President transfers key agencies following Cabinet reshuffle

• Among the key changes, the Civil Security Department has  been moved from the Ministry of Defence to the Ministry of Public  Security, while the National Hydrology Council and the Sri Lanka  National Hydrology Office have been placed under Defence

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya   
A special gazette issued by President Anura Kumara  Dissanayake has redefined the functions and institutional  responsibilities of several ministries following the recent Cabinet  reshuffle.   
Among the key changes, the Civil Security Department has  been moved from the Ministry of Defence to the Ministry of Public  Security, while the National Hydrology Council and the Sri Lanka  National Hydrology Office have been placed under Defence.   
The Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Fiscal  Management will now oversee the Hotel Developers (Lanka) Ltd and the  Casino Regulatory Authority, while the Ministry of Power and Energy has  been assigned the Lanka Electricity Company and its subsidiaries. The  Atomic Energy Board and Atomic Energy Regulatory Council have been  transferred to the Ministry of Science and Technology.   
Meanwhile, the newly formed Ministry of Transport, Highways  and Urban Development will oversee 17 key institutions, including the  Road Development Authority, Sri Lanka Railways, the National Transport  Commission, and the Urban Development Authority.   

Other notable changes include the addition of the  Commission for Online Safety and the Colombo Lotus Tower Management  Company to the Ministry of Digital Economy, and the transfer of Sri  Lanka Triposha Ltd to the Ministry of Trade, Food Security and  Cooperative Development.   
The gazette also formalises institutional assignments under  ministries such as Ports and Civil Aviation Services, Housing and  Construction, Health and Media, and Agriculture, as part of the  government’s broader administrative restructuring.   
Three new ministers and ten deputy ministers were sworn in  before the President at the Presidential Secretariat on the morning of  October 10.   
Under the reshuffle, Bimal Ratnayake, previously Minister  of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, relinquished the Ports  and Civil Aviation portfolio, with Urban Development added to his  responsibilities. Anura Karunathilaka, formerly Minister of Urban  Development, Construction and Housing, was sworn in as Minister of Ports  and Civil Aviation.