Portfolios of 08 ministries amended

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has issued a special gazette notification, amending the portfolios of 08 ministries. The amendments are effective from Thursday (Dec 22).

As per the gazette, the Multipurpose Development Task Force Department, which was under the purview of the Ministry of Defence, has been listed under the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils & Local Government.

Meanwhile, the Kidney Fund is now gazetted under the Ministry of Health after it was removed from the portfolio of the Ministry of Women, Child Affairs & Social Empowerment.

The Vidatha Centres, which were under the purview of the Ministry of Education, will now function under the Ministry of Industries.

As per the gazette, the Ministry of Agriculture has been assigned to oversee Regional Economic Centres and the broadening of the market for local farm products. These were previously assigned to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce & Food Security.

Meanwhile, Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties, No. 02 of 2018 and Safeguard Measures Act, No. 03 of 2018 have been gazetted under the Ministry of Trade, Commerce & Food Security.