Srilanka

The government has started a crash programme to process paddy, kept stored in ware houses to overcome any shortage of rice in the local market. According to Anuradhapura District Secretary R.M.Wanninanayake, over 950,000 kilogrammes of paddy have been issued to nine rice mills in the Anuradhapura district as of yesterday. He added that paddy stocks in government ware houses will be issued to rice mills continuously.

Thirty-two new State Ministry secretaries received their letter of appointments from the Secretary to the President Dr. P.B.Jaysundara at the President Secretariate last (9) evening.

The new State Ministry secretaries are;

1 Mr. S. H. Harischandra State Ministry of Water Supply Facilities2 Prof. Ranjith Dissanayake State Ministry of Urban Development3 Mr. S. Senanayake State Ministry of Irrigation and Rural Development4 Mr. M. C. L. Rodrigo State Ministry of Land and Land Development5 Ms. S. H. A. N. D. Abeyratne State Ministry of Economic and Policy Development6 Mr. B. K. S. Ravindra State Ministry of Public Administration and Local Government7 Mr.D. A. W. Wanigasooriya State Ministry of Railway Services8 Prof. Sunanda Madduma BandaraState Ministry of Information and Communication Technology9 Ms.D. S. Wijesekara State Ministry of Small and Medium Scale Enterprise Development10 Ms. L. D. Senanayake State Ministry of International Cooperation11 Miss. R. S. M. V. Seneviratne State Ministry of Indigenous Medicine Services12 Ms. A. S. Padmalatha State Ministry of Women and Child Affairs13 Mr. K. H. D. K. Samarakoon State Ministry of Power14 Mr. M. A. B. V. Bandaranayake State Ministry of Youth Affairs15 Mr. M. Devasurendra State Ministry of Energy16 Mr. S. G. Wijayabandu State Ministry of Public Management and Accounting17 Mr. S. Arumeinayagam State Ministry of Investments Promotion18 Mr. M. S. S. S. Fernando State Ministry of Tourism Promotion19 Mr. C. S. Lokuhetti State Ministry of Technology and Innovation20 Ms. G. C. Karunaratne State Ministry of Human Rights and Legal Reforms21 Mr. A. Senanayake State Ministry of Mahaweli Development22 Mr. M. I. Amir State Ministry of Export Agriculture23 Mr. D. D. Mataraarachchi State Ministry of Development Banks and Loan Schemes24 Mr. N. P. V. C. Piyathilleke State Ministry of Ports Development25 Miss. E. M. M. R. K. Ekanayake State Ministry of Transport Services Management26 Miss. K. W. T. N. Amaratunge State Ministry of Road Development27 Miss. A. K. W. W. M. N. K. Weerasekara State Ministry of Wildlife Resources28 Ms. W. A. D. C. Rupasinghe State Ministry of Environment29 Mr. K. A. K. R. Dharmapala State Ministry of Fisheries and Freshwater Fishing Industries30 Miss. K. G. A. Alawatta State Ministry of Social Security31 Miss. R. Vijayalechchumi State Ministry of Community Development32 Mr. Anuradha Wijekoon State Ministry of Tea Industries Development

&No CID team or any law enforcement unit of this country had abducted the Swiss Embassy employee. It is a totally fabricated allegation,& Defence Ministry Secretary Maj. Gen. (retd) Kamal Gunaratne said yesterday speaking at the Army Headquarters.

Sri Lanka has been named as the top destination, among 20 countries to visit this winter by USA Today.Sri Lanka was described as an exotic island in the Indian Ocean which seduces everyone who steps foot with its stunning unspoiled wilderness, colorful history, and flavorful cuisine.Jetsetters looking for something off the beaten tourist path should consider Sri Lanka.