The International Maritime Organization declared the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, Somali Sea, a high-risk zone in 2010 due to the pirate activities that had to be endured by the merchant ships engaged in international maritime traffic in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, Somali Sea. 

As a remedial measure for these threats, merchant ships obtain the services of armed maritime guards from foreign private maritime security companies. Even though the International Maritime Organization has declared that the said high-risk zone has been removed from 01-01-2023, the commercial ships have continued the obtaining of the services of the armed maritime guards from foreign private maritime security companies. 

The Galle and Colombo ports are primarily used to embark armed maritime guards onto ships entering the aforementioned high-risk zone and to disembark armed maritime guards deployed to protect departing ships. On certain occasions, such maritime security operations are also carried out in the Hambantota and Trincomalee ports. 

When carrying out the operational activities of the aforementioned project, the Sri Lankan Navy has been entrusted with the overall responsibility for national security.

Therefore, considering the knowledge and experience of the Sri Lankan Navy in relation to maritime security operations, it has been deemed appropriate to grant approval for the Sri Lankan Navy to independently carry out these operations. 

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by His Excellency, the President, in his capacity as the Minister of  Defence, to conduct maritime security operations by the Sri Lankan Navy under the supervision of the Ministry of Defence.

M.B.N.A. Premarathne, a retired Commodore of the Sri Lanka Navy, is to be appointed as the new Commissioner General of Excise.
He is to be appointed with the retirement of U.L. Udaya Kumara Perera, who currently holds the post. 

Udaya Kumara Perera is set to retire from public service on July 10, 2025, upon reaching the age of 60.

The Cabinet approved the proposal presented by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, to appoint retired Commodore Premarathne to the post.

President Anura Kumara Disanayake emphasized that in order to successfully implement the proposed educational reforms, it is essential to enhance the facilities throughout the entire education system while also strengthening the institutional framework.  

The President made these remarks during a discussion held today (July 08) at the Presidential Secretariat with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and senior officials of the Ministry of Education regarding the proposed new education reform process.

During the meeting, officials from the Ministry provided the President with an overview of the suggested reforms.

The President stated that the government is ready to study the reform proposals and allocate the necessary resources based on identified needs.

President Disanayake further pointed out that in order to achieve the intended outcomes of these reforms, a comprehensive transformation of the entire system is required. He stressed that attention must be paid not only to developing physical and infrastructural resources but also to enhancing human resources. The President instructed that a full study be conducted before presenting plans and budget estimates, and assured that necessary provisions would be allocated through the upcoming national budget.

He also emphasized the importance of paying attention to teachers and students of teacher training colleges throughout this reform process and called for broad consultations with all stakeholders to gather their views and suggestions.

As a first step, the President advised Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya to organize two workshops to brief all Members of Parliament on the proposed education reform programme and to gather their input and recommendations.

The discussion was also attended by Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education Madhura Seneviratne, Deputy Minister of Vocational Education Nalin Hewage, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Education Nalaka Kaluwewa and a group of senior officials from the Ministry.

(President’s Media Division)