President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday appointed Ali Sabry as the country’s Finance Minister, as a new team of ministers took office after the protests flared in the wake of a worsening economic crisis.

President Rajapaksa appointed his younger brother Basil Rajapaksa as Finance Minister in July 2021 and he was due to travel to Washington this month to start talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a rescue package.

Sabry previously served as Sri Lanka’s Justice Minister.

Meanwhile, speculation is rife that prominent businessman Dhammik Perera has been asked to accept the post of Treasury/Finance Ministry Secretary.

As of now, Sajith Attygalle functions as Treasury/Finance Ministry Secretary.