DN page 34 TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2019 for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is 2015 handed over to President Maithripala Sirisena. January 9 September 25 Following a competitive victory, Maithripala Sirisena commences his President Maithripala Sirisena addresses the 73rd Session of the presidency. President Maithripala Sirisena swears in the Leader of the FORTH TO THE United Nations General Assembly in New York. The theme of the UNGA United National Party (UNP) Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister. Session is ‘Making the United Nations Relevant to All People: Global Leadership and Shared responsibilities for Peaceful, Equitable and Sus- March 3 tainable Societies’. Northern Province Chief Minister C V Wigneswaran welcomes Presi- dent Maithripala Sirisena in Jaffna on his first visit to the North after assuming office. April 28 A vast majority in Parliament passes the 19th Amendment to the Constitution with the government gaining 212 votes in favour. May 2 FOURTH ANUARY 8 INDISPUTABLY BELONGS TO MAITHRIPALA SIRISENA WHO EMERGED VICTORIOUS AS SRI LANKA’S PRESIDENT-ELECT FOUR YEARS AGO. PRESIDENT MAITHRIPALA SIRISENA WILL BE ETCHED IN THE ANNALS OF SRI LANKA FOR HIS SINGLEHANDED EFFORT TO KEEP TO HIS PRE- The US President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump joins President Maithripala Sirisena and First Lady Jayanthi Sirisena at a ELECTION PROMISE – ABOLISHING EXECUTIVE PRESIDENCY – TO A CERTAIN EXTENT BY reception on the occasion of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly JCHAMPIONING THE HISTORIC 19TH AMENDMENT. PLUS, A LOT MORE CAME TO PASS DURING at the Lotte New York Palace in New York. September 29 THE SIRISENA PRESIDENCY. THIS TIMELINE TAKES A CURSORY GLANCE AT WHAT HAPPENED FROM THAT The Government announces several temporary measures to be DAY FORTH TO TODAY’S FOURTH YEAR MILESTONE. implemented to ease the pressure on the Sri Lankan rupee. October 8 Prime Minister Ranil May 25 and deputy ministerial portfolios held by the UNP. Wickremesinghe visits March 2 the University of Oxford Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe participates in the ‘Invest Sri at an invitation to deliver a special speech The US Secretary of State John Kerry meets President Maithripala Lanka’ investment forum held in Singapore. March 8 to the Oxford Union. Sirisena at Presidential Secretariat in Colombo. October 12 August 17 Public Administration and Management Minister Ranjith Madduma Sri Lanka goes to a parliamentary election, ten months ahead of Bandara receives his appointment letter as Law and Order Minister from schedule, to elect 225 members to the country’s 15th Parliament. The President Maithripala Sirisena. UNP-led United National Front for Good Governance (UNFGG) wins 106 March 9 seats. The main opposition United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe meets the United Nations secures 95 seats. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the largest party Under Secretary General for Political Affairs Jeffrey D. Feltman at Tem- President Maithripala Sirisena and Australian Prime Minister Mal- ples Trees. representing Sri Lankan Tamils, wins 16 seats. Janatha Vimukthi Pera- colm Turnbull enter into the Joint Declaration on Enhanced Cooperation muna, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and Eelam People’s Democratic Party between Australia and Sri Lanka. The Declaration is signed by Australi- March 31 win the remaining eight parties. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, an Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Sri Lankan Deputy Foreign Affairs President Maithripala Sirisena and Health, Nutrition and Indigenous leader of the UNFGG and UNP, forms a national government with the Minister Dr Harsha de Silva. Medicine Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne attend the First SAARC Annual support of UPFA MPs loyal to President Maithripala Sirisena. July 29 Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases held in Colombo. August 21 The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and China Merchant Port Hold- April 4 The UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe takes oaths as the Prime Min- ings sign the amended agreement on the Hambantota Port in Colombo. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe defeats the No Confidence ister of Sri Lanka before President Maithripala Sirisena. Motion brought against him by the Joint Opposition-led group. August 15 September 2 April 7 Senior Supreme Court Justice Nalin Perera takes oaths as the 46th President Maithripala Sirisena presides over the first sitting of the The 70th World Health Day of the World Health Organization (WHO) Chief Justice before President Maithripala Sirisena at the President’s eighth Parliament of Sri Lanka. is celebrated under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena and Official Residence. September 5 Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre in October 18 President Maithripala Sirisena swears in 42 new Cabinet Ministers. Colombo. Sri Lanka’s much-talked-about Fuel Pricing Formula is revealed in October 30 May 2 detail to the media by Minister of Finance and Mass Media Mangala Speaker Karu Jayasuriya signs the first six amendment bills passed in President Maithripala Sirisena swears in eight State Ministers and 10 Samaraweera, at a press conference in Colombo today. the eighth Parliament of Sri Lanka. Deputy Ministers. October 19 December 29 May 8 For the first time in the post-independence history of Sri Lanka, President Maithripala Sirisena presides at the Ceremonial Sitting of Tamil parties and Tamil civil society groups gear up for participation in President Maithripala Sirisena swears in Development Assignments Parliament for the opening of the Second Session of the Eighth Parlia- the making a new constitution for the island nation. Minister Tilak Marapana as the new Foreign Affairs Minister. ment of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. August 17 May 13 2016 The naming of the Karadiyana Waste Management Project as the President Maithripala Sirisena meets with Supreme Leader of Iran Mihisaru Viyamana Resources Management Centre, to streamline the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Teheran. February 6 solid waste management in the Colombo district and laying the foun- The UN High Commissioner for dation stone for the project, aimed at generating electricity from gar- May 18 Chief of Staff of Indian Army, General Bipin Rawat, calls on President Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hus- bage in the Western province, is held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena at the President’s official residence in Colombo. sein, arrives in Sri Lanka for a Maithripala Sirisena. four-day official visit, at the invi- August 28 May 30 tation of the Government. During Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe meets with a US Congress del- President Maithripala Sirisena takes part in the ceremony organized his visit, the High Commissioner egation from the House Armed Services Committee at Temple Trees. The for the placing of the foundation stone the proposed Amaradeva The Indian Congress Party President Rahul Gandhi calls on Sri Lankan discusses a range of current chal- delegation comprises Chairman of the House Armed Services Commit- Asapuwa, a music ashram in memory of late outstanding musician Pan- Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in New Delhi. The United Progres- lenges and opportunities for tee, Mac Thornberry, Henry Cuellar, Vickie Hartzler and Carol Shea-Por- dit Dr W. D. Amaradeva at ‘Ape Gama’ complex, Battaramulla. sive Alliance Chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, is also present in the meeting, strengthening the rule of law and ter. along with former Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and sen- August 29 protection of human rights in Sri ior Congress party leader Anand Sharma. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Minister of Housing & June 29 Lanka. Pakistan’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), Construction Sajith Premadasa hand over housing loans under the October 26 June 16 General Zubair Mahmood Hayat calls on President Maithripala Sirisena revived ‘Village Reawakening’ programme. Parliament passes the Right to Information (RTI) bill with amend- at President’s Residence in Polonnaruwa. ments. The Bill provides with Right of Access to Information, to specify August 31 The price of a 12.5 kg domestic LP gas cylinder is reduced by Rs 138 grounds on which access may be denied, to establish the Right to Infor- Speaker Karu Jayasuriya places his signature to the Local Govern- from midnight. ment Election (Amendment) Act in Parliament. mation Commission, to appoint Information Officers and to set out the July 5 procedure and for matters connected with it. September 30 Parliament passes the National Audit Bill with amendments. This Bill June 18 Sri Lanka refrains from signing the landmark UN Treaty on the Prohi- provides for the powers, duties and functions of the Audit Service Com- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President bition of Nuclear Weapons that was adopted by 122 countries on July 7, mission and the establishment of the office of the National Audit Office Maithripala Sirisena inaugurate the state-of-the-art Duraiappah stadi- 2017, and opened for signature on September 20 at the UN headquar- and the Sri Lanka State Audit Service. It also specifies the role of the um, renovated with India’s assistance, in Jaffna. The Indian Premier par- ters in New York. Auditor General over public finance. ticipates in the event through video conferencing. The stadium is named November 2 July 15 after former mayor of Jaffna late Alfred Thambirajah Duraiappah. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Prime Minister Ranil Prime Minister