The Joint Opposition group of MP’s loyal to Ex – President Mahinda Rajapaksa today appointed a shadow cabinet of 50 ministers.

The shadow cabinet is led by ex-president and Kurunegala district MP Mahinda Rajapaksa who has been appointed shadow Prime Minister and also given the shadow portfolios of Defence, Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs.

Dinesh Gunawardane was appointed National Policies and Economic Affairs Minister, while Chamal Rajapaksa was appointed Transport and Aviation Minister.

Namal Rajapaksa has been named Foreign Affairs Minister and Udaya Gammanpila has been named Minister of Law and Order.

Some of the other appointments to the ‘Shadow Cabinet’ were:

Education – Dullas Alahapperuma

Finance – Bandula Gunawardana

Local Government and Provincial Council – Ranjith de Zoysa

Ports and Shipping – Kumara Welgama

Labour – Gamini Lokuge

Rural Industries – S. M. Chandrasena

The Joint Opposition announced its ‘Shadow Cabinet’ during a meeting in Parliament today.

A Shadow Cabinet is an alternate government in which members of the opposition mark Cabinet members in order to ‘shadow’ them, criticise their policies and actions, and offer alternate solutions.