31 MINISTERS TOOK OATHS AS SRI LANKA’S NEW CABINET;JVP MINISTERS TO TAKE OATHS LATER
By Walter Jayawardhana reporting from Los Angeles
April 11, 04.15 AM:Thirty one new cabinet ministers took oaths at the President’s House in Colombo while the government’s most important partner, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) kept away from the oath taking ceremony. The JVP ministers are expected to take their oaths separately
The most important ministry, next to the portfolio of Prime minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs went to the President’s Foreign Affairs advisor, Lakshman Kadirgamar and the powerful Ministry of Finance went to Dr. Sarath Amunugama. President’s brother Anura Bandaranaike took the Ministry of Torism and investment Promotion.
Douglas Devananda , the leader of the Eelam people’s Democratic Party took oaths as a Minister very powerful in the Jaffna District: Agricultural Marketing Development, Hindu Affairs & Tamil Language Schools & Vocational Training (North)
Hon.(Mrs) Ferial Ashraff, the leader of the National Unity Alliance took oaths as Minister of Housing and Construction Industry, Eastern Province Education and Irrigation Development
The list of Cabinet Ministers: 1. Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa, MP - Minister of Highways 2. Hon. Anura Bandaranaike, MP - Minister of Industry, Tourism & Investment Promotion 3. Hon. D. M. Jayaratne, MP - Minister of Post and Telecommunications and Upcountry Development 4. Hon. Amarasiri Dodangoda, MP - Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs 5. Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva, MP - Minister of Healthcare and Nutrition 6. Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, MP - Minister of Ports and Aviation 7. Hon. A L M Fowzie, MP - Minister of Environment and Natural Resources 8. Hon. Lakshman Kadirgamar, MP - Minister of Foreign Affairs 9. Hon. Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, MP - Minister of Trade, Commerce and Consumer Affairs 10. Hon. Maithripala Sirisena, MP - Minister of River Basin Development and Rajarata Development 11. Hon. John Senaviratne, MP - Minister of Justice and Judicial Reforms 12. Hon. Sumedha Jayasena, MP - Minister of Women's Empowerment and Social Welfare 13. Hon. (Dr) Sarath Amunugama, MP- Minister of Finance 14. Hon. Milroy Surgias Fernando, MP - Minister of Christian and Parliamentary Affairs 15. Hon. Jeewan Kumaranatunga, MP - Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs 16. Hon. Pavithra Devi Wanniarachchi, MP - Minister of Samurdhi and Poverty Alleviation 17. Hon. Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, MP - Minister of Plantation Industries 18. Hon. Tissa Karaliyadde, MP - Minister of Indigenous Medicine 19. Hon. Dinesh Gunawardene, MP - Minister of Urban Development and Water Supply 20. Hon. Douglas Devananda, MP - Minister of Agricultural Marketing Development, Hindu Affairs & Tamil Language Schools & Vocational Training (North) 21. Hon.(Mrs) Ferial Ashraff, MP - Minister of Housing and Construction Industry, Eastern Province Education and Irrigation Development 22. Hon. Susil Premajayantha, MP - Minister of Power & Energy 23. Hon. Athauda Senaviratne, MP - Minister of Labour Relations and Foreign Employment 24. Hon. R M S B Nawinna, MP - Minister of Regional Infrastructure Development 25. Hon. Piyasena Gamage, MP - Minister of Skills Development, Vocational and Technical Education 26. Hon. Janaka Bandara Tennakoon, MP - Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government 27. Hon. Felix Perera, MP - Minister of Transport 28. Hon. C B Ratnayake, MP - Minister of Estate Community Infrastructure 29. Hon. A L M Athaulla, MP - Minister of Infrastructure Development in the Eastern Province 30. Hon. Reginold Cooray, MP - Minister of Information and Media 31. Hon. Tissa Vitharana, MP - Minister of Science & Technology
Deputy Ministers: Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, MP and Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, MP - Deputy Ministers of Education Hon. Salinda Dissanayake, MP and Hon. Premalal Jayasekera, MP - Deputy Ministers of Mahaweli and River Basin Development and Rajarata Development Hon. Maheepala Herath, MP and Hon. Lasantha Alagiyawanna, MP - Deputy Ministers of Transport Hon. Jagath Pushpakumara, MP and Hon. Rohana Dissanayake, MP - Deputy Ministers of Samurdhi and Poverty Alleviation Hon. Chamal Rajapakse, MP - Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries Hon. Dilan Perera, MP and Hon. Dayasritha Tissera, MP - Deputy Minister of Ports and Aviation Hon. D M Dassanayake, MP - Deputy Minister of Livestock Development Hon. T B Ekanayake, MP - Deputy Minister of Highways Hon. Pandu Bandaranayake, MP - Deputy Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs Hon. Mahindananda Althgamage, MP Hon. Kumar Welgama, MP - Deputy Minister of Power & Energy Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, MP - Deputy Minister of Healthcare and Nutrition Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera, MP - Deputy Minister of Urban Development and Water Supply Hon. Nihal Galappaththi, MP - Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Hon. Jayaratne Herath, MP - Deputy Minister of Public Security, Law & Order Hon. Cegu Issadeen, MP - Deputy Minister of Information and Media Hon. Duminda Dissanayake, MP - Deputy Minister of Skills Development, Vocational and Technical Education Hon. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, MP - Deputy Minister of Finance Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardena, MP - Deputy Minister of Post and Telecommunications and Udarata Development Hon. Anwar Ismail, MP - Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Development in the Eastern Province Hon. S M Chandrasena, MP - Deputy Minister of Estate Community Infrastructure Hon. Chandrasiri Gajadeera, MP - Deputy Minister of Housing and Construction Industry, Eastern Province Education and Irrigation Development Hon. Jayatissa Ranaweera, MP - Deputy Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Hon. Bandula Basnayake, MP - Deputy Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Hon. Gunaratne Weerakoon, MP - Deputy Minister of Regional Infrastructure Development Hon. Sripathi Suriarachchi, MP - Deputy Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Hon. Siripala Gamlath, MP - Deputy Minister of Agricultural Marketing Development
