New Governor of Southern Province sworn in before President

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Professor Susiripala Manawadu as the new Governor of the Southern Province. This appointment is effective from February 24, 2026, according to the President’s Media Division, following Article 154B of the Constitution. Professor Manawadu is currently the Vice Chairman of the State Advisory Sub-Committee on Radio, Newspapers, and Social Media of the Arts Council of Sri Lanka. He has also held positions as the Head of the Sinhala Department and as the Senior Assistant Librarian at the University of Ruhuna. Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, the Secretary to the President, attended the swearing-in ceremony.