January 8, 2024
Hon Sheikh Hasina
Prime Minister of Bangladesh

Honourable Prime Minister,

I offer my heartfelt congratulations to you on the resounding victory of Awami League which assures your third consecutive term as Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

As close South Asian neighbours with deep friendship and close ties, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are committed to work together to overcome challenges faced by us and explore new opportunities for cooperation.

I look forward to continuously work with you to further promote the strong, longstanding bilateral ties that are built on the foundation of shared beliefs and principles.

Honourable Prime Minister, pleas MORE >>

A special discussion was held today (2024.01.08) at Temple Trees regarding the implementation and recovery of Aswasuma Welfare Benefit Scheme.

It was decided to resolve all appeals for the year 2023 by January 31st 2024, to call for new appeals for the second round by the first week of February 2024, to create a special appeals unit for each divisional secretariat and to appoint an officer for it at the village level.

The Prime Minister who spoke at the meeting said:

“A large number of people had doubts and fears that they would not get Aswesuma benefits. Everyone, including the district governors, implemented the resolution well, despite many problems. All the concerned officers including the  MORE >>

The unveiling of the statue of Siri Devamitta Dhammapala Thera, the first statue of Anagarika Dharmapala’s monastic life, has taken place today (2024.01.05) at Maha Bodhi Agrasravaka Maha Vihara, Colombo under the patronage of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

This event was organized for the 74th birthday celebration of Ven Banagala Upatissa Thera, President of Sri Lanka Maha Bodhi Association, Chief Incumbent of Maha Bodhi Agrasravaka Maha Viharaya, Chief Incumbent of Sanchi Chethiyagiri Viharaya, Chief Sanghanayaka of Japan.

Maha Sangha, other religious leaders, opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, Minister Wijayadasa Rajapakshe, Members of Parliament Roshan Ranasinghe, Yadamini Gunawardena, Indian D MORE >>

United Nations Assistant Secretary General (ASG) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Director for Asia and the Pacific, Kanni Wignaraja expressed appreciation over the reforms undertaken for sociopolitical development in Sri Lanka and assured continuous assistance under the UNDP.

When she called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple Trees today (January 4), she lauded the Prime Minister’s role in ensuring empowerment of downtrodden people of Sri Lanka. “We highly appreciate your consistent policy to work for uplifting the marginalized people of the country that you have carried out that for the last 30 or 40 years,” she said.

She called on to discuss Sri Lanka’s develop MORE >>

The outgoing New Zealand High Commissioner Michael Appleton paid a farewell call on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple Trees in Colombo on Tuesday (January 2). He thanked the government for its decision to reopen its Embassy in New Zealand shortly.

He said Sri Lanka has achieved remarkable recovery to face the Covid 19 challenges and the unprecedented economic crisis. “When I arrived in Sri Lanka 3 years ago, the country was reeling under the impact of Covid pandemic and I had to stay in a hotel room under quarantine. Now at the time I am leaving, the tourists are arriving in large numbers as you have managed the crisis well,” High Commissioner Appleton said. He thanked the Prime Minister for the continuous c MORE >>

We have already moved forward from the past. We have to step into the future from the present

The Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena announced that the Pensioner’s Fund and made it independent."We have already moved forward from the past and we have to step into the future from the present", he added. He expressed these views today (01.01.2024) at the Prime Minister’s Office, Colombo, after religious rites at the start of the New Year’s official activities. Secretary to the Prime Minister Mr. Anura Dissanayake delivered the welcome speech and subsequently, the Public Servant’s Pledge was taken place..

Speaking on this occasion the Prime Minister stated that-

We all are de MORE >>

Wishing all of you a prosperous and happy new year 2024.

The necessary measures have been taken in this year’s budget to launch the government’s procedure to create a country with new hopes.

In line with the last year, let us all work together with dedication for a prosperous future in a disciplined and democratic society by helping to implement the challenging program of creating a new era in all economic, political, social and cultural fields.

In this new year, I recollect with gratitude the challenging work done by our farmers in the face of the food and economic crisis faced by the country last year.

We are determined to move the country towards a productive economy by e MORE >>

Our exams should be transformed into exams that can overcome new challenges...

The Prime Minister Dinesh Gunewardena mentioned that the government has taken the responsibility to get the country out of its turmoil. Further he stated that the system of exams should be transformed into exams that can overcome new challenges . The Prime Minister expressed these views while participating the event of vesting the new post office at Rukmalgama, Pannipitiya to the public on 30.12.2023.

Speaking on this occasion the Prime Minister stated that;

The wealth of experience of the elderly should be bequeathed to the future generation. We have the responsibility to dedicate ourselves to uplift their welfare,  MORE >>

New Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple Trees today (December 29). They held a detailed discussion on economic ties and cooperation between the two countries and examined ways and means of expediting the proposed joint projects.

They discussed the possibility of more Indian investments in the energy sector including solar and wind power, joint projects on Trincomalee oil storage tanks, ports, railways and other sectors.

The Prime Minister thanked India for the assistance provided to Sri Lanka to face the current economic crisis by extending debt restructuring facilities and providing relief material, food and medicine and also for the support given to  MORE >>

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena sent a congratulatory message to Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis who has been elected for a new term after the resounding victory of the ruling party at the general elections held yesterday (Dec 26).

Following is the Message of Congratulations;

Hon Kyriakos Mitsotakis
Prime Minister of Greece
Honourable Prime Minister,

On behalf of the Government and the people of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and on my personal behalf I offer heartfelt congratulations to you on your resounding victory at the general elections and offer my best wishes to your new term as Prime Minister of Greece.

I look forward to continuous MORE >>

The Uduwap Poya day sermon was delivered by, Ven. Madawala Dhammika Jinawansa Thera, Former Parivenadipathi of Sri Lanka Vidyalaya Maha Pirivena, Maradana, Chief Incumbent of Sri Vijayaramaya, Matara, and Viharadikari of Jethavanaramaya, Colombo. MORE >>

The Christmas, which marks the birth of Jesus Christ provides a strong foundation for a society that values human dignity and humanity. The Teachings of Jesus Christ contains a vision to look at the world realistically with love, kindness, and mercy.

The Christmas is an occasion for a new beginning towards creating economically prosperous Sri Lanka that is abundant with harvest and conflicts are resolved by eliminating hatred and cruelty in accordance with the teachings of Jesus, who professed the wonderful lesson of sharing kindness to entire human race, animals, and even the environment.

I wish everybody a joyful Christmas in which we abide by the wonderful lessons of peace, harmony and equality, while refrai MORE >>

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed ten Ministry Secretaries and two Chief Secretaries which will be effective from 01st of January, 2024.

Mr. Pradeep Yasaratne has been appointed as the new Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government. Mr Yasaratne, a special grade officer of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS), has served as the Chief Secretary of the Western Province and as Colombo District Secretary. He has gained exceptional experience in Sri Lanka’s administrative service by holding executive-level positions in a number of major government institutions.

Other newly appointed Secretaries –

Mrs. Vasantha P MORE >>

Expedite all the development activities across the island under the new budget provisions...

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena advised all the governors and district coordinating committee chairpersons to speed up all development activities across the island under the new budget provisions.

The Prime Minister gave these instructions in a discussion held at the Temple Trees on 19.12.2023 with Governors, District Coordinating Committee Chairpersons and senior officials regarding the activities related to Provincial Councils and Local Government Institutions and future development activities.

In the year 2024, projects proposed to be implemented under the supervision of the provincial governors and  MORE >>

 MORE >>

Outgoing Pakistani High Commissioner, Major General (Retd.) Umar Farooq Burki paid a farewell call on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple Trees today (December 18) and thanked the Prime Minister for excellent support extended to him during his tenure in Sri Lanka.

The High Commissioner briefed the Prime Minister about the steps taken to promote tourism, especially Buddhist pilgrim tours to Pakistan.

The Prime Minister, while welcoming the offer by Pakistan to open Buddhist pilgrim sites for Sri Lankans and thanked the Pakistan High Commission for organizing a tour for Buddhist monks, journalists and academics on a familiarization visits to Pakistan to witness the diversity of well-preserved Buddhist MORE >>

Under the shadow of Mahapola, new opportunities have arisen to bring together education and knowledge....

The Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that the Mahapola Scholarship Scheme was able to make a revolutionary impact on education and new opportunities have arisen to bring together education and knowledge under the shade of Mahapola. He said this while marking the last day of the ’Mahapola’ Educational and Trade Fair which was held after a decade at Ja-Ela Municipal Stadium on 17.12.2023.

Speaking on this occasion the Prime Minister stated that –

Mahapola which was revived after a decade is a special program that changed the history of Mother Lanka. This program which flows like MORE >>

The newly constructed Wattala Divisional Secretariat was vested with the public by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on 17.12.2023. The Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government has taken necessary steps to shift the Wattala Divisional Secretariat, which has been carried out in a temporary location, to a new building with better facilities.

Speaking on this occasion the Prime Minister stated that-

It is time for us to end the unpleasant era and get ready to step on the threshold of an optimistic future. All the government institutions have been entrusted with a great responsibility in this concern. The government had to bear a huge cost to construct the building o MORE >>