A total of 17 new Cabinet Ministers were sworn in before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday (18) amidst continuous public protests demanding the resignation of the President, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, and the incumbent Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna-led Government.
The Presidential Media Division (PMD) announced that the relevant Ministers were sworn in at the President’s house in Colombo Fort last morning.
Accordingly, former Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena was sworn in as the Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils (PCs) and Local Government (LG), Douglas Devananda as the Minister of Fisheries, Dr. Ramesh Pathirana as the Minister of Education and Plantation Industries, Prasanna Ranatunga as the Minister of Public Security and Tourism, and Dilum Amunugama as the Minister of Transport and Industries.
In addition, Kanaka Herath has been appointed as the Minister of Highways (replacing Johnston Fernando), Vidura Wickramanayake (who on several occasions criticised the current Government’s policies) as the Minister of Labour, Janaka Wakkumbura as the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, and Wimalaweera Dissanayake as the Minister of Wildlife and Forest Conservation.
Furthermore, Kanchana Wijesekera has been appointed as the Minister of Energy and Power, Thenuka Vidanagamage as the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Nalaka Godahewa as the Minister of Mass Media, Prof. Channa Jayasumana as the Minister of Health, Sri Lanka Muslim Conaaagress (SLMC) MP Naseer Ahamed as the Minister of Environment, Shehan Semasinghe as the Minister of Trade and Samurdhi Development, Mohan Priyadarshana De Silva as the Minister of Water Supply, and Premitha Bandara Tennakoon as the Minister of Ports and Shipping.
The PMD further announced that there was no change to the posts held by the President, Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa, Foreign Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, and Finance Minister M.U.M. Ali Sabry (President’s Counsel).
Following strong opposition from the people towards the current Government over issues such as the shortage of gas, milk powder and fuel which was reflected through islandwide protests over the past few months, the Cabinet of Ministers resigned from their portfolios on 3 April. Thereafter, President Rajapaksa requested all political parties represented in the Parliament to assume Ministerial posts and contribute to resolving the crisis situation in the country, but no political party accepted the said invitation. Meanwhile, on 4 April, the President appointed Gunawardena as the Education Minister, Prof. Peiris as the Foreign Affairs Minister, Fernando as the Highways Minister, and Ali Sabry as the Finance Minister.
Names and Portfolios of 17 new cabinet ministers sworn in before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa
1. Dinesh Gunawardena – Public Administration, Internal Affairs, Provincial Councils & Local Government.
2. Douglas Devananda – Fisheries
3. Dr. Ramesh Pathirana – Education and Plantation Industries
4. Prasanna Ranatunga – Public Security & Tourism
5. Dilum Amunugama – Transport & Industries
6. Kanaka Herath – Highways
7. Vidura Wickramanayake – Labour
8. Janaka Wakkumbura – Agriculture & Irrigation
9. Shehan Semasinghe – Trade & Samurdhi Development
10. Mohan Priyadarshana De Silva – Water Supply
11. Wimalaweera Dissanayake – Wildlife & Forest Resources Conservation
12. Kanchana Wijesekera – Power & Energy
13. Thenuka Vidanagamage -Sports and Youth Affairs
14. Dr. Nalaka Godahewa – Media
15. Professor Channa Jayasumana – Health
16. Naseer Ahamed – Environment
17. Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon – Ports and Shipping
(Compiled fron Newspaper Reports)
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