Gamini Senarath assumes office as new Secretary to the President

Secretary to the President Gamini Senarath

 Secretary to the Prime Minister D.M. Anura Dissanayake

•  D.M. Anura Dissanayake appointed new Secretary to the Prime Minister
• K.W. Ivan de Silva appointed Secretary to the Ministry of Irrigation
• President says responsibilities of Ministry Secretaries are immense

Gamini Senarath, a senior official of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service, yesterday assumed office as the new Secretary to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. 

Amidst the chanting of ‘Seth Pirith’ by the Maha Sangha, Senarath took office following the resignation of Dr. P.B. Jayasundera. 

Separately, D.M. Anura Dissanayake was appointed as the new Secretary to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa by President Rajapaksa.

 Ivan de Silva was also appointed as the new Secretary to the Ministry of Irrigation.

Speaking at the ceremony to hand over new appointments, President Rajapaksa said all aspects in the country depend on the public service. Addressing all Secretaries of Cabinet Ministers, the President said that all the Secretaries to the Ministries had an immense responsibility to fulfil.

“The future plans and targets of the Government have been given to the Ministries,” the President said, adding that it was the responsibility of the Secretaries of the Ministries to achieve the desired goals by encouraging the officials. 

Senarath, a Special Grade Officer in the Sri Lanka Administrative Service, has served as the Additional Secretary and Chief of Staff to the fifth Executive President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He also served as the Prime Minister's Secretary in 2004-2005, and 2019, and in the present Government after Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed office.

Senarath received his primary and secondary education from Methodist College – Hakmana, Rahula College – Matara, and Richmond College – Galle. He obtained his first degree from the University of Kelaniya in 1984 and joined the Sri Lanka Administrative Service. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Technology from the University of Colombo and has completed training courses in a number of countries, including the United Kingdom, Japan, Singapore, Pakistan, Germany and France.

He has held senior positions in a number of Government institutions such as the Department of Motor Traffic and the Department of Immigration and Emigration, and has chaired a number of State-owned enterprises, including the People's Bank, Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation and Litro Gas Lanka Ltd.

Dissanayake, a senior official of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service, served as the Secretary to the Ministry of Irrigation. He has held the post of Secretary to several Ministries and is an experienced public servant who has held many senior positions in the Government sector.