COLOMBO, Nov 23 (NNN-XINHUA) – Sri Lankan President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, on Friday, appointed a new 16-member cabinet, which will function till the next parliamentary election is announced.
The new ministers took oaths in front of the president at the Presidential Secretariat in the capital, Colombo.
Former President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was appointed as new prime minister was appointed as the new minister of Finance, Economic Affairs, Policy Development, Buddha Sasana, Cultural, Water Supply and Urban Development and Housing Affairs.
The other ministers appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa include, Dinesh Gunawardena as minister of Foreign Affairs, Skills Development, Employment and Labour Relations, while Prasanna Ranatunga as minister of Tourism, Aviation, Industrial Exports and Investment Promotions.
Some other ministers include Johnston Fernando, who was appointed as Minister of Highways and Roads, Ports and Shipping, and Nimal Siripala De Silva, who was appointed as Minister of Justice, Human Rights and Legal Reforms.
The new cabinet was appointed two days after Ranil Wickremesinghe, the former prime minister stepped down from his post, after his ruling party candidate, Sajith Premadasa was defeated by Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Wickremesinghe said, he stepped down, to enable the new president to form a new cabinet, respecting the people’s mandate.
