Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

National oil anointing ceremony of Sinhala and Hindu New Year Festival was held today (15) at Wattala Hendala Purana Rajamaha Vihara under the patronage of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

The Ministry of Indigenous Medicine organized this national event and on the auspicious time of 10.17 a.m, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena was anointed by Ven Higgoda Chandima Nayaka Thera, Chief Incumbent of Wattala Hendala Rajamaha Viharaya.

The Maha Sangha anointed the people who attended the state ceremony.

The Prime Minister offered his best wishes to the people for their good health as expected from the oil anointing ceremony.

The Ministry had taken steps to provide Sinhala New Year Alm MORE >>

Sinhala and Hindu New Year or Surya Mangalyaya (Solar Festival) is the greatest cultural festival of Sri Lanka.

Giving priority to auspicious rituals and religious activities, preserving the customary traditions, working together with the same purpose at the same moment in the same auspicious time cannot be seen in the cultures of any other country in the world.

Our ancestors who dealt with nature everyday made it even more realistic in the New Year customs. As their descendants, we do not need to be taught again and again about food security, thrift, self-belonging and unity. What requires is, to implement them.

The service rendered by the farmers to produce food for the country in the face of t MORE >>

Ambassador of Republic of Korea, Ms Miyon Lee called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardna at the Prime Minister’s Office in Colombo today (April 10) to discuss follow up actions on the decisions taken at the discussions held during the Prime Minister’s visit to Korea last week.

Prime Minister held discussions with Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea Han Duck-soo, Speaker of National Assembly Kim Jin-pyo, Governor of Gyengsangbuk-do Province Lee Cheol-woo and former Secretary General of the United Nation and current President and Chair of Green Growth Institute, Ban Ki-moon.

During these discussions, Korea agreed to increase support to Sri Lanka in several sectors including education, health, renewabl MORE >>

Since the ancient past, the Islamic people have been devotedly practicing their religious rites and rituals during the Ramadan, helping others, and giving exemplary meaning to the cultural and religious diversity of the country.

I take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the active contribution of the Sri Lankan Muslim community to the country’s governance process, business sector, education, various professional fields, and fields of sports and culture.

I further expect the kind commitment and sacrifices made by the Muslim community to achieve extremely difficult goals during this period to continue with added strength in this period significant to you.

Happy Eid-ul-Fitr!
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The Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that remedies will be taken to cope with difficulties faced by elderly artistes. He made these comments while participating in the ceremony held at Temple Trees (08.04.2024) to enrol artistes who have newly applied for the retirement programme for aged artists that is implemented by the Tower Hall Theater Foundation, and presenting them gifts for the New Year.

So far, a monthly retirement allowance of Rs.7,500/- has been given to 102 selected elderly artistes. The Board of Trustees of the Tower Hall Theater Foundation, which has met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Chairman of the Tower Hall Theatre Foundation, has decided to increase the said allowance to MORE >>

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that violence is not in their politics, and the government accepted this challenge by committing to a non-violent political victory. He made these comments during the programme for the distribution of incubators with the view of strengthening the rural economy and uplifting small-scale poultry farm owners, held on 07.04.2024 at Mavittara, Piliyandala, at Wilfred Senanayake Stadium, Homagama.

“One and a half years ago, the people of the whole country were very courageous in the face of the economic crisis. We have never thought that the country could face such a crisis in our lifetime. We had heard that our elders faced such a situation during the Second World War. At that time, our pea MORE >>

Deputy Secretary of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna MP Yadamini Gunawardena, Ambassador of Vietnam Ho Thi Thanh Truc, President of the youth organization of MEP Samantha Gamage, and the representatives of the youth organization of MEP participated in this event.

Prime Minister’s Media MORE >>

The meeting between Korean Prime Minister Han Duck Soo and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena was held on 04.04.2024 at the Prime Minister’s Office in Seoul.

The Korean Prime Minister stated at the meeting that many new job opportunities will be opened for Sri Lanka.

In addition to the labour force that provides jobs for agriculture, construction and other industries in his country, the Korean Prime Minister also mentioned the possibility of providing new jobs for health services and professional services.

The Korean Prime Minister said that his country, as a member of the Paris Club, will always stand therein for Sri Lanka, which is recovering from the recent financial crisis, to suc MORE >>

During the discussion held between Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena inSeoul, Chairman of Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Ban Ki-moon expressed appreciation over the close partnership with Sri Lanka and assured efforts to reinforce the longstanding amicable relations between Sri Lanka and GGGI and to explore opportunities to fortify bilateral ties across various sectors.

“The Government of Sri Lanka is in the process of transitioning to a greener, inclusive, and more resilient economy through interventions on renewable energy, sustainable transport, and creating our cities greener,” Prime Minister Gunawardena said in his talks with the former Secretary General of the United Nations in Seoul on April 4.
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Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, who is on an official visit to South Korea, met with the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, Kim Jin Pyo today (04.04.2024).

They discussed the ways and means of enhancing exchanges between the two legislatures.

Sri Lankan delegation included State Ministers Piyal Nishantha, Anupama Pasqual, MPs Yadamini Gunawardena, Rajika Wickramasinghe, Muditha de Soysa, Jagath Kumara, Sri Lankan Ambassador to Korea Savitri Panabokke, and Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake.

Prime Minister’s Media MORE >>

Member of Parliament Yadamini Gunawardena, Sri Lankan Ambassador to Korea Savitri Panabokke, and Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake participated in this event.

Prime Minister’s Media MORE >>

Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-du Province of the Republic of South Korea, Lee Cheol Woo met with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on 03.04.2024 at the Governor’s office, in Andong in Gyeongsangbuk-du.

The Provincial Government agreed to offer many benefits for education and higher education, agriculture, fisheries, women and rural development in Sri Lanka during the talks. They also discussed the potential for launching investment projects too.

The agreements were reached on providing more smart classrooms for schools, information technology equipment for vocational training institutes for school leavers who do not enrol for higher education, increasing opportunities for university entrance, incre MORE >>

A group including State Minister Piyal Nishantha, Anupama Pasqual, MPs Yadamini Gunawardena, Rajika Wickramasinghe, Muditha de Soysa, Jagath Kumara, Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake participated in this event.

Prime Minister’s Media MORE >>

A group including State Minister Piyal Nishantha, Anupama Pasqual, MPs Yadamini Gunawardena, Rajika Wickramasinghe, Muditha de Soysa, Jagath Kumara, Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake participated in this event.

Prime Minister’s Media MORE >>

A group including State Minister Piyal Nishantha, Anupama Pasqual, MPs Yadamini Gunawardena, Rajika Wickramasinghe, Muditha de Soysa, Jagath Kumara, Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake also joined in this occasion.

Prime Minister’s Media MORE >>

MP Yadamini Gunawardena stated that if the precious commitments of our people rendered in the past are not remembered again and again, the battles and legacies will be erased from the history books. He said this while attending the 52nd commemoration of the national hero Philip Gunawardena held at the Foundation Institute, Colombo (31.03.2024).

MP Yadamini Gunawardena addressing the gathering stated that,

“When Hon. Philip Gunawardena, who is remembered with respect even today as a national hero of the country who made many commitments for the achievements of the public not only in our country but also in many continents, was to enrol for higher education, Anagarika Dharmapala advised Hon. Philip Gunawardena& MORE >>

Let us enlighten our lives through the life of Jesus Christ.

Let us resolve in this Easter day to put society on the right track by focusing on human relations and social ethics in the face of current, complex social misapprehensions.

The life example of Jesus Christ, who sacrificed his life for social justice, mercy, love and humanity in order to achieve righteous goals courageously, is extremely valuable.

The said religious teachings help us build the necessary mindset that is required in any crisis situation.

This is a time that social values influenced by the life of Jesus, who has spread mercy and love, should be socialized again and again. Let us celebrate this Easter by lea MORE >>

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena had a long discussion with Gong Seng, Mayor of Shanghai, today (29.03.2024) in Shanghai, China.

It was agreed to establish a strong relationship between Shanghai, China, which is ranked first among the world’s port cities, and the cities of Colombo and Hambantota, which have been planned to be developed as a maritime hub in the East and West shipping routes in the future.

A long time has passed since the Sister City Agreement between Colombo and Shanghai was signed, and the Prime Minister pointed out that further work can be carried out under this agreement, which was signed when his brother Prasanna Gunawardena was holding the post of Mayor.

It was emphasi MORE >>