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.

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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.

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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 >>

Egyptian Ambassador Maged Mosleh called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple Trees on December 1.

The Prime Minister welcomed the Ambassador and the delegation of Egypt and recalled the long lasting relationship with due respect to the Egypt as the first Arab State to open the Diplomatic mission in Colombo in 1957.

The government of Sri Lanka has already made a arrangement for the issuance of Commemorative Stamp to mark the 66th anniversary of the Diplomatic relations between two Nations in 2023 and the commemorative event will be organized with Egypt – Sri Lanka friendship association.

The Ambassador referred to the friendship between two nations over a decades and tanked Sri Lanka for the support extended by in the international arena. He further, appreciated the Sri Lanka’s stand on current issu MORE >>

Let’s name the echo of the voice demanding more land for cultivation as "from our village to the world"... - Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena

The Prime Minister mentioned that let’s name the echo of the voice demanding more land for cultivation as "from our village to the world". He said this at the Commemorative Lecture on 30.11.2023 at the Bandaranayake Memorial Hall organized by the Lalith Athulathmudali Foundation, Institute for Democracy and Leadership and (NAUMANN) Foundation for Freedom

Speaking on this occasion the Prime Minister stated that,

The name Lalith Athulathmudali only brings memories of an extremely distinguished son of Mother Lanka, who was in a deep sense a genuine patriotic person, who served his Motherland and her People.

When I first entered Parliament in 1983, joining a beleaguered opposition during  MORE >>

2024 is considered as a year of increasing harvest... - Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena

The Maharagama Coordination Committee meeting was held at the Maharagama Divisional Secretariat on 29.11.2023 under the patronage of the Committee Chairman Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

Since the coming year 2024 is considered to be a year of increasing harvest, the Prime Minister instructed the officials including the Assistant Commissioner of Agrarian Services to implement the related programs.The Prime Minister emphasized the significance of food crops and export crops.

Focusing on further delay of the committee’s report on unauthorized paddy land reclamation, the Prime Minister said that instead of protecting some people, the relevant officials should focus on interpreting the objectives of the A MORE >>

Prime Minister’s Office curtail expenditure by 46% - Expands scope of responsibilities.

The Prime Minister took part in the 2024 budget committee debate which is held for 21 Expenditure Heads including the Prime Minister’s office, and he submitted information of the expenditure management of his office into the Hansard on 22.11.2023.

Accordingly, compared to the year 2021, the expenses of the Prime Minister’s Office have been reduced by 21% in 2022 and by 46% by October 2023. In the year 2021, the expenditure was 1661.7 million rupees, in 2022 it was 1310.4 million and by October 2023, the figure is reduced to Rs.705.7million. The special feature is that in 2021, Rs. 1661.7 million which has been allocated for the Prime Minister’s office from the budget had been spent but only Rs1310.4 mill MORE >>

Discussions on a direct air and shipping links between Italy and Sri Lanka.

A meeting between Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Italian Ambassador Damiano Francovigh took place today (27.11.2023) at the Prime Minister’s Office in Parliament.

New Italian Ambassador Mr. Damiano Francovigh expressed his consent to the Prime Minister Mr. Dinesh Gunawardena’s request to look into matters urgently to introduce Colombo as a direct air and shipping destination with the aim of developing tourism between Italy and Sri Lanka.

Discussions were held regarding further strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries.

On response to the Prime Minister’s request, the Ambassador said that a delegation of the Italian Trade Agencies will be sent for a di MORE >>

China and Sri Lanka to further strengthen ties in economic, trade & investment and cultural fields

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said there is vast potential for further expanding economic cooperation between China and Sri Lanka. “Sri Lanka highly value China’s continuous support to Sri Lanka,” he said when Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Special Envoy and State Councilor, Shen Yiqin met him at the Temple Trees Office in Colombo today (November 20).

The Prime Minister, thanking China for the assistance provided to Sri Lanka to restore economy after the recent debt crisis, added that Sri Lanka would welcome public and private investments from China as well as investments in agriculture for production and export, renewable energy, IT, education and infrastructure development to provide long term solutions to econo MORE >>