The government is contemplating the implementation of a collaborative tourism initiative between the Maldives and Sri Lanka.
This initiative was discussed today (25) during a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and the High Commissioner of the Republic of Maldives, Masood Imad.
During the meeting, the High Commissioner congratulated the government on its recent electoral victory and expressed his satisfaction with the positive changes taking place in the country following the election results.
The discussions also emphasized the longstanding 60-year diplomatic relationship between the Maldives and Sri Lanka, focusing on strengthening and advancing this bilateral partnership.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake acknowledged and expressed his appreciation for the Maldives’ unique contributions in fortifying the ties between the two nations.
The meeting was attended by several senior officials, including Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, Maldives Foreign Secretary Fathimath Inaya, and Additional Secretary Aminath Abdulla Didi.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake met with Ms. Severine Chappaz, the newly appointed Head of Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), today (25) at the Presidential Secretariat.
Discussions focused on the ICRC’s support for the new government’s policy framework. As part of this collaboration, the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society has agreed to provide technical assistance and capacity-building support to strengthen the Office on Missing Persons (OMP).
President Disanayake highlighted that the budget 2025 has allocated funds for on-going programs related to searching for missing persons.
Additionally, the President announced plans to celebrate “Sri Lankan Day” as a national initiative aimed at fostering unity and strengthening the country’s collective identity, transcending ethnic and religious differences.
The President expressed his gratitude to the ICRC for its humanitarian operations in Sri Lanka since 1989 and acknowledged its continued commitment to the country.
The meeting was also attended by Roshan Gamage, Senior Additional Secretary to the President, and Ruwanthi Jayasundara, Communications Manager of the ICRC.
– Assurance from the Indonesian Ambassador
A meeting between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and the Indonesian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Dewi Gustina Tobing, took place today (25) at the Presidential Secretariat.
During the discussion, Ambassador Tobing extended Indonesia’s well wishes to the new government and reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to strengthening the 70-year-long friendship between the two nations.
The Ambassador highlighted that both Sri Lanka and Indonesia recently held simultaneous elections and established new governments. She further stated that Indonesia’s current administration will support the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, noting that measures have been taken to implement a similar initiative in Indonesia.
The discussions also focused on establishing vibrant trade agreements and free trade arrangements between the two nations.
Additionally, both parties explored opportunities to expand markets in a mutually beneficial manner while further strengthening economic, social and cultural ties.
Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Mr Roshan Gamage and Indonesian Deputy Ambassador, Mr Fiki Oktanio, were also present at the meeting.
– President Instructs the Ministry Secretaries
• Key Steps to Relocate All Government Offices to State-Owned Buildings
Despite the constraints of a limited financial framework, President Anura Kumara Disanayake emphasized that it is the duty of government officials to allocate and utilize the funds efficiently and equitably, in accordance with the development priorities and the needs of the people as outlined in the recent budget.
This matter was underscored during a meeting held today (25) at the Presidential Secretariat, where the President engaged in discussions with the Secretaries of Ministries.
The President further highlighted the importance of government officials maintaining a high level of accountability in the management of expenses.
Additionally, the President acknowledged the prevailing negative public perception of the Public Service, attributing it to inefficiencies within the public sector. He noted that dissatisfaction among government employees regarding their employment conditions has contributed to these inefficiencies. He stressed the urgency of addressing these concerns to enhance the overall efficiency of the public service.
The President stated that, as a result of the reduction in expenses by the President and the Cabinet, it is also the responsibility of the public service to reduce administrative costs in state institutions and minimize wastage.
In order to reduce costs within the public service, extensive discussions were held regarding a series of measures. These include the relocation of all government offices to state-owned buildings, the planned auction of high-maintenance ministerial vehicles by March, the removal of unused office equipment, the identification of institutions for closure, merger, or transition to public-private partnerships, and the prompt implementation of these strategies.
The meeting was attended by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, the Secretary to the Prime Minister, G.P. Saputhanthri, and the Secretaries of the Ministries.
A discussion on Sri Lanka’s current security situation was held today (25) at the Presidential Secretariat, under the leadership of President Anura Kumara Disanayake.
The meeting, attended by senior officials of the Sri Lanka Army, focused on the future measures regarding the security situation in Sri Lanka.
Among those present were Deputy Minister of Defence, Aruna Jayasekara, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha and Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo along with several senior officials of the Sri Lanka Army.
- President Pays Homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic and Receives Blessings from the Chief Prelates of Malwathu and Asgiriya Chapters
President Anura Kumara Disanayake announced that a special exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic will be held for the general public after the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.
He stated that discussions regarding this event were held today (23) with the Chief Prelates (Mahanayaka Theras) of the Malwathu and Asgiriya Chapters.
Furthermore, arrangements for the exposition were agreed upon with the participation of the Governor of the Central Province, the Kandy District Secretary, other government officials and the Diyawadana Nilame of the historic Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
This morning (23), President Anura Kumara Disanayake visited the historic Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, where he paid homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic and received blessings.
Subsequently, he visited the Malwathu Maha Viharaya, where he met with the Chief Prelate of the Malwathu Chapter, Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera. The President inquired about the Chief Prelate’s well-being and engaged in a brief discussion. During the visit, the Maha Sangha chanted Seth Pirith (blessings) and bestowed blessings upon the President.
The President then proceeded to the Asgiriya Maha Viharaya, where he met with the Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter, Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera and engaged in a brief discussion. Senior monks, including the Anunayaka Theras of the Asgiriya Chapter, were present at the occasion and the Maha Sangha chanted Seth Pirith to invoke blessings upon the President.
Responding to a question from journalists, President Anura Kumara Disanayake assured that there is no threat to national security. He acknowledged that while conflicts among underworld groups exist, they do not pose a risk to public safety.
The President emphasized that the current government is taking firm action to completely eradicate organized crime, which had previously thrived under political protection.
The President reaffirmed the government’s commitment to conducting the local government elections as soon as possible. He assured that there are no legal obstacles preventing the Election Commission from holding the elections and that the government has already allocated the necessary funds. The President expressed confidence that the Election Commission will soon announce the election date.
The event was attended by Minister Samantha Vidyaratna, Deputy Ministers Dr. Prasanna Gunasena and Dr. Hansaka Wijayamuni, Kandy District Member of Parliament Thushari Jayasinghe, Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara and several other dignitaries.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake stated that the government’s aspiration is to elevate Sri Lanka, currently not a competitor in the field of innovation, to a comparable status with other countries, emphasizing that digitalization will play a crucial role in achieving this objective.
The President highlighted the necessity of implementing significant transformations within the innovation sector to meet these goals.
These remarks were made by President Disanayake at the Innovation Island Summit – 2025, held yesterday (20) at the ITC Ratnadipa Hotel in Colombo.
The President stated that hosting the Innovation Island Summit – 2025 in Sri Lanka signifies the growing interest and aspirations of new entrepreneurship in the country regarding innovation. He further said that that various stages of human civilization have been identified, with each new chapter being shaped by innovation.
He underscored the importance of innovation in advancing human civilization to new stages, stating that while people’s needs remain constant and the means of fulfilling those needs have changed.
The President explained that innovation drives the creation of new markets by addressing emerging needs, and that new markets emerge only when the method of fulfilling needs changes. He also noted that countries that have achieved success globally have done so by recognizing and capitalizing on these changes, with neighbouring India serving as a prime example.
The President expressed confidence in the substantial opportunities for innovation in our country, stating that Sri Lanka aims to pave a new path in digitalization by the year 2030.
President Disanayake also mentioned that the current budget prioritizes innovation and emphasized the importance of utilizing new discoveries for commercialization.
The President projected export revenue of USD 19 billion for this year, emphasizing the need for a significant transformation in the innovation sector to realize this revenue target.
He stated that creating an environment for the benefits of innovation to reach the entire population is a government responsibility, reiterating that the government’s numerous goals are intertwined with innovation.
The President also highlighted the challenges Sri Lanka faces in the global economic competition, along with the necessity for digitalization and innovation. He invited international partners and investors to come to Sri Lanka and requested that new investments be directed towards the country.
He further mentioned that a positive environment for innovation and business has already been established in the country and that we possess a skilled workforce to support this initiative.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives, Abdulla Khaleel, and today (20) at the Presidential Secretariat.
During the meeting, Minister Khaleel extended his congratulations to President Disanayake and the newly elected government on their electoral victory. He also expressed his appreciation for the positive changes taking place in Sri Lanka following the elections.
Minister Khaleel commended Sri Lanka’s resilience in overcoming economic challenges and stated that the Maldives is closely observing Sri Lanka’s recovery efforts to draw valuable lessons for its own economic revival.
He also extended an official invitation to President Disanayake to visit the Maldives on an official state visit.
President Disanayake, in response, expressed his appreciation for the Maldives’ commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s dedication to further enhancing cooperation between the two nations.
The meeting was attended by Maldivian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Masood Imad, Foreign Secretary Fathimath Inaya, Additional Secretary Aminath Abdulla Didi and other senior Maldivian officials, along with other dignitaries.
• Proper Economic Management Expected to Restore Debt Repayment Capacity by 2028
– President at the MBA Post-Budget Forum 2025
President Anura Kumara Disanayake highlighted that due to the mismanagement of public finances by previous administrations, the country had fallen into bankruptcy and is currently operating under a probationary period of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program. Given this situation, he emphasized that the Budget 2025 has taken the initial steps towards building a strong and stable economy.
The President made these remarks while participating in the Post-Budget forum 2025 organized by the University of Colombo Master of Business Administration (MBA) Alumni Association held today (19) at Cinnamon Life Hotel in Colombo.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake stated that the government aims to utilize the three-year debt moratorium granted through debt restructuring effectively and implement proper economic management to regain debt repayment capacity by 2028.
The President further noted that while many countries in the world have taken decades to recover after facing bankruptcy, Sri Lanka is expected to recover in a significantly shorter period.
The President also highlighted that this year’s budget proposes to increase government revenue to 15.1% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and emphasized the government’s commitment to prioritizing expenditures based on identified national priorities.
The President emphasized that this year’s budget focuses on expanding the economy by driving economic activities to rural areas and integrating citizens as stakeholders in the economy. He expressed confidence that this approach would enhance the economic benefits available to the people.
The government plans to reintegrate marginalized groups into the economy by establishing small economic units at the village level. As a result, the country aims to foster a surge in Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs), the President stated.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to supporting industries, the President noted that reducing production costs would ultimately provide relief to consumers.
To uplift the nation from rural poverty, the highest budget allocation this year has been directed towards education. This investment aims to restructure both human and physical resources within the school system, transitioning from a linear education model to a more diversified, multi-directional approach.
The budget also prioritizes public expenditure management. Given the high costs associated with delivering public services, the government intends to conduct a comprehensive review of state institution expenditures.
President Disanayake stressed the importance of maintaining a corruption-free political authority and underscored that fostering a culture where bribery is rejected is a collective responsibility of the citizens.
To establish an export-driven economy, the government plans to sign new trade agreements and anticipates higher export earnings this year.
Additionally, the current administration is focused on developing a port-centric economy. The budget has placed special attention on establishing an efficient transhipment hub.
Tourism promotion initiatives will be further strengthened through City Branding programs, with plans to develop key cities such as Anuradhapura, Yapahuwa, and Jaffna as major tourist destinations.
The President also emphasized the need to leverage the country’s diplomatic service to expand economic opportunities for Sri Lanka.
The event was attended by Duminda Hulangamuwa Chairman, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce & Senior Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs and Finance,President of the University of Colombo Master of MBA Alumni Association Suraj Radampola, along with several experts from academia and the business sector.
The term of Acting President of the Court of Appeal Justice Mohammed Thahir Laffar has been extended.
Accordingly, Justice Mohammed Thahir Laffar took his oath before President Anura Kumara Disanayake at the Presidential Secretariat today (17).
Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was also present on this occasion.