Youngest Cabinet Minister is 40 today

Text and picture by PRIYAN DE SILVA

The youngest minister of Sri Lanka’s newly appointed Cabinet, Kanchana Wijesekera turns 40 today.

Kanchana, elected to Parliament from the Matara district was entrusted the portfolios of Power and Energy by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa about two weeks ago. Kanchana was formerly the State Minster of Ornamental fish, Inland Fish and Prawn Farming, Fishery Harbour Development, Multi-day Fishing Activities and Fish Exports. It was during his tenure that the sector recorded its highest export income.

The oldest member of Sri Lanka’s Cabinet is Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, 76, followed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Professor G.L. Peiris, 75, and Minister of Public Services, Provincial Councils and Local Government Dinesh Gunawardena, 73. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 72.

Minister of Transport and Industries Dilum Amunugama is 11 months older than Kanchana and is the second youngest in the new cabinet.