Five days after the appointment of UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister of the country for a record fifth time, President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday swore in his new Cabinet comprising 28 ministers at the Presidential Secretariat.
The current UNF Cabinet is to be limited to 30 ministries with the President holding on to the two ministries of Defence, Law and Order and Mahaweli Development and Environment.
This is the fifth Cabinet to be appointed in the last three years, apart from the various Cabinet reshuffles which took place in between.
According to sources, the UNF had sent the President a list of 35 names with only 28 being accepted. Notable absentees in this Cabinet are Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka and Palitha Range Bandara.
The President in the meantime had earlier stated that SLFPers who crossover to the ranks of the UNF would not receive any ministerial portfolios.
The new appointments are: Ranil Wickremesinghe: Minister of National Policies, Economic Affairs, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, Northern Province Development, Vocational Training and Skills Development and Youth Affairs, Mangala Samaraweera: Minister of Finance and Mass Media, Thalatha Athukorala: Minister of Justice and Prison Reforms, Abdul Rishad Bathiudeen: Minister of Industry and Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons and Co-operative Development, John Amaratunga: Minister of Tourism Development, Wildlife and Christian Religious Affairs, Malik Samarawickrama: Minister of Development Strategies, International Trade and Science, Technology and Research, Daya Gamage: Minister of Labour, Trade Union Relations, and Social Empowerment, Mano Ganesan: Minister of National Integration, Official Languages,
Social Progress and Hindu Religious Affairs, Harin Fernando: Minister of Telecommunication, Digital Infrastructure, Foreign Employment and Sports, Sagala Ratnayaka: Minister of Ports and Shipping and Southern Development, Abdul Haleem Mohamed Hasheem: Minister of Postal Services and Muslim Religious Affairs, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam: Minister of Education, Pelisge Harrison: Minister of Agriculture, Rural Economic Affairs, Livestock Development, Irrigation and Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development, Chadrani Bandara: Minister of Women and Child Affairs and Dry Zone Development, U. Palani Thigambaram: Minister of Hill Country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development, Eranjan Navin Dissanayake : Minister of Plantation Industries, Patali Champika Ranawaka: Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, Vajira Abeywardena: Minister of Internal and Home Affairs and Provincial Councils and Local Government, Ravi Karunanayake: Minister of Power, Energy and Enterprise Development, Rajitha Senaratne: Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, Arjuna Ranatunga: Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Sajith Premadasa: Minister of Housing Construction and Cultural Affairs, Gayantha Karunatilake: Minister of Lands and Parliamentary Reforms, Ranjith Maddumabandara: Minister of Public Administration and Disaster Management, Mohamed Hashim Mohamed Kabir : Minister of Highways, Road Development and Petroleum Resources Development, Lakshman Kiriella: Minister of Public Enterprise, Kandyan Heritage and Kandy Development, Gamini Jayawickrama Perera: Minister of Buddhasasana and Wayamba Development, Thilak Janaka Marapana: Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ibathul Rauff Hakeem: Minister of City Planning, Water Supply and Higher Education.
The present Cabinet has also introduced new additions such as that of Protracted Displaced Persons and Cooperative Development under Minister Rishad Bathuideen and Ministry of Enterprise Development under Minister Ravi Karunanayake into the current system.
Deputy and State ministers not exceeding 40 are expected to be appointed soon.
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