Justice Mohammed Thahir Laffar, the most senior judge currently serving on the Court of Appeal, has been appointed as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal.
Accordingly, Justice Mohammed Thahir Laffar took his oath as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal before President Anura Kumara Disanayake today (02) at the Presidential Secretariat.
The appointment follows the pre-retirement leave of the incumbent President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Bandula Karunarathna, which has been accepted by President Anura Kumara Disanayake. This appointment will remain valid until a new Acting President of the Court of Appeal is appointed in accordance with the Constitution.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake paid his last respects to the late former Member of Parliament, Mavai Senathirajah.
The President visited the residence of the late Senathirajah in Kankesanthurai this afternoon (31) and offered his last respects. He also extended his deepest condolences to the family members and close associates of the late MP.
Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation, Bimal Rathnayake, along with several others, accompanied the President on this occasion.
• Jaffna Presidential Palace to Be Fully Released for a More Significant Development Project that benefits the people of the region
• More Opportunities for Tamil-Speaking Youth in Police Department Vacancies
• Focus on Establishing Industrial Zones in Paranthan, Mankulam, and Kankesanthurai
• Political Authority and State mechanism must collaborate to Improve People’s Living Standards
– President at the Jaffna DCC Meeting
President Anura Kumara Disanayake stated that land belonging to the people should rightfully remain with them. He further emphasized that the issue of land disputes in the Northern Province is under review and that steps are being taken to expedite the process of returning land to its rightful owners.
The President highlighted that while the government has the authority to acquire land anywhere in the country for development projects or security purposes, it is imperative that alternative land is provided to those affected.
President Disanayake made these remarks during the Jaffna District Coordination Committee (DCC) Meeting held today (31) at the Jaffna District Secretariat.
He also stressed that the Jaffna President’s House will be fully repurposed for a project of greater significance to the people of the region. He urged officials to submit suitable proposals for this initiative.
The President instructed officials to investigate and take swift action regarding reports that families displaced by the war are still residing in the Northern Province.
He also noted that a committee, led by the Secretary to the Prime Minister, has identified approximately 30,000 vacancies in state institutions. He assured that these vacancies would be filled in accordance with the established recruitment process, ensuring opportunities for university graduates as well.
Additionally, the President announced that Tamil-speaking youth will be given greater opportunities to apply for vacancies in the Police Department and encouraged them to come forward for recruitment.
The government has also planned to implement a comprehensive strategy to strengthen the transportation system in the Northern Province. This includes launching a joint bus operation project between the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) and private bus operators. Furthermore, attention has been directed toward increasing the frequency of train services in the region.
The President stated that three new industrial zones will be established in Paranthan, Mankulam, and Kankesanthurai to improve the living standards of the people in the Northern Province. He also extended an invitation to Sri Lankans who left the country due to the war to invest in these projects.
The government is prioritizing the Northern Province in its development plans, ensuring targeted initiatives for the region, the President emphasized.
He further revealed that with an estimated 2.5 million tourists expected to visit Sri Lanka next year, the government will identify and promote new tourist attractions in the Northern Province to boost tourism in the region.
Additionally, the President assured that new recruitments for the state sector in the Northern Province will be carried out without political interference, while efforts will be made to further strengthen public service in the region.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake stated that the government would engage in maximum diplomatic intervention to resolve the fisheries-related issues affecting the region.
Additionally, he highlighted that the Northern Province has been identified as the region with the lowest consumption of piped drinking water in the country. In response, he emphasized the need to accelerate the on-going water supply projects in the area. Furthermore, he announced that funds have been allocated in the upcoming budget for the implementation of new water supply projects to improve access to clean drinking water in the province.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake acknowledged the numerous challenges faced by the people in the Northern Province and emphasized the government’s commitment to strengthening the education, healthcare, transportation and agricultural sectors, along with the overall public service in the region. He further stated that both political authority and state mechanisms must work together to uplift the living standards of the people.
The Jaffna District Coordinating Committee meeting was attended by several key figures, including Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, and Chairman of the Jaffna District Coordinating Committee Ramalijngam Chandrasekar, Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake, Members of Parliament (NPP), Ilankumaran Karunanandan, Dr. Saravanabhavanandan Shanmuganathan, Rajivan Jayachandramurthy, Ramanathan Archuna, Member of Parliament (ITAK) Sivagnanam Sridharan, Member of Parliament (AITC) Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, Governor of the Northern Province Nagalingam Vedanayagam, Chief Secretary of the Northern Province L. Ilangovan, Jaffna District Secretary M. Pradeepan, Acting Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasooriya and Senior military officials overseeing the Northern region, along with other government officials.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake is scheduled to participate in several events in Jaffna today (31).
The Jaffna District Coordinating Committee meeting, which will focus on ongoing development initiatives and future plans for the district, will be held at 10:30 AM at the Jaffna District Secretariat under the patronage of the President.
Subsequently, the President will attend two community engagement meetings; one at 1:30 PM in the Velvettithurai area and another at 3:30 PM in Chavakachcheri.
- Customs’ Efforts to Stabilize the Economy Are Commendable
- Achievements of Customs in Meeting Last Year’s Targets Are Appreciated
– President at the International Customs Day Celebration
President Anura Kumara Disanayake stated that the current government is determined to make all necessary decisions for the country’s advancement and to improve the quality of life for its citizens.
The president expressed these views during an event held yesterday (27) at the Customs Department Auditorium to mark International Customs Day under the theme, ‘Customs Delivering on its Commitment to Efficiency, Security and Prosperity.’
The Customs Co-operation Council (CCC), established in 1952 with the participation of 17 European countries is independent intergovernmental body whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations. This council quickly became globally recognized, and Sri Lanka became a member in 1967. In 1994, the Customs Cooperation Council was renamed the World Customs Organization (WCO).
The first session of the Customs Cooperation Council was held on January 26, 1953, in Brussels, Belgium, marking the establishment of International Customs Day. As a result, every year on January 26, customs administration institutions across the world celebrate International Customs Day.
The President also mentioned that necessary actions are being taken to create a modern organizational structure, with structural reforms being implemented within Sri Lanka Customs, the Department of Excise, and the Department of Inland Revenue.
The President stated that laws and institutions must evolve to meet the challenges of the times and cannot remain static or permanent indefinitely.
Elaborating further, President Disanayake shared the following insights:
Customs successfully fulfilled its responsibilities over the past year, and its efforts in stabilizing the economy are highly commendable. The achievements in meeting last year’s targets are being appropriately recognized.
However, simply achieving revenue targets is not enough to rebuild a collapsed economy. Addressing the economic crisis requires increasing the revenue-to-GDP ratio. The economic collapse has significantly disrupted the import-export market.
All of our actions are currently being carried out within the parameters set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). While surface-level indicators may suggest economic recovery, the overall economy remains deeply damaged. Therefore, it is essential to approach the recovery process cautiously and with balance. Even a small mistake can cause significant disruptions to the economy. Therefore, the Customs Department must work collectively to achieve its targeted revenue of Rs. 2,550 billion.
A proposal has been submitted to improve facilities for Customs and establish a new salary structure. Discussions are underway with the Ministry of Finance and the Treasury to provide solutions.
This year’s budget has already addressed the increase in the basic salaries of public sector employees. Additionally, plans are in place to enhance the efficiency of the public service by integrating digitalization and technology. Efforts are also being made to implement legal reforms to build strong institutional frameworks.
There were conflicts between previous political administrations and the state service mechanism. Due to these disagreements, the political leadership failed to implement the necessary reforms to strengthen institutional frameworks at the right time. It was a challenging period to establish robust institutional structures.
The failure to introduce timely institutional changes resulted in the expected outcomes not being achieved. Consequently, before we could secure many opportunities for ourselves, external parties took advantage of our resources. As a result, Sri Lanka missed several opportunities to leverage its natural strategic position as a nation.
In the future, necessary measures must be taken to facilitate operations at the Sri Lanka Port, targeting a capacity of 11.3 million containers. Achieving this will require collective effort from all employees. Without such unity, the country cannot move forward. This year, the Customs Department has been assigned a revenue target of LKR 2,550 billion.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake presented merit certificates issued by the World Customs Organization to 20 Customs officers in recognition of their outstanding contributions to special operations. Additionally, two officers were honoured with skills awards during the event.
The Director General of Customs also presented a commemorative plaque to President Anura Kumara Disanayake to mark the occasion.
The event was attended by key dignitaries, including Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Harshana Suriyapperuma, Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwardena, Director General of Customs Sarath Nonis, and other officials from the Customs Department.
- argeting USD 36 Billion in Export Revenue by 2030
- Rise in export income next quarter
– President at the EDMC Meeting
In line with the new government’s policy of “A Thriving Nation- A Beautiful Life,” President Anura Kumara Disanayake directed officials to take the necessary steps to increase export revenue to $36 billion by 2030.
The President expressed these views during the meeting of the Export Development Council of Ministers (EDCM), held today (27) at the Presidential Secretariat.
Export revenue, which stood at USD 16.1 billion in 2024, is expected to rise to USD 18.2 billion this year, with a long-term goal of reaching USD 36 billion by 2030 through a comprehensive action plan.
The discussions emphasized the importance of strengthening domestic production and transitioning to an export-driven economy. Participants also highlighted the need to leverage Sri Lanka’s strategic location, human resources, and natural assets to develop a sustainable industrial growth plan.
This focused on revitalizing struggling domestic manufacturing industries, enhancing the competitiveness of export sectors, promoting the services industry, and capturing global markets through innovative strategies. Additionally, attention was drawn to attracting Foreign Direct Investment under a national framework, creating a conducive environment for new investments, reducing production costs, and ensuring the availability of essential infrastructure and resources.
Key decisions and discussions at the meeting included:
A decision was made to establish a VAT refund system at the airport for goods purchased by tourists.
To address delays and inefficiencies in the inspection of export products, plans have been made to replace the manual system with an automated scanning system that complies with international standards. This system will be installed at the Katunayake airport, with funding allocated by the Ministry of Industries.
It was also decided to permit the “inspection of railway engines” manufactured in Sri Lanka, which had previously posed a barrier to exports, to be conducted within the country.
It was decided to introduce renewable energy sources to reduce costs within the export industry and to launch a program to encourage exporters to adopt modern technology, enhancing cost efficiency while conserving electricity.
It was decided to provide funding from the CESS fund to implement programs focused on entrepreneurs and investors to achieve export targets.
Investment Facilitation Committee was established to facilitate investment in the export sector by providing investment support for both domestic and foreign investments.
It was decided to provide export incentives for the export of gems and jewellery by identifying the correct export value through an appropriate method.
The government has focused on the export of electronic equipment and devices manufactured locally, and discussions were held regarding providing customs duty concessions on raw material imports for this purpose.
Special attention was given to the digitalization of data systems related to the export industry in the implementation of the above decisions.
There was also a focus on increasing the bank guarantee limits for incentivizing service exports.
The meeting also addressed challenges currently facing the export sector and potential solutions. Issues related to the inspection of apparel exports were highlighted, and resolutions were formulated with the consensus of all stakeholders.
The EDMC, established on September 11, 1980, has met sporadically over the years. However, it had not convened between 1992 and 2020, and even in 2020, no significant decisions were implemented. This meeting in 2025 marks the resumption of the committee’s activities after a gap of 28 years, making it a notable milestone.
The committee comprises representatives from various ministries, including Trade, Shipping, Plantations, Agriculture, Industry, Textiles, Fisheries, Finance, Foreign Affairs, Supply Chain, and Rural Development. Its primary objective is to enhance Sri Lanka’s global competitiveness by formulating and implementing national export development policies and programs.
Notable attendees at the meeting included Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti, Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake, Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure Samantha Vidyarathne, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe, Minister of Rural Development, Social Security, and Community Empowerment Dr. Upali Pannilage, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) Mangala Wijesinghe, Secretaries of relevant ministries and a group of state officials.
- A comprehensive and accurate data system for the public service by June.
- A fair and equitable basic salary increase for public officials.
– President Anura Kumara Disanayake
President Anura Kumara Disanayake emphasized that the government is taking steps to strengthen the public service as a right of the citizen and a responsibility of public officials.
Highlighting the dissatisfaction among citizens regarding the current public service, the President stated that the government aims to deliver efficient services to citizens through the digitization of government services.
These remarks were made by President Anura Kumara Disanayake during the Anuradhapura District Coordination Committee meeting held today (26) at the Anuradhapura District Secretariat.
The President revealed that efforts are underway to establish an accurate data system for the public service by June and pointed out the significant complexity in the current volume of data within the public service, which hampers the ability to make precise decisions.
President Disanayake also disclosed that proposals to provide a fair basic salary increase for public officials and to resolve pension disparities within three years will be included in this year’s budget.
The meeting also focused on strengthening the public service while managing its costs effectively.
Attention was drawn to the urgent need to fill approximately 30,000 existing vacancies within the public service, with discussions on allocating necessary funds for this initiative in the upcoming budget. Delays in recruitment due to technical procedures, including interview processes, were also addressed, emphasizing the need for unified human resource management within the public service.
The President directed attention to multiple sectors in the Anuradhapura District, including education, healthcare, irrigation, agriculture, and human-elephant conflict.
Discussions were held on the potential to develop Anuradhapura as a tourism hub, with a focus on leveraging the “City Branding” approach to transform Anuradhapura into an attractive tourist destination.
The city, which already attracts a significant number of local tourists, was identified as having excellent potential to appeal to foreign tourists as well. As the site of Sri Lanka’s first kingdom and the location of the first reservoir, the city’s historical and cultural significance could be further promoted globally.
The President further emphasized the importance of implementing the “Clean Sri Lanka” program to foster positive societal attitudes and build a better society.
The Chairman of the Anuradhapura District Secretariat Committee, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development, Mr. Wasantha Samarasinghe; Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation, Dr. Susil Ranasinghe; Governor of the North Central Province, Mr. Wasantha Jinadasa; Members of Parliament, Mr. Susantha Kumara Nawarathna, Dr. Sena Nanayakkara Attorney-at-Law Mr. Bhagya Sri Herath, and Mr. Thilina Samarakoon;Mr. P.D.N.K. Palihena; Mr. Rohana Bandara; Chief Secretary of the North Central Province, Mr. R.M.W.S. Samaradiwakara; and Anuradhapura District Secretary, Mr. K.G.R. Wimalasooriya, were also present at the meeting.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake extended an invitation to Chinese investors to explore investment opportunities in Sri Lanka, emphasizing the nation’s stable governance and transparent economy.
He made these remarks as the keynote speaker at the “Investment Forum” held today (16), jointly organized by Chinese state and private enterprises.
The forum was a significant event during President Disanayake’s third day of his four-day state visit to China, undertaken at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Prominent Chinese corporations, including China Tianying Inc. (CNTY), China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd., China Communications Construction Company Ltd., China Petrochemical Corporation (SINOPEC Group), Metallurgical Corporation of China Ltd., China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), China Energy International Group Company Ltd., Guangzhou Public Transport Group and Huawei BYD Auto participated in the event.
President Disanayake also engaged in cordial discussions with the leadership of these corporations.
The forum was attended by Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Vijitha Herath, Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation, Bimal Rathnayake, Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong, and Sri Lankan Ambassador to China Majintha Jayasinghe, among others.
On the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Disanayake continues his four-day state visit to China, beginning the third day (16) by participating in an investment session scheduled for this morning.
The “Investment Session,” jointly organized by public and private sector entities, will be held under the patronage of President Disanayake, marking a key highlight of the visit.
Following this, the President is set to pay tribute at the Monument to the People’s Heroes, laying a floral wreath to honour their legacy.
Later in the afternoon, President Disanayake is scheduled to meet with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, to engage in discussions on further strengthening bilateral relations.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath, along with Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake, will also participate in these significant engagements.
- China expresses readiness to collaborate with Sri Lanka towards a new era of development – President Xi Jinping
- Several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed covering economic, social, and industrial sectors between the two countries.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake, currently on a four-day state visit to China, held an official meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping this afternoon (15) at the Great Hall of the People.
Upon President Disanayake’s arrival at the Great Hall, he was warmly received by President Xi Jinping. The welcoming ceremony was conducted with great honour, including a ceremonial gun salute.
Following the initial cordial discussions between the two leaders, bilateral talks commenced. During the discussions, President Xi Jinping emphasized China’s readiness to work closely with Sri Lanka in ushering in a new era of development.
He also recalled the longstanding relationship between the two countries, highlighting the close friendship that has existed for decades. President Xi reiterated China’s commitment to continuing its cooperation with Sri Lanka in the future.
Upon concluding the official meeting, both sides proceeded to sign several key MoUs aimed at strengthening collaboration in areas such as economy, social development, and industry.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Vijitha Herath, Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake, and Director General of the Government Information Department H.S.K.J. Bandara were also part of the delegation accompanying President Disanayake.