Old and new faces in new Cabinet

The first post war Cabinet was sworn in before President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday. Thirty seven UPFA members including Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa and NFF Leader Wimal Weerawansa are included in the Cabinet.

Basil Rajapaksa received the portfolio of Economic Development while NFF Leader Wimal Weerawansa was appointed Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister.

Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne was sworn in as Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs Minister while former Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka took oaths as Public Management and Reforms Minister before the President. Former Education Minister and UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha has been appointed Petroleum Industries Minister while former Agriculture and Agrarian Services Minister and SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena received the Health portfolio.

Prof G.L. Peiris has been given the portfolio of External Affairs. Prof Peiris who was nominated to Parliament from the National List has held Cabinet portfolios in all Governments since 1994. President Mahinda Rajapaksa swore in 39 UPFA legislators as Deputy Ministers. Former Non Cabinet Minister Salinda Dissanayake has been appointed Plantation Industries Deputy Minister and Badulla District parliamentarian Dilan Perera took oaths as Public Administration and Home Affairs Deputy Minister.

Former National Integration Minister Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan received his appointment as Resettlement Deputy Minister. He succeeds Minister Rishad Bathiyutheen who received the Industry and Commercial Affairs portfolio. Former Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, former Finance and State Revenue Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya and UPFA parliamentarian Muthu Sivalingam hold the posts of Economic Development Deputy Minister. Former Minister Kumara Welgama who secured the highest number of preferential votes from the Kalutara district is the Transport Minister.

UPFA parliamentarians Lalith Dissanayake, Sarana Gunawardena, Reginold Cooray, Vijithamuni Zoysa, N.L.A.M. Hisbullah and Weerakumara Dissanayake also took oaths as Deputy Ministers before President Rajapaksa.

Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga was also present.

CP