Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa assuming duties as Finance Minister in the presence of Ministers Johnston Fernando and Bandula Gunawardena, President’s Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundara, Prime Minister’s Secretary Gamini Senarath and Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle

The new government under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will come up with new laws to clear public officials from prosecution due to the lapses made by them while executing decisions made in good faith to carry out government policy, Prime Minister and Finance Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said.



“In the recent times, public officials were brought before the Financial Criminal Investigation Division and Bribery Commission. As a result, officials were reluctant to take decisions,” Rajapaksa said after assuming office as the island nation’s Finance Minister.

He assured necessary protection and job security to public officials and requested them to carry out their work diligently to develop the country.



Rajapaksa said when he handed over Sri Lanka to the new government in 2015, the country was an active place bustling with economic activity.



He said GDP growth and per capita income were on the rise and inflation and national debt were on the decline.



Rajapaksa charged that under the previous regime, the rupee has depreciated significantly and the country’s tax system has become more complicated.