In another significant conflict of portfolios, Samurdhi, Rural Development, Parliamentary Affairs and Up-Country Development Minister S.B. Dissanayake has been assigned the subject of Agricultural Extension, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, while the Department of Agriculture has been assigned to the Agriculture Minister D. M. Jayaratna. The portfolio of Housing Development for the Fishing Community has been assigned to Milroy Fernando, overlapping with the functions of the Minister of Fisheries Mahinda Rajapaksa who is also entrusted with improving the welfare of the fishing community. In another move, the National Film Corporation has been brought under Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Sarath Amunugama. Salusala have been brought under his Ministry. The subjects were earlier under the Trade Ministry.
Provincial development is another area that has been split among three ministers.
Mr. de Mel has been assigned the subject of the development of the South, Minister S. B. Dissanayake the deveopment of Up-country and Ms. Ashraff the east. EPDP leader Douglas Devananda, who has been given the Northern Rehabilitation, has also been assigned the subject of 'formulation and implementation of special programmes in the fields of information and media for the restoration of normalcy in the country'. President directs Bindunuwewa investigations As local and foreign criticism mounted President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga personally took upon herself directing investigations on the gory massacre last Wednesday at the Bindunuwewa rehabilitation centre, interdicting more than 60 Police personnel including Inspectors. The Police Department was also due to serve charge sheets on some senior gazetted officers for alleged negligence of duties and thus paving the way for this massacre. President Kumaratunga who has assigned two teams to carry out the probe on the massacre which left 27 dead and 13 injured has called for reports on the ongoing investigations.