Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

The Union of Organizations for the Protection of National Heritage handed over the draft of the investigation commission report on the inquiry into destruction of northern and eastern archaeological sites and interference with conservation activities to Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday (26).

Ven Dr Maduruoye Dhammissara Thero, Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara, Senior Advocate Kalyananda Thiranagama and others participated in this event on behalf of the Union of Organizations for the Protection of National Heritage.

Prime Minister’s Media Division MORE >>

The minister stated this on 27.05.2024 at the time of laying the foundation stone of Chaityarajaya Purana Raja Maha Vihara, Wariyapola, Nuwara Kanda.

The Prime Minister said in his speech -

This historical land is a land where the foundation of civilization was built in the history of our country.

Arahath Mahinda brought the light of Buddhism to a civilized nation and gave a great gift to the village.

During the reign of King Devanampiyatissa, coming to build the first capital of Sirilaka and as a result of the various discussions the king had with Dambadiva. To mark that, on the sacred Poson day next week will be engaged in religious activities in every temple in the country, comm MORE >>

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena advised the Provincial Governors to take urgent measures to prevent the spread of dengue with the intervention of all the relevant authorities. He said this at a discussion held at Temple Trees today (25) to review the progress of dengue control programs.

The discussion was held with the participation of Governors, Provincial Council Secretaries, Provincial Government Commissioners and Provincial Health Service Directors through Zoom technology and the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of collecting information about the spread of dengue in their jurisdictions and taking measures to control the disease since priority should be given to preventing the spread of the disease through the c MORE >>

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena thanked the Saemaul Foundation of Korea for expanding its rural infrastructure and livelihood development projects after the successful implementation of two pilot projects in Sabaragamuwa district. “These efforts have inspired our villagers to speed up their drive to uplift the rural economy,” he said.

The President of Saemaul Foundation Lee Seung Jong, Governor, Gyeongsangbuk-do province, the head of the grant aid supporting body, Korea and the President of Gyambuk Art & Cultural Foundation, Koo Yum Cheol and senior officials of the two Foundation called on Prime Minister at the PM’s Office in Temple Trees today.

A Memorandum of Understanding for expansion of Saema MORE >>

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena questioned the Western Provincial Cooperative Officers if it is fair to auction off the property that the members have sustained for a long time without taking the necessary measures to recover the cooperative system when it fails. He mentioned this in a discussion regarding the problems faced by the cooperative societies in Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara Districts of the Western Province and providing prompt solutions to those issues held at Temple Trees on 22.05.2023.

The Prime Minister informed the Western Province Governor as well as the relevant officials that when there is an economic crisis in the country, the government officials should act accordingly find remedies and that the prel MORE >>

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena inaugurate the 10th edition of ’Sancharaka Udawa 2023’, Sri Lanka’s largest Travel and Tourism Fair at te Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exposition Center at the BMICH in Colombo today (May 19).

Organised by the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO), Sancharaka Udawa is a platform for mega operators in the hospitality industry as well as for small and medium scale service providers in the industry to network and build links with tour operators and enter the wider spectrum of the tourism industry. The 2-day fair will provide an opportunity for those less exposed, entrepreneurs in the Tourism Industry to meet with all stakeholders in mainstream tourism.
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The passing away of Mahanayake of Sri Amarapura Maha Nikaya, Chief Incumbent of Kalapaluwa Sri Gotama Tapowanaya and its centers, Mahawihara Vamsalankara Sasana Vibhushan, Amarapura Ganapamokkhacharya, Kalyaniwamsa Keerthi Sri Vangeesawashalankara Vipassana Kammattanacharya, Mahamahopadhyaya, Aggamaha Pandita, Venerable Dodampahala Chandasiri Mahanayaka Thera who played an unparalleled role in uplifting Sri Lankan Sambuddha Sasana, will be a great loss that is hard to be replaced.

Most Venerable Dodampahala Chandasiri Maha Nayake Thera has been involved in socializing many social, religious and cultural values. After receiving his basic education from Dodampahala Central College, he entered Matara Weeraba Pirivena and Galle V MORE >>

Canadian High Commissioner Eric Walsh called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena today (May 17) at the Temple Trees in Colombo.

They held discussions on the bilateral relations between the two countries and the ways and means of expanding development cooperation between the two countries.

The Prime Minister said that he is thankful for Canada’s support to Sri Lanka since the past for the development of railways and establishing Hardy Advanced technological Institute in Ampara to produce skilled technicians for Sri Lanka. He urged the Canadian government to consider the proposal to upgrade the Hardy Institute to a degree-awarding technological university.

He briefed the High Commissioner ab MORE >>

Governor of Yunnan Province Wang Yubo called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to explore ways and means of establishing close cooperation between Yunnan and Sri Lanka. During a luncheon meeting at the Temple Trees today (May 17), they discussed potential of collaboration in trade, tourism, agriculture, technology and investments.

Mr Wang Yubo, who was accompanied by a top level delegation of Yunnan Provincial Government expressed interest in assisting Sri Lanka in education and technical skill development. He said Yunnan Province with a population of 50 million and a GDP of 417 billion USD in 2022 is in a position to help friendly nations like Sri Lanka.

The Governor held a field study at Port City Colombo MORE >>

As per the opinion and instruction of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, a committee was appointed to enlist the song “Danno Budunge Sri Dharmaskandha” as a national heritage based on its uniqueness. The Cabinet Memorandum submitted as per the committee decisions was approved on 08.05.2023.

As a song that has continued to influence the nation’s thoughts and aesthetic values for more than a century, “Danno Budunge Sri Dharmaskandha” has become popular since time immemorial. This song, which has been used continuously to express national pride and historical consciousness, can be considered as a key factor in the study of local genre of music and it will be an inspiration to the musicians of this country.
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Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena recalled that Fourteen hundred thousand acres owned by our temples were confiscated by the then British government. He said this while speaking at the ceremony of awarding credentials for the title of Anunayaka of Ramagna Maha Nikaya to Venerable Sri Sugatha Sasanavamshalankara Kavidhaja Vimalavamsavithamsa Dharmakeerthi Sri Saddharmasoori Dr. Waleboda Gunasiri Thera of Sri Jayawardenepura Mayurapada Pirivena on 14.05.2023.

The Prime Minister in his speech highlighted that;

“Acknowledging the great service that the Venerable Waleboda Nayaka Thera has performed for the perpetuation of Buddha Sasana, will be an impetus to the hearts of the Buddhist people of our country.
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The Prime Minister pointed out that even though it has been more than three months since the instructions were given to submit a district development plan, the district secretaries have not taken steps to submit even a rough plan, and reiterated that the plan should be submitted immediately.

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena mentioned this when the committee for preparing a suitable program for monitoring the activities of the local governments met at Temple Trees on 12.05.2023.

Many matters and methods including continuity of various projects implemented by the local government institutions, management of financial allocations of those institutions, supervision and maintenance of all activities are coordinated MORE >>

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that with the government’s decision to upgrade the nursing college into a university, an opportunity has arisen to make a revolutionary transformation in nursing service of the country. He said this on the occasion of International Nurses Day at the celebration event organized by Public Service United Nurses Union at Temple Trees on 12.05.2023.

The Prime Minister further stated that;

Today is International Nurses Day. On International Nurses Day, the Public Service United Nurses Association continues to serve our country under the leadership of Venerable Muruththettuwe Ananda Nayaka Thera. The field of nursing was committed to the future as one of the main fields re MORE >>

A delegation of Vietnam Buddhist handed over a consignment of medicine to Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple Trees today (May 11).

This donation was symbolically handed over to the Prime Minister by Most Venerable Thich Vien Minh, Vice Supreme Patriarch of the Council of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. Thereafter, the Prime Minister handed over this consignment of medicine worth US$ 20,000 to Secretary to the Health Ministry Janaka Chandraguptha.

Most Ven Thich Vien Minh said that Vietnamese Buddhists have a special respect for Sri Lanka as this country supported the long-drawn freedom struggle of Vietnam. Vietnam Ambassador Ho Thi Thanh Truc said Sri Lanka has close relationship with Vietnam even before  MORE >>

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena instructed senior officials to explore ways and means of early resumption of the Lower Malwathuoya Project that has been halted due to scarcity of funds. He asked the officials to examine the possibility of linking the project with the completed Yan Oya Project of which the reservoir could be used as a mega solar power generation platform by installing floating solar panels. Such a project could generate electricity for the national grid and also earn funds for completion of the Lower Malwathuoya Project.

These issues were discussed after examining a project proposal submitted by the Sinomach China CAMC Engineering Corporation which has built the Yan Oya dam.

Chief Representati MORE >>

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena stressed that it is essential to prepare a systematic report of data on the school dropouts expeditiously. Addressing the Regional Development Committee meeting held at the Maharagama Divisional Secretariat on 08.05.2023, he pointed out that it will be difficult to implement proper programs targeting the future of those children without clear information about the children who dropout of school.

If children who leave school at the end of G.C.E. Ordinary Level and Advanced Level examinations for various reasons do not engage in higher education, their personal development would be affected apart from creating a social issue. The Prime Minister pointed out that it is essential that the children MORE >>

Unveiling the pinnacle of Chaithya built in Madanwala Rajamaha Vihara, Hanguranketha and enshrining the sacred relics of the Buddha discovered during the excavation in Lahugala Neelagiri Seya, Ampara, were conducted under the patronage of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on 05.07.2023.

Maha Sangha including Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Maha Nayaka Thera of the Asgiri sect, Warellagama Sumangala Thera Incumbent of Madanwala Rajamaha Vihara, Hanguranketha and Members of Parliament S. B. Dissanayake, C. B. Ratnayake, Yadamini Gunawardena, Central Province Governor Lalith U. Gamage and many devotees participated on this occasion. MORE >>

Prime mister Dinesh Gunawardena said there is a growing demand for fish products in Europe as well as in countries including Japan ad Sri Lankan fishing sector could cater to that demand by increasing fish production. He added that Cey-Nor Foundation, as the largest boat builders in Sri Lanka could make a major contribution by expanding fiber boat production.

Speaking at the 55th anniversary celebrations of the Cey Nor Foundation at Sri Lanka Foundation in Colombo today (May 8), he said Sri Lanka should use sea resources including fish as the future lies in increasing export of new products.

Launching the Cey-Nor website and the 5-year development plan, the Prime Minister said no establishment could grow with MORE >>