Playing ducks and drakes with ministries

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

The gazette notification released on September 22, a month after the formation of the National Unity Government has made far-reaching changes in the allocation of subjects to a number of ministries.

According to the gazette notification, 20 key institutions including the Central Bank, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka, the National Youth Services Council, the Department of Census and Statistics, the Employees Trust Fund (ETF) and the National Youth Brigade will come under the purview of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is also the Minister of National Policy and Economic Affairs.

Scope

A number of key institutions which were under the scope of the Finance Ministry have been subjected to drastic changes and brought under the supervision of the Minister of National Policy and Economic Affairs including the Central Bank, the National Planning Department, Foreign Resources Department, the Debt Information Department, the National Salaries Commission, National Insurance Trust Fund, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka and

In addition, all State banks and the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation and companies operated under it and other associated institutions, which were under the purview of Finance Minister, Ravi Karunanayake have been brought under the Minister of Public Enterprise Development, Kabir Hashim.

Finance Minister Karunanayake will be in charge of 26 institutions including the Treasury, Inland Revenue Department, Sri Lanka Insurance Board, the National Lotteries Board, Valuation Department and the Sri Lanka Customs and Excise Department.

Several institutions such as the Department of Immigration and Emigration, the Department of Registration of Persons, National Dangerous Drugs Control Board, the Urban Development Authority (UDA), Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation, the Department of Census and Statistics, ETF, Highways, Port and Aviation and National Operations Room which were under the purview of the President have been vested with some newly formed ministries.

The scopes of the Foreign Affairs Ministry and Transport Ministry has undergone major changes. Some institutions under these ministries have been brought under new ministries formed by the new government. Sri Lanka Telecom and its subsidiaries and associates, Department of Telecommunication (under liquidation), Information and Communication Technology Agency which previously came under the Foreign Minister will function under Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure Minister Harin Fernando. All IT parks are also come under his purview.

The Minister of Public Enterprise Development will be in charge of 19 institutions including all State banks, SriLankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka. Earlier SriLankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka were administered by the Ministry of Aviation.

All institutions which cater to transport needs including, buses, private buses, train and air travel will come under the Minister of Transport Nimal Siripala de Silva who will also over look the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited and the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka.

Urban Development Authority

The Urban Development Authority which functioned under the Defence Ministry during the former UPFA government will fall under the purview of Minister of Megapolis and Western Province Development Patali Champika Ranawaka.

The Kottawa – Kaduwela and Kadawatha Urban Development Project will also come under the purview of Minister Ranawaka. Minister of Law and Order and Prison Reforms Thilak Marapana will be in charge of the Police Department, Dangerous Drugs Control Board and Prisons Department while the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Department of Registrations of Persons, Department of National Museum will fall under the purview of Minister of Internal Affairs, Wayamba Development and Cultural Affairs S.B Nawinne.

Several institutions such as the Central Cultural Fund, Archaeological Department, Tower Hall Theater Foundation, Public Performance Board, National Performing Arts Centre, Ape Gama and Department of National Archives which were under the Cultural Affairs and NationalHeritage Ministries earlier will come under Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam. Minister of University Education and Highways Lakshman Kiriella has been vested with the task of broadening the avenues to access higher education as well creating a national road network of higher standard. Five Higher Education Institutions and the Road Development Authority and Road Maintenance Trust Fund will come under the Ministry of University Education and Highways.

Twelve institutions will come under the Minister of Housing and Construction Sajith Premadasa including the National Housing Development Authority, State Engineering Corporation and Building Material Corporation.In addition, 14 institutions will come under the purview of Minister of Agriculture Duminda Dissanayake.

All Fertilizer companies will come under the purview of the Ministry of Agriculture but the Paddy Marketing Board comes as a subject purview of Minister of Rural Economy P. Harrison along with Department Of Animal Production and Health and the Department of Mineral Resources.