President to reshuffle Cabinet

No major overhaul:

Rasika Somaratne and Dhanushka Godakumbura

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is set to reshuffle his Cabinet today, ending months of speculation, Presidential spokesman Mohan Samaranayake said.

Changes to several portfolios are to be announced in the morning, and the newly appointed Cabinet Ministers are to take oaths before President Rajapaksa in the afternoon. According to government sources, several Cabinet portfolios will be changed at this reshuffle, including Power and Energy and Technology and Research.

New entrants to Parliament are not expected to receive Cabinet portfolios. However, a few parliamentarians in the 2004 Cabinet but do not hold such positions at present are expected to be re-appointed.

According to the sources, changes will be made only in a few ministries and there will be no major overhaul.