Eight new cabinet ministers were appointed by Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Monday (23), bringing total appointments to 25 so far since the appointment of Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister earlier this month.
The following MPs were sworn in as ministers Monday morning before President Rajapaksa.
Douglas Devananda: Minister of Fisheries
Bandula Gunawardena: Minister of Transport & Highways, and Mass Media
Keheliya Rambukwella: Minister of Water Supply
Mahinda Amaraweera: Minister of Agriculture, and Forest Resources and Wildlife
Ramesh Pathirana: Minister of Industries
Vidura Wickramanayake: Minister of Buddhashasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs
Ahamed Naseer: Minister of Environment
Roshan Ranasinghe: Minister of Irrigation, and Sports and Youth Affairs
Notably, newly sworn in Agriculture Minister Mahinda Samaraweera represents the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), which had said it would not be taking any cabinet positions within the government. The party has yet to respond to Amaraweera’s appointment.
Previously sworn in Ports and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva also represents the SLFP.
Following nine new Cabinet Ministers of the Government of Sri Lanka were sworn-in on May 20, 2022. 01. Nimal Siripala de Silva – Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation
02. Dr. Susil Premajayantha – Minister of Education
03. Dr. Keheliya Rambukwella – Minister of Health
04. Dr. Wijayadasa Rajapaksha – Judiciary, Prisons and Minister of Constitutional Reforms
05. Harin Fernando – Minister of Tourism and Lands
06. Ramesh Pathirana – Minister of Plantation Industries
07. Manusha Nanayakkara – Minister of Labor and Foreign Employment
08. Nalin Fernando – Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security
09. Tiran Alles – Minister of Public Security
On May 14, President Rajapaksa appointed four ministers.
They are:
Prof. G.L Peiris – Minister of Foreign affairs
Dinesh Gunawardena – Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government
Prasanna Ranatunga- Minister of Urban Development & Housing
Kanchana Wijesekera- Minister of Power & Energy