Dr. Amal Harsha de Silva has been removed as the Secretary to the State Ministry of Primary Health Services, Pandemics and COVID Prevention.

The State Ministry, placed under Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, is entrusted with a range of responsibility with regard to the pandemic management and mass vaccination in Sri Lanka.

Sunethra Gunawardena has been appointed the new Secretary to the State Ministry in place of Dr. Silva.

Silva, a specialist doctor with 34 years of experience in the Health Service and 24 years of experience in the Health Administration Service, previously served as the Deputy Director General (Medical Services) II of the Ministry of Health.

He has also served as the Director of the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital and Lady Ridgway Hospital and as the Director of the Western Provincial Health Services. He has also served as the Director of Private Medical Development, Director of the Health Education Bureau, and Chairman of the National Drug Authority.