The portfolio of Minister of Power and Energy to Anura Karunatilaka, Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation.

Mr. Anura Karunathilaka, who serves as the Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation, has been appointed to the vacant post of Minister of Energy, which became vacant due to the resignation of former Minister Kumara Jayakody. The new minister was sworn into his new position this afternoon (20) at the Presidential Secretariat in the presence of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

As stated by the Presidential Media Division, Presidential Secretary Dr. Nandika Kumaranayake also participated in the event.

The post of Minister of Energy became vacant on Friday, April 17, when former Minister Kumara Jayakody resigned from his position. In a letter sent to the President, he had stated that he was resigning from the post with the aim of allowing the special Presidential Commission appointed to investigate the coal import process to carry out its investigations without hindrance.

Following the resignation of a minister, the functions of the relevant ministry fall within the purview of the President in accordance with the Constitution until a new minister is appointed. However, government sources had previously revealed that the President had decided to assign the responsibility of the Ministry of Energy to an existing cabinet minister without appointing a new one, and accordingly, this additional responsibility has been assigned to Mr. Anura Karunathilaka.