President changes subjects and functions of 10 ministries

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has issued an extraordinary gazette notification amending the institutional legal framework of 10 ministries. 

Through the gazette, President Rajapaksa has brought the National Education Commission and the National Institute of Education, which had earlier been held under sacked State Minister Susil Premajayantha under the purview of Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. 

He has also abolished the State Ministry of Prison Management and Prisoners' Rehabilitation. That ministry earlier functioned under Lohan Ratwatte, who resigned from his post last September following allegations that he had threatened detainees held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and foreced them to kneel before him. 

The subjects and functions of the State Ministry of Prison Management and Prisoners' Rehabilitation have now been brought under Justice Minister Ali Sabry. 

Accordingly, the institutional and legal framework and special priorities of the following ministries and state ministries have been amended through the gazette:

Ministry of Justice

Ministry of Education

Ministry of Industries

Ministry of Economic Policies & Plan Implementation, 

Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs

Ministry of Public Services, Provincial Councils and Local Government

State Ministry of Prison Management and Prisoners’ Rehabilitation

State Ministry of Aviation and Export Zones Development

State Ministry of Education Reforms, Open Universities and Distance Learning Promotion

State Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government