“I will fulfil President’s mission”: New Ind. and Com. Sec. Anura

As Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce welcomed its new Secretary, an upbeat Minister announced that fundamentals for further advancing of industry and commerce domains are falling into place.

“My new Secretary Anura Siriwardena’s vast experience and the strong trust placed on him by the President Mahinda Rajapaksa are essential ingredients for him to fulfil his role in advancing this vast sector.

We are now better positioned to move forward,” said Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen.

Minister Bathiudeen was addressing the post-installation ceremony meeting of Anura Siriwardena as the new Secretary of his Ministry on 16 July at the Ministry auditorium. The morning installation event at 9:40 a.m. – the ‘auspicious time’ – was also attended by Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the US Jaliya Wickramasuriya, well known TV industry and mass media personnel, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Jayaratne Herath and it started off with religious rituals in which clergy from all faiths showered their blessings on Siriwardena.

Siriwardena, the former Secretary to the Ministry of Cooperatives and Internal Trade, was the past Chairman and CEO of the Independent Television Network and also functions as a Director of National Development Bank. He holds an MBA from the University of Sri Jayawardenapura. Siriwardena is a member of numerous professional bodies, including the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM), the Sri Lanka Institute of Biology (SLIB) and the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Sciences (SLAAS).  

“When President Rajapaksa directly telephoned me on the morning of 12 July and inquired from me, I informed him that I need a skilled and an active individual as my next Secretary. That afternoon, I was informed that Anura Siriwardena will be taking over as my new Secretary. Anura’s vast experience and the trust placed on him by the President are essential ingredients for him to fulfil his role in advancing the crosscutting domains that our Ministry is involved in. I also laud the contribution of Tilak Collure, my outgoing Secretary for his efforts as one of the most senior SLAS officers which I commend,” Minister Bathiudeen added.

Secretary Siriwardena, addressing the event said that he is stepping into ‘a bigger responsibility’. “President Rajapaksa appointed me here with highest confidence on me for which I am grateful. I vow to fulfil the expectations placed on me by the President in the exact manner of performance that is expected from me,” Siriwardena said.

“I strongly commit myself towards this aim. The President also informed me that the outgoing Secretary is one of the senior-most administrative officials of the country. ‘And it is the heavy responsibility of such an individual that you are taking over today’, the President has informed me,” revealed Siriwardena.

Many in the industry and commerce domain welcomed Siriwardene’s appointment. UNIDO National Director for Sri Lanka Nawaz Rajabdeen said: “I’ve known Anura for a long period of time. He is a committed individual. I am confident that he will add value to the Ministry and Industry in a considerable way.”