Sri Lanka minority administration expands parliamentary base; old faces back
COLOMBO (EconomyNext) – Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena has appointed 26 legislators from opposition benches as ministers and deputy ministers, strengthening its parliamentary base, but expanding ministries.
Eleven new cabinet ministers, 5 state ministers and 10 deputy ministers took oaths before President Maithripala Sirisena Sunday, the president’s media unit said.
The administration of Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe does not have a majority in parliament but operated with the tacit support of the main opposition Sri Lanka Freedom Party, which is now headed by President Sirisena.
The current administration is a temporary arrangement till fresh parliamentary elections expected in June.
President Maithripala Sirisena asked or a mandate in January election to keep cabinet ministries below 30. But the number has now been exceeded.
Cabinet Ministers
A H M Fowzie – Disaster Management
S B Nawinna – Labour
Piyasena Gamage – Vocational Training
Sarath Amunugama – Higher Education and Research
S B Dissanayake – Rural Economic Affairs
Janaka Bandara Tennakoon – Provincial Councils and Regional Development
Felix Perera – Special Projects
Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene – Parliamentary Affairs
Reginald Cooray – Aviation Services Miniser
Vijitha Vijayamuni Soysa – Irrigation
Mahinda Amaraweera – Fisheries
State Ministers
Pavithra Wanniarachchi – Environment
Jeevan Kumaratunga – Labour
Mahinda Samarasinghe – Finance
C B Ratnayake – Public Administration
Dilan Perera – Housing and Samudhi
Deputy Ministers
Tissa Karalliyadde – Bhuddism and Democratic Governance
Dayasritha Tissera – Fisheries
Ranjith Siyambalapitiya – Home Affairs
Lakshman Seneviratne – Disaster Management
Lakshaman Yapa Abeywardene – Aviation Services
Lalith Disanayake – Irrigation
Jagath Pushpakumara – Plantations Industries
Lasantha Alagiyawanna – Rural Economic Affairs
Sudarshanie Fernandopulle – Higher Education and Research
Shantha Bandara – Mass Media