Colombo: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will meet soon for crucial discussions on the impending cabinet reshuffle. According to Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, the cabinet reshuffle is imminent and will take place soon, following the discussions between the President and Premier. He revealed this while addressing the gathering at the Japan Expo 2018, held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall.
He further opined that the United National Party’s final stance on the much anticipated cabinet reshuffle would be announced in the near future, too. Sirisena, who was in London to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), returned to Sri Lanka on Monday. Meanwhile, the list of new Cabinet Ministers has already been drafted. The new Cabinet is tipped to have 43 Ministers.
A top Government source had revealed that the list of 49 portfolios was finalized by last Friday. However, when the draft was forwarded to President Sirisena, he had directed that the number of portfolios be brought down to 43 from the current 49. The President said to bring it to 43, six of the SLFP Ministers have resigned. Four new cabinet ministers were temporarily appointed on 12 April, to fill the ministerial portfolios left vacant, following the resignation of the several ministers of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.
