Five new faces in Cabinet

Reallocation of subjects to five incumbents :

Five new Cabinet Ministers were sworn in before President Mahinda Rajapaksa after the Cabinet reshuffle last morning while five incumbent Cabinet Ministers were reallocated subjects. Two new Project Ministers and six Deputy Ministers were also appointed. The swearing - ins were at Janadipathi Mandiraya.

In significant changes made to the Cabinet, the Petroleum Industries Ministry formerly held by Minister Susil Premajayantha was handed over to Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.

Meanwhile, Premajayantha has been appointed Environment and Renewable Energy Minister.

Pavithra Wanniarachchi who was Technology and Research Minister, is the new Power and Energy Minister while Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka who held the portfolio earlier, assumed duties as Technology, Research and Atomic Energy Minister.

While former Economic Development Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena has been elevated to the rank of a Cabinet Minister entrusted with the portfolio of Investment Promotion, Productivity Promotion, Industry and Commerce, Deputy Minister Jayaratne Herath was appointed Botanical Gardens and Public Recreation Minister. Youth Affairs and Skills Development Deputy Minister Duminda Dissanayake has been appointed

Educational Service Minister while Education Deputy Minister Gamini Vijith Vijayamuni Soysa has been appointed Wildlife Conservation Minister.

Lakshman Sevneviratne who held the post of Productivity Promotion Deputy Minister is the new Sugar Industries Minister, a new portfolio created with the Cabinet shuffle. Basir Segudawood was appointed the Productivity Promotion Minister

Prime Minister D M Jayaratne, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Chief of Presidential Staff Gamini Senarath were present during the ceremony, the President’s Media Unit said.