Hon.Minister of Ports and Shipping Rohitha Abeygunawardena assumed duties in his portfolio today (14.08.2020) at the Ministry of Ports and Shipping amidst blessings of Maha Sangha and other religious clergy. He sworn in as the Minister of Ports and Shipping of the new government on 12th August 2020 at the ceremony held with the initiative of His Excellency the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Hon.Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at the historic ‘Magul Maduwa’ premises of Sri Dalada Maligaawa in Kandy.
“The people of this country have twice endorsed the vision of the President. Sixty nine lakhs of people voted for him. He then expected a two-thirds majority in the parliamentary elections. The people have given their full support to carry forward the Vision of Prosperity programme of his Excellency the President, by clearly approving that mandate. Now, we have our responsibility. In fulfilling that responsibility as a Government, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to His Excellency the President, our exemplary Leader Honourable Prime Minister and the Founder of ‘Podujana Peramuna’ Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, for handing over the heart of the nation which is none other than the port and the shipping sector, to me. And in the confidence they have placed in me, we look forward to continuing this journey together with the State Minister, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, the Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Shipping, and all other Heads, Officers and Employees of the Shipping industry, with the fulest confidence. We look forward to fulfilling this responsibility under this Government of Sri Lanka to make the port and shipping sectors one of the strongest in the region with fast developing world in the future. To this end, we will carry forward the Vision of Prosperity and fulfill all the responsibilities of this Ministry, as an institution that will contribute to the aspirations of the country in the future and as the Ministry that contributes most vigorously to the country’s economy,” Hon.Minister of Ports and Shipping Rohitha Abeygunawardena said.
Hon.Minister of Education – G.L.Peiris, Hon.Minister of Plantations – Ramesh Pathirana, Hon.State Minister of Warehousing Facilities, Container Yards, Ports Supply Facilities and Boat and Shipping Industry Development – Jayantha Samaraweera, several political personalities, Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Shipping – Mr.M.V.K.Mayadunne, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Shipping Ms.Kumari Somarathne, Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority – General Daya Ratnayake, Vice Chairman / Managing Director of SLPA – Mr.W.S.Weeraman, Additional Managing Director of SLPA – Mr. Upali de Zoysa, Executive Officials and staff of the Ministry of Ports and Shipping, Directors of SLPA, Executive Officers, staff members and employees and SLPA trade union representatives, officials of port affiliated institutions and a large number of residents of Kaluthara district were also present at the occasion.
Featured image: Hon.Minister of Ports and Shipping Rohitha Abeygunawardena assuming duties as the new Minister of Ports and Shipping.
