Three new members have been appointed to the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Archaeological Heritage Management in the Eastern Province in an extraordinary gazette notification issued, yesterday (Nov 29, 2021).

According to the gazette notification, Surveyor-General Ariyarathna Dissanayaka, Retired Chief Secretary A. Pathinadan and Lecturer Mufhisal Abubakkar are the new members of the PTF.

Surveyor General Dissanayaka has replaced the former Surveyor General W.T.M.S.B. Tennakoon who has retired from public service.

This decision has been taken to widen the composition of the PTF membership, the gazette notification said.

The PTF on Archaeological Heritage Management was appointed on June 2, 2020 nominating the Defence Secretary as the Chairperson under the directives of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, exercising the powers vested on him by Article 33 of the Constitution.