22 Ministers appointed; 13 newly elected MPs get Ministerial portfolios

By Ajith Siriwardana

The government yesterday appointed a 22-member Cabinet of Ministers, which included the President and the 13 newly elected MPs who are university academics and professionals cum politicians.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake retained the Ministries of Defence, Finance and Economic Development and the Digital Economy.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya was re-appointed as the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education while Vijitha Herath was re-appointed as the Minister of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism. Newly elected MPs Prof. Chandana Abeyrathna was sworn in as the Minister of State Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, Harshana Nanayakkara as the Minister of Justice and National Integration while Saroja Savithri Paulraj as the Minister of Women and
Child Affairs. 

New MP Anura Karunathilake was sworn in as the Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing, Prof. Upali Pannilage was sworn in as the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, Ananda Wijepala as the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs and Prof. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi as the Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs.

Sunil Kumara Gamage was sworn in as the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Prof. Chrishantha Abeysena as the Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando as the Minister of Labour and Kumara Jayakody as the Minister of Energy while Dr. Dammika Patabendi was sworn in as the Minister of Environment.

Former MPs K.D. Lalkantha was sworn in as Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation while Ramalingam Chandrasekar as the Minister of Fisheries and Sunil Handunnetti as the Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development while Bimal Rathnayake as the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation.

Former MPs Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa was sworn in as the Minister of Health and Mass Media, Samantha Vidyarathna as the Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure and Wasantha Samarasinghe as the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development.

Notably, five professors of university academics and several other professionals were included in the Cabinet.