The Ministry of Tourism is having a tussle over the post of Ministry Secretary, the Daily Mirror learns.
 
Industry sources confirmed that the newly appointed Ministry Secretary Waruna Samaradiwakara was not allowed to take up the role officially. 

He was previously the Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture.
 
Samaradiwakara was to take up his role at the Tourism Ministry starting from January 1, 2023. 
 
The exact reasons for not permitting Samaradiwakara to officially take up his role remain unclear.
 
The previous Ministry Secretary, Chulananda Perera was expected to step down as he was nearing retirement age. 

However, on the request of the Tourism Minister Harin Fernando, Perera was reinstated, industry sources said.

Perera’s official letter of re-appointment however is yet to be issued by the President’s office.
  
President Ranil Wickremesinghe appointed new ministry secretaries to eight ministries, including the Ministry of Tourism and Lands on 27 December.

Only the tenures of the Secretary to the Ministry of Justice, Prison Affairs & Constitutional Reform, Wasantha Perera, Secretary to the Ministry of Education M.N. Ranasinghe, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Irrigation U.D.C. Jayalal were extended for another year. (SAA)