January 14, Colombo (LNW): As President Anura Kumara Dissanayake embarks on a State Visit to China at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, five acting ministers have been appointed to manage key ministries in his absence.
The temporary appointments were announced by the President’s Media Division (PMD) and are designed to ensure the smooth continuation of government operations during the president’s official trip.
The acting ministers will take charge of several critical ministries directly overseen by the President, including the Ministry of Digital Economy, the Ministry of Defence, and the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development. Additionally, responsibilities for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, alongside the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, have also been temporarily delegated to other ministers.
The individuals appointed to these roles are as follows:
- Acting Minister of Digital Economy: Eranga Weeraratne, currently serving as the Deputy Minister of Digital Economy.
- Acting Minister of Defence: Aruna Jayasekera, Deputy Minister of Defence, who will assume the responsibilities of this vital portfolio.
- Acting Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development: Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, who will oversee financial and economic matters during this period.
- Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism: Arun Hemachandra, Deputy Minister of Foreign Employment, tasked with managing foreign relations and tourism matters.
- Acting Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation: Dr. Prasanna Kumara Gunasena, Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways, who will take on the critical role of overseeing transport infrastructure and aviation affairs.
