ECONOMYNEXT – President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s brother Mahinda Rajapaksa would be sworn in as Prime Minister later Thursday and a 15 member interim cabinet is expected to be appointed until elections.
The existing cabinet stands dissolved as Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinge steps down. Ministry secretaries also lose office.
Outgoing Prime Minister Ranil Wicrkemesinghe said the free elections without fear was possible due to the independent commissions that came with a 19th amendment to the constitution.
President Rajapaksa can dissolve parliament on March 01, paving the way for general elections.
Sri Lanka does not have permanent secretaries unlike fast growing countries in East Asia and the West, with stable independent public services.
Under Sri Lanka’s current constitution, a 30 member cabinet can be appointed.
However only 15 members would be appointed for the interim cabinet, officials of Rajapaka’s Sri Lanka Podujana Party has said.
(Colombo/Nov21/2019)