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Refuse tea in new chest: Cabinet cadre increases from 28 to 39
View(s):With the enlarged Cabinet and other ministerial appointments, the Cabinet cadre has risen from 28 to 39. Five more state ministers and 10 more deputy ministers have also been appointed. The new appointees, all SLFP members, will contribute to the national government, with 77 members.
A number of UNP Cabinet ministers had their portfolios trimmed in order to make way for the new ministers. Ministry of Higher Education which was under UNP MP Kabeer Hasheem, has been given to Dr. Sarath Amunugama, with Dr Sudarshani Fernandopulle as its Deputy Minister. MP A.H.M. Fowzie has been appointed Minister of Disaster Management, which ministry was earlier under John Amarathunga, with Laxman Seneviratne as his deputy, while MP S.B. Nawinna has been appointed Minister of Labour, with Jeewan Kumaratunga as his Deputy. Reginold Cooray, has been appointed Minister of Aviation Services filling the post vacated by Faizer Mustapha, while Laxman Yapa Abewardene was appointed his Deputy. Piyasena Gamage has been appointed Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training, and S.B. Dissanayake as the Minister of Rural Economic Affairs, with Lasantha Alagiyawanna as Deputy Minister.
Janaka Bandara Thennakoon is the Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Development, while Felix Perera was appointed Minister of Special Projects. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs is Mahinda Yapa Abewardene, while the Ministry of Irrigation which was previously under Minister Duminda Dissanayake, has been given to Vijith Wijeyamuni Soysa and Lalith Dissayanake appointed Deputy Minister. Mahinda Amaraweera has been appointed Minister of Fisheries with Dayashritha Tissera as the Deputy Minister, which only had a state minister earlier.Pavitradevi Wanniarachchi has been appointed State Minister to the Ministry of Environment, which is under President Maithripala Sirisena. C.B. Ratanayake has been appointed State Minister of Public Administration and Democratic Rule which is headed by Minister Karu Jayasuriya.
Dilan Perera has been appointed State Minister of Housing and Samurdhi which is headed by Minister Sajith Premadasa. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya has been appointed Deputy Minister of Home Affairs. Tissa Karaliyedda is the new Deputy Minister of Buddha Sasana and Democratic Rule, while Jagath Pushpakumara has been appointed Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries. Shantha Bandara has been appointed Deputy Minister of Media which is headed by Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka.