In a recent development, Minister of Tourism Harin Fernando has been appointed as Sri Lanka’s new Minister of Sports & Youth Affairs. This appointment comes in addition to his current ministerial portfolios of Tourism and Land. The change follows the removal of Roshan Ranasinghe from the position of Minister of Sports & Youth Affairs and Minister of Irrigation by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The decision to replace Ranasinghe was announced through a letter signed by the President, citing the immediate effect of his removal from the aforementioned ministerial portfolios. The move is speculated to be a result of recent disagreements between the President and Ranasinghe, particularly concerning the crisis in Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
Harin Fernando, who has been serving as the Minister of Tourism, was sworn in as the new Minister of Sports. Concurrently, Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, the current Minister of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation, took the oath as the new Minister of Irrigation.
The recent shake-up in the sports ministry comes against the backdrop of challenges faced by Sri Lanka Cricket, with tensions escalating between the President and the ousted Roshan Ranasinghe. The specifics of the disagreements and the nature of the cricket crisis have not been detailed in the announcement.
Harin Fernando’s dual ministerial role, encompassing Tourism and Sports, reflects a strategic approach to address both sectors simultaneously. It remains to be seen how the new Sports Minister will navigate the challenges within the cricket administration and contribute to the development of youth affairs in Sri Lanka.
As the nation watches these developments unfold, the changes in the ministerial landscape underscore the importance of addressing issues within the realm of sports and youth affairs, with the hope that the newly appointed officials will bring positive reforms to these crucial sectors.
