Gunasekara, Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, Senior Professor Kapila C.K. Perera, Chairman of the Urban Development Authority (UDA), M.G. Hemachandra and the Heads representing the Urban Settlement Development Authority (USDA), Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation (SLLDC), National Physical Planning Department (NPPD) and the Condominium Management Authority (CMA) were also present at the meeting.
(PMD)
News
CEAT Kelani Branch Inter-Company Employees’ Union makes donation to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund
The Inter-Company Employees’ Union of the Kelaniya Branch of CEAT Sri Lanka has made a financial donation of Rs. 1,148,000.00, a day’s salary of its members to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund established to support the restoration of livelihoods and the rebuilding of areas affected by cyclone Ditwah.
Secretary of the Inter-Company Employees’ Union of the CEAT Kelani Branch, D.G.S.D. Navaratne, handed over the donation to the Chief of Staff to the President, Prabhath Chandrakeerthi at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (18).
Treasurer of the Inter-Company Employees’ Union of the CEAT Kelani Branch, Y.P.I.C. Karunathilaka, together with members of the Executive Committee, were also present on the occasion.
(PMD)
Latest News
Prime Minister off to the United Kingdom to participate in the 22nd Annual Commonwealth Education Forum
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya departed on an official visit to the United Kingdom to participate in the 22nd Annual Commonwealth Education Forum and the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) 2026 Board of Governors Meeting.
During the visit, the Prime Minister is scheduled to participate in several high-level academic and diplomatic engagements aimed at strengthening cooperation in the fields of education, development studies, research collaboration, and international partnerships.
As part of the visit, the Prime Minister will meet with Ms.Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education of the United Kingdom, at the UK Department for Education, to discuss areas of cooperation in education and related sectors. She is also expected to meet Ms.Yvette Cooper, Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, for discussions on matters of bilateral interest and cooperation between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.
In addition, the Prime Minister is expected to meet Ms.Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, on the sidelines of the 22nd Annual Commonwealth Education Forum and the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) 2026 Board of Governors Meeting.
During the visit, the Prime Minister will attend a public event at the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex and she will also take part in the ceremony marking the 60th Anniversary of the Institute of Development Studies. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to address a session at the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies at the University of Oxford, followed by a question-and-answer session with scholars and students.
The visit is expected to strengthen Sri Lanka’s engagement with academic institutions, international development partners, and Commonwealth member states, particularly in the areas of education, research, policy dialogue, and capacity building.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
President meets senior officials of the Urban Development Authority
CEAT Kelani Branch Inter-Company Employees’ Union makes donation to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund
Escaped tiger shot by German police after attacking man
Prime Minister off to the United Kingdom to participate in the 22nd Annual Commonwealth Education Forum
Steps initiated to safeguard Sri Lanka’s Maritime Heritage
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