July 25, 2022
COLOMBO – New Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardene and an 18-member cabinet comprising previous ministers in their old portfolios were sworn on Friday with the only change being the exit for Foreign Minister GL Pieris who seconded Dalla Alahapperuma for President in Parliament on Thursday.
Political circles expect President Wickremesinghe and his government to negotiate enlisting opposition party member to broadbase the administration in coming days. Wickremesinghe has already appealed for all party support.
The new Cabinet of Ministers: Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena – Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils, and Local Government; Douglas Devananda – Fisheries, Susil Premajayantha- Education, Bandula Gunawardena – Transport, Highways, and Media, Keheliya Rambukwella – Health and Water Supply, Mahinda Amaraweera – Agriculture, Wildlife, and Forest Conservations, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe – Justice, Prisons, and Constitutional Reforms, Harin Fernando – Tourism and Lands, Ramesh Pathirana – Plantations and Industries, Prasanna Ranatunga – Urban Development and Housing, Ali Sabry – External Affairs, Vidura Wickramanayake – Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Kanchana Wijesekera – Power and Energy, Naseer Ahamed – Environment, Roshan Ranasinghe – Sports, Youth Affairs, and Irrigation, Manusha Nanayakkara – Labour and Foreign Employment, Tiran Alles – Public Security, and Nalin Fernando – Trade, Commerce and Food Security.