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Minor cabinet changes, major reshuffle after President returns from London
View(s):President Maithripala Sirisena on Thursday swore in three Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) members and one United National Party (UNP) member as ministers to act for those who resigned, pending a major cabinet re-shuffle.
It will take place after he returns from London where he will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). He leaves on Sunday. Those who took oaths, will be in charge of new subjects in addition to their current portfolios. They are Malik Samarawickrema — Social Empowerment, Welfare, Kandyan Heritage, Labour and Labour relations; Sarath Amunugama — Skills Development, Vocational Training, Science, Technology and Research; Ranjith Siyambalapitiya — Disaster Management and Faiszer Musthapha — Sports.
They received the subjects ealier held by S.B. Dissanayake, W.D.J. Seneviratne, Chandima Weerakkody, Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Dayasiri Jayasekara and Susil Premajayantha. Thursday evening’s swearing-in ceremony was a closed-door event where only the official media personnel were allowed.
The subjects changed hands after the resignation of six SLFP ministers who voted in favour of the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.