Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Wednesday, 5 July 2017 00:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday made several new appointments including appointing former Eastern Province Govenor as Secretary to the President and former Minister Rohitha Bogollagama as his replacement.
Former Additional Solicitor General and President’s Counsel Kapila Waidyaratne has been appointed as the new Defence Secretary by the President. Widyaratne was appointed to the post following the resignation of Karunasena Hettiarachchi. He joined the Attorney General’s Department in 1983 and served as a trial attorney at the UN International Criminal Tribunal till 2003 as well as being a counsel assisting the bribery and corruption commission.
He was also a legal consultant to the Central Bank Financial Intelligrance Unit till 2011.
New Secretary to the President Austin Fernando said the duty of the officials at the Presidential Secretariat is to carry out the policy outlined by President Maithripala Sirisena and develop new policies where there are no established policies, inspired by the vision of the President.
Fernando received his letter of appointment from the President at the President’s Official Residence, yesterday.
Assuming duties Fernando said that public institutions work closely with all, and should strengthen the brand of the President’s Office.
He said he was always willing to learn and added, “never too late or never too old to learn”.
Members of staff may have different ideas about the development and economic development, he said, and urged the staff to discuss and present their ideas.
“Bring your different ideas about strengthening peace and harmony in the country to the table. It’s always what we want to do. We have to be open and ready to listen to new ideas from veterans as well as those who think out of the box,” he said.
“We’re discussing a model of cluster formation of ministries. It is a model we are now thinking about to enhance the public administration efficiency,” he said.
The new Secretary to the President said that the officers of the Presidential Secretariat would have to work hard to create the brand name of the President’s Office. He urged the President’s Office staff to work as a family and take the office from strength to strength.
Fernando is one of the most senior civil servants of the country and he holds a Masters (MA) in Public Administration from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Earlier in his illustrious career, he served as the Government Agent for Polonnaruwa District and Nuwara Eliya District. He was later appointed as the Commissioner of Cooperative Development and Postmaster General. He became the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Rehabilitation, Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs and Provincial Councils. He was appointed as the Defence Secretary in the Unity Government.
In additional to Fernando and Bogollagama President Sirisena also appointed Army Chief of Staff Major General Mahesh Senanayaka as the new Army Commander.
The President’s Media said he was promoted to the rank of Lt. General prior to the appointment as the 22nd commander of the Sri Lanka Army.
Senanayake served as the Security Forces Commander in Jaffna and also the Colonel of the Special Forces Regiment. He was enlisted to the Sri Lanka Army on 16 October 1981 and followed the Officer Cadet Intake 16 (Long Course).
Lt. General Senanayake has held a number of appointments, including the extra regimental employment at the Sri Lanka Military Academy as an instructing officer.
He also served as the Regimental Center Commandant of the Special Forces Regiment, Commander 211 Infantry Brigade - Vavuniya, Commander Special Forces Brigade and the General Officer Commanding 52 Division - Varani, Jaffna.
Senanayake had actively contributed to almost all the major military operations, conducted in the North and East of Sri Lanka during a span of more than 30 years. Senanayake succeeds General Chrishantha de Silva as the Army Commander.
