President Ranil Wickremesinghe left the country to embark on an official two-day visit to Singapore today (21), according to the President’s Media Division (PMD).
During this visit, President Wickremesinghe has a series of significant meetings lined up. These include discussions with Singapore’s President Halimah Yacob, talks with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen, and Sustainability and Environment Minister Grace Fu Hai Yien.
Bilateral discussions are planned between President Wickremesinghe and the latter group. The visit aims to establish a cooperative understanding between the governments of Sri Lanka and Singapore regarding carbon neutrality within the framework of the Paris Agreement. This agreement, anticipated to be signed after deliberations between President Wickremesinghe and the Prime Minister of Singapore, aligns with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, focusing on international carbon trading to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.
Accompanying the President on this visit will be Sagala Ratnayaka, Chief of Presidential Staff and Senior Advisor on National Security; Ruwan Wijewardena, Senior Advisor on Climate Change; and Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga, Senior Advisor on Economic Affairs. In President Wickremesinghe’s absence from the country, four Acting Ministers have been designated to oversee his ministries. Minister of State for Defence Pramita Bandara Tennakoon will act as the Acting Minister of Defence, Minister of State for Finance Shehan Semasinghe as Acting Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization, and National Policy. Additionally, Minister of State for Technology Kanaka Herath will assume the role of Acting Minister of Technology, and Minister of State for Social Empowerment Anupa Pasqual will serve as the Acting Minister of Women, Child Affairs, and Social Empowerment.
