Economic Dev. Deputy Minister Hizbullah assumes duties

Monday, 11 February 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

M.L.A.M Hizbullah assumed duties as the new Deputy Minister to the Economic Development Ministry on Friday.

New Deputy Minister Economic Development M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, who arrived in the Colombo office to assume duties, was warmly welcomed by senior staff members in the Economic Development ministry. A religious observation was held to invoke blessing to the newly appointed Economic Deputy Minister before he assumed duties.

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Child Development and Women’s Affairs Minister Tissa Karaliyadda, Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen and Deputy Minister Susantha Punchinilame were also present. Others present included those from his new ministry, his electorate, and Economic Development Ministry Additional Secretary Hema Dhamawardana and its senior staff members.

M.L.A.M. Hizbullah was first elected in the Batticaloa district in 1989 as the youngest parliamentarian in the Sri Lankan government at that time. Thereafter in 1994 and 2001, he was elected again as a Member of Parliament from the Batticaloa district.

In his long political career, he has held many important positions prior to his present position.

These include provincial Minister of Health, Social Services, Information Technology, Education and Sports for the Eastern Provincial Council of Sri Lanka, Deputy Minister of Posts and Telecommunication, Media, and the Child Development and Women’s Affairs Ministry. Hizbullah pursued his higher education at the University of Peradeniya and obtained a Masters of Arts from the University of Madras.