President Mahinda Rajapaksa has re-allocated functions of two key ministries, giving them new responsibilities. Main among them is the Ministry of Economic Development which is under Basil Rajapaksa. It has been given the added responsibility of Foreign Direct Investment development, Development of infrastructure facilities for the rural and plantation sectors and Investment Development in the private sector.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s discussions with President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday “focused on the need to move forward expeditiously on outstanding issues covered in their joint statement of May 2009,” an official spokesman in New York said.