The new Cabinet Ministers and State Ministers took oaths before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at a simple ceremony that took place at the historic Magul Maduwa of the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy yesterday (12) morning. This is the first time in recent memory that Ministers took oaths at this historic sacred venue. State Ministers also took oaths. In keeping with the President’s pledge to keep the number of Cabinet Ministers to less than 30, 28 ministries were assigned to 25 newly elected MPs, including Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. With the exception of the Prime Minister, no Cabinet Minister has received two different portfolios. The President will have the defence portfolio in keeping with the general tradition.
The Cabinet has some entirely new faces as well as those who had been MPs previously but had never held a Cabinet portfolio. Moreover, several new faces, among them professionals, were appointed as State Ministers, from a mix of elected and National List Members. Most of the Ministers and State Ministers were from the SLPP, though there were a few from the SLFP. Most Ministers and State Ministers are expected to assume duties at their respective offices over the next few days.
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