New State Ministers for internal security, capital markets

• District, Divisional Secretariats brought under purview of State Ministry of Internal Security, Home Affairs and Disaster Management
• 23 institutes will come under Defence Ministry, including SIS, Archaeology Department
• Two State Ministries to support Finance Ministry, four State Ministries for education sector
• No separate Ministry for Women’s Affairs, but State Ministry for Women and Child Development 

By Chandani Kirinde

Among the 40 State Ministers who will be appointed today by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, there will be State Ministers for internal affairs, capital markets and regional cooperation.

Twelve institutes, including all District and Divisional Secretariats in the country, will come under the purview of the newly-created State Ministry of Internal Security, Home Affairs, and Disaster Management.

Other institutes brought under the State Ministry, which will function under the purview of the Defence Ministry, include the Sri Lanka Police, the Registrar General’s Department, Registration of Persons Department, Immigration and Emigration Department, and the NGO Secretariat.

A total of 23 institutes will come under the Defence Ministry, including the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and the Archaeology Department.

Two State Ministries will be appointed under the Finance Ministry. They are the State Minister for Capital Markets and State Enterprise Restructure, and the State Minister for Samurdhi, Domestic Economy, Self-Employment, and Project Development.

Among the tasks assigned to the State Minister of Capital Markets will be to facilitate the setting-up of main offices of international business giants in Colombo and the Port City, and engaging in international promotional campaigns to attract foreign investors with the assistance of the private sector.

There will be three State Ministers to support the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing, and four State Ministries under the Ministry of Education.

There will be no separate ministry for Women’s Affairs. Instead, there will be a State Minister for Women and Child Development and Primary Education, School Infrastructure, and Education Services.

The Ministry of Plantations will also have three State Ministers, with each entrusted with different subjects, including estate restructuring and modernisation of the tea industry, as well as the development of cash crops such as coconut, rubber, and spices.

There will be a Cabinet Minister each for the subjects of Power, Energy, and Environment.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will have a State Minister appointed for Regional Cooperation.

The Tourism Ministry will have one State Ministry for Civil Aviation and Investment Zone Promotions.

The Justice Ministry will have one State Ministry with the subject of Prison Reforms and Prisoner Rehabilitation assigned to it.

Separate funds will be allocated from the Budget to Ministries and State Ministries.