• Over 30 members including biz leaders appointed to Presidential Task Force on Economic Revival and Poverty Eradication 
• Earlier Task Forces on essential services and poverty alleviation abolished 
• Basil Rajapaksa to head new Task Force covering large number of sectors 
• Task Force will inform President if a State entity delays or fails to perform duties  

A high-powered Presidential Task Force has been appointed yesterday to steer economic revival and poverty eradication in the country impacted by global and local shocks from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Task Force appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is headed by Basil Rajapaksa and comprises over 30 members, including officials and business leaders.

It has been established under the powers vested in the President by the Constitution and commands wide powers, covering all sectors.

The Task Force is responsible for reviving the economy and eradication of poverty, while paying special attention to the challenges posed and opportunities emerging in Sri Lanka in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak.

“Based on the vision of the ‘Saubhagyaye Dekma’, policy statement, the Task Force should steer the relevant institutes to create a production economy through the formulation of a unique economic structure based on novel initiatives,” the statement said. 

Implementation of joint operations to establish a people-centric economy which will promote domestic industrialists and entrepreneurs is another objective of the Task Force.

It has also been tasked with the responsibility of taking measures to distribute products in liaising with all the institutes, while paying attention to the activities undertaken by the health and education task forces to maintain normalcy in the civilian life.

The Task Force is required to inform the President of all instances where any public official, Ministry, State Department, State Corporation, or any other similar institute which delays or fails to perform duties and responsibilities assigned by it.

Relevant provisions relating to the Task Force appointed on 24 January and 24 March on Poverty Alleviation and Livelihood Development and the Presidential Task Force appointed on 23 March on Continuous Supply, Operation and Coordination of Essential Services will be abolished with the establishment of the new Task Force.

The scope and the responsibilities of the Task Force in charge of Economic Revival and Poverty Eradication will be announced in a gazette notification to be published soon.

Special Representative of the President Basil Rajapaksa will chair the Task Force, while Additional Secretaries to the Office of the Prime Minister Anton Perera and D.S. Jayaweera will function as Co- Secretaries.

Largely owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Bank recently forecast Sri Lankan economy to contract by 3% this year as against a 2.4% estimated growth last year, whilst the IMF predicted the global economy to contract by 3% as well. 



 

 1.  Special Representative of the President Basil Rajapaksa

2. Central Bank of Sri Lanka Senior Deputy Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe

3. Defence Staff Chief/Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva

4. Acting Inspector General of Police C.D. Wickramaratne

5. Consumer Affairs Authority Chairman Maj. Gen. (Retired) Shantha Dissanayake

6. Lanka Sathosa Chairman J.A. Nushad M. Perera

7. Board of Investment of Sri Lanka Chairman Susantha Ratnayake

8. Information and Communication Technology Agency Chairman Jayantha de Silva

9. Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Chairperson Kimarli Fernando

10. Sri Lanka Tea Board Chairman Jayampathi Molligoda

11. Exports Development Board Chairman Prabhash Subasinghe

12. Commissioner General of Labour A. Wimalaweera

13. Cooperative Development Commissioner S. Singappuli

14. Department of Civil Defence Director General Rear Admiral (Retired) Ananda Peiris

15. Sri Lanka Customs Director General Maj. Gen. (Retired) Vijitha Ravipriya

16. Department of Samurdhi Development Director General Bandula Thilakasiri

17. Board of Investment of Sri Lanka Director General Sanjaya Mohottala

18. Disaster Management Centre Director General Maj. Gen. (Retired) Sudantha Ranasinghe

19. Fertiliser Secretariat Director Mahesh Gammanpila

20. Ceylon Petroleum Corporation General Manager Buddhika Madihahewa

21. Ceylon Electricity Board Additional General Manager Rohan Seneviratne

22. Information and Communication Technology Agency Director Board Member Mano Sekaram

23. Maj. Gen. (Retired) Sumedha Perera

24. E.B. Creasy & Co. Executive Officer Sanjeewa Gunawardene

25. Natures Secret Owner Samantha Kumarasinghe

26. MAS Holdings Chairman Mahesh Amalean

27. The Kingdom of Raigam Chairman and CEO Dr. Ravi Liyanage

28. Sanmik Group of Companies Managing Director Padmalal Withanage

29. Retired Deputy Secretary to the Treasury S.B. Divarathna

30. Secretary to the Prime Minister and Secretaries to Ministries of Finance, Economic and Policy Development, Roads and Highways, Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government, Plantation Industries and Export Agriculture, Industries and Supply Chain Management, Power and Energy, Women and Child Affairs and Social Security, Mahaweli, Agriculture, Irrigation and Rural Development, Water Supply and Housing Facilities, Defence, Internal Trade, Food Security and Consumer Welfare